Cathedral Square (Omsk)

Since the main temples of Omsk in the 19th century did not accommodate all parishioners, the question arose of expanding the Resurrection Cathedral, which was not far from the current Cathedral Square. In 1885, a special committee was established to raise funds for the reconstruction of the temple. Later it was decided to build a new cathedral. Construction began in 1891 on the site of the former city grove (on June 16, the future tsar Nicholas II laid the first stone ^[1] ), but in the process it turned out that the developed project required a lot of money, and the architect E. Wierrich proposed a new, more economical solution .

The five-domed Assumption Cathedral , made in the style of Russian architecture of the XVII century, has become a real attraction of the city. Installed in the city center (today restored to its former location), the temple was visible from the Irtysh and was the architectural dominant of Omsk. ^[2]

The temple was located at the intersection of the main city highways (Tarskaya, Tobolskaya, Aleksandrovskaya, Kaptsevicheva and Kaznakovskaya streets). It became the most visited and revered place, and official city events took place in the square next to the cathedral. Examples of his importance as the center of the most important events in the spiritual and socio-political life of Omsk include the presence of John of Kronstadt , P. A. Stolypin , and Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich at the services.

In 1902, a bishop’s garden was set up around the cathedral. Processions and church parades were held here. Especially memorable are the events in honor of the appointment of Andronik in 1913 as bishop of Omsk. ^[3] On June 9, 1916, an all-night vigil in honor of John Tobolsky was served on the square near the cathedral. On March 10, 1917, March celebrations of “civil liberties” in honor of the overthrow of the autocracy take place here in the square.

In 1917, the construction of the House of Judicial Establishments was completed near the cathedral (later this building will give the unofficial name of the square - the square at the Legislative Assembly ), designed by architect V. A. Prusakov. ^[4] In 1919, the Supreme Ruler of Russia A. Kolchak , P. Vologodsky and other members of the interim Siberian government were sworn in here. On the second floor of this building, located on the square, a detachment for the protection of Russia's gold reserve was stationed. ^[5] Then in this building is the Siberian Revolutionary Committee , and later the Soviet party organs.

The Assumption Cathedral functioned until 1920, but with the advent of the Bolsheviks, it was given to the Renovationists who could not gather parishioners. As a result, the cathedral was empty for a long time.

In 1934, opposite the temple, the regional party committee was located. ^[6] The area takes on a modern shape.

The neighborhood with the Orthodox church disgusts the party leadership. In 1935, it was decided to blow up the cathedral. The three NKVD , which decided on the demolition of the temple, hoped to use the bricks for the new regional people's commissariat of internal affairs, but the building broke up into large blocks unsuitable for construction. ^[2] It is interesting that the altar wall survived the explosion and was in a good condition for a long time.

In 1936, the Pioneer Garden with a decorative pond was laid out at this place. Since 1949, on the site of the former cathedral, an urban Christmas tree and a “winter town” were established every year. ^[7]

In 1996, they set up a color-musical fountain. ^[eight]

In 1999, on the site of the former cathedral, a Poklonnaya Cross made of larch is installed. On July 11, 2005, a decision was made to restore the cathedral. Builders get to work.

On July 15, 2007, the revived cathedral was inaugurated. Festive events took place on the square, in which more than 800 artists from all over Russia took part: soloists of the Bolshoi Theater V. Matorin , T. Erastova and A. Zakharov, film director N. Mikhalkov , artists V. Talyzin , D. Pevtsov , S. Zakharov , T. Gverdtsiteli , N. Babkin and many others. After the concert, a grandiose firework took place. ^[9]

The government of the Omsk region proposed renaming the area near the cathedral. On August 14, 2007, the square, which until then was simply called the “square at the Legislative Assembly,” was officially named the “Cathedral Square” . The decision on the naming was unanimously approved by all 27 deputies of the city assembly present at the meeting. ^[ten]

Now all the main city and state holidays and special events are held on the square. At the time of their holding, the traffic on Cathedral Square is blocked. ^{[11] [12]}

According to the tradition established at the end of the 20th century, all major sporting events ( Cross of Nations ^[13] , Siberian International Marathon , bike rides ^[14] , streetball competitions) will start and finish on Cathedral Square. For example, annual athletics relays for prizes of the government of the Omsk region are held here. ^[15] On May 12, 2004, the Avangard - Champion of Russia celebration was held on the square. A live broadcast of the ceremony took place on the big screen, then a cultural and sports program was shown. ^[sixteen]

You can drive to Sobornaya Square by various means of transport (trolley bus, bus, minibus) to the stop “KDC im. Mayakovsky. "

On the street Red Way

On the Red Road, you can reach Cathedral Square from the Left Bank via Metromost and from the Neftyanikov side. In this case, the transport moves in the direction of the street. Lenin either turns onto the street. International. Transport going towards the street. Lenin, stops in front of the Rosselkhozbank building:

• Trolleybuses: No. 8
• Buses: No. 73, No. 94

On the street International stop:

• Trolleybuses: No. 2, No. 4
• Buses: No. 20, No. 22, No. 23, No. 24, No. 33, No. 59, No. 63, No. 69, No. 77, No. 78, No. 95, No. 109, No. 110

On the street International

From the side of the city center to Sobornaya Square you can only drive along ul. International. Opposite the Omsk-Tarsky Diocesan Administration, bus number 23 stops. The rest of the transport passes to the stop “KDC named after Mayakovsky ":

• Trolleybuses: No. 2, No. 4, No. 8
• Buses: No. 20, No. 22, No. 24, No. 28, No. 33, No. 44, No. 59, No. 64, No. 69, No. 73, No. 77, No. 94, No. 95, No. 109, No. 110

On the street Ordzhonikidze

In addition to the main routes passing through the central highways, you can drive to Cathedral Square on ul. Ordzhonikidze . Bus number 63 stops at the stop Mayakovsky "between the cinema and cafe.

• In the spring of 1936, the construction of various pavilions, sports grounds, decorated with landscape gardening sculptures characteristic of this period of time, began on the territory of the present Cathedral Square. Unfortunately, the buildings have not been preserved to this day. There are only sketches in the State Archive, on which you can recreate the appearance of the square. Since Soviet times, the sculptural composition "Children with a Penguin" made of cast iron has been preserved. Presumably, it was installed in the late 1950s. ^[17] Nearby was the sculpture "Ball game" and a decorative plaster vase (currently not preserved). For many years, the composition was in the thickets of the park, then it was cleared, paving the path. During the construction of the new temple "Children with the Penguin" were not affected, and today they are in the same place. More details about the sculptural decorations of the Garden of Pioneers can be found in the book by A. Morozov. End of Utopia. - M .: Galart, 1995. - T. The streets of Omsk. - 224 p. - 5,000 copies. .
• For many years, the main decoration of the square was a monument to V. Lenin , installed opposite the House of Soviets (later - the Legislative Assembly). The monument was made of cast iron. In connection with the construction of the new cathedral, the monument was closed for reconstruction, and on the night of July 28, 2007, it was secretly dismantled and taken to the territory of the City Museum. ^{[18] The} Omsk State Historical and Archival Museum has announced a competition for the restoration of the monument, as an object of museum heritage, although its location may be changed. ^[nineteen]
• A decorative pond with the monument "Deer" was installed presumably in 1980-1990. Omsk believers see this as a kind of sacrilege and sacrilege: on the site of the former temple - a monument to the "horned". After the decision to rebuild the temple, the monument was dismantled. A project is being discussed for moving it to another location. The author of the project, M. M. Khakhaev, proposes to transfer the “Deer” to the square on Tarskaya Street, where a monument to the victims of the Stalinist repressions, or to Victory Square . ^[20] It is noteworthy that in Omsk there are other monuments to deer (for example, on the Irtysh Embankment and Uchilishchnaya St. , near the Office of Veterinary Surveillance Service of the Omsk Region).
• The sculpture "Marathon Runner" appeared on the square at a later time. The idea of ​​the monument belongs to two Omsk sculptors, regular participants of Omsk marathons G. Chirkin and I. Bukhartsev. The Moscow sculptor V. Kirillov embodied the plan (the monument was unveiled on July 31, 2003). According to the author, the athlete runs along a symbolic path, which, like a space orbit, rushes up and turns into a finish line on the runner’s chest. The sculpture has become not only a symbol of the Siberian International Marathon in Omsk. This is the first composition in Russia dedicated to the marathon movement (until 2003 there was the only such sculpture in Prague). ^[21] The names of the absolute winners of the marathon distance in Omsk are annually carved on a pedestal. More information about the monument to the marathon runner can be found in the articles: Vasileiko E. 42 kilometers of success // Moskovsky Komsomolets in Omsk: newspaper. - August 6–13, 2003. - No. 32 . - S. 20 . and Chekmarev V. Fantastic flight of Vadim Kirillov // New Review: newspaper. - Omsk, June 25 — July 1, 2003. - No. 25 . - S. 12 .

• For many years, the area near the Legislative Assembly was decorated with blue spruce, which became almost an Omsk attraction. But on the night of December 25, 2005 they were cut down. According to the information on the OPEN OMSK Internet portal ^[22] , the deputy mayor ordered the destruction of trees without coordinating the actions with the Legislative Assembly. Currently, attempts are being made to restore the green spaces of the former square, which was destroyed in connection with the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, but the trees do not take root on solid soil, trodden for several decades. ^{[7] [20]}
• On February 23, 2005, in the year of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Victory, a ceremonial building and viewing competition took place on the square and songs of military units of the Omsk garrison, cadets and divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and the Ministry of Justice dedicated to Defender of the Fatherland Day. For the first time the event was held in severe frost. ^[23]

• The official website of the city administration of Omsk
• Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree
• Portal OMSK PROVINCE
• The site of the Ministry of Culture of the Omsk region. Cathedral Square in photos
• Project N. Lebedeva "History of Omsk Temples"