Church on Demeevka. Shrine of Kyiv Demeevka

03.02.2024

In the Goloseevsky district of Kyiv, squeezed among high-rise buildings, the ancient Holy Ascension Church is comfortably located on Demievka. It is often called the shrine of Kyiv Demievka. Since its consecration in 1883, the doors of the temple have not been closed under any circumstances. Many Kiev residents know this temple and come here from different parts of Kyiv. Unfortunately, very little information about the history of the temple has been preserved. The most complete description was collected by the rector (from 1989 to 2010) of the Holy Ascension Church, Archpriest Methodius Finkevich.

The location was determined above the road to Vasilkov, and on the other side of the road, and the church under construction turned out to be completely on the outskirts of Demievka.

Through the diligence of the parishioners and the donation of the director of the sugar refinery, Mr. Rauser, the church was built and in 1883 consecrated in honor of the Ascension of the Lord. As the number of residents grew, the need to open schools and libraries grew. Thus, according to the Kyiv district Zemstvo Administration in 1911, six schools (colleges) operated within Demievka.

In 1900, the church was significantly expanded and its western aisle was rebuilt. The bell tower is moved forward and the entire building is lined with brick. Choirs are being built inside and major renovations are being carried out. However, it was very difficult to obtain permission for this. Church elder Simeon Travkin, on behalf of the church clergy, had to turn to the Emperor himself. And in “1900 March 6 days. By decree of His Imperial Majesty, the Kiev Spiritual Consistory listened to the report dated January 20, 1900 for No. 22" of the Demievsky church warden Simeon Travkin, in which he asks for permission to rebuild the church and takes on all expenses... I just want to prayerfully say: "Let's go to him, Lord, the Kingdom of Heaven” for his zeal and dedication to the Demievsky Church, which was built and expanded by such good people as its first elder, retired sergeant major Simeon Travkin (fond 127, op. 875, d. 2217). Perhaps, through their zeal and prayers, the Lord preserved the Holy Ascension Church during the years of hard times and persecution, that it survived and has never been closed since its consecration in 1883.

The surrounding areas of Kyiv began to be intensively built up and populated. A similar thing happened with Demievka, which from a suburban village very quickly turns into a vast suburb of Kyiv. So the current Kyiv-Moskovsky railway station was then called Demievsky.

In 1900, Demievka was annexed to Kyiv (f. 1260, d. 345, l. 1-10).

The map of 1905 indicates that one side of the church faced the street. Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya. The road went around the church, skirting it from the side of the current institute, along the territory of the current kindergarten. The road was crossed by the street. Nalivaika, approximately where the library named after them now stands. V.Vernadsky. To the right of the church, towards Goloseevskaya Square, there was a monument to Alexander III, behind it was Efimov’s confectionery factory, and then a tram depot.

In the reporting documents of parochial schools of that time, there is a mention of a parochial school on Demievka, located at a sugar refinery (rented premises). However, in the “Clergy Gazette” for 1910, when listing houses belonging to the church, the parish school on Demievka is also listed, and in the “Vedomosti” for 1915 it is written that a new parochial school was built in 1915. it still stands today, wooden, lined with brick, like the church itself.

The church library already had 1,200 volumes of books. In the section: “Houses for clergy and clergy on church estate land” it is mentioned that two buildings were built on Demievka - “for priests in 1907, for psalm-readers in 1914, and they constitute church property.”

In 1883, probably, the first “priest was Hierofey Josephov Shmigelsky, and the church warden was retired sergeant major Simeon Travkin.”

In 1889, “the priest was Nikanor Leontiev Dankevich,” under whom 135 boys and 60 girls studied, visible in the rented premises.

In 1900, the dean of the Old Kiev churches was Archpriest Pavel Troitsky, who presented the Report of the Kyiv Spiritual Consistory on the expansion of the Demievsky Church by Decree of His Imperial Majesty.

According to the “Clergy Gazette” for 1917, “The Church has two thrones: in the name of the Ascension of the Lord and in the name of the saints. Basil the Great. The land at the church together with the graveyard is 1 tenth. 600 sq. soot." The number of parishioners is more than 4 thousand people.

