Prayer, Music, Love. The 400th Anniversary of the St. Nicholas Church in Tolmachi
Nadezhda Pavlova
Love in the Christian teaching always refers to family. A good example is the close-knit family of the Christian Orthodox priest Father Nikolai and his wife Svetlana. In 1992, archpriest Nikolai Sokolovbecame the dean of the St. Nicholas Church in Tolmachi at the Tretyakov Gallery that is currently marking its 400th anniversary. The article describes the history of the church, the phases of itsconstruction, an adverse period of its existence and closure for many years. Help from the government, builders, donators and the staff of the Tretyakov Gallery made it possible to carry out a planned restoration during which rare murals were restored. Life has returned to the church under the guidance of Father Nikolai: services are conducted, a choir has been set up and a warm and welcoming atmosphere has been created. The status of the church as a home church of the Tretyakov Gallery gives visitors a chance to admire its Old Russian art monuments, including the icon “The Vladimir Mother of God”.
Key words: dean Nikolai Sokolov, the St. Nicholas Church in Tolmachi, the State Tretyakov Gallery, family values, “The Vladimir Mother of God” icon.