Orthodox churches in Rostov-on-Don were built during the 17th–20th centuries; they played a role in shaping of the architectural appearance of Rostov-on-Don. They created the high-altitude dominants.
Terminology
Some churches have a special status and referred to as soborny khram (соборный храм) or simply sobor, from the Old Russian word for "gathering" (see “sobor” for other meanings). In Greek, diocesan sees are referred to as καθεδρικός ναός. In Russian, a cathedral is a "sobor" (Russian: кафедральный собор, kafedralny sobor). The seat of the Patriarch is called a "patriarchal sobor" (Патриарший собор, Patriarchiye sobor)
Architecture
Orthodox church buildings have the following basic shapes, each with its own symbolism:
Elongated: rectangle, rounded rectangle (oval), symbolizing the ship as a means of salvation (Noah's Ark) Cruciform (cross shaped) Star shaped Circular
Churches in Rostov-on-Don
There are many churches in Rostov-on-Don, including both Orthodox and those of other religions.
One of them is The church of St. Michael the Archangel (the Church of the Red Cross). It was built in Rostov-on-Don in 1894 in the image and likeness of the church -monument in Borki. In the Soviet era the church was closed and by the beginning of the 1960s completely demolished.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral(Russian: Александро-Невский собор (Ростов-на-Дону)) – another destroyed cathedral of Rostov-on-Don in 1930. The cathedral was situated on Novaya Bazarnaya Square, at the intersection of Bolshaya Sadovaya Street and Bolshoy Stolypinsky Prospect (now Voroshilovsky Prospekt).
Cathedral Church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
Basic information
Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Russian: Собор Рождества Пресвятой Богородицы (Ростов-на-Дону)) ― a cathedral of the Diocese of Rostov and Novocherkassk.
At the end of the 18th century the city authorities decided to build a temple dedicated to the Navity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was meant to be constructed in the same suburb, near the present-day Central market. The church was founded on February 20, 1781, and opened on September 5, 1781.
Due to rapid population growth in Rostov, in 1854 Emperor Nicholas I approved the draft of a new stone church instead of old stone one with wooden domes, which came into dilapidated state. The cathedral was built in the period from 1854 to 1860 on the standard design made by architect Konstantin Ton.
In 1937 the cathedral was closed, and on its territory was opened a zoo, and the cathedral itself was used as warehouse. In the 1940s the upper tiers of the bell tower were destroyed.
The cathedral was opened again in 1942, when Rostov was occupied by German army.
Martyr Tsarina Alexandra Church
Basic information
Martyr Tsarina Alexandra Church (Russian: Церковь Святой Александры (Ростов-на-Дону)). In the 19th century in the city of Nakhchivan-on-Don, on this place the first wooden cemetery chapel for a burial service of orthodox inhabitants has been erected. Then, in 1904, instead of a chapel has been constructed stone church on the project of the architect V. V. Popov which has remained up to now. In 50th and 70th last century the church was partially reconstructed. New revival of Martyr Tsarina Alexandra Church (the Alexandria temple) in Rostov-on-Don has happened in the 90th years. Today it is a monument of the Russian Orthodox temple architecture of Don of the end of XIX – the beginnings of the 20th centuries and costs on the state protection.
Christ Ascension Church
Basic information
Church of the Ascension of the Lord (Christ Ascension Church) (Russian: Храм Вознесения Господня (Ростов-на-Дону)) ― an Orthodox church, built in 1910–1913 on the territory of Brethren Cemetery in Rostov-on-Don. The church has the status of an object of cultural heritage of regional significance.
In 1892, after a cholera epidemic outbreak outside the city, there had been established a cemetery, which was named Brethren Cemetery (Братское). From 1891 to 1908 at the New Market Square there had been being built the Alexander Nevsky's Cathedral. After the consecration of the cathedral, it was decided not to demolish the church completely, but to disassemble and transport building material to the Brethren Cemetery for the construction of a new church there.