Nowadays, when the Orthodox and Catholic churches, represented by their primates, have extended their hands to each other in search of ways to serve the Lord together, Special attention attracted to the Catholic Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary located in Moscow, the history of which is in many ways similar to the fate of numerous Orthodox churches Russia.
The Catholic community of Moscow at the end of the 19th century
The end of the 19th century became a period of rapid development of capitalism for Russia. How countless mushrooms grew joint stock companies, banks, as well as manufacturing and commercial enterprises. All this caused an intensive influx of a large number of foreigners into the country, including from Catholic countries. They opened their own business here and, gradually adapting to new conditions, nevertheless remained adherents of their faith.
There had previously been a community of them in Moscow, which held services in two cathedrals that belonged to them, but by the end of the century it had grown so large that its representatives were forced in 1894 to turn to the city authorities with a request to consider the construction of a new church. The Moscow governor met them halfway and signed a document on the basis of which the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built.
Development of the temple project
Giving his consent to the construction, the governor set a condition: the location chosen for it must be located at a distance from the city center and its main Orthodox shrines. He also introduced restrictions on the appearance of the future building, prohibiting the construction of towers and the installation of outdoor sculptures. Despite the fact that Moscow has always been characterized by religious tolerance, in in this case showed a certain amount of caution.
The development of documentation was entrusted to the architect F. O. Bogdanovich-Dvorzhetsky, and soon his project, executed in neo gothic style, has been approved. Despite the fact that the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to the author’s plan, did not meet the requirements put forward earlier (the ban on the construction of towers was violated), the governor agreed to its construction.
Solving construction financing problems
In those years, on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street lived a large number of Poles who served in railway. Their religious community was very large and included about thirty thousand people. It was there that the site for the future cathedral was purchased, and the Poles themselves, who later formed the parish of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, collected a significant amount for its construction. The missing funds were provided by Catholics of other nationalities who inhabited Russia.
Construction work lasted until 1911 and was completed with the installation of a decorative fence. total amount, required to pay off all expenses, amounted to three hundred thousand rubles, which was quite a lot at that time. However, for another six years, until the revolution, finishing work continued. interior spaces temple. Of course, this required additional funds.
Years of total atheism
In the first years after its consecration, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary had the status of a branch church and only in 1919 it was transformed into an independent parish, after which services there continued for almost twenty years. But the wave of general atheistic madness that swept the country in those years did not escape Catholic cathedral. At the end of 1938, it was closed, the community was dissolved, and the property acquired with donations from thousands of people was looted.
During the war, when hundreds of thousands of enemy bombs and shells rained down on Moscow, the former Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was also damaged. During one of the air raids, it lost several towers and spiers, but, fortunately, the building itself survived. Already in post-war years it was transferred to the disposal of one of the Moscow research institutes.
Before moving into the building provided to them, the leadership of the scientific organization reconstructed its interior, finally destroying the remains of the church interior. In particular, the entire space former cathedral was divided into four floors. The changes also affected appearance, mercilessly distorting the harmony of its architectural forms.
Attempts to return the cathedral to the sphere of spiritual life
Cathedral The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built taking into account the laws of acoustics, thanks to which the magnificent sound of the organ and church choir was noted in its premises. It was an unforgivable mistake to ignore such unique features of the building.
In 1976, representatives of the capital's creative intelligentsia approached the Ministry of Culture with a proposal: after appropriate reconstruction, use the cathedral as a concert hall for the performance of organ music. Their initiative was approved, a corresponding project was even developed, but its implementation was never realized.
The difficult path of returning the cathedral to parishioners
The Roman Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary found its new life already during the period of perestroika, when in 1989 the association, which united Moscow Poles in its ranks, turned to the Moscow government with a request to transfer the temple building to them.
The return of the cathedral to believers, which took place in 1996, was preceded by many years of bureaucratic ordeals associated with the eviction of the institution that had settled there. Despite the trends of new times, the thinking of many officials remained at the same level, which developed in the dark times of stagnation. This caused many annoying delays.
However, even before the arrival of the desired day, in December 1990, the current bishop, and in those years an ordinary priest, Janusz Wilski, celebrated a mass on the steps of the cathedral, which then belonged to a civil organization. Co next year cathedral services became regular, but they were held outside the building.