Currently, a new bell tower was built in 1990, but, unfortunately, there is no information about the old one, by whom and when it was destroyed. In the same year, apparently for the first time, the crosses and round balls under them above the domes of the temple and bell tower and 3 crosses near them were gilded.

A new stone (butane) fence with a metal grate was erected from the road, which was made by the very skillful hands of ancient blacksmiths, and it looks like a modern one.

An upper brick floor was built over the refectory, because there was no place to conduct classes on the Law of God. For 7 years, classes with children and adults were held in cramped conditions, until in 1997 we secured the return of the premises of the former parochial school, in which we now conduct classes more freely, as well as choir and choir singing, which during the festival years of the 2000th anniversary of Christmas Hristova was noted as the best among church choirs.

Around the entire church territory, the old fence was replaced with a new reinforced concrete one.

All windows in the temple and in the returned house have been replaced, both inside and outside, and the external frames are all oak and covered with a more durable Yacht varnish. The entire floor in the temple is covered with oak parquet. The domed octagon of the church is entirely covered with siding. The bell tower has been repainted and new bells have been hung for Easter. But the most magnificent decoration inside the temple was the gilding (also for the first time) of the entire iconostasis and the ten largest kivots with icons in the temple.

Previously, we did not have any information about the church. They only knew that in 1907. Lesya Ukrainka was married in it, i.e. Kosach Larisa Petrovna, with Kliment Kvitka and that it was consecrated in 1883. That's all. But, as they say, our happiness was helped by misfortune. For a long time we petitioned for the return of the former parochial school to us. They demanded from us documentary evidence that the building was built by the church, etc. And so I had to visit many city archives in order to literally collect the required data bit by bit. In addition, the architectural archive of Kiev was lost in 1942. But by the grace of God, they collected something and, apparently for the first time after the Great Patriotic War, some information about the Holy Ascension Church of Demius is published.

The anniversary date of the 120th anniversary of the church was celebrated on the day of our temple holiday of the Ascension of the Lord (June 5). His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, was also invited, but he could not come to the Ascension - he was graduating from the Kyiv Theological Academy. He arrived on June 8 along with Pavel Vyshgorodsky and Mitrofan Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky.

All of the above is based on documents stored in the Kiev City Archives, the State Archives of the Kyiv Region and the Central State Archives of Ukraine.

Kyiv ASCENSION TEMPLE ON DEMEEEVKA

Open Orthodox encyclopedia "TREE".

Kiev Church of the Ascension of the Lord (on Demeevka) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Address: Ukraine, 03039, Kyiv, 40th Anniversary of October Avenue, 54. Tel. 265-52-14.

from Art. m "Lybidskaya" - troll. 2, 4, 11, 12, auto. 38, 84 to the stop. "Per. Demeevsky";

from Art. m "Friendship of Peoples" - author. 112 to the stop. "Per. Demeevsky."

The temple was built with the diligence of parishioners and with donations from the director of the Demeevsky sugar refinery, Mr. Rauser, in 1882, and was consecrated in 1883. In 1900 Demeevka entered the city limits. The church was expanded and a parochial school was opened. The temple did not close, but the bell tower was demolished and restored in our time (1990).

The northern aisle of the temple is dedicated to St. Basil the Great.

The temple is open every day except Monday. On Sunday evenings, after the service, Orthodox video programs are watched in the church. There is a Sunday school at the church.

Divine service

Divine services are held daily except Mondays. Evening - 18.00. Liturgy: 8.40 (Sundays and holidays - 6.40 and 9.40).

Used materials

http://archiv.orthodox.org.ua/page-1121.html

TREE - open Orthodox encyclopedia: http://drevo.pravbeseda.ru

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Orthodox encyclopedia Tree. 2012

Mother Alipia visited the temple for many years. She had her own permanent place - in front of the large icon of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. Through her prayers and petition, the temple was saved from closure and destruction when the authorities wanted to use its territory for the construction of a design institute.

One of the biggest holidays in the church calendar - the Ascension of the Lord - is celebrated by the Orthodox Church on the fortieth day after Easter (this year - June 9). This is the patronal feast of the Kyiv temple, located in the historical area of Demeevka. Divine services have been held there for more than 130 years. Unlike most churches in the capital, this one was never closed.

