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Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Church in Voronezh

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In Otrazhka, a church dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God has stood for a whole century. Throughout the 20th century, its stone walls withstood the storms of time, and the church endured. Over its long history, it has witnessed much, and today, just as a hundred years ago, its bells call the faithful to prayer every day.

According to historical data, the settlement of Otrazhka (also known as Rozhki, Atroshki, Otrazhki, Tregubovo) emerged in the 17th century on the left bank of the Voronezh River, at the outcrops or "otrogs," from which its name derives. The settlement belonged to the Alexievsky Akatov Monastery and in 1629 consisted of only six peasant households. In the 19th century, the development of Otrazhka actively progressed: new houses were added to several village quarters located along the only street to the east and south along the road to Pridacha. In the mid-19th century, the Voronezh Zemstvo advocated for the construction of a railway between Voronezh and the Ryazan-Kozlov line, and in 1867 the road was built, with regular train services starting the following year. Near Otrazhka, the Razdelnaya station appeared, and in 1870 a section of the road to Liski was constructed. Until the early 20th century, Otrazhka remained a village, despite population growth, and did not have its own church. The nearest church was located in Pridacha.

In the early 20th century, the residents of Otrazhka decided to build their own church. According to legend, a local resident, I.D. Kolbeshkin, saw a pillar of light with the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God pointing to a wasteland among the houses. This vision ended the disputes about the construction site, and in 1903, the church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was laid at this location.

For a long time, it was believed that the construction of the church was completed in 1908, but various sources mention the years 1911 and 1912. The newspaper "Voronezh Telegraph" reported that the church was consecrated on November 5, 1911. Before the construction was completed, the residents arranged a cemetery, which has survived to this day, with a cornerstone dated June 2, 1908.

The Kazan Church became the first church in Voronezh built in the early 20th century, before the 1917 revolution. The second was the cathedral in the name of Prince Vladimir, which was destroyed in 1930. The Kazan Church was luckier: after its construction, Otrazhka received the status of a village, and a rural center formed around the church. The architectural appearance of the settlement was characterized by a unity of style, and the church with red-brick walls and green domes became its dominant feature.

Little is known about the internal life of the parish. Due to its late construction, the church was not included in publications on the history of the diocese. In 1936, during the height of the anti-religious campaign, the church was closed, and its clergy were arrested. In 1939, Otrazhka became part of Voronezh, and the church remained abandoned.

In 1942, during the war, the church was severely damaged but not destroyed. In 1943, residents began to seek its restoration, and in 1946 the church was reopened. Parishioners made efforts to restore the church, and in 1954 a new iconostasis was installed.

In the 1980s, restoration of the church began: the walls, domes, and roof were restored. In the 1990s, the walls were repainted, and in 2009, the crosses were replaced. In 2010, the iconostasis and entrance group were updated.

Today, the church grounds include a complex of buildings, including a Sunday school and a chapel. The church continues its spiritual and charitable activities.

Geo point

Храм Казанской иконы Божией Матери в Воронеже

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