Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki

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Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki was a former estate of Stroganov and Golitsyn families. Today it is incorporated into Kuzminki-Lyublino historical park located in the Kuzminki District, Moscow. The estate was named after the church of the Vlakhernskaya Icon of Theotokos.

1 History
2 Manor House
3 The church
4 External links

[edit] History

Manor house in 1841

In 1702 Peter the Great bestowed the estate to Grigori Stroganov. The buildings were erected here after the death of the first owner in 1714. His son, Alexander, managed estate construction; in 1754 his widow became the sole owner. After the marriage of her daughter Anna in 1757 with Prince Mikhail Golitsyn (1731-1804), property passed to Golitsyn family. From 1833 Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki was a part of Golitsyns mayorate. In 1889 a part of estate was donated to Vlakhernsky hospital. During World War I manor house was converted to an officers' hospital.

[edit] Manor House

Manor house was rebuilt several times in the second half of the 18th century. Side wings connect to the House with two semi-circular galleries. In 1830s the entrance of the manor court was decorated with iron cadelabra and griffins, designed by J. Colombo. The manor house and its western wing burned down in 1916. In the late 1920s, new building of the Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine was built on the spot. Western wing was renovated in 1950s. Wings of the manor house are operated by Museum of Moscow and are scheduled to display collection of the Museum of Russian Estate Culture.

[edit] The church

The modern view of the church of the Vlakhernskaya Icon of the Mother of God

The church of the Vlakhernskaya Icon of Theotokos is placed in the center of estate. The first wooden church was built here in 1716 by Stroganovs in the name of Vlakhernskaya Icon, a Stroganov family patron. Construction of a stone church in the Baroque style began at the end of 1750s. In 1780s the church was rebuilt in Neoclassicist style. In the 19th century it was rebuilt by Domenico Giliardi and Konstantin Bykovsky.

The church has two side altars in the names of Alexander Nevsky and Sergius Radonezhsky, members of the family of Golitsyn were buried there.

The church closed in 1929; utensils were looted, bell tower ruined and the building itself was badly damaged. The church and the bell tower were rebuilt in 1995 under the guidance of Yelena Vorontsova. In October 1995 the church was consecrated by Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Alexy II.