December 29, 2012 at the Embassy Russian Federation In Prague, a new temple was consecrated in honor of the holy martyr Lyudmila, Princess of Bohemia. The rite of minor consecration was performed by the head of the Moscow Patriarchate Office for Foreign Institutions, Archbishop Mark of Yegoryevsk. Before the consecration of the temple, Natalya Sudlenkova, editor-in-chief of the Prague Telegraph, spoke with Archbishop Mark.

– For the Czech Republic, the opening of a new Russian church Orthodox Church– this is a major event. Can it be called a precedent from the point of view of all foreign activities of the Russian Orthodox Church?

– We open churches abroad quite often. Of course, these are not always our churches; we often enjoy the hospitality of other faiths. This is typical for those countries where it immediately appeared a large number of Orthodox. For example, we have fifty-two communities in Italy, but the vast majority of them do not have their own churches. Services are held at Catholic churches, where we are either allowed in of our own free will, simply for free, or some small rent is paid.

There are temples that we build abroad, but this is usually an exceptional phenomenon, or we acquire buildings where temples are set up. The creation of the Church of St. Ludmila of Bohemia in Prague is a unique event in its own way. The temple building is a secular building for civil purposes, an exhibition pavilion, which was used for purely secular purposes. By order of the President of the Russian Federation, it was transferred to the use of the Russian Orthodox Church for the creation of a temple, which, in essence, is an embassy one.

– In fact, the transfer of premises belonging to to the Russian state, the Russian Orthodox Church is a precedent. How can this be explained? Why didn't this happen earlier?

– This decision of the Russian leadership speaks of many positive trends. The Russian state now understands that the healthiest forces of its compatriots, those who are committed to positive activities, unite around churches. For them, the temple is not only a place of worship, but also, in general, a center of communication and unification of the Russian diaspora. We are grateful for this building, although it must be said that it was in a deplorable state, and a lot of capital investments had to be made, people donated money to create this temple, and the repairs were far from finished.

When I entered the temple today, I did not recognize the room. Now this is truly a real temple, and it is surprising that the building turned out to be oriented to the east, that is, nothing had to be completely altered to create the altar. The circle is a symbol of eternity, therefore the very shape of this structure already predisposes the temple to be located in this room without any damage from the point of view of the canons.

- However, isn’t it? internal contradiction is that a building that is secular in its essence will serve church purposes, because a temple is not just walls or correct location altar, but also something much more?

– I don’t see any contradiction. If we recall the history of Christianity, temples were also created in places that served as places of pagan cults. For example, the Athenian Acropolis, and many other temples in both Greece and Rome were pagan, and then were consecrated, i.e. where sacrifices were made to idols, the name of the One God began to be glorified. It is no coincidence that the Gospel says that the sun passes through not only clean, good and favorable places, but also bad places, but it is not desecrated. Everything is sanctified and blessed by prayer.

– How many believers, according to your estimates, will the new temple be able to accommodate?

– The Church of St. Ludmila of Bohemia will become the largest Orthodox church in Prague, and this is logical, because the Russian community in Prague is very, very significant. More than a thousand people can be accommodated here for holiday services. The community that previously visited the Church of St. George the Victorious at the Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic moved here, but it was not very convenient there, because there is a access control on the territory of the embassy, ​​and the temple itself is small. It could hardly accommodate 100 people, but on Easter, for example, up to one and a half thousand believers come to worship. We have been waiting for the opening of the new temple for eight years.

In addition, we will be able to actively use this temple for parishioners of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, for local residents, and for Prague residents. Here you can hold festive services with the participation of the Czech clergy and believers of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

– Doesn’t the creation of a new church of the Russian Orthodox Church on the territory of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia contradict the unwritten rules of relations between sister Churches, within which it is not customary to open churches of one Church on the canonical territory of another?

– We have a tradition of opening metochions - in Moscow there is a metochion of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and in Karlovy Vary there is a metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church. Compounds can be created exclusively on a mutual basis. The Church of St. Ludmila of Bohemia has the status of an embassy church; it does not completely fall under the general jurisdictional canonical framework; in a sense, it is both territorially and canonically extraterritorial. We held the necessary negotiations with the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and the very idea of ​​arranging the temple was positively received by the Czech clergy. The creation of the temple will serve the cause of the Christian mission, and both Churches will benefit – the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

- In many European countries There is a tendency towards a decline in the interest of residents of these states in religion. To the point that communities and municipalities sell churches or rent them out for events or concerts. At the same time, the opposite trend is obvious in Orthodoxy - the opening of new churches. What is this connected with?

