The Epiphany Church is located in the village of Pezhma, Velsky
District, Arkhangelsk Region. On the site of the wooden Epiphany
Church, a stone one was erected. The construction of the stone
temple began in May 1805 and was completed a year later.
The
church was a two-story building covered with a dome and decorated
with five chapters on faceted wood drums. The height of the temple
was 32 meters. The main chapel was consecrated in honor of the
Epiphany of the Lord, the chapel, located on the 2nd floor - in the
name of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity. On the west side, a refectory
was attached to the church, which was heated in winter with ovens,
with two aisles. On the right edge of the entrance there was a
side-chapel in the name of Saint George the Great Martyr, on the
left - in the name of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. In 1828-1829,
a limestone floor was installed in the temple.
In 1841, there
was a thunderstorm, during which the church was damaged, so in 1842,
over the course of 16 years, repairs were made, and the thrones were
rededicated. In 1834 a bell tower was added to the church, but soon
cracks formed on its walls. In 1895, it was examined by the Vologda
provincial architect Remer, who made the decision to dismantle it to
the ground. In October 1897, the foundations of the new bell tower
were laid. The construction of the new building lasted until 1904.
In 1903, the bells were raised on the bell tower and the Holy Cross
was installed, and in 1904 it was whitewashed. The height of the
bell tower was 52.5 meters.
In 1904-1914, work was carried
out on the expansion and arrangement of the two-story church: the
vaults were moved, the height of the walls of the main church and
the refectory were increased, the second floor of the summer church
was abolished to increase the volume of the temple building and
create a second light in the form of round windows under the cross
vaults ... Thus, the Epiphany Church acquired a form that has
survived to this day.
When the First World War began, all
construction and finishing activities were stopped, and after the
Great October Revolution, a second period began in the historical
life of the church - a period of aging, desolation and destruction.
These events are reflected in the church chronicle: the signing of a
document on the separation of the church from the state, after which
the church was transferred to the community for maintenance; in 1922
- confiscation of church valuables.
The persecution of
churches and clergy in the 30s of the XX century did not escape the
Vela church. Many priests were repressed, and in 1933, when the last
rector died, the church was closed for believers, the bells and the
cross were removed from the bell tower, and church property was
taken away.
Later, the church building was used as a granary
and warehouse. In addition, the territory of the churchyard at the
church was arranged for parking equipment, there was a diesel engine
in the side-altar, two two-storey houses were erected on the north
side, and on the south, after a fire that destroyed the Floro-Lavra
church, a road was built to a bridge across the Pezhma River.
By the end of the second period of its historical path, the
Epiphany Church acquired a depressing appearance, time left the
stamp of abandonment, loneliness and inexorable destruction on it,
and a lopsided cross hanging on chains emphasized this sad picture.
After some time, the local population decides to keep what they
inherited. Thus began the third period in the history of the
Epiphany Church, which continues to the present day.
Several
legends are associated with the Welsk church. In Soviet times, they
wanted to destroy the temple. According to one of the legends, when
the cross fell, it hit the church wall, where a characteristic
imprint remained, and went into the ground. Nobody found him. And
the raft with bells went to the bottom of the Pezhma River.
Restoration work is being actively carried out here.