Transfiguration Cathedral (Tolyatti)
Encyclopedia
The Transfiguration Cathedral is an Orthodox Cathedral
in the Russian city of Tolyatti
. Completed in 2002, it is named after the Christian Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
, celebrated on August 19.
In August of 1991 (at the same time as the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt was unfolding), the Tolyatti town planning council made the decision to build a temple complex consisting of a baptismal church, a bell tower, and the Transfiguration Cathedral. The original intent was to place the cathedral on the banks of the Volga, but it was later decided to build it closer to the residential areas.
The chief architect was Dmitry Sokolo. Engineering drawings were developed by the Tolyatti companies Motor–Invest Ltd. and Hydroassembly. The construction was conducted by AvtoVAZ
's Office of Capital Construction of Industrial Buildings and Structures with the direct involvment by Archpriest
Valeriy Marchenko, rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Construction began in June 1992 with the erection of a church in honor of John the Baptist and the residences for the clergy. The erection of the cathedral proper began in 1996 and was completed in 2002.
On August 19, 2002, Archbishop Sergius (Victor Poletkin), archbishop of the Samara and Syzran Diocese, consecrated the cathedral.
Still unbuilt, and not planned to be built for several years, is the final part of the construction – the bell tower. According to the initial draft, it will be 76 metres (249.3 ft) tall and will be provided with an elevator and observation deck.
(icon wall) at the altar is 15 metres (49.2 ft).
The floors are covered with mosaics of twelve kinds of marble. For the opening of the cathedral, Tolyatti jewelers provided sixteen enamel icons in silver frames. The interior and exterior are of carved oak brass fittings and grilles.
The domes are covered with gold–plated stainless steel. The crosses are made of the same material. The central dome weighs 26 tons; its construction required the use of a special custom crane.
The building is very modern from an engineering standpoint: the cathedral is equipped with radio broadcasting equipment, ventilation systems, a fire and burglar alarm system and other communications equipment, and outdoor floodlights.
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in the Russian city of Tolyatti
Tolyatti
Tolyatti , also known as Togliatti, is a city in Samara Oblast, Russia. It serves as the administrative center of Stavropolsky District, although it is administratively separate from it...
. Completed in 2002, it is named after the Christian Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
Transfiguration of Jesus
The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported in the New Testament in which Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant upon a mountain. The Synoptic Gospels describe it, and 2 Peter 1:16-18 refers to it....
, celebrated on August 19.
Construction
Before the cathedral was built, services for Tolyatti's Auto Factory District were held in an ordinary flat in a conventional 16–storey apartment building on Yubileynaya (Jubilee) Street. Even then there was a sign on the door: "Cathedral of the Transfiguration". But, for services for the entire district, no more than two dozen people could be accommodated.In August of 1991 (at the same time as the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt was unfolding), the Tolyatti town planning council made the decision to build a temple complex consisting of a baptismal church, a bell tower, and the Transfiguration Cathedral. The original intent was to place the cathedral on the banks of the Volga, but it was later decided to build it closer to the residential areas.
The chief architect was Dmitry Sokolo. Engineering drawings were developed by the Tolyatti companies Motor–Invest Ltd. and Hydroassembly. The construction was conducted by AvtoVAZ
AvtoVAZ
AvtoVAZ is the Russian automobile manufacturer formerly known as VAZ: Volzhsky Avtomobilny Zavod , but better known to the world under the trade name Lada. The company was established in the late 1960s in collaboration with Fiat...
's Office of Capital Construction of Industrial Buildings and Structures with the direct involvment by Archpriest
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
Valeriy Marchenko, rector of the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Construction began in June 1992 with the erection of a church in honor of John the Baptist and the residences for the clergy. The erection of the cathedral proper began in 1996 and was completed in 2002.
On August 19, 2002, Archbishop Sergius (Victor Poletkin), archbishop of the Samara and Syzran Diocese, consecrated the cathedral.
Still unbuilt, and not planned to be built for several years, is the final part of the construction – the bell tower. According to the initial draft, it will be 76 metres (249.3 ft) tall and will be provided with an elevator and observation deck.
Architecture
The usable area of the cathedral is 2800 square metres (3,348.8 sq yd). The capacity exceeds 3,000 persons. The top of the main cross is 62 metres (203.4 ft) above ground level. The cathedral includes the main alter in honor of the Transfiguration, the southern and norther altars, choirs, and the west porch, north and south porches, and the basement. The height of the iconostasisIconostasis
In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. Iconostasis also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed anywhere within a church...
(icon wall) at the altar is 15 metres (49.2 ft).
The floors are covered with mosaics of twelve kinds of marble. For the opening of the cathedral, Tolyatti jewelers provided sixteen enamel icons in silver frames. The interior and exterior are of carved oak brass fittings and grilles.
The domes are covered with gold–plated stainless steel. The crosses are made of the same material. The central dome weighs 26 tons; its construction required the use of a special custom crane.
The building is very modern from an engineering standpoint: the cathedral is equipped with radio broadcasting equipment, ventilation systems, a fire and burglar alarm system and other communications equipment, and outdoor floodlights.
Activities
In July of 2006, the cathedral hosted one of the most important relics in the Christian world, the supposed right hand of John the BaptistJohn the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
.