Consecration of the restored cathedral
After completing all the formalities, it took another three years to give the temple its original appearance, eliminating all the deposits. long years changes. This affected both the façade and the layout of the interior, which had to be refinished. It should be noted that it was not possible to achieve complete resemblance to what the temple was in the year of its first consecration due to a number of technical reasons. However, comparing the result of the restorers’ work with the sketch of the cathedral, stored in the archive along with other documents related to the project at the end of the 19th century, it should be noted that they managed to restore the style and return to the building the indescribable spirit laid down by the author.
On the occasion of the solemn consecration of the newly opened cathedral, a Vatican delegation headed by its Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, arrived in Moscow.
A unique and unusual event for parishioners of Orthodox churches was held in this cathedral in 2002. That day, with the help of a teleconference, a joint prayer of its rector with the Pope and the heads of some Western European Catholic parishes took place.
Liturgical Cathedral Choir
It has long been a tradition to organize concerts of sacred music in Moscow, timed to coincide with certain church holidays, at which the choir of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception enjoys particular success. His active concert and liturgical activities began in 1999 with the blessing of Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz.
Today, choir group classes are held weekly on Wednesdays in a specially equipped classroom. ground floor building.
The Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the largest Catholic church in Russia. It rises in Moscow, on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street and decorates it with its pointed neo-Gothic towers. The building was erected in 1911 by the Polish community in Moscow.
In prayer and good deeds
The Roman Catholic Cathedral has not held services since 1938. And only in 1999, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who arrived from the Vatican, consecrated it and gave his blessing. Now the cathedral hosts services according to the Roman Catholic rite not only in Russian and Polish, but also in English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Korean and in Latin. In addition, divine services and holy masses are held according to the Armenian rite.
Much attention is directed to charitable events, including music concerts to raise funds. On the territory of the cathedral there is a library, the editorial office of a church magazine, a church shop and offices of charitable organizations. Youth meetings are organized in the temple to attract Roman- Catholic Church the younger generation. In the cathedral, those interested are taught Gregorian chant and improvisational organ playing.
Organ music
Not only Catholic believers visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral. Many people are attracted to classical organ music. The organ in this cathedral is the largest in Russia, it includes 5563 pipes. Just imagine this amount. This is a huge musical organism that comes to life from contact with a person.
At the concerts they play Handel, Mozart, other great composers and, of course, Bach, the unique master of organ music. In addition to the amazing sensations, there is surprise at the composer’s skill. What kind of computer should he have in his head to harmonize almost six thousand different voices into one amazing melody that speaks so clearly to the listeners? The sound fills the entire cathedral, carries upward, fills a person. The elastic wave of sound becomes tangible and can be felt by the skin. An indescribable, amazing feeling.
Tears welled in the eyes of many listeners. Others listen with their eyes closed, others hold their breath, afraid to move. After the last chord there is complete silence for some time. People do not believe that the music has died down and will not resume. After all, the concert lasts more than an hour, but from the listener’s perception it seems that only a few minutes have passed...
One can only talk about organ concerts in superlatives, they evoke unprecedented sensations. This example clearly shows that the interpenetration of cultures and religions can enrich the worldview of all peoples without exception, making their spiritual life a little richer.
The cathedral on Malaya Gruzinskaya Street in Moscow belongs to the Roman Catholic Church and is the main temple of this religious movement in the capital.
Since the middle of the 18th century, a movement arose in Europe that revived medieval Gothic architecture and was called “neo-Gothic”.
Directed upward, pointed lines, as if palms folded in prayer, vaults of intersecting arcs, openwork structures, windows with multi-colored stained glass windows, high, but long and narrow halls - all these characteristic Gothic features are inherent in the cathedral, built in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. .
Description of the Catholic Cathedral
A sculpture depicting the crucifixion of Christ greets visitors at the entrance. The temple has three naves separated by columns. Confessional booths are located in the side naves. In the central one there are places for parishioners, separated by a passage. Below the windows you can see wall bas-reliefs depicting the Way of the Cross of Jesus.
The altar of the temple, like the pulpit, is made of dark green marble; the relics of saints are kept in it.
The choir loft is located above the rear of the central nave. On Sundays, services are accompanied by the Liturgical Choir, and on church holidays— professional Academic choir.
This cathedral houses the largest organ in Russia. It was made in Switzerland, has 4 manuals and 74 registers. The temple also has two digital organs.
Mass Schedule
Divine services in the cathedral are held in Russian, Polish, Latin and five other languages. Masses in Russian and Polish are held daily, in other languages - in certain days . Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place regularly, and Holy Mass is celebrated on Sundays with a sermon for children. Thematic events are also held, for example, masses for relief from various ailments or conversations about family and raising children.
