The ensemble of churches of Archangel Michael and the
Presentation of the Lord in Shelokhovskaya - Orthodox churches in
the village of Shelokhovskaya. The village of Shelokhovskaya belongs
to the Kargopol district of the Arkhangelsk region, is the center of
the Priozernoye rural settlement. Shelokhovskaya is located 54
kilometers from Kargopol on the way to Konyovo and Plesetsk, in the
bend of the Onega River. Previously, the village was called
Arkhangello. From archival documents, this place has been known
since the 16th century, and its name indicates the main church in
honor of one of the archangels - Michael.
Until now, in the
center of the village, on the left bank, 200 meters from the coast,
an architectural ensemble of 2 wooden churches has been preserved.
The first is named after the Archangel Michael. It was built in 1715
by the "diligence of the parishioners" on the site of the burnt
church of the same name. The second is the Sretenskaya Church (XIX
century) with a "warm refectory" and side-altars in the name of the
great martyr George the Victorious and the holy martyrs Florus and
Laurus (the refectory with side-altars has not survived).
The
Church of the Archangel Michael is unique, this is expressed in the
type of its completion. The temple belongs to the so-called cubic
churches, known primarily in Poonezhie, Arkhangelsk region. The cube
houses the traditional five-domed. The barrel overlaps the apse. The
Church of the Presentation of the Lord has a roof in the form of a
helmet with a dome. It should be noted that once there was a stone
bell tower near the temples, built in 1860. It was destroyed in
Soviet times.
The above objects are not part of the parish,
but indicate the rich history of the local area. Today, services are
held in the Shelokhov Sretenskaya Chapel.
Makaryevsky spring
is located 5 kilometers from the village of Shelokhovskaya, on the
outskirts of the village of Zabivkino. It is so named after the
chapel of the same name, located above the source, in honor of the
Monk Macarius of Unzhensky. The Makaryevsky spring has long been
famous for its healing properties. Local residents have always been
distinguished by good health and longevity. Every year, on August 7,
in honor of the Monk Macarius, a water blessing service is held at
the source.
During the Soviet era, the churches of the
village of Arkhangello did not work. Based on the recollections of
local old residents, the last services were held on the eve of the
war, in 1940. Father Nikolai Usachev was the last priest. In August
2003, a constituent assembly of the Arkhangelsk Orthodox community
was organized in the village. The meeting was chaired by Archpriest
Vladimir Kuziv. It was then that the charter of the Orthodox parish
was adopted and the members of the community were elected. May 16,
2005 is considered the official date of registration of the local
Orthodox organization of the parish of the Sretensky Church in the
village of Shelokhovskaya, Kargopol District, Arkhangelsk Region,
Arkhangelsk and Kholmogorsk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The chairman of the parish council (Rykova E.V.), the treasurer
(Garevskikh L.V.) and the spiritual guardian of the parish
(hieromonk Theodosius of the Church of the Intercession from the
village of Kazakovo) were elected. Since July 2009, Bishop Tikhon of
Arkhangelsk and Kholmogorsk has appointed Priest Andrey Usachev as
rector and new chairman of the parish council.
All services
are performed in the local Sretenskaya chapel, which was erected in
2003 with the care and efforts of L.V. Garevskikh. In August 2003,
Archpriest Vladimir Kuziv, Dean of the Plesetsk District, and
Hieromonk Theodosius consecrated the Chapel of the Presentation of
the Lord. Services are held on Sundays and holidays. The following
days are especially revered in the village: May 3 - Memorial Day of
St. Alexander of Oshevensky, August 7 - St. Macarius of Zheltovodsky
and Unzhensky, and November 21 - Archangel Michael. Now the parish
is drawing up project plans for the revival of the ancient churches
in the village of Shelokhovskaya.