St. George Cathedral of Russian Old Believers in Egorievsk

A small Russian town of Egorievsk is situated not far from the Russian capital. It's always been populated by the Russian Old Believers, the indigenous Russian people which have not accepted the patriarch Nickon church reforms of 17 century. The histirocal province of Gouslitsy, the “Old Believers Palestine” lays right here, starting from the town's outskirts. The Gouslitsa people or Gouslyaki still keep many of their old Orthodox and everyday habits and traditions.

The wooden church of St. George, a very popular saint in Russia, had existed here long before Russian Church Reformation of 17C. To keep all things the same way after patriarch Nikon reforms the Egorievsk old believers set up the own St. George praying house, arguing upon their right on the true spiritual heritage. The officials closed this home-style church in 1851 and the old believers of Egorievsk had no church for the following 30 years. But in March 1882 they were allowed to built a new one, which had to look like no church indeed… The authorities forbade to install crosses, bells, domes and icons visible from outside. Less then in a year time the Egorievsk old believers built a huge brick house, which had not outside temple attributes. But it was a real temple inside! A Saint Martyr George Cathedral. It's size and interior decorations proved a big number and considerable wealth of the local old-believers always been known as sober, literate and lucky in business people. One of the Egorievsk priests, Father Vasily Bazhanov later became an Old Believing Bishop of St-Peterburg and Tver.

A wealthy Egorievsk merchant Peter Brekhov was the most known sponsor. The merchants Katsepov, Konuoshkov, Manuilov, Shishlov, Knyazev, Komarov also were known for their considerable support. In 1904 The Egorievsk St. Paul and St. peter Fraternity began its activity and a little later bishop Alexander, a prominent Old Believing clergyman chose Egorievsk as his residency.

After 1917 the Bolsheviks gave a hard time to all Russian Old Believers but the cathedral managed to survive till 1936 when the Communist City Council closed it. More than 4000 parishioners were pushed out. The cathedral has been taken by the Young Communist Organization (Pioneers) and literally robbed out. That time most of its icons have disappeared and all interiors heavily vandalized. The domes and crosses were destroyed and the chapel flatted to the ground. It's impossible, but the lockout of the temple just multiplied the number of the local old-believers, which were officially reported as many as 12000 in 1947.

In 1996 a new Old Believing priest father Vasily Kadochnikov has been appointed for the nearest village church in Alyoshino. Having a young priest the parish decided to revive the St. George Cathedral. M. Lavrov, the city major agreed and the parish received the building back the same year. That time “The House of Young Pioneers” was dying and had just one volunteer worker. The first time for many years a church service was organized among old sporting gears…

In 1997 people managed to repair the poof and the services became regular. In 1998 the Sunday school began its lessons. In 2001 the big cross was installed over the new Cathedral's dome.

Now the massive interior restorations are being run. The big chapel still has to be built. Many city citizens are participating in this activity. We have to mention M. Lavrov, A. Kourochka, A. Kosterin and many others. Many thanks also have to be said to our sponsoring companies “Gedeon Rihter Pharma-City” and “Egorievsk-Obouv”.

Our parishioners are the people of Egorievsk and Voskresensk districts of Moscow region, but we also often have visitors from Moscow and other Russian regions.

There is a lot to be done but the golden domes of the biggest Russian old believing cathedral now can be seen in the center of Egorievsk and the ancient Russian spiritual hymns can be heard inside.

44 Marksa St, Egorievsk, Moscow Region, RUSSIA, 140300 Ph (09640) 4-21-22, Fax (09640) 4-35-10

Egorievsk District Administration. Department of Culture.

9 Ryazanskaya st, Egorievsk, Moscow Region, Russia 140300
Phone: +7 09640 32306, Fax: +7 09640 43114