Chapel Xenia is located in St. Petersburg, and it operates at the moment.It is situated at the Smolensk cemetery, which stretches in the area of ​​Vasilyevsky Island.
Exterior and interior decoration
chapel was built of stone and painted pale green paint.All sides of the facade decorated with a few pointed arched windows.These spacers are in the form of columns.The windows are decorated with stained glass images.Front and rear eaves decorated headdress made in the shape of a semicircle, with mosaic icons of Jesus (on the inside) and Xenia (on the outside).The chapel is crowned with a scaly brown tent, decorated with gilded dome of the bulb, which is a cross.As for the interior decoration, then look immediately falls on the iconostasis, made of marble, on which one can see the mosaic image of the crucified Jesus.Chapel of St. Xenia the Blessed striking in its beauty.I want to enjoy this splendor forever.
history of the chapel, working hours
Near Smolensk temple on the tomb Xenia, participated in the construction of a stone church and died at the beginning of the XIX century, in 1900, a chapel was built by architect A. Vseslavina.We sanctify it after a couple of years.A little later the Smolensk cemetery became the burial place of the founder of the chapel and the church of St. Demetrius, located in Kolomyagi - AA Vseslavina.Few people know about this.This person is buried near the northern facade of the church of the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God.Built in neo-Russian style, decorated shortie scaly tent chapel is one of the most interesting architectural monuments of the necropolis.She really deserves attention.Moreover, many believe that the most interesting sights of St. Petersburg - this is the Chapel of Blessed Xenia.Hours must know every person who wants to visit her.On weekdays, its doors are open from 10 to 16 hours, and on Saturday and Sunday - from 10 to 17.
amazing beauty
But back to Xenia.At the head of her tomb, made of marble, was the iconostasis from the same material, and a mosaic image of Jesus on the cross.Beside him unquenchable fire shone lamp.A large number of images in Kyoto hung on the walls.These included a pair of silver icons which gave Prince Masalskoe, send in the years 1877-1878 in the Russian-Turkish war.He also made a vow.In war, it did not hurt.Many remember him coming to Smolensk cemetery.Chapel of Xenia the Blessed changed thanks to his efforts.She was great, but silver has become even more beautiful images.
Closing chapel, a pilgrimage to her, and the loss of church utensils
In 1940 Smolensk church and the chapel was abolished, and in late summer the city authorities have decided: you must destroy it within thirty days.Fortunately, savage decision soon canceled.In addition, no one and nothing could abolish national recognition.Near the chapel was given a wall of plywood, on which people have written requests addressed to Xenia.Believers hope that intercessor will pray for them.At the time, it had disappeared silver icons donated by Prince Masalski, embroidery with a portrait of the blessed and the magnificent stained glass image of Jesus with the image.Candlesticks, chandeliers, and garments were sent to the smelter.And of the remaining icons made firewood.In the chapel during the war it was located storage tanks for fuel and lubrication solutions.But Blessed Xenia has not been forgotten, people remember it.
terrible time
the blockade ... avoiding all obstacles to the sounds of the bombing in the cold to wade bones from all over the Leningrad drawn to the revered shrine of the faithful.They asked for intercession, praying and weeping, and many knelt near a wall, could not get to his feet.Chapel of Xenia has seen many deaths.It was a tragic period in its history.
Restoration of the building, the canonization of Xenia of Petersburg
After the war, the end of the winter of 1947 to 1960 in the chapel were free to come believers.However, after some time, the authorities have decided to open a shop in the holy place, making and repairing shoes.Only in 1983, the building has returned to the bosom of the church of Smolensk.It looked very bad: crumbling plaster walls, blackened with soot, the broken floor, the absence of central administrations in the form of bulbs.Many people decided to participate in the restoration of the chapel, while they have already realized that soon will be canonized Xenia.This is very much like the Metropolitan Alexy, who directed the work and labored selflessly.After the restoration of the chapel was consecrated once again, it happened August 10, 1987.And in June of next year, Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Alexy II has publicly declared that the Blessed Xenia is now considered a saint.The good news heard 10,000 people.Chapel of Xenia then began to collect more people.It began regularly make the pilgrimage.
next
reconstruction of buildings in the middle of the fall of 2002 was a significant date: 100 years of the consecration of a chapel made of stone on the tomb Xenia of Petersburg.Long before the events of the building again underwent reconstruction: buildings that survived the difficult historical events in the twentieth century, it was decided to return the former appearance.Masters hard work carried out aimed at replacing a hip roof, which, as before, on the model of ancient architecture, decorated with gilded onion, topped with a cross.It looks very nice.They were replaced overlap.February 6, 2002 update Chapel Xenia opened its doors to all believers.