– Firstly, with a large influx of people abroad. But I would not say that everything is going smoothly for us; we also have parishes where the number of people in the communities has decreased.

For example, we have a parish in Iran, there are now few parishioners there, and the number of parishioners is declining in African countries, for example, in Morocco. In rural Canada, where there used to be many people who lived on farms and attended temples, worship is now rotated between different temples as many people leave the farms for the cities.

In general, the processes of globalization and urbanization have an impact on Orthodox churches, but, thank God, that after all, in Russia and in other countries of the Russian world, and abroad we do not yet have such a problem as the need to use Orthodox churches for other purposes and, thank God, we do not sell them.

– Is it possible to say that Catholicism and Orthodoxy have common external threats, in the face of which these confessions could unite?

– Of course, there are such threats. Firstly, I would call Christianophobia such a threat. We see in some cases that Christians are persecuted various reasons, and this aggression comes both from representatives of other religions and from militant secularism. But, on the other hand, this is generally a problem of departure from Christian values, which we see in different countries on a variety of examples.

Several years ago, representatives of the European Union refused to mention Christianity in the preamble of the European Constitution; in various traditionally Christian countries, for example, in France, the issue of allowing marriage for same-sex couples is being discussed. Denmark recently passed a law according to which weddings must take place in churches of the state Lutheran Church. same-sex marriage. Actually we're talking about about the direct pressure of the secular system on the church, gross interference in people’s lives and violation of Christian values.

– How serious is the threat from quasi-Christian confessions, for example, neo-Protestants and various sectarian organizations?

– This is also a problem that hinders and threatens the Christian world. And unfortunately there are more a common problem: People are now accustomed to surrogates. Look - how many people drink pure natural water? Many people prefer Pepsi-Cola or Fanta, etc. People lose the taste for healthy food and proper drinks, and the same thing happens with regard to faith. Many people use surrogates, because in our age this is how it works: whoever is more active manages to seize the initiative, and, unfortunately, people are often seduced by some false promises. But very often people go there, then return, realizing that there is nothing there but emptiness.

Natalya SUDLENKOVA

Hello dear readers. The Church of St. Ludmila in Prague was built and decorated by the most famous late XIX century sculptors and artists of the Czech Republic. Therefore, you can imagine how outstanding this church turned out to be. It still works today. One of the most famous buildings in the city.

Administrative district Prague 2. Historical.

The Church of St. Ludmila (Kostel svaté Ludmily) is an example of neo-Gothic architecture, located on Mira Square, Vinohrady district.

It was built in 1888-1892 according to a project prepared by Yosef Motzker.

The parish church was built in honor of the first Czech saint - Lyudmila.

Lyudmila was born in the 9th century into the family of princes Pshovanov. Having converted to Christianity after marriage, she and her husband began building churches and conducting missionary activities. According to some reports, Lyudmila was educated and spoke foreign languages.

After her husband's death, she gave away her fortune to the poor and then continued raising her children alone.

When she ascended the throne younger son, she helped him in many ways.

After his death, Lyudmila’s 18-year-old grandson Vaclav came to power.

Vaclav’s own mother was not a Christian and fiercely hated Lyudmila for her son’s Christian upbringing. She orchestrated a conspiracy, as a result of which Lyudmila was strangled with her veil during prayer.

Saint Lyudmila was canonized in the 12th century.

Church

Now let's return to the temple itself. It is interesting that on the site of this building there were previously buildings of a completely different kind: there was a menagerie and a circus.

In addition to Yosef Motzker himself, the construction and decoration of the church was carried out by: J.V. Myslbek, J. Capek, A. Prochazka, F. Jeniszek. Myslbek's hand owns two famous sculptures, decorating the facade of the building - a statue of St. Wenceslas, St. Ludmila.

The main altar of the temple was created by Antonin Turek.

In 1893, the church was consecrated by the Bishop of Prague.

A colossal amount of almost 370 thousand guilders was spent on the construction of this structure.

Moreover, only a smaller part of this money was allocated by the government; the rest was collected from contributions from citizens and the city of Vinohrady.

Bells

On the towers of the temple there are four bells with the names Vaclav, Prokop, Vojtech, Lyudmila.

During the First World War, bells were used for military purposes, and only one funeral bell remained at the church. From frequent use it soon cracked.