The rector, dean of the Goloseevsky deanery of Kyiv, Archpriest Pavel Kirillov, told the UOC Information Center about the Church of the Ascension and its patronal feast.

ABOUT THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

– The Gospels and the book of the Acts of the Holy Apostles tell about the Ascension of Jesus Christ.

After His Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the apostles for another 40 days and taught them. Finally He gathered them in Jerusalem and said: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (creation - ed.). Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; and whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will take snakes; and if they drink anything deadly, do not harm them; They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

The Savior warned the disciples that the Holy Spirit would soon descend on them. Until that time, He commanded them to remain in Jerusalem: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard from Me, for John baptized with water, and a few days after this you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Talking with the disciples, Jesus led them out of the city towards Bethany, to the Mount of Olives.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth,” said the Lord. Raising his hands, He blessed the disciples and, before their eyes, began to rise into the sky. Soon a cloud covered Him.

So Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father. His human soul and body received a glory inseparable from His divinity.

The disciples bowed to the ascended Lord and looked after Him. Then two angels in white robes appeared to them and said: “Men of Galilee! Why are you standing and looking at the sky? This Jesus, who has ascended from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him ascending into heaven.”

Then the apostles returned with great joy to Jerusalem, where, together with the Mother of God, the brothers of Jesus and the women followers of Christ, they remained in prayer, awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit.

– The church on the outskirts of the village of Demievka – at that time a Kyiv suburb – was built in 1882. Funds for the construction were donated by the director of a neighboring sugar refinery named Rauser. On February 18, 1883, the temple was consecrated in honor of the Ascension of the Lord.

The first priest of the new church, according to archival data, was Hierofei Shmigelsky, and the headman was retired sergeant major Simeon Travkin.

A parochial school was formed at the temple, which initially operated in premises that belonged to a sugar refinery. It is known that in 1889 there were 135 boys and 60 girls studying at the school. A separate building for the school with an area of more than 200 square meters was built at the beginning of the twentieth century - no later than 1915. This school was one of the largest in Kyiv. Even then, the church library had 1,200 volumes of books.

Demievka was intensively built up and populated. By 1900, the temple could no longer accommodate all the parishioners. It was difficult to obtain permission to rebuild it, and headman Simeon Travkin, on behalf of the church clergy, turned to the emperor for support. As a result, the church was significantly expanded, its western aisle was rebuilt, the bell tower was moved, and the entire building was covered with brick. The inside of the temple was completely renovated and a choir was built.

In 1907, parishioners built a house for priests, and in 1914 - for psalm-readers.

According to documents from 1917, the number of parishioners at that time exceeded four thousand people.

Under Soviet rule, the temple was not closed, but its clergy did not escape repression. In 1931, Archpriest Grigory Oltarzhevsky and priest Sergiy Pivovonsky were arrested and killed.

The names of many prominent people are associated with the Demievskaya Church. In 1907, Lesya Ukrainka and Kliment Kvitka were married there. The future pop and film star Alexander Vertinsky sang in the church choir until his departure from Kyiv in 1913. Valery Lobanovsky was baptized in our church. Already a famous coach, he presented the altar Gospel to the church.

Blessed nun Alipia visited our temple for many years. She had her own permanent place - in front of the large icon of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. From the life story of the old woman, it is known that in the 30s, the Apostle Peter miraculously brought her to freedom from death row, and my mother considered him her patron all her life.

With the blessing of the rector of the church, Archpriest Alexy Ilyushenko (later Archbishop Varlaam), Mother Alipia listened to numerous questions and requests from people after the service. The blessed old woman predicted for Father Alexy himself his future tonsure. Through her prayers and petition, the temple was saved from closure and destruction when the authorities wanted to use its territory for the construction of a design institute.

Since the late 80s of the last century, when Archpriest Methodius Finkevich became the rector of the church (Mother Alypia also predicted his rectorship), a revival of church life began. For the first time, the crosses, the iconostasis and the ten largest kivots with icons were gilded. The temple has undergone renovations. A new bell tower was built. A new stone fence with metal bars was installed around the entire church grounds.

A brick floor was built over the refectory, where classes on the Law of God began to be held. This happened for seven years, until in 1997 they achieved the return of the building of the former parochial school. The process was lengthy; it was necessary to collect bit by bit in the archives evidence that the school was really built by the church.

