The Epiphany Church is one of the oldest in the Fatezh region. The village of Bolshoye Annenkovo emerged in the mid-17th century as a parish of this church. Historical documents mention the village with the church as early as the 1630s. Initially, church buildings were made of wood, but they quickly deteriorated, decayed, or burned down. In 1778, parishioners built one of these wooden churches, and at that time the parish had 3,467 members.
In 1914, a majestic stone building with a bell tower was constructed, featuring three altars: in honor of the Epiphany of the Lord, the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, and Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. Inside the church, special attention was given to the vault, symbolizing the spiritual sky and creating an impression of depth and solidity. The church was built in the style of cross-domed architecture.
The construction was funded by the community and donations. For example, church elder Ivan Mikhailovich Voinov donated 5,000 rubles, for which he was awarded a certificate from the Holy Synod. Parishioners addressed construction issues at general meetings, and all work was carried out by community members for free. Clay was taken from a ravine, where bricks were also made and fired, with eggs added to the mortar for strength.
The Epiphany Church owned 49 desyatinas of land, the income from which supported the clergy and partially funded three local schools established in the village in 1870, 1903, and 1911.
The first rector of the church was Priest Anton Afanasyev, born in 1695. His son Semyon was a deacon. At the same time, Priest Kliment served, whose son Pavel was a sacristan. In 1780, Priests Evsigney Pustovoytov and Amon Kamin served here.
The last rector before 1917 was Priest Ivan Popov, who was born into a priest's family and graduated from the Kursk Theological Seminary. He raised six children after his wife's death.
The church was closed after the revolution. According to locals, there were plans to blow it up, but the collective farm chairman adapted the building for grain storage.
After the village was liberated from occupation, residents restored the church. During the war and post-war years, the parish was led by Archpriest Georgy Psaryov, who faced difficulties such as attacks on the church and lack of funds. In the 1950s, Archpriest Dmitry Alexandrov served, leaving a good memory of himself.
In the 1980s, the church was managed by Archpriest Valery Pashkov and Priest Vasily Lazarchuk, who conducted renovations. In the 1990s, Archpriest Alexey Kononov and Priest Vladimir Lazar served. From 1996 to 2002, Priest Vladimir Monosilov was the rector.
Since November 2003, Priest Igor Krutikov has been the rector. Under his leadership, work has been done to renew the church, a small bell tower has been installed, and heating has been provided. A Sunday school operates at the church, catechetical talks are held before the Sacraments, and assistance is given to those in need.
The church attracts people of all ages, especially crowded during feast days. In 2011, a procession with the icon of the Mother of God took place for the first time, with more than a hundred participants.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.
To leave a comment, sign in with Google.