The Holy Intercession Church is the very first Orthodox Russian church, after the landing of Russian Cossacks who carried out the decree of Catherine II in 1792 on the resettlement from the Zaporizhzhya Sich to Taman, Kuban.
There was no money to build a church, but the Cossacks adapted the existing foundation and an oblong structure with colonnades on it for the construction of a new church. And in 1973-74, construction was completed. It was surrounded by a fortified wall with loopholes and two gates that existed before the Great Patriotic War. The parishioners took great care of the shrine and constantly brought donations to the temple.
In 1855, the temple was partially destroyed by the French during the Crimean campaign. However, in 1860 the Cossacks restored the temple, and in 1865 a stone bell tower appeared in the form of a watchtower.
Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812 Raevsky, poets A.S. Pushkin, M.Yu. Lermontov, Russian commander A.V. Suvorov. For about two months St. Caucasian Ignatius Brianchaninov served as rector.
- one of the most unique "Cossack" temples, erected by the first Cossacks who arrived in Taman from the abolished Zaporizhzhya Sich.
The Intercession Church of Taman became the first and for a long time the only Orthodox church on the entire coast of the Taman Peninsula. Then, of course, others appeared, but Tamanskaya remains, perhaps, one of the most beloved among local residents.
Sasha Mitrahovich 30.03.2018 09:12
In the photo: This is how Taman's Church of the Intercession looked before restoration.
In 1793, they decided to build an Orthodox church here. Judge Anton Golovaty took over the case. He was a very wealthy Cossack, and the temple decided to build it at his own expense.
It is known that Golovaty personally chose a place for the church, measured the area for construction "with his own steps", and purchased building materials. Probably, he also came to the conclusion that it would be more expedient to use the foundation left from the previous structure for the foundation of the temple.
To the question of what kind of building it was, no one can give an exact answer so far. Perhaps it was the foundation of a Turkish mosque or a pasha's residence, or an ancient temple was located here. It is in favor of the latter version that most archaeologists are inclined.
Ship, tomb, museum
Outwardly, the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in Taman resembles a ship. It is believed that the wife of Anton Golovatov is buried under the altar. Thus, the temple also became a tomb.
And next to the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, Golovaty organized a collection of “memorable signs, marbles, stones” - a wooden canopy on pillars, where archaeological finds were brought and put on public display. So, by the way, the famous Tmutarakan stone was saved, which is now stored in the Hermitage.
Sasha Mitrahovich 30.03.2018 09:16
When the temple first opened, the Cossacks placed in the church their favorite icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, delivered from the Zaporizhzhya Sich. Worship of this holy image began more than a thousand years ago. The icon of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos was considered miraculous by the Cossacks, it protected them on campaigns and helped them win over the enemy.
When a temple was erected on Taman in the name of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, believers even from the most remote kurens flocked there. It was believed that all the sacraments and rites in the church take place in a special spiritualized grace. During the days of divine services, the church was “totally packed... In front of the worshipers, on the right side, there was a choir of military singers, and on the left, a choir of local singers.”
After the Crimean War
The building of the Intercession Church was badly damaged during the Crimean War of 1855. Fortunately, the parishioners managed to save the shrines and utensils. In 1865, a certain sergeant F. G. Chepel erected a stone belfry in the courtyard of the temple with his own money. By the way, they say that one of the first bell-ringers was ... that same Lermontov blind boy from the story "Taman", or rather, the prototype of this hero. It is known that he lived in the church house until his death.
By 1911, the temple was dilapidated to such an extent that it seemed that the walls were about to collapse. Then the church was dismantled and rebuilt from new materials “from memory”, because there were no drawings or drawings of the former building.
The revolutionary desire to destroy everything old to the ground, thank God, did not touch the Taman church. It wasn't even closed. And during all the years of Soviet power, a prayer sounded within the walls of the temple. The holy monastery survived the occupation, and the years of the Khrushchev thaw, and another round of persecution of faith. Of course, there were fewer parishioners then, but people still came to the holy icons.
