Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki
Encyclopedia
Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki is an estate formerly belonging to the Stroganov and Golitsyn
families of the Russian nobility
. Today, it is incorporated into Kuzminki-Lyublino historical park located in Moscow's Kuzminki District. The estate was named after the Icon of Theotokos Vlakhernskaya, a copy of which was kept in the estate church.
. No buildings were erected on the property until after the death of the first owner in 1714. The new owner, Alexander Stroganov, began construction on the estate; in 1754 the estate passed to his widow. After the marriage of her daughter Anna in 1757 to Prince Mikhail Golitsyn (1731-1804), the property passed to the Golitsyn family. From 1833 onwards, Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki was a part of Golitsyns mayorate. In 1889 a part of the estate was donated to Vlakhernsky hospital. In the course of the First World War
, the manor house
was converted to an officers' hospital.
and exhibit various collections, including those of the Museum of Russian Estate Culture.
. The construction of a stone church in the Baroque
style began at the end of 1750s. In the 1780s, the church was rebuilt in Neoclassical style
. In the 19th century, it was rebuilt by Domenico Giliardi
and Konstantin Bykovsky.
The church has two side altars
dedicated to Saints Alexander Nevsky
and Sergius of Radonezh; several members of the Golitsyn family are interred at the church.
The church was closed in 1929 by order of the government and many of it's ceremonial items were removed, the bell tower
was also ruined and the building itself was badly damaged. The church and the bell tower were restored in 1995 under the guidance of Yelena Vorontsova. In October 1995 the refurbished church was consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Alexy II.
Golitsyn
-People:*Golitsyns noble family *Nicholas Galitzine, last Tsarist prime minister of Russia*Anatoliy Golitsyn, Soviet KGB defector*Georgy Golitsyn, Soviet physicist and writer on nuclear winter...
families of the Russian nobility
Russian nobility
The Russian nobility arose in the 14th century and essentially governed Russia until the October Revolution of 1917.The Russian word for nobility, Dvoryanstvo , derives from the Russian word dvor , meaning the Court of a prince or duke and later, of the tsar. A nobleman is called dvoryanin...
. Today, it is incorporated into Kuzminki-Lyublino historical park located in Moscow's Kuzminki District. The estate was named after the Icon of Theotokos Vlakhernskaya, a copy of which was kept in the estate church.
History
In 1702 Peter the Great granted the estate to Grigori StroganovGrigory Dmitriyevich Stroganov
Grigory Dmitriyevich Stroganov was a Russian landowner and statesman, the most notable member of the prominent Stroganov family in the late 17th century-early 18th century, a strong supporter of the reforms and initiatives of Peter the Great. Grigory Dmitriyevich Stroganov (1656 – 21...
. No buildings were erected on the property until after the death of the first owner in 1714. The new owner, Alexander Stroganov, began construction on the estate; in 1754 the estate passed to his widow. After the marriage of her daughter Anna in 1757 to Prince Mikhail Golitsyn (1731-1804), the property passed to the Golitsyn family. From 1833 onwards, Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki was a part of Golitsyns mayorate. In 1889 a part of the estate was donated to Vlakhernsky hospital. In the course of the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was converted to an officers' hospital.
The Manor house
The manor house was rebuilt several times in the second half of the 18th century. Side wings are connected with the main house by two semi-circular galleries. In the 1830s, the entrance of the manor court was decorated with iron cadelabra and griffins, designed by J. Colombo. The manor house and its western wing burned down in 1916. In the late 1920s, a new building of the Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine was built on the spot. The western wing was renovated in the 1950s. The wings of the manor house are operated by the Museum of History of MoscowMuseum of History of Moscow
The Museum of History of Moscow is one of the oldest museums of the city. Its collection was established on the initiative of Russian scientific community in 1896. The Moscow City Duma gave it a large collection of exhibits....
and exhibit various collections, including those of the Museum of Russian Estate Culture.
The Estate Church
The church of the Blachernae Icon of Theotokos is located at the heart of the estate. The first wooden church was built here in 1716 by the Stroganovs in honour of the Blachernae Icon, a Stroganov family patronPatron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
. The construction of a stone church in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style began at the end of 1750s. In the 1780s, the church was rebuilt in Neoclassical style
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
. In the 19th century, it was rebuilt by Domenico Giliardi
Domenico Giliardi
Domenico Gilardi , was a Swiss architect who worked primarily in Moscow, Russia in Neoclassicist style. He was one of key architects charged with rebuilding the city after the Fire of 1812...
and Konstantin Bykovsky.
The church has two side altars
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
dedicated to Saints Alexander Nevsky
Alexander Nevsky
Alexander Nevsky was the Prince of Novgorod and Grand Prince of Vladimir during some of the most trying times in the city's history. Commonly regarded as the key figure of medieval Rus, Alexander was the grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest and rose to legendary status on account of his military...
and Sergius of Radonezh; several members of the Golitsyn family are interred at the church.
The church was closed in 1929 by order of the government and many of it's ceremonial items were removed, the bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
was also ruined and the building itself was badly damaged. The church and the bell tower were restored in 1995 under the guidance of Yelena Vorontsova. In October 1995 the refurbished church was consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Alexy II.
External links
- Photo (1024x768) Photos History Official site of the church of Vlakhernskaya Icon of the Theotokos History and map Paintings of the estate in the 1840s
- Kuzminki - Photo Album - Photos and digital paintings of the Kuzminki District (Moscow, Russia). (English, Russian)
- Museum of Russian Estate Culture (Moscow)