Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Borisov: history, mysteries and revival

In the heart of the historical part of the ancient city, on Market Square, there is an amazingly beautiful red brick temple. This is a majestic and solemn in its performance the Cathedral of Holy Resurrection.

The temple was built in the XIX century on the site of a burned wooden church. In those days, the fire did not spare buildings or people. Borisov has survived five devastating fires in decades. That is why the new Orthodox Church was built in stone. From the very beginning it was clear that the temple would become special and unlike the others. The project was approved for several years. The diocesan authorities rejected the first proposals of the architects: the drawings seemed too simple. In the end, they settled on the fact that the future cathedral will be with nine domes, three apses, an expressive contour in the retrospective Russian style. Architect Peter Merkulov worked on the project with the participation of the rector of the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg Leonty Benois.

The first stone in the foundation of the temple was laid in September 1871. But before starting a grandiose construction, 580 piles had to be hammered into the ground - the usual foundation in these swampy places would not cost. The construction of the building was entrusted to the masters from Ivenz, they managed in three years - very quickly, given the complexity of the project. Icons for the cathedral were ordered from the artist Gennady Trutnev, and the device of three oak iconostasis was engaged by a master named Eliashevsky. In the autumn of 1874 the work was completed. The main throne of the cathedral was consecrated in the name of the Resurrection of Christ, and the chapels - in the name of Prince Vladimir equal to the Apostles and in the name of Prince Alexander Nevsky.

Interestingly, for a long time the temple remained without a bell tower. Only at the beginning of the twentieth century, on the initiative of the local official and church chief Neil Burtsev, a belfry appeared at the cathedral, completing the architectural ensemble.

But the clergy has always thoroughly approached the issues of educating local residents. It is known that before the First World War, three parish schools and three parish schools operated in Borisov.

When the Bolsheviks came to power and a course for atheism was taken, the Holy Resurrection Cathedral was taken from the Orthodox and turned the building into a granary. From the bell tower tried to make a parachute tower

During the Great Patriotic Service in the temple resumed. The local priest John Strok, taking advantage of the favor of the occupation authorities, secretly rescued prisoners of war from the camp. And in 1944, during the fighting during the liberation of Borisov, 75 orphans hid in the cathedral.

Fortunately, after the victory in the war, the temple was not closed. In Soviet times, despite the official anti-religious course, it remained a place of sincere faith and consolation.

And in the years of independence, a new stage in the history of the cathedral began - a large-scale reconstruction (completed in 2014). It allowed the building to return the appearance conceived in the XIX century. Thanks to the joint efforts of the diocese, local authorities and parishioners, arches, vaults, walls were strengthened, brickwork was restored, and the construction of domes was strengthened. Later, the bell tower and the historic treasury building on Market Square were renovated, which over time also became part of the church complex.

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