In the 1990s, when churches began to be restored everywhere, the Intercession Church was also restored.
Sasha Mitrahovich 30.03.2018 09:46
Despite the fact that the appearance of the Church of the Intercession of Taman does not resemble a traditional Orthodox church, its general layout is quite in Christian traditions. And the ancient motifs present are rather camouflage, a tribute to fashion and a reminder that the church still stands on the ruins of ancient Hermonassa.
The building of the temple in the plan received the form of a peripter - this, along with the dipter, megaron, amphiprostyle and prostyle, is another type of ancient Greek temple described in the 1st century BC by the Roman encyclopedist Vitruvius. Moreover, the peripter is just what we imagine when talking about ancient temples: a rectangular building with columns around the entire perimeter is the most common compositional scheme in Greece in the 7th-5th centuries BC. The Temple of the Parthenon in Athens was built according to this principle. However, the Intercession Church of Taman is not quite a peripter, or rather, a peripter only at first glance.The architect of the Church of the Intercession only hinted at antiquity. It should be noted that “correct” stylized periptera were also built in Russia: the most interesting example of such a temple is the Peter and Paul Church in Sevastopol, known, unfortunately, less than other temples of this city.
Sasha Mitrahovich 30.03.2018 10:08
Everything is as simple as outside. Even, probably, even easier. The Church of the Intercession is an ordinary single rectangular volume. The division into “the temple itself” and the “refectory” is more than arbitrary: two ledges in the walls, punctuated by semi-columns. It looks more like a purely constructive "stiffening rib", rather than a delimiter of the internal volume. However, a purely visual division of space
in two is still there and is achieved thanks to the play of light: above the eastern “semi-volume” there is a richly glazed lantern. Despite the fact that its inner surface is not framed in any way, the sun's rays penetrating into the temple from above are enough to create a distinct "difference in lighting", which draws a transparent border between the refectory and the temple premises.
The second, which is uncharacteristic for the Russian Orthodox tradition, is the absence of murals. However, this phenomenon is often found in the temples of the classical style, those that have retained their original interior. It should be noted that the coloristic design of the premises, inherent in classicism, is so thought out that the feeling of “emptiness” does not arise in the absence of murals. On the contrary, the sky-blue and white-painted walls and ceiling reinforce the perception of the temple as a ship embedded in the composition of the building: either floating on the waves, like Noah's ark, or striving to heaven to the eternal Kingdom of Christ.
The iconostasis is small, three-tiered, also designed in white tones, decorated with gilding in the lower tier (carved royal doors are especially good). Deesis - in the top row, in the middle row - the image of the holidays, and in the bottom - there are large icons of pre-revolutionary writing in spectacular salaries. In front of the iconostasis, revered images are installed in separate icon cases - on the left
The Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, located on the territory of the Taman Peninsula, was built in 1793. This sacred place was founded by the first Cossacks who settled in Taman. It is worth noting that this temple has a specific shape, which symbolizes a ship going on its way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
On three sides of the church there are solid picturesque columns, and at the top there is a small tower, which has the shape of a lantern. It is noteworthy that the work of the temple was carried out even in the Soviet years. Even in these difficult times, the church was regularly filled with parishioners. During the occupation period, the temple was also accessible to ordinary residents, Orthodox people came to it every day, who shared their grief and their difficulties with God. Before the Great Patriotic War, the building was surrounded by a solid and fairly high fence made of stone. The fence had a loophole for weapons, as well as two gates that went to the northern and western parts, respectively. In the event of a military threat, this temple could well be used as a safe haven. Active parishioners took care of their shrine as best they could, made donations, and also made offerings in the form of various valuable items, books and church utensils.
In the post-war period, the shrine also continued to work, but the number of parishioners during this period decreased significantly. In the 1990s, the temple begins to develop: the number of Orthodox people at this time increases, respectively, church attendance increases. In the same years, the building is undergoing a restoration process. In the summer of 2001, new massive domes appeared on the bell tower, the manufacture of which was carried out in Voronezh.
