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Church of the Holy Trinity in Yugo-Kamsk

Фото 1
The history of the Yugo-Kamsk churches deserves special attention. In the "Church Gazette" of 1915, it is mentioned: "The Holy Trinity Church is located in the Perm district of the Perm Diocese in the Yugo-Kamsk factory. The church was built in 1834 through the efforts of Princess Varvara Petrovna Butera di Ridali, born Shakhovskaya, by her first marriage Shuvalova, who owned the Yugo-Kamsk factory until 1863.

The church was consecrated on November 13, 1834, by His Grace Arkady, Bishop of Perm and Verkhoturye. The building is made of stone, on a stone foundation, with a bell tower of the same material, sturdy, covered with iron. The church has three altars. The main altar is dedicated to the Holy Life-Giving Trinity. The southern altar, dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Myra, was consecrated on December 9, 1907. The northern altar, dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, was consecrated on July 15, 1907. According to the staff, there were three priests, a deacon, and three psalmists assigned to the church. There was no salary provided from the treasury, the owner, or the parishioners.

At that time, the Holy Trinity Church was one of the most majestic structures. It was considered one of the most beautiful not only in the parish but also in the province, and the sound of its bells could be heard for miles. The church stood for one hundred years and one month until its destruction in 1935. It is known that the building was constructed according to a unique design by Ural architect Ivan Ivanovich Svyazev, whose works still adorn Perm and other cities in Russia.

Contemporaries recall that the church "stood like a bride, with a tall bell tower, five large domes, painted royal gates, and an ornate fence among curly birches. It towered over the factory and the village, with waves of the Upper Pond washing one side, while the Kazan road passed on the other, and the market square was bustling."

Seven chapels were attached to the church in the villages of Poludennaya, Verkh-Yuga, Chuvakovka, Gari, Osinovka, Yelniki, and Klyuchiki. The church library contained 430 volumes of reading books. The parish had one church school and five zemstvo schools. The church school was housed in its own building, where in 1915, 67 boys and 26 girls were educated. The church elder since 1915 was Mikhail Pavlovich Arefin, 55 years old, residing in Yugo-Kamsk.

The church had five domes, symbolizing the power of God the Father and the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There were three entrances to the church: the central one from the Kazan road for parishioners, the western one for the clergy, and a northern emergency entrance. The bell tower rose above the western entrance.

On the northern side of the church was a small cemetery where honored residents of the village were buried, and behind the altar, the clergy. Later, during excavations, bones and slabs with names were found. In Soviet times, a dance floor was arranged on the site of the cemetery, where dances were held to music. In my youth, I also attended these dances, unaware of what I was doing. The Russian Orthodox Church suffered greatly after the Schism, but what future could be expected with such sacrilege?

Continuing about the church: there was a narthex where the divine world met the earthly, a spacious central part, a pulpit, and an altar with a large iconostasis. Underground stone corridors led from the church in different directions, allowing for full-height passage. One of them led under the garden to the manager's house, another, under the Kazan road to the house of the volost ruler, and a third to the priest's house. In winter, the church was not heated; the temperature was maintained by warmth from the underground labyrinths. A tunnel was laid from the factory to the church, which was later sealed and filled with concrete.

In the early 20th century, singing groups emerged at the church, especially active on the eve of major holidays such as Easter and Christmas. The church was decorated with garlands, burning bowls, and sparklers. During Easter, the factory closed for a week, the church bells rang continuously, and the priests made a procession around the houses in the village. On Trinity Day, large festivities were held on Mount Gulbishche.

In 1915, through the efforts of parishioners, a second church was built at the Yugo-Kamsk Orthodox cemetery, named All Saints. On June 21 of the same year, it was consecrated by the Bishop of Perm and Solikamsk Andronicus. A historical description has been preserved: the building is wooden on a stone foundation with a wooden bell tower, the roof is sturdy, covered with iron. Two houses and a wing were built for the clergy with church funds. The history of both churches turned out to be sad.

During the Soviet era, the church was decapitated, partially destroyed, and rebuilt into a two-story building for non-church use, housing a technical school and a library.

In June 2009, the building was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. It now needs restoration and reconstruction.

Geo point

Церковь Троицы Живоначальной в Юго-Камском

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