Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-giving Spring" (Petrovka)

The history of the temple "Life-giving Spring" dates back to 1841. In the XIX century, the place where the temple is located was famous for the appearance of the icon of the Mother of God at the local spring. The source became famous for miracles and healing of the sick.

According to legend, in the summer of 1841, several peasants remained overnight near the village of Petrovka. The next day, the youngest of them went for water to the source and saw there the icon of the Mother of God with the Baby in his right hand. At the same time, the holy icon did not swim, but stood upright, touching the base of the stone lying at the bottom of the well. The peasant told other people about this. Then all the peasants went to the source and saw the same thing. Then they told the manager of the Babin village about what had happened. The news of the appearance of the icon of the Mother of God in Krynica quickly spread throughout the surrounding villages. Believers began to come to the new shrine. The source became known as “Babinsky”, and even more often it was called “Krynichki”.

In 1848, a chapel decorated with holy icons was built at the source. By the end of 1849, through the efforts of Colonel Peter Ilovaisky and Yesaul Ivan Karshin, a wooden church was built here in the name of the Life-Giving Source of the Mother of God. A parish was created at the Babin healing spring.

On August 6, 1850, with the participation of the Military Punishment Ataman Mikhail Grigoryevich Khomutov, the laying of the existing stone church took place.

They wanted to build the temple so that the source was in the middle of the building, but the builders were afraid that it would be possible to transfer a water vein under the weight of the walls. Therefore, the temple was built above the source on an artificial site with a stone staircase to the source. A grove was planted around the temple and the krinitsa. The temple was built according to the plan and drawings of the architect Ivan Iosifovich Valprede . Construction lasted 8 years, until 1858.

At first they wanted to consecrate a new temple in the name of the Sorrowing Mother of God, but they consecrated it in honor of the Life-Giving Source. The temporary church was renamed to Vladimir, in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Blessed Virgin. In 1866, it was dismantled. Near the temple for pilgrims built two small houses.

In 1903, it was decided to build two chapels to the church with altars, however, due to lack of funds, in 1908 only one chapel was laid, which was consecrated on August 16, 1911 in honor of St. Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

During the years of Soviet rule, the temple was closed, the holy spring launched. In the middle of the twentieth century, domes were demolished in the church, and bells were removed. For some time in the temple there was a workshop of agricultural machinery. The source was littered with garbage, but water still made its way out of the ground.

On April 20, 2012, by the Decree of the Metropolitan of Rostov and Novocherkassk Mercury , the Zhivonosnoye Source Church complex in the village of Petrovka was transferred to the Holy Iversky Nunnery. Since that time, restoration work has begun here. By 2014, the chapel was repaired, the chapel was restored in honor of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian.

The temple "Life-giving Spring" refers to the courtyard of the Holy Iveron Monastery, a Spiritual and Educational Center is created under it, divine services are held ^[1] .

• Hieromonk Tikhon (Balabanov)

• Petrovka. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-giving Spring"
• Petrovka. Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-giving Source"
• Parish history