Schedule of masses in the church on Malaya Gruzinskaya:
- On weekdays, except Wednesday, Holy Mass is held at 8.00, 9.00 (in Russian), 18.00 and 19.00 (in Polish).
- On Saturdays - in the morning and at 17.30.
- On Sunday, Holy Masses take place all day.
The cathedral also holds services in the form of the Roman rite: every third Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Divine Liturgy according to the Armenian rite - on Fridays and Sundays at 13.00 and 15.30.
Anyone can attend the service, regardless of their religion.. However, only baptized Catholics can confess and receive Holy Communion.
The activities of the church are not limited to masses and liturgies. In order to attract young people, various events are held here:
- meetings, conversations, consultations;
- catechism classes;
- preparation for confirmation;
- There is a children's and youth center named after John Bosco. The public cultural organization “The Art of Good,” located on the premises of the temple, works closely with clergy and believers. This foundation organizes and supervises concerts of sacred music, provides assistance to young talented musicians and orphanages.
Concerts in the Cathedral
This building is not only a monument of Gothic architecture, but also a popular concert hall. Concerts in the Catholic Cathedral on Malaya Gruzinskaya attract many classical music lovers. The abundance of niches, vaults, and domes creates special acoustics, similar to stereophonic sound (in light modern technologies– 3D). It is not without reason that since the Middle Ages organs have been located exclusively in churches.
Organ and choir concerts are held in the church regularly. Here you can listen to classical organ music - Bach, Handel, Mozart, Vivaldi, etc.; choral works of great composers performed by magnificent choirs, symphonic music and even jazz performed by organ. The Art of Good Foundation maintains contacts with outstanding organists of the world and some of them give concerts and even conduct classes with young musicians. In addition, a project has been developed within which it is possible to take a course that includes training in polyphonic vocals in the style of Gregorian chant.
These concerts are extremely popular among lovers of serious music and their organizers have already drawn up a schedule for six months. The program poster offers, in addition to organ music performed by Russian and foreign organists, performances by ensembles with the most unusual combinations of instruments:
- lute, lyre, cithara;
- organ, oboe, flute;
- organ and harp;
- organ and saxophone;
- organ, saxophone, duduk, flute, harp;
- organ and trumpet;
- organ and orchestra;
- string quintet and guitar;
- organ and vocals (solo and ensemble).
The concert hall also presents fairy tales “The Hobbit” and “The Little Prince” with sand animation.
Location, transportation
How to get to the cathedral on Malaya Gruzinskaya, how to get to this street - this question often arises among visitors, and sometimes among Muscovites. The address of the cathedral is Presnensky district, Malaya Gruzinskaya street, house 27/13.
To get to the temple for a service or concert, it is best to take the metro and then walk a little. The closest station is Ulitsa 1905 Goda.
The Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a true stronghold of spirituality and culture. It is visited by people of different faiths, and this interpenetration of cultures and religions blurs the lines between them and, undoubtedly, serves the cause of peace.
We attended an organ concert (organ + violin + oboe) - great! Amazing acoustics, very polite attitude. I advise everyone to admire the grandeur of the cathedral and listen to the concert.
Beautiful cathedral, wonderful concerts. Famous musicians often perform. An amazing atmosphere, the music seems to envelop you and rise to the vaults.
Gothic celebration! The cathedral is amazing, especially when illuminated. It looks like a magic castle, I can’t even believe that it’s real, the real Middle Ages.
The idea of composer Alfred Schnittke that any of the Gothic cathedrals is a certain model of the world concerns both Catholic and Protestant movements. Any of them must be understood as Big city. After all, the construction of the temples itself provided for the accommodation of the entire population of the city. In other words, every temple must be huge. This problem was solved by an ingenious solution regarding the construction of vaults.
Catholic Cathedral Art
Each Catholic cathedral seemed much larger inside than outside. Another achievement in the construction of Gothic cathedrals is unity in architecture, interior, and decoration. But on the other hand, a Gothic cathedral always combines art different types and time.
