Church of the Savior of the Holy Face
Church of the Savior of the Holy Face
Church of the Savior of the Holy Face
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4.5
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saronic
Zurich, Switzerland28,647 contributions
Aug 2019
Not far from the Angara river, the Cathedral of the Epiphany, the Polish Catholic Church, the Eternal Flame Memorial and Kirov Square is the Spasskaya Church or Church of the Savior of the Holy Face, which refers to the veneration of the impression left by Jesus on the veil of Veronica, which she had offered to the Savior on his way to Golgatha to wipe off the blood and sweat from his face.
The church is the oldest in Irkutsk still standing and the city's first building in stone, constructed in the beginning of the 18th century on the site of a previous wooden one, destroyed in a fire. Behind the actual church was erected in 2011 an open-sided chapel with a memorial stone inside, which refers to the first settlers of Irkutsk, whose remains had been found here during restoration work on the Spasskaya and which are kept now in a crypt under the chapel.
The church has a belltower above the entrance, where can also be found a monument to Peter and Fevronia, the patron saints of marriage and fidelity. Unusual for Siberia is the fact that there are also frescoes on the exterior, especially a quite large one above the apse at the back of the church.
The church is the oldest in Irkutsk still standing and the city's first building in stone, constructed in the beginning of the 18th century on the site of a previous wooden one, destroyed in a fire. Behind the actual church was erected in 2011 an open-sided chapel with a memorial stone inside, which refers to the first settlers of Irkutsk, whose remains had been found here during restoration work on the Spasskaya and which are kept now in a crypt under the chapel.
The church has a belltower above the entrance, where can also be found a monument to Peter and Fevronia, the patron saints of marriage and fidelity. Unusual for Siberia is the fact that there are also frescoes on the exterior, especially a quite large one above the apse at the back of the church.
Written April 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cap Chastain
Anchorage, AK17,444 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
The Church of the Savior of the Holy Face, located just North of Kirov Park and close to the Angara River here in Irkutsk, is yet another amazing Russian Orthodox Church. The church is also known as the Spasskaya Church. It is located in, and a part of an area full of attractions so a visit to this location is well worth the time and the effort. Don't miss the rear of the church where you will see a small chapel, a memorial to the Cossack people and a worth seeing fresco (colorful mural painting) on the upper rear of the church.
The interior is certainly worth visiting although it will be crowded from time to time. There is a tasteful gift shop area upstairs where the main sanctuary is located. My wife has difficulty with stairs and you must walk up a fairly long set of stairs to get to the upper sanctuary area of the church. She was not able to do so.
This entire general area of Irkutsk is one you don't want to miss. IF you have the time to pay it a visit, plan to spend the better part of a day here.
The interior is certainly worth visiting although it will be crowded from time to time. There is a tasteful gift shop area upstairs where the main sanctuary is located. My wife has difficulty with stairs and you must walk up a fairly long set of stairs to get to the upper sanctuary area of the church. She was not able to do so.
This entire general area of Irkutsk is one you don't want to miss. IF you have the time to pay it a visit, plan to spend the better part of a day here.
Written May 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew M
7,589 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
This church is also known as the Spasskaya Church. It is located in a small park, north of Kirov Square, slightly to the right of the government administration building. It is not the most attractive church n Irkutsk, but is an example of old Russian architecture that is appreciated by many visitors to the city. The church is painted white and has a green roof. The most impressive features of the church, are the tall bell tower, which has a steeple shaped roof with orthodox cross atop, and the fresco at the rear of the church. The fresco is in three sections, and it may be difficult to get a good picture due to the dome and cross at the back of the church, which may partially block the lower section, or the shadow from the nearby trees which sometimes falls on the fresco. This was the only church in Siberia that had a fresco on the outside.
A wooden church was built on this site in the 1660's, and it was said to have the banner of the cossacks, which was transferred to the new stone church, constructed in 1706. The builder of the church was M Dolgikh. In 1713, the lower level of the church was used to store valuable furs. In 1812, troops received blessings here before travelling to Moscow to fight Napoleon's Grand Armee. The church was closed in 1931, and used for different purposes. It was restored between 1967-1980, and then used as a department of the local museum. The church resumed religious services in 2006. In the following year, excavations were done near to the church, which showed evidence of the old fort and human remains.
We seemed to have missed the chapel and cossack memorial stone located behind the church, but viewed the Peter and Fevronia monument and a cossack grave marker near to the front of the church. We thought that this marker was strange, as it had both the hammer & sickle insignia and the orthodox cross on it. Other attractions in this small park, include the eternal flame, alley of heroes and the Afansy Beloboradov monument. The nearby pedestrian bridge offers great views of the angara river and kirov square.
A wooden church was built on this site in the 1660's, and it was said to have the banner of the cossacks, which was transferred to the new stone church, constructed in 1706. The builder of the church was M Dolgikh. In 1713, the lower level of the church was used to store valuable furs. In 1812, troops received blessings here before travelling to Moscow to fight Napoleon's Grand Armee. The church was closed in 1931, and used for different purposes. It was restored between 1967-1980, and then used as a department of the local museum. The church resumed religious services in 2006. In the following year, excavations were done near to the church, which showed evidence of the old fort and human remains.
We seemed to have missed the chapel and cossack memorial stone located behind the church, but viewed the Peter and Fevronia monument and a cossack grave marker near to the front of the church. We thought that this marker was strange, as it had both the hammer & sickle insignia and the orthodox cross on it. Other attractions in this small park, include the eternal flame, alley of heroes and the Afansy Beloboradov monument. The nearby pedestrian bridge offers great views of the angara river and kirov square.
Written November 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland11,262 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
I felt that this was the nicest of the many cathedrals and church es we saw on our walking tour of Irkutsk. It was here at the Saviour of the Holy Face that we spent the most time, that's for sure. It has a stunning , and recently discovered fresco on its outer wall which is worth a visit in itself. There is a lovely carved stone outside showing what the cathedral and the city used to look like and there are peaceful gardens around the church that are really nice to wander in. The faced is beautiful too and the interior is well worth a visit. A lovely place and I would strongly recommend it to any visitor to Irkutsk.
Written August 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jo-s
Houthalen, Belgium628 contributions
Aug 2019
Close to the other cathedrals and the monument Peter and Fevronia. this is the oldest and the most beautiful.
Written September 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PipPaul W
Buckfastleigh, UK1,923 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
This is a lovely little Orthodox Church. Not totally grand but beautiful enough inside.
Don't miss the external fresco nor the 'stone' out back
Don't miss the external fresco nor the 'stone' out back
Written August 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Xavier Jimenez
Mersin, Türkiye112 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
You will find some information in the front of the church. Really nice interior with a shop. You need to go upstairs to be able to enter the church.
Written June 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Randall K
Canberra, Australia1,224 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
You will find this Church close to the river as you wander around the city. Quite a beautiful design from the outside. There is an amazing fresco at the rear of the Church, so ensure you appreciate this. We did not see the interior, and it was quite busy as we walked past. Plenty of other things to also see in the same area.
Written March 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PlanesTrainsEverything
Paisley, UK91 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
This church is a popular photo spot on the tourist trail, so expect lots of visitors. It's a lovely structure.
Written November 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew E
White Bear Lake, MN687 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
As part of a guided city tour enjoyed the views of the exterior of this lovely church. Great views from many angles as you walk around the church and adjoining park.
Written November 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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