Church of the Iverian Icon of the Mother of God

One of the first churches to be built in Feodosia is considered to be the Church of the Iverian Icon of the Mother of God. Historians consider 1348 as the date of the Church’s construction, but there are versions that it was built even earlier. During its long and difficult life, the Church changed its name and religious affiliation. The Church, located near the Dock gate of the medieval city, attracted the attention of many travellers. In 1474, the Tver merchant Afanasy Nikitin presented a service in the Church for the successful outcome of his journey, returning from distant India, completing his famous “journey across the three seas”. After the capture of Kaffa by the Turks in 1475, the Church was closed.

On August 31, 1858, Orthodox priest Nikolai Tregubov resumed services after carrying out restoration work, consecrating the Church in memory of the Iversk Icon of the Mother of God. The Church has preserved unique images made of stone, as well as Orthodox shrines.

Services were held in the Church until the mid-1920s. In the 30 years of the 20^th century, the temple was closed and virtually abandoned. Despite the fact that in Soviet times, a historical and architectural reserve was created in the nearby territory, which was protected by law, the temple began to collapse, and almost died. Water through holes in the worn-out roof flooded the walls and damaged ancient frescoes, the floor was covered with piles of debris and wet soil. Nevertheless, there were those who were not indifferent, who were able to convince the authorities of the urgent need to save the temple.

Restoration work was conducted by architect and sculptor Valery Zamehovsky. Drainage works were carried out, the ground level was lowered by 60-70 centimeters, and the Church yard was paved with stone. Future parishioners of the Church also helped, they took out garbage from the Church, and decorated the courtyard with flower beds. Restoration of the Church ended in 1996, and since then, services have not stopped there.

In April 2019, the Temple was visited by a delegation from India-bikers after driving over the Crimean Kerch Strait bridge, during thier to the monument to Afanasy Nikitin, which is located nearby. Together with the administration of the city of Feodosia, the Russian Information Center (India), laid flowers in memory of the great traveller, and at this time the Church of the Iversk Icon of the Mother of God sounded their bells. After that, the members of the delegation went inside the temple, looked at the Byzantine frescoes, touch the cool stone walls that hold echoes of the past, and feel all the grace of this place. Read more: https://russinfo.center/articles.php?art_id=290.

Location : Crimea