Location: Feodosiya
The Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, commonly referred to as the Kazan Cathedral, is an active Russian Orthodox cathedral located in Feodosia, Crimea, at 52 Karl Marx Street (historically known as Sobornaya Street). It serves as the cathedral seat of the Feodosia and Kerch Eparchy within the Crimean Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church. Dedicated primarily to the revered Kazan Icon of the Mother of God—a holy image with deep significance in Russian Orthodox tradition—the cathedral is a modest yet elegant structure that reflects the region's rich religious heritage. Its construction in the early 20th century was tied to both monastic expansion and national commemorations, and it has endured periods of turmoil, including revolution, war, and Soviet suppression, before emerging as a vibrant spiritual center today.
The origins of the Kazan Cathedral trace back to 1887, when Count
Nikolai Fedorovich Heyden, the former warden (starosta) of the Kazan
Cathedral in St. Petersburg, donated his seaside dacha named "Kafa" in
Feodosia to the Toplovsky Holy Trinity Paraskeva Monastery. This
property, encompassing two dessiatinas (about 2.18 hectares) of land, a
house, outbuildings, and a vineyard, was repurposed as the Kazan
Podvorye (monastic courtyard) to accommodate pilgrims and establish a
girls' elementary school. On February 24, 1890, the Holy Synod of the
Russian Orthodox Church officially approved the donation, designating
the site for a church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
In 1890, Heyden further gifted a precious family relic: a copy of the
Kazan Icon from St. Petersburg, adorned with silver-gilt riza (metal
cover), pearls, and precious stones. This donation was made in gratitude
for the miraculous survival of Emperor Alexander III and his family in a
catastrophic train derailment near Borki on October 17, 1888. That same
year, the first procession carrying the icon from the Toplovsky
Monastery to Feodosia took place on July 26, establishing an annual
tradition that drew large crowds, including local Tatars who venerated
the image. The processions involved solemn ceremonies, passing through
villages like Kishlav (now Kurskoye), Saly (Grushevka), Stary Krym, and
Nasypskoy (Nasypnoye), and culminating at Feodosia's Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral.
By 1892, Feodosia residents allocated an additional 689
square sazhens (about 3,130 square meters) of land adjacent to the
podvorye specifically for a temple commemorating the 1888 royal
salvation. However, financial constraints delayed construction.
Initially, a small wooden church dedicated to St. Panteleimon the Healer
was erected on August 6, 1891, and consecrated on October 22 by Bishop
Martinian of Taurida. This was supplemented by a portable church donated
by Baroness Maria Petrovna Frederiks and Martha Stepanovna Sabinina from
their estate in Kastropol on Crimea's southern coast.
Permanent
construction began in 1907, funded by the Toplovsky Monastery, with the
wooden church dismantled to make way for the new stone structure.
Designed by local architect Genrikh Lvovich Keyl (also spelled Keil or
G.L. Keyl), the cathedral was completed in 1911 and consecrated that
year, with Bishop Feofan of Taurida and Simferopol presiding over the
ceremonies. The focus shifted from commemorating the train crash to
honoring the Kazan Icon itself.
The cathedral's history took a dark
turn during the Russian Revolution and Civil War. In 1919, the Toplovsky
Monastery and its dependencies, including the Kazan Cathedral, were
looted by Bolshevik forces. Valuable relics, such as the original
donated Kazan Icon, a holy ark, and church utensils, were lost or
destroyed. The building fell into disuse and served as a warehouse.
During World War II, in the early stages of the Great Patriotic War
(1941), it was repurposed as a collection point for Soviet prisoners of
war and later as a hospital. Under German occupation in 1943, the
cathedral reopened for services, primarily for Romanian troops quartered
there. After Soviet liberation of Feodosia in April 1944, authorities
surprisingly allowed services to continue, making it one of the few
active churches in the region during the atheistic Soviet era.
In the
1950s and 1960s, significant renovations occurred under the guidance of
Archbishop Luka (Voino-Yasenetsky) of Simferopol and Crimea, a canonized
saint known for his medical and spiritual contributions. He oversaw the
repainting of murals, replenishment of church utensils, and consecration
of side chapels, including one dedicated to the Beheading of John the
Baptist in September 1959. Priests such as Ioann Kalishchev and Grigory
Beztalanny served during this period. From 1967 to 2009, Archpriest
Anatoly Chepel was the rector.
Post-Soviet revival began in 2004,
when Abbess Paraskeva of the Toplovsky Monastery, with the blessing of
Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea, restored the annual icon
processions. Since 2009, Archpriest Vasily Bay has served as rector. In
2011, to mark the cathedral's centenary, renovations included
strengthening the fence foundation, interior tiling, and adding a ramp
for accessibility. With the establishment of the independent
Feodosia-Kerch Eparchy, it became the eparchy's cathedral.
The Kazan Cathedral exemplifies the Russo-Byzantine architectural
style, blending Russian Orthodox traditions with Byzantine influences.
Designed by Genrikh Keyl, it is characterized by its simplicity, rigor,
and upward aspiration, avoiding excessive ornamentation to create a
light and slender appearance. The structure features semicircular
completions on the walls for elegance, thin columns at the corners, and
a single dome shaped like a traditional Russian warrior's helmet. The
dome sits atop a light drum with ten arched windows, allowing natural
light to flood the interior. Above the entrance are three interconnected
arches: the side ones contain windows, while the central houses the
cathedral's titular icon.
An open bell tower is integrated into the
dome and drum structure. The exterior walls have been repainted multiple
times in soft, harmonious colors without sharp contrasts, and the dome
and roof are covered in unpainted metal sheets rather than gilded. The
overall design is eclectic but rooted in Russo-Byzantine traditions,
emphasizing grace over grandeur.
Inside, the cathedral is richly
decorated, creating a majestic atmosphere. The walls are adorned with
artistic frescoes depicting Gospel scenes, including images of Jesus
Christ and the Virgin Mary in the upper tier beneath the dome, and
saints such as Great Martyrs Catherine and Barbara, and Great Martyr
Panteleimon in the middle tier. The space is divided by arches and
vaults featuring decorative gold rosettes and ornate ribs. The floor is
laid with red and golden tiles. The altar is framed by an ornate
iconostasis, flanked by icons including the Kazan Icon of the Mother of
God (a copy, as the original was lost), the Three-Handed Mother of God,
the Protecting Mother of God for Travelers, and the Tikhvin Icon of the
Mother of God. The cathedral has three altars: the main one dedicated to
the Kazan Icon, a side altar to the Beheading of John the Baptist, and
another possibly to a saint like a bishop.
Many of the murals date
from post-WWII renovations, and while no original ancient icons remain,
the interior maintains a sense of historical reverence. The cathedral's
modest size belies its spiritual importance, offering a serene space for
worship.
Today, the Kazan Cathedral remains an active place of worship with
regular services, including daily liturgies and special feasts honoring
the Kazan Icon (July 21 and November 4). It attracts pilgrims, tourists,
and locals, particularly during restored processions from the Toplovsky
Monastery. Contact details include phone numbers (+7-365-623-00-08,
+7-365-623-00-23, +7-978-805-44-24) and a VK social media page
(vk.com/kazanskiyfeo) for service schedules. It is easily accessible by
public transport (minibuses 2, 2a, 4, 4d to "Pushkin Street" or
"Bronevsky Name" stops) and is near landmarks like the monument to St.
Andrew the First-Called and the Shaiterov Concert Hall. GPS coordinates:
45.038494, 35.378514.
The cathedral stands as a testament to
resilience, blending historical piety with modern Orthodox practice in
the scenic coastal town of Feodosia.