In 2010, Father Methodius, after 21 years of abbot’s work, took monastic vows at the Pochaev Lavra.

Currently, six priests and a deacon serve in our church. The singers and readers in the choir are people of different professions and ages (they range from 10 to 80 years old). There is an interesting tradition, the origin of which no one remembers: every Saturday after the all-night vigil, the choir together with the parishioners sings a troparion or stichera to the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God, especially revered in our church.

On Sundays, on holidays and at especially solemn services, the “upper” choir sings under the direction of Anna Vovchenko, a laureate of all-Ukrainian and international festivals of spiritual singing.

In 2014, the construction of a small church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Control of the Loaves” was completed in the churchyard.

And last year, a new Sunday school building was opened, built on the site of an old, unsafe building. The school has spacious, bright classrooms, new furniture. Children study the Law of God here. Before the start of the lesson, a tea party is held for children and their parents, then adults in a separate audience can talk with the priest.

Parishioners of the temple of all ages are enthusiastically engaged in the icon painting school, the fine arts studio and the art ceramics school “Workshop of Family Happiness”. Classes in choral singing are conducted. Children from 5 to 15 years old study in a theater studio.

There is a library with a reading room in the Sunday school building. On Tuesday evenings young people gather in the hall. Boys and girls in a relaxed atmosphere over a cup of tea discuss current spiritual issues with Priest Roman, communicate, and find new friends.

On Saturdays, classes for those interested in Christian psychology are held in one of the Sunday school classrooms.

The school also housed the headquarters of the Parasolka youth movement. Every Thursday evening, volunteers go to the Kiev metro and distribute food, medicine, clothes and shoes to the homeless and needy. The number of volunteers is constantly growing; young people from other churches are joining Parasolka.

For those who need medical care, a paramedic's office has been set up on the school premises. Free legal advice is also provided.

On January 14, another patronal feast day is celebrated in our church, since the northern aisle is consecrated in honor of St. Basil the Great.

Church services are held almost every day except Monday.

On Tuesday at 08.00 Matins is served, followed by Liturgy. From Wednesday to Saturday, the Liturgy begins at 08.40. On Sundays and holidays, two Liturgies are celebrated - at 06.40 and 09.40. Evening services and all-night vigils – at 18.00.

In the evening on Sunday, various akathists are read, on Wednesday - an akathist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

It is often called the shrine of Kyiv Demeevka. Lesya Ukrainka was married in this church, Alexander Vertinsky sang in the choir, Valery Lobanovsky was baptized. Today, one of the oldest churches in the capital celebrates the patronal feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Divine services here did not stop even during times of persecution of Orthodoxy.

Epochs changed, Kyiv grew. And now the ancient Holy Ascension Church is already squeezed between modern high-rise buildings.

And back in 1883, when the church opened its doors, it was one of the tallest buildings in Demeevka - then still a suburban area.
A wooden church with a bell tower and a comfortable porch was built with the diligence of parishioners with donations from the director of the sugar refinery, Mr. Rauser.

Probably the first priest was Hierotheus Shmigelsky, and the church warden was retired sergeant major Simeon Travkin.
At the turn of the century, the church expanded significantly and its western aisle was rebuilt, the building was lined with brick. Choirs are being built inside and major renovations are being carried out. However, some unique details - original columns and ovens - have survived to this day!

The Demeevskaya Church has long become a home for the rector, priest Pavel Kirilov - his father also served there. Father recalls: at all times, the Feast of the Ascension was especially revered here.

“After the Resurrection, Jesus remained on earth for 40 days. He appeared to his disciples, strengthening their faith and preparing them for Pentecost - the descent of the Holy Spirit. On the day of the Ascension, the Lord gathered the apostles on Mount Olivet,” says Father Paul about the holiday.

The Mount of Olives is a special place. Here Jesus was betrayed by Judas, on this mountain He prayed at night until he sweated blood, from here His ascent to Golgotha began. Having blessed the disciples, Christ ascended to heaven in the flesh.

“The Ascension of the Lord is a confirmation, a reinforcement of our hope. After all, the Lord ascended to heaven with human flesh. This suggests that we also have hope of following our Teacher“- emphasizes Father Pavel.

