History

One of the largest cathedrals in pre-revolutionary Russia was the Peter and Paul Cathedral in the city of Alexandrovsk-Grushevsky, now known as Shakhty. The stone cathedral was built from 1895 to 1899 on the site of an old wooden church. The new temple was consecrated in 1899, and the wooden church was moved to Sennaya Square.

On February 5, 1913, by decree of the Holy Synod, the Peter and Paul Church was renamed a cathedral. This cathedral became the central church of the coal industry center in the Don region. It housed a library of 156 volumes, which was destroyed by the Bolsheviks.

In 1922, the cathedral was seized by Renovationists, and then it passed into state ownership, after which church valuables were confiscated.

Purpose of the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Shakhty

The Peter and Paul Cathedral was not only a spiritual but also an educational center for Alexandrovsk-Grushevsky. Until 1920, there were 12 parish schools operating in the cathedral's parish and nearby mines with the participation of the church's priests. Among them were male and female schools, vocational schools, and gymnasiums.

Closure of the Peter and Paul Cathedral and its destruction

In 1923, the City Executive Committee decided to close all city churches, including the Peter and Paul Cathedral. This caused unrest among the population and repression from the Soviet authorities. Attempts to resume services were brutally suppressed.

Later, the Executive Committee allowed churches to resume activities, but only to meet religious needs. Charity and children's education were prohibited.

In 1929, the cathedral was closed again, and in the 1930s it was looted and destroyed. It was planned to use the bricks for construction, but due to their quality, the walls could not be dismantled, and they were demolished.

Surrender of property

On November 28, 1929, the property of the former cathedral was transferred to the Shakhty branch of the state bank for shipment to Moscow. Among the confiscated items were silver and gold artifacts, icons with precious stones, and other valuables.

Property not intended for shipment was accounted for as state fund property. Non-ferrous metals, a wooden coffin, and other items were handed over for storage.

What is currently on the site of the cathedral?

On the site of the destroyed cathedral, a building for an institute was constructed, and a monument to Lenin was erected in the square in front of it. This square is now one of the central ones in the city. The question of demolishing the Lenin monument has been raised multiple times, but it remains in place. A monument to Alexander II was erected elsewhere. A model of the cathedral, impressive in its grandeur, is kept in the local museum.