16,951
edits
Changes
m
link
Subsequent to the battles, repairs and additions were made to the church. A side-[[chapel], dedicated to [[Nicholas of Myra|St. Nicholas]], was added to the church in 1636 as stone began to be used. In 1696, the church underwent restoration, including the presentation of new [[Antimension|antimins]] to the church. During the eighteenth century the [[parish]] church underwent major changes and reconstruction, as the style of the architecture of the church was changed to that of European baroque and rococo, with pavilion gardens and aristocratic elegance. In a church dedicated to her [[patron saint]], Catherine II produced a new architecture in the city of Moscow that was also a monument to the work of the architect Karl Blank, a favorite of Empress Catherine II. This church was unheated and became the "summer" church of the St. Catherine complex. Construction began on [[May 25]], 1766. The church was [[consecration of a church|consecrated]] on [[September 28]], 1767. A second, heated winter church was built in the mid-nineteenth century, between 1870 to 1872.
The winter church was built with three [[altar]]s, the main one dedicated to the [[Image Not-made-by-hands|Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands ]] and the two side altars were dedicated to Ss Nicholas and [[Alexander Nevsky]]. The three altars were consecrated respectively on [[November 21]], [[November 24]], and [[November 10]], all in 1872. The bell tower was enlarged at the same time, and modified in harmony with the existing architecture. Before its closure during the Soviet period, [[Tikhon of Moscow|Patr. Tikhon]], the newly elected [[patriarch]], visited the Church of St. Catherine for pastoral services and especially for [[Divine Liturgy]] on St. Catherine's [[feast day]], [[December 7]].
Before being closed by the Bolsheviks in 1931 the church was stripped of most of its furnishings. Its [[clergy]] were among the many Orthodox Christians who were declared enemies of the state and [[martyr]]ed. In 1922, some 200 kilograms of gold and silver objects were confiscated from the church by the Soviets. By the time the church was closed all [[icon]]s were stolen. The church was used for offices of a machine equipment institute, as well as being reconfigured with three floors for communal residences. Early in the 1980s, restoration work began on the buildings by the Igor Graber State Restoration Center.