In 2013, the famous Taman temple turned 220 years old. It is worth noting that this sacred place has been visited by famous people more than once. So, in different periods of history, the famous commander Suvorov, A. S. Pushkin, as well as M. Yu. Lermontov visited there. The Holy Intercession Church was also visited by St. Ignatius, who made a significant contribution to its development.
In 2011, a new bell appeared on the bell tower of the shrine, the weight of which is 350 kg. This became possible thanks to the efforts and active work of the Cossacks serving in the Kuban army.
Unfortunately, the Taman Temple of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos has not been preserved for us in its original form. In 1855, the building was almost completely destroyed by the French troops who approached Kerch. A few years later, the shrine was restored in its original place by Cossack volunteers.
The church today employs talented and dedicated clergy. They are the rector of the temple Viktor Kolmyk, the priest A. Bokarev and the deacon S. Serdyukov. At the moment, in the church you can see the relics of the famous St. Nicholas of Myra (they were transferred by the leadership of the city of Bari in Italy). In addition, the relics of Nikon of Caves are kept here. This is a famous chronicler who lived on the territory of Taman for a long time. In the altar there is a real shrine - an icon depicting Jesus Christ. This icon is 250 years old. According to available information, this sacred image was presented to the Cossacks by Empress Catherine II. In the temple there is also an icon of Xenia of St. Petersburg (blessed), which began to stream myrrh in 2005. This shrine is regularly prayed by parishioners who ask her for the health and longevity of their loved ones.
Thus, the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos is the oldest shrine in Taman. Over the long years of its activity, the temple has experienced ups and downs, has been destroyed and restored more than once. In different years, priests served here, who did everything possible for the normal operation of this unique building. That is why this church is so revered by the Taman parishioners, who also participate in its further development. Every day the temple is ready to receive new parishioners. Here you can simply pray and ask God for something, as well as talk with experienced clergy who will tactfully help you with effective advice and direct you on the right path.
The Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos is the first church founded by the Zaporozhye Cossacks in Taman after landing on the lands of the Taman Peninsula, granted by Catherine II. It was built in 1793. This is a very beautiful temple, built in the classical style: it is decorated with numerous columns. When viewed from the end, the church resembles a ship rushing through the waves.
Antique features that are not typical for local architecture, the suburban location, as well as the quick construction of the church, allow local historians to assume that the building was erected on an older foundation. It is likely that this was a Greek temple. There is another version - perhaps a Turkish mosque used to be located here. It is likely that the Turks themselves built their temple on an older foundation from the time of Tmutaraknai or the Bosporan kingdom. During the restoration in 1911, ancient foundations were indeed discovered here. However, this question has not been seriously investigated, so there is no answer yet.
During the Crimean campaign, the church was destroyed, so after the end of the war, restoration was required, which significantly changed the appearance of the temple. However, most of the valuables were saved, so you can see ancient icons and utensils here. One of the most ancient and revered lists is the icon of the Assumption of the Mother of God, painted at the end of the 18th century. Many famous personalities from Suvorov to Lermontov prayed before her. However, another icon is popular with believers - the Kozelshan Icon of the Mother of God. It is easy to find it in the iconostasis, because it is decorated with a huge number of gold chains and other jewelry - these are offerings from believers in gratitude for help.
Behind the church is an old cemetery. There are few graves here, mainly officers who served on Taman are buried here. It is interesting that most of the tombstones contain Masonic symbols - an eye in a triangle, an acacia with chopped off branches, symbolizing the cessation of the Masonic family, and so on.
Photo of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Taman
Address: Temryuk district, village Taman, per. Kalinina, 1 (Nekrasova st., 1A). How to get there: walk from the Taman bus station along Pushkin street to the intersection with Karl Liebknecht street, turn right and walk a little to Kalinin lane. Website.