The abbot of an ancient temple has many worries. In addition to daily divine services, missionary and educational activities are widely carried out here, and the homeless are regularly fed and clothed.

Today, like many years ago, the doors of the Ascension Church are hospitably open. For every person going to God.

Address: Kiev, 40th Anniversary of October Avenue, 54. Tel. 265-52-14.
Abbot- Archpriest Pavel Kirillov.
Web site- http://demievka.kiev.ua./

The location was determined above the road to Vasilkov, and on the other side of the road, and the church under construction turned out to be completely on the outskirts of Demievka.

Through the diligence of the parishioners and the donation of the director of the sugar refinery, Mr. Rauser, the church was built and in 1883 consecrated in honor of the Ascension of the Lord.

As the number of residents grew, the need to open schools and libraries grew. So, according to the Kyiv district Zemstvo Administration, in 1911 there were six schools (colleges) operating within the boundaries of Demievka.

In 1900, the church was significantly expanded and its western aisle was rebuilt. The bell tower is moved forward and the entire building is lined with brick. Choirs are being built inside and major renovations are being carried out. However, it was very difficult to obtain permission for this. Church elder Simeon Travkin, on behalf of the church clergy, had to turn to the Emperor himself. And so in “March 6, 1900. By decree of His Imperial Majesty, the Kiev Spiritual Consistory listened to the report dated January 20, 1900 for No. 22” of Demievsky church warden Simeon Travkin, in which he asks for permission to rebuild the church and takes all expenses on myself... I just want to prayerfully say: “Send him, Lord, the Kingdom of Heaven” for his zeal and diligence towards the Demievsky Church, which was built and expanded by such good people as its first elder, retired sergeant major Simeon Travkin (fund 127 , op.875, d. 2217). Perhaps, through their zeal and prayers, the Lord preserved the Holy Ascension Church during the years of hard times and persecution, that it survived and has never been closed since its consecration in 1883.

In 1900, Demievka was annexed to Kyiv.

In the reporting documents of parochial schools of that time, there is a mention of a parochial school on Demievka, located at a sugar refinery (rented premises). However, in the “Clergy Gazette” for 1910, when listing houses belonging to the church, the parochial school on Demievka is also listed, and in the “Vedomosti” for 1915 it is written that a new parochial school was built in 1915. it still stands today, wooden, lined with brick, like the church itself.

The church library already had 1,200 volumes of books.

In the section: “Houses for clergy and clergy on church estate land” it is mentioned that two buildings were built on Demievka - “for priests in 1907, for psalm-readers in 1914, and they constitute church property.”

In 1883, probably, the first “priest was Hierofey Josephov Shmigelsky, and the church warden was retired sergeant major Simeon Travkin.”

In 1889, “the priest was Nikanor Leontiev Dankevich,” under whom 135 boys and 60 girls studied, visible in the rented premises.

According to the “Clergy Gazette” for 1917, “The Church has two altars: 1) in the name of the Ascension of the Lord and 2) in the name of St. Basil the Great. The land at the church together with the graveyard is 1 ten. 600 square fathoms.” The number of parishioners is more than 4 thousand people.

A new stone (butane) fence with a metal grate was erected from the road, which was made by the very skillful hands of ancient blacksmiths, and it looks like a modern one.

Around the entire church territory, the old fence was replaced with a new reinforced concrete one.

The anniversary date of the 120th anniversary of the church was celebrated on the day of the temple feast of the Ascension of the Lord on June 5, 2003.

Patronal holidays:

Ascension of the Lord (central altar) and St. Basil the Great (memorial January 1/14 and January 29/February 13) – the northern aisle is dedicated to him.

The temple is open daily except Monday.

Divine services are held daily except Mondays. Evening – 18.00. Liturgy: 8.40 (Sundays and holidays - 6.40 and 9.40).

There is a Sunday school at the temple.

Tradition.

On Sunday evenings, after the service, Orthodox video programs are watched in the church.

Directions:

from Art. m "Lybidskaya" - troll. 2, 4, 11, 12, auto. 38, 84 to the stop. "Per. Demeevsky";
from Art. m "Friendship of Peoples" - author. 112 to the stop. "Per. Demeevsky."

Church on Demeevka. Shrine of Kyiv Demeevka

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