By 1925, a fundraiser was organized to build five new bells. They were consecrated that same year. The new bells are dedicated to the same saints as their predecessors.

Nowadays, concerts, fairs and charity sales are periodically held in the temple area. You can visit the building during services.

Features of architecture and interior

This church is a neo-Gothic pseudo-basilica with two towers, each of which has two bells and ends with sharp spiers.

The tympanum of the central portal is decorated with a relief depicting Christ blessing St. Wenceslas.

Also main facade decorated with figures of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Prokop and Vojtech.

A massive staircase leads to the main entrance.

The inside of the church is no less magnificent.

The stained glass windows are painted here famous artists. They depict saints.

The department was created by carver J. Zika. It is decorated with sculptures by A. Prochazka.

The walls of the main nave are replete with frescoes.

The 16-meter altar is decorated precious stones. Next to it is a fresco with episodes from Lyudmila’s life.

The side altars also deserve special attention.

• The left one is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and the patron saints of the Czech Republic.
• Right - Cyril and Methodius, Lyudmila Czech, her husband.

The temple also has an organ consisting of 3 thousand pipes.

Working hours

You can visit the temple only during services.

Website: www.ludmilavinohrady.cz

How to get there

• By tram
  No. 16, 22, 51, 59 to the Náměstí Míru stop.
• Metro
  To Náměstí Míru station.

Address: Náměstí Míru, Prague 2

Church of St. Lyudmila on the map

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In the Prague district of Vinohrady, the Church of St. Ludmila is located - a dominant Gothic building that is clearly visible from anywhere in Mira Square and the surrounding streets.

The current church of St. Lyudmila belongs to Catholic Church. It hosts lavish services that attract believers from all over the area.

The temple was opened in 1893 after lengthy work, in which many famous architects and artists of that time were involved. The main patron of the church, Saint Lyudmila, is highly revered in the Czech Republic. She was a princess, devoted a large amount of time to studying ordinary people, supported many churches.

The basilica, built in the neo-Gothic style, is decorated with two 60-meter towers where the bells are located. The temple makes a double impression: the dark brick, narrow lancet windows, the massiveness of the structure inspire fear of the greatness of the Lord, and the flying silhouette of the church, as if directed upward, gives faith in miracles. The church is elongated vertically, which, however, is a standard architectural technique in Gothic and neo-Gothic buildings.

On the tympanum above the entrance you can see images of St. Ludmila and St. Wenceslas.

The interior interiors are distinguished by solemnity and luxury. Interesting are the stained glass windows, which depict scenes from the history of the Czech Republic. Gothic ceilings are decorated with floral patterns, tall thin columns are decorated with crosses, frescoes painted in bright colors seem to be filled with light and divine energy.

SANCTUARY OF THE TEMPLE OF ST. NICHOLAS IN KOTELNIKI

Particles of the relics of the holy martyrs Princess Lyudmilaand Prince Vyacheslav of Czech

The great patron saints of the Czech lands, the holy martyr Lyudmila and the holy prince Vyacheslav of Bohemia, were venerated in Rus' already in the 10th century. Nowadays, the fame and veneration of the great prayer book Princess Lyudmila and her grandson Prince Vyacheslav is growing.

Our temple stores the only ones in Moscow particles of the holy relics of the holy martyrs Lyudmila and Vyacheslav of Czech. They were brought to Moscow by His Beatitude Metropolitan Dorotheos in 1999 and were donated to the Russian Orthodox Church by the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. By decision His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', the holy relics were left in the Church of St. Nicholas in Kotelniki for the prayerful veneration of believers.

Saint Lyudmila is revered as a quick-to-hear, which means that she quickly responds to prayers to her. Often parishioners tell how prayer to Saint Lyudmila helped them cope with problems in life.

Recently, a reliquary with a holy particle of the holy martyr Lyudmila was installed in the temple for permanent access of believers. Currently, funds are being raised for the second reliquary, where the relics of St. Vyacheslav, Prince of Czech, and other saints will be kept

Akathists Saints Lyudmila and Vyacheslav of Czech are read on Wednesdays in our church according to.

Memorial Days:

The Day of Remembrance of the Holy Martyr, Blessed Princess Lyudmila of Czechoslovakia is celebrated by the Church on September 16/29.

The memory of the holy martyr Vyacheslav is celebrated by the Church on March 4/17 and September 28/October 11.