In the Gothic style itself, such types of arts as sculpture, stained glass, decorative design in the form of carvings on wood, stone, bone, and all this in musical accompaniment. The Catholic one is decorated with sculptural works and compositions from them, various types of ornaments, figures of real and fantastic animals. Special iconography of Christian saints always adorns the western portals of the cathedral. And the main entrance is decorated with sculptures of saints. There are up to eight dozen of them. Decor internal space Catholic Cathedral - stained glass windows. The light pouring from them with iridescent shades and variety color range creates a feeling of the endless reality of the sky. Sometimes total area The temple's stained glass windows reached two and a half thousand square meters. Separately, you should pay attention to the music in the cathedral. Initially, music schools were formed in cathedrals. And these schools produced many famous organists. Their sounding works, combined with the light passing through the stained glass windows, create a feeling of unearthly reality, confirming that the cathedral is truly a prototype of the whole world.
First of three temples
Catholic churches in Moscow coexist peacefully with Orthodox churches and temples of other faiths. The first of the three existing churches was the Church of Peter and Paul.
It was founded in the German settlement by the decision of Tsar Peter I at the beginning of the eighteenth century. But his fate was not long-term. Built with money from the Polish community in Milyutinsky Lane, it existed until the October Revolution. Then the church was closed and rebuilt. Removing the dome, staging interfloor ceilings turned the temple building into an ordinary three-story house. Subsequently, they began to place various government agencies. Today there is a research institute there. It is difficult to recognize the once majestic church in this simple building. Only a plaque on the wall reminds us that there was a Roman Catholic cathedral here.
Second Cathedral of the city
The second Catholic Moscow Cathedral became the church of the settlers of Moscow - the French. Saint Louis. Built on Malaya Lubyanka at the end of the eighteenth century.
It was rebuilt many times, but is still in operation today. The modern building was built in the mid-nineteenth century. And at the beginning of the twentieth century, a French lyceum was opened under him. It should be noted that this Catholic cathedral was not closed in the seventeenth year, like most churches, and church services were always held there with short interruptions. Already in the nineties of the last century, all the buildings that belonged to it before the revolution were transferred to the church.
Briefly about the most famous cathedral
There is no doubt that the most important among Moscow cathedrals is the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Its construction took place from the end of the nineteenth to the beginning of the twentieth century along Malaya Gruzinskaya Street in Moscow. The beauty and monumentality of the structure is amazing.
The church was closed in the thirties of the twentieth century. Patriotic War The church premises survived without much damage. Therefore, the premises were subsequently used for warehouses. And in 1990 the church was transferred to Catholics.
The need for discovery
In the mid-nineteenth century, the office of the Moscow province received a request for another church for Catholics. The petition described a significant increase in Polish settlers in the city. Soon the community received permission, but subject to certain conditions. It was prescribed to build the temple far from the central buildings of the city, as well as large Orthodox shrines. There should be no tower buildings or various sculptures above the temple. Sculptor Bogdanovich developed and approved the project. The Catholic cathedral accommodated five thousand believers and had external sculptural decorations.
History of the building
The main buildings were erected at the beginning of the twentieth century at the expense of the inhabitants of the Polish nationality of the city and all of Russia. It should be said that at that time there were already about thirty thousand Catholics in Moscow. The building itself cost the Poles up to two hundred and seventy thousand, and additional money was collected for fencing and decoration. The finishing took a long time.
During the first persecution of the church, even before the war, it was closed and converted into a hostel. The war destroyed several temple towers. In the sixties of the twentieth century, a research institute was located in the premises of the temple. To achieve this, the internal volume of the room was radically changed. There are four floors. The ninetieth year of the twentieth century returned the Catholic cathedral in Moscow to the church. After a sixty-year break, the first service was served. Hundreds of believers listened to the service while standing on the steps. Only in 1996, after long negotiations and the eviction of the research institute, the Catholic cathedral was transferred to its intended purpose and consecrated. Malaya Gruzinskaya, a Catholic cathedral, became famous after a worldwide Catholic prayer service through a teleconference and celebrations on the occasion of the centenary of the temple in 2011.
Description of the temple
Legend has it that the prototype of this cathedral was Westminster . The spire of the central tower honors the cross, and the spiers of the side towers are the coats of arms of the founders. At the entrance to the cathedral there is a sculpture with the image. In the central hall there are benches in two sectors with a passage between them. Confession rooms are located to the side. Massive columns are organically arranged in the hall. The ceilings are made in the form of arches with diagonal symmetry, forming cross-shaped vaults. Windows with sharp upper corners and stained glass. Under the windows there are wall bas-reliefs. At a certain height there are choirs designed for fifty singers. There is also an organ there. From a distance, the entire cathedral building resembles the shape of a cross. The architect's idea to display the church as the body of Christ is obvious. Other churches have a similar layout, and it is called cruciform. The altar is made of dark green marble.
On the left side of the temple there are massive bells. There are only five of them, from largest to smallest. The weight of bells starts from nine hundred kilograms with a tendency for the weight of subsequent bells to gradually decrease. The bells are driven electronically.
Cathedral organ music
The Third Catholic Cathedral in Moscow has an organ instrument, which has become the largest in the country. It can easily perform works from different historical eras. It is composed of seventy-three registers, four manuals and five thousand five hundred and sixty-three pipes. The organ is a gift from Switzerland. Created by craftsmen in 1955. Transported to Moscow in parts and installed by craftsmen from the German company "Kaufbeuren" free of charge. In 2005, the organ was consecrated.
Festivals and concerts
On Malaya Gruzinskaya street there is a Catholic Cathedral, like unique monument architecture, is also a concert hall in Moscow. Its walls are filled with music from festivals and concerts. The acoustics of the building create a special sound of sacred organ music. Here the heart of even the most callous person becomes softer.
Respecting ancient European cultural traditions, the Catholic Cathedral gives concerts regularly and welcomes everyone who wants to enjoy sublime music. Here, all the vaults of the cathedral are filled with the sound of compositions by various musical geniuses from all over the world. A visit to the temple gives you the opportunity to hear modern jazz music performed by an organ at the same time as medieval music. Visitors are always invited big choice performances and concert programs. The whole family can go to a concert during the day, enjoy holiday festivals, evenings of sacred music and medieval mysteries. It is also important that all money for purchased tickets is used for repair and restoration work in the church.
The organ is the king of instruments. And any self-respecting royal dynasty dates back to the depths of centuries. And it is true. A foreshadowing of the organ can be seen in the Pan flute and bagpipes. The organ was invented by the ancient Greek Ctesibius, who lived in Alexandria, Egypt. True, this organ was water and sounded during gladiator fights, as well as during the inauguration ceremony of emperors. The image of a water organ is found on the coins of Emperor Nero, a famous music lover.
In the 4th century, organs appeared that were quite royal in their sound, and in the 7th century, Pope Vitalian introduced the organ into the Catholic Church. Byzantium of the 8th century was universally and deservedly famous for its organs! True, they were rather rough in appearance, and the keyboard was so wide that the keys were struck not with fingers, but with fists. However, the royal courts of that time were not particularly distinguished by their moral sophistication.
Already in the 14th century, the organ acquired pedals, i.e. keyboard for feet. Playing with two hands and two feet significantly increased the performer's capabilities. And in XV, the width of the keys has finally decreased and the number of pipes has increased. And we got that king musical instruments, whom we know and love today. Further improvements, although important, were not so significant.
Any royal dynasty must have some secret. The organ also has it. The organ heals souls. His nobility is so great that any simple melody played on his trumpets becomes high music. By the way, the number of pipes in some organs reaches up to 7000. And in order not to get confused in all this diversity, they are grouped by registers. A register is a set of pipes with the same timbre and being, as it were, a separate instrument. When meeting with an organ, the organist must register. After all, each instrument is absolutely individual - the number of registers sometimes reaches 300. Also, in order not to be distracted while playing, the organist prepares the tones of the keyboards - manuals - in advance. The organ has several of them - on the largest ones there are up to seven.
It is the retinue that makes the king. The more majestic the king, the larger the trail of his music. And organ music was written by the best composers. And, of course, the closest and most trusted of them is Johann Sebastian Bach. By the way, Bach, although he was a great organist, treated his playing with a grain of irony. “You just need to know which keys to press and when, and the organ will do the rest,” he answered when asked how he succeeded.
The organ is like an orchestra. But he is more majestic than an orchestra. It has more than two thousand years of history behind it. And an equally boundless future. We love the organ and recognize its primacy in the wonderful kingdom of music. After all, he is the true king of instruments.
You can truly experience organ music only by hearing it at a live concert. Not alone, even the most perfect acoustic system, does not convey the vibrations, air movements and magic of the melodies of the “king of instruments”. Its power and variety of overtones combined with violin, saxophone and other instruments create an enchanting sound that is impossible to forget.
The Bel Canto Charitable Foundation brings to your attention a varied poster of organ music concerts in Moscow halls. You can select a suitable event below on this page. Our charitable foundation offers a variety of program formats, from a classical organ concert to an audiovisual production. You can purchase a ticket by going to the section of the event you like, where you will find not only a description of the event, but also the time it will take place. There you can pay for the places you like in a convenient way. All changes in the schedule are immediately reflected in the poster.