Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky (Volgograd)

Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky Кафедральный собор Александра Невского (in Russian)
Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Volgograd
48°42′34″N 44°30′49″E
Location	Volgograd, Russia
Denomination	Russian Orthodox Church
Website	prihod.ru
History
Consecrated	2021
Architecture
Architect(s)	Lomakin Evgeniy Borisovich
Style	Neo-Byzantine
Groundbreaking	2016
Completed	2021
Construction cost	1 billion 400 millions russian rubles
Specifications
Height	58 meters

Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky (Russian: Кафедральный Собор Александра Невского) this is a cathedral in Volgograd named after Alexander Nevsky. In 1932 it was destroyed, but in 2016, it was decided to rebuild the temple giving it the same name, which met with criticism among the townspeople associated with the chosen location for construction. The temple was finally built and baptized in 2021.

History

Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in 1917

The cathedral was grounded during the Russian Empire, in what was then Volgograd (Tsaritsyn). It was built in memory of the rescue of the family of Emperor Alexander III in a railway accident in October 1888. The consecration took place on May 19, 1918. However, in 1929 the process of closing the cathedral began, and in 1932 it was blown up. At the beginning of the XXI century, a project was created to revive the cathedral.

Construction

Construction of cathedral

The first foundation stone was laid in 2016. It was an old brick from the walls of a church blown up in the last century. On May 6, 2018, on the day of remembrance of Prince Alexander Nevsky, the first dome was raised on the cathedral. On November 23, 2019, the painting of the cathedral began with a prayer service before the beginning of every good deed. On April 9, 2020, a Byzantine cross weighing 2 tons was installed. On September 16, 2020, oak doors were installed at the main entrance. Construction was completed in 2021, and the temple was consecrated that same year.

Criticism

The cathedral from the inside

The construction of the temple caused a mixed reaction among the townspeople. The main object of criticism was not the idea of restoring the temple itself, but the chosen place. Firstly, the temple does not fit into the already established architectural ensemble of the city, including the square of Fallen Fighters and Mira Street. Secondly, the temple is being built in the city center, which is already overloaded. Thirdly, it is noted that the temple is being built in a public place, which was previously used by all citizens, and after that it will satisfy the interests of only one religious group. Fourth, construction is underway on the site of the park, despite the fact that after the collapse of the USSR, the area of the city's green spaces is only decreasing.