Location: Ulitsa Sovetskaya 26
Cathedral of the Ascension is a Russian Orthodox Church in the historic center of Tver dedicated to Ascension of Jesus Christ on the 40th day after his death on the Cross from the Mount Olive in Jerusalem. It was originally constructed as a wooden church in the late 16th century. However it was burned down in the late 17th century by Polish- Lithuanian invasion and Civil War that became known in Russian history as the Troubled Times. New church of the Ascension and Church of Epiphany was built here shortly thereafter. In 1725 both churches were destroyed by a fire. Current Baroque Cathedral was erected in 1760- 1768. Bell Tower was added in 1805.
After Russian Revolution of 1917 Cathedral of the Ascension was looted by Soviet government and finally closed in 1935. Ironically it was re- opened in 1941 when Tver was occupied by the German forces and assistance of a puppet mayor Yasinskiy. Service was held by Bishop of Kalinin (Soviet name for Tver) Basil (Ratmirov). After liberation of the city in December of 1941 it was closed again and turned into a museum of industrial achievements. After collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 Cathedral was returned to its rightful owners, Russian Orthodox Church. On January 7th 1993 (Orthodox Christmas) the first Christian service was held after half a century of being closed. Today it is well known pilgrimage site since it carries relics of the martyr Saint Thaddeus.
In the place where the cathedral is now
located, until 1612 there was a wooden church of the Ascension, and
next to it - the Church of the Epiphany, both churches burned down
during the Polish-Lithuanian intervention. In 1624, the Church of
the Ascension was restored, later the Epiphany side-chapel was added
to it, but this church also burned down during a strong fire.
At the same place, a stone church was built with the same name
and the same side-altar: in 1751 the Epiphany side-altar was built,
and in 1760 - the main side-altar. On May 19, 1763, the temple was
badly damaged as a result of a fire, but it was rebuilt: the
Epiphany side-altar took several months, and in 1768 it was
completely damaged, in 1805 a bell tower was built near the temple.
In 1818, it was decided to dismantle the temple and build a new one
in its place, but it was never implemented, instead, by 1831, the
side-chapel of Anthony and Theodosius of the Pechersky was built.
In 1922, church valuables from the church were confiscated, and
in 1935 it was closed.
In 1936, an exposition of the regional
museum of local lore was placed in the temple.
At the end of
October 1941, with the assistance of the burgomaster Valery
Yasinsky, appointed by the German occupation administration, the
cathedral was opened for services by Bishop Vasily (Ratmirov) of
Kalininsky (closed again after the restoration of the Soviet
administration in the city in December of the same year).
In
1972, the building was transferred to an exhibition hall, after
which it was rebuilt and renovated.
In 1991, a decision was
made to transfer the church to the community of believers; On
January 7, 1993, services were resumed.
The rector of the
Cathedral of the Ascension of the Lord is the ruling bishop of the
diocese - for 2018, Metropolitan Savva of Tver and Kashin.