A piece of the holy relics of St. Nicholas, Archbishop Myra of Lycia

Gift to the Temple of His Eminence Archbishop George of Michalovsko-Kosice.

There is probably not a single Orthodox believer who does not know about the miracles performed by St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Amazing words about the help of the great saint were spoken by Archpriest Alexy Uminsky during the Patronal Feast in our Temple: “ It is Saint Nicholas that we call “quick to hear.” And, indeed, there is probably no saint as close and quick to help as Nicholas the Wonderworker. As soon as the heart begins to truly deeply cry out to him, St. Nicholas is next to us. He hears very well, he is very sensitive to us. His heart is open to us. Every moment of his life was such that he listened to human grief, listened to human misfortune.»

In the fall of 2015, one of the most revered icons of our church, the icon of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker, received a new vestment to the joy of all believers. For the icon, dating back to the 18th century, a precious frame was created with gold crowns, which the jewelers made from gifts donated to the icon by our parishioners (gold crosses, rings, chains). The frame is decorated with gems.

The image is decorated with a tsata - a special silver pendant in which the holy piece of the relics of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, Wonderworker. Every believer can venerate the holy relics at any time.

Akathists to St. Nicholas is read every Thursday according to.

Memorial Days:

July 29 (August 11) - Nativity of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.

Icon of the Mother of God Feodorovskaya

An amazing story is connected with the icon Mother of God Feodorovskaya. Today, this is the only holy image that was in the Temple before the 1917 revolution and has survived to this day.It was preserved with God’s help by the daughter of the last rector of the temple before its closure, Irina Nikolaevna Chertkova. Her father, Archpriest Nikolai Feoktistovich Chertkov, served in St. Nicholas Church for more than 30 years. It is known that the priest went to the Lord on the night when the security officers were supposed to arrest him.

Risking their lives and freedom during the times of iconoclasm, the priest’s family preserved the holy image of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God until the 90s of the 20th century. When the Church of St. Nicholas in Kotelniki began to be revived, Irina Nikolaevna transferred the icon back to the temple.

Days of HonoraboutTimes of the Virgin Mary "Feodorovskaya":

Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan

Many parishioners, upon entering the temple, first of all go to bow before a small icon with a face darkened by time. This is the icon of the Mother of God of Kazan. It was once discovered at the site of a burnt house. According to eyewitnesses, after the fire not a single object remained intact, and only the holy image lay untouched. The icon was transferred to our church, and it is one of the revered shrines.

Days of veneration:

October 22 / November 4 – celebration in honor of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God

Icon with a particle of the holy relics of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara

Icon of the Great Martyr Barbara with a particle of holy relics

On March 8, 2015, the icon of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara with a particle of the saint’s relics was in our Temple. The Lord gave the Great Martyr Barbara a special gift - prayers and intercessions for a person’s last communion. In her dying prayer, the Holy Great Martyr Barbara asked the Lord to deliver everyone who resorted to her help from unexpected troubles, from sudden death without repentance and would pour out His grace on them.

Day of veneration:

Icon with particles of the relics of the holy prince

Icon of the Holy Blessed Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia of Murom Wonderworkers, kept in our Temple

Particles of the holy relics of the holy faithful Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia of Murom Wonderworkers were donated to the Temple by His Beatitude Metropolitan Christopher.

The life of the holy faithful Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia is an example of love and fidelity, patience and wisdom; an example of the life that is available only to people who are pure in heart and humble in God. The icon with a particle of the holy faithful Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia of Murom Wonderworkers is kept in our church.

Celebration:

Peter and Princess Fevronia of Murom Wonderworkers

Icon with a particle of holy relics light. Nectarios of Aegina

Saint icon Nectarios of Aegina with a particle of St. relics of the saint

Our church is one of the few in Moscow that houses an icon with a particle of holy relics Saint Nektarios of Aegina. The icon was donated to the Church of St. Nicholas in Kotelniki by Archbishop George of Michalovsko-Koshice.

Saint Nektarios is one of the most revered (modern) Greek saints. He reposed in the Lord in 1920 and was canonized in 1961 in Greece. He is revered everywhere as a renowned miracle worker, as an ambulance in troubles and illnesses. Through the prayers of Saint Nektarios, countless miracles of healing were performed. In Greece there is even a saying: “Nothing is incurable for Saint Nektarios.”

Our Temple also contains icons with particles of holy relics Great Martyr George the Victorious, Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon.