Andrey Anisimov: there can be no revolution in church architecture. It remains to convince the customer of this…. In addition, the church architect must take into account the acoustics and correctly hang the bells, and often develop utensils and even vestments.

Using the rich experience of practical restoration, now about Dean of the leading church architects in Moscow, Andrei Anisimov, designed and built more than fifty different church structures, from chapels and iconostases to temple complexes. The architect is the head of the "Association of Restorers" and his own workshops, which are involved in both construction and restoration, and often interior decoration, including iconostases, paintings, etc.

After decades of persecution of the church, the first modern the temple in Russia was built only in 1986-1988. - a brick church of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Belgorod diocese, the village of Sukharevo (project leader - architect Andrei Rodygin). According to Andrey Anisimov, this first temple, made in the style of Pskov architecture, set a very high standard. " It is very simple, built with maximum observance of traditional technologies, high-quality materials were used during its construction - copper, good bricks, lime plaster. The space inside the temple was very competently organized. It meets many requirements, which it would be good to put forward as criteria for modern church architecture, but, unfortunately, this example was not picked up by the masses, and this direction gradually began to die.».

Vvedensky temple in the village. Sukharevo, architect. A. Rodygin, 1986. One of the first new churches in reviving Russia. Built in the Kursk-Belgorod diocese, consecrated in 1988.

And yet, in your opinion, can we say today that the style of the new temple architecture has been formed?

The temple always reflects the state of society, and the presence of a large number of unsuccessful projects speaks of some kind of regression. The main problem is that both on the part of the customers and on the part of the designers, random people, not professionals, work in this area. Today we need to form a professional community of church (and not only) architects, a team that will understand the goals and objectives set for it. Therefore, we have a “Guild of Temple Makers”, which is trying to bring together all the participants in the process, so that it would be possible to create worthy works of art, even if their budget is relatively small.

I never tire of repeating - to build beautifully and ugly costs almost the same money. These are the same two carriages of bricks, only stacked differently. You need to spend money on a professional architect, on an experienced construction manager. Ideally, of course, the architect should not only design the temple, but also build it himself. For example, for Andrey Rodygin it was fundamental, as it is for me now. In general, life has shown even more than that - the temple must not only be built, but also an iconostasis must be made, the interior space must be decorated, painted, and all the work must be brought to consecration. Because the project and the result are two completely different things.

- It remains to convince the customer of this ...

This is the Soviet system - one designs, the other builds. Moreover, the one who designs does not always know how the temple is arranged. I believe that in church architecture everything is closely interconnected, one is a complement to the other. To avoid conflicts, there should be one person at the head of the construction site. And this man is an architect. And he must create a team: he must immediately sit down to design together with the master who will make the iconostasis, with the artist or mosaicist, with the one who will be responsible for the lighting, for the choros, study with them the computer model of the temple in order to understand whether the elements are arranged correctly ...

In addition, the church architect must take into account the acoustics and correctly hang the bells, and often design utensils and even vestments.

- Are young architects ready to work in this way?

Of course, we are ready, take a look at the composition of our company - they are all young people! But the fact is that sometimes young people are "carried away", and they decide for themselves - from today I begin to design modern churches. This position, although not entirely practical, and I even push my graduate students at the Moscow Architectural Institute a little to this, the search for new ideas and the creation of paper architecture is not prohibited. But one cannot argue "everything modern is wonderful, and everything traditional is bad."

In my opinion, there can be no revolution in church architecture. There should be a smooth evolution, taking into account traditions and functional purpose.

The tradition of church architecture is very voluminous and diverse, is it necessary to focus on a particular style or era?

Temples are different - there are grand-ducal, royal, which are also guided by many. But that often doesn't make sense! For example, in the Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye - a tiny area for worshipers, because there was only the king and his family. And the height of this temple is enormous, which is beautiful, but impractical, not to mention the cost per square meter. Also, we cannot take the Church of the Intercession-on-Nerl as an analogue. Indeed, it is very beautiful, but this is a grand-ducal temple, and it is focused on a specific service. You cannot take ancient monastic churches as a basis, because they are monastic and do not fulfill certain functions that are now needed for a parish church.

We often focus on ancient, Byzantine projects. In my opinion, the highest point in the development of church architecture in Russia is the Pskov architecture.

- How to fit the traditional architecture of the temple into the modern urban development?

An architect, of course, can satisfy his ambitions, disguise the temple as a skyscraper, but they will not go into it, and this is the worst thing. We live in a certain rhythm, at a certain speed. For example, we rush past Moscow City at a speed of 120 km / h, huge towers merge into a single whole. And at the same time, the gaze instantly snatches out the tiny church of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov on the Krasnopresnenskaya embankment. It is made of natural stone with carving elements. If an object made of glass and concrete were in its place, we would never have noticed it. Yes, such a temple fully fits into the environment, but as a church we do not even perceive it. The Church is a different world, it must be recognizable, have a certain sign.

Project of a temple for 600 parishioners, participant of the competition "Modern architectural solution of the image of an Orthodox church", 2013 G.

- Could you give an example of a project that would successfully combine a modern look and traditions?

When we held an exhibition last year based on the results of the competition for the image of a modern temple, I noted one project for myself. It was made absolutely modern - in the form of a cube, then there was such an intermediate element in the form of an uneven wall plastered with lime mortar with two windows, and in front there was a small chapel that served as the entrance to this temple. Thanks to this screen, it successfully stood out against its background.

Should a modern temple acquire some additional functions? For example, playgrounds and parking lots are now being built at churches. Does this meet his objectives?

I am very positive about this. The modern temple is distinguished by the richness of its functions. Before life Russian people were concentrated around the church, therefore, in the planning plan, the temple was always in the center. And today a shopping center has taken its place.

To be able to carry out its function, the church must be a self-sufficient organism. The fact that there are playgrounds, parking lots, various social services at the church is very important.

At the same time, you need to build as cheaply as possible, allocate for temples large area, attract as many people as possible. And build complexes, not separate structures! That it was an organism with a powerful social function. Most of the temples we design usually include a playground, parking, rehabilitation rooms. Many do not know this, but each parish now has its own social function: children's sections, family centers, rehabilitation of alcoholics, drug addicts, there are even sports and biker clubs.

For example, there is such a temple in Usovo, Rublevo-Uspenskoe highway. This is an example of a modern complex, which has a theater, a lecture hall where classes and children's lessons are held. The Elisabeth-Sergius Educational Society works, life there is in full swing around the clock. Today the functions of the temple do not end with “come, pray and go”, and this should not be.

Low-budget temple for 150 people.

Several complexes are under construction in Moscow under the “200 temples” program. Do you think these projects can be called successful?

You know, I was even at one time registered as opponents of the construction of the “Program 200” churches. This is not at all the case, many years ago I wrote an article called "Russia is a lot of small churches." I am a supporter of building temples, only with slightly different methods. We are trying to make inexpensive churches for Moscow, and they have already received approval from the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate.

We are talking about temples made of gas silicate blocks and without vaults. They are designed in the early Christian spirit, close to the Pskov architecture. This is a simple form, good proportions and a specially organized space for the liturgy.

These are the criteria that are required for the temple, and not all sorts of "fancy", counterfeit gold and the like. Otherwise, the trustees will build huge churches, and the priests have to maintain them - they heat them, pay monthly utility bills, look for money to repair and maintain this structure. Customers also need to be educated.

- Wooden churches are much cheaper than brick ones, is it worth developing this area today?

It is not entirely advisable to build modern wooden temples. First, they burn. Secondly, they are in dissonance with urban stone buildings. But recently I was in Murmansk, where they built a whole monastery in a tree. I was just shocked - quality wood, absolutely traditional details, wonderfully designed, built without hack. So you can still build from wood! But, I emphasize, this must be real architecture, you cannot pass off "pseudo" for wooden architecture.

“The Association of Restorers. Andrey Anisimov's Workshops ”is an organization engaged in the restoration, design, construction, decoration of Orthodox churches, temple complexes and chapels.
The work is carried out by highly professional specialists, carried out strictly on time.
The partnership was founded in 1987 as a Creative Association under the Archfond of the Union of Architects of the USSR.

The organization was registered under the name "The Association of Restorers" in 1994, the founder is the Honored Architect of Russia Andrey Anisimov.
In 2004, Andrey Anisimov's Workshops were added to the partnership.

Since 2013 the Association of Restorers. Andrey Anisimov's Workshops ”is a member of the Guild of Temple Creators.

Association leader

The head of the association, architect Andrey Anisimov, has been designing and building only temples for more than 30 years.

The composition of the association

Architectural and design bureau with a restoration department,
- mosaic workshop,
- art workshop,
- stone carving workshop,
- sculptural workshop of artificial stone products,
- construction division.
Collaboration is underway with a workshop for the manufacture and gilding of domes.

Activities of the association

• restoration of temples and architectural monuments,
• design and construction of temples, temple complexes and chapels,
• development of standard projects and construction of economical pre-fabricated churches,
• design and construction of clergy houses,
• production, installation of heads and crosses,
• design and implementation of interiors of temples and chapels (paintings, mosaics, majolica, stone carving),
• design and manufacture of iconostases and other works.

Basic principle of work

One of the features of the organization is the design and construction of temple complexes - the temple and the adjacent premises, necessary for the full life of the modern Orthodox community. Temple complexes are being built taking into account the natural landscape and the characteristics of the existing buildings.

The basic principle of the "Andrey Anisimov Workshops" is that an architect on the site is both a builder and a project manager who has complete presentation about how the temple should look after the completion of construction and finishing works. This vision makes it possible not only to competently control the construction process, but also to bear full responsibility for the result. Thus, the architect is a key figure around which other masters unite. Working together, the architect, builders, icon painters, mosaicists, stone carvers and other artists and specialists become participants in a single creative process, which also includes the customer and the trustee. Joint efforts and continuous working creative contact of the masters with the priest and church teachers give the best results.

Cooperation

For many years, the architect Andrei Rodygin, the author of the project and the head of the construction of the first erected in recent history Russian church - Vvedensky temple in the village. Sukharevo, Belgorod Region (consecrated in 1988).

“Andrey Anisimov's Workshops” at different times collaborated with such leading Russian architects and restorers as: E. V. Stepanova, O. I. Zhurin, V. N. Sharapov, L. A. Shitov, S. V. Demidov, N. A. Bykovskaya, S. P. Orlovsky and many others. For a long time, the scientific advisor was the Honored Architect of Russia Nikolai Dmitrievich Nedovich.

Was born in 1960 in Moscow. In 1977 he entered the Moscow Architectural Institute(MARCHI). During his full-time studies, he worked in various design institutes, including in 1980-81 in the 6th workshop of the SPETSPROEKTRESTAVRATSIYA Institute, where he took part in expeditions to identify and measure monuments of wooden architecture in Karelia. At the same time, he organized several student expeditions to Karelia, the Arkhangelsk region and the Kola Peninsula at the Moscow Architectural Institute under the Sever program.

In 1981, he headed the student construction team of the Moscow Architectural Institute, which was engaged in the restoration of the Resurrection Church in the village of Susanino, Kostroma Region, an architectural monument of the 17th century, known from A. Savrasov's painting "The Rooks Have Arrived." The diploma work received the First Degree Diploma of the Union of Architects of the USSR at the All-Union competition of diploma projects of architectural universities.

After graduating from the institute and serving in the army, having worked for a short time in one of the design institutes in Moscow, he left for the young, under construction city of Kogalym of the Khanty-Mansiysk District of the Tyumen region, where in 1986 he was appointed chief architect of the city, head of the department for construction and architecture of the City Executive Committee. In 1987, he created the Creative Association at the Archfund of the Union of Architects of the USSR and since that time has been engaged in independent creative and production activities, focusing his efforts on the restoration of architectural monuments, but in to a greater extent on the design and construction of new temples. Under his leadership, many original projects of Orthodox churches, chapels, clergy houses, entire temple complexes, striking examples of modern church architecture were developed and implemented.

In 1994 he registered the Association of Restorers, in 2004 - Andrey Anisimov's Workshops. These organizations carried out work on the restoration, conservation, recreation of many architectural monuments both according to their own projects (under the guidance of Honored Architect of Russia N.D. ., Zhurin O. I., Sharapov V. N., Shitova L. A., Demidov S. V., Bykovskaya N. A., Orlovsky S. P. and many others.

Works and achievements

Restoration

The following restored objects can be noted:

• Rozhdestvensky monastery, Moscow, arch. E. Stepanova
• Temples of the Moscow Patriarchate Hospital, Moscow, arch. Anisimov A.A., Sharapov V.N.
• Shamordinskaya desert, Kaluga region, architect. Anisimov A.A., Sharapov V.N.
• Staro-Golutvin Monastery, Kolomna, arch. Orlovsky S.P.
• Church of Maron the Hermit on Yakimanka, Moscow, arch. L. A. Shitova, the work was awarded the Moscow Government Diploma "For the best restoration" in 2000.
• Church of Peter and Paul, arch. Nedovich N.D., Anisimov A.A., the work was awarded the Moscow Government Diploma "For the best restoration" 2002
• Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Pokrovskoye, Moscow, arch. V. N. Sharapov
• Bell tower of the Church of St. Nicholas in Golutvin, Moscow, architect. Stepanova E.V., reconstruction.
• Trinity Cathedral in Anosin Monastery, M.O., architect. Rodygin A.V., reconstruction.
• Iversky monastery, Valdai, Tver region subcontracting.
• Trinity Church, restoration, clergy house, reconstruction of the bell tower, Nazaryevo, M.O. arch. Anisimov A.A.
• Nikolsky Cathedral of the Nikolsky Chernoostrovsky Monastery, Maloyaroslavets, Kaluga Region, architect. Sharapov V.N., Anisimov A.A.
• Church of the Savior in the village of Ubory, M.O., architect. Pustovalov, Anisimov A.A.
• Temple of Alexy the Man of God in the Repne Estate (Voronezh region), Ruk. group of authors Anisimov A.A., leading architect Tikhanovskaya A.S., architect Morozova N.V.

Church building projects

The revival of spiritual life in new Russia required trying oneself in a new capacity - in the role of a church architect. Using the experience of practical restoration, and having his own idea of ​​modern church art and architecture, Andrei Anisimov designed and built more than fifty different church buildings from chapels and iconostases to temple complexes. The projects were based on analogs of ancient Russian church architecture and motives of Byzantine art, as well as studying the experience of architects at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Of the most notable completed works, it can be noted:

• Temple-monument of Dmitry Solunsky in Bullfinches, M.O.
• Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Balakirev, Vladimir region.
• Alexander Nevsky Church in Sofrina, M.O.
• Chapel of St. blgv. book Vladimir in Luzhniki,
• Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in Krasnoye, Kaluga region.
• Church of the Intercession of the Virgin in the village. Glukhovo, Nizhny Novgorod region
• Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist in Brateev, Moscow

Designed and under construction:

• Temple complex of the Spaso-Kizhi Patriarchal Compound in Petrozavodsk
• Church of Alexander Nevsky on the island. Balaam.
• Church of Peter and Paul in the Krasnodar Territory.
• Temple of the New Martyrs of Solovetsky in Moscow.
• Temple of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastia in Konakov, Tver region.
• The project of reconstruction of the Temple of Florus and Lavra on Myasnitskaya, Moscow.
• Church of St. George the Victorious in Gorki X, M.O.
• Queen Elizabeth's Traveling Palace, reconstruction, Taininskoye, M.O.
• Temple complex of All Saints in Novye Cheryomushki, Moscow
• Temple of the Icon of the Mother of God "Education" in Nekrasovka, Moscow,
• Church of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in the District, Odintsovo District, Moscow Region,
• Temple in the name of Sts. Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia on Leninsky Prospekt in Moscow,
• Holy Vladimir Temple in the Queen,
• A number of chapels, fences with the Holy Gates, clergy houses, etc.

It should be noted that construction and restoration are carried out mainly by the "Association of Restorers" and "Andrey Anisimov's Workshops". Also, the "Partnership" includes various applied workshops: white stone, mosaic, icon painting, gilding, etc., which allows you to complete the construction of the temple on a turnkey basis on your own. That is, iconostases, murals, mosaics and majolica are carried out in full, from design to implementation.

Iconostases, paintings, decoration

• Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Nadovrazhino, M.O.
• Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Recovery of the Dead" in Chelyabinsk.
• Church of Holy Martyr Eustathius in Kamenskoye, M.O.
• The temple complex of the Svyato-Vladimirsky Skete on the island. Balaam.
• Church of the Archangel Michael, Pushchino, M.O.
• Church of the Archangel Michael, Mikhailovskaya Sloboda, M.O.
• The baptismal church of the St. George Cathedral in Odintsovo.
• St. Andrew's Church in the Resurrection Skete on the island. Balaam.
• Chapel of Mary of Egypt in the Sretensky Monastery, Moscow.
• Nikolsky Cathedral of Nikolsky Chernoostrovsky Monastery, Maloyaroslavets, Kaluga Region,
• Church of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Usovo, Odintsovo District, Moscow Region.

Leading contemporary church architects: M. Yu. Kesler, D. S. Sokolov, Yu. G. Alonov, V. I. Kozlov, I. P. Kanaev, P. Sergeev, E. Yu. Ogorodova and others, as well as artists: Archimandrite Zinon (Theodor), Archpriest Vladislav Provatorov, I. L. Lubennikov, A. A Zhivaev, AF Kamelin and many others.

Awards

State awards: Title of honor - Honored architect Russian Federation.

Awarded with the awards of the Russian Orthodox Church:

• Order of Daniel of Moscow
• Order of Sergius of Radonezh,
• Order of Andrei Rublev,
• Medal of Sergius of Radonezh,
• Daniil of Moscow Medal,
• Bishops' Diplomas.

Awarded with public awards:

• Order For True Faith,
• Order badge "Ruby Cross of Glory",
• Badge of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky,
• Order for Service to Russia,
• Order of Saint Sophia,
• Order "For Professional Honor, Dignity and Honorable Business Reputation"

• Member of the Union of Architects.
• Full member, academician of the Academy of Architectural Heritage.
• Co-founder of the Guild of Architects and Engineers (GARHI).
• Co-founder of the Russian Association of Restorers.

He has diplomas and certificates of the Union of Architects of Russia, "The Association of Restorers" has twice received the Diploma of the Moscow Government "For the best restoration". Permanent participant in specialized exhibitions-festivals of church art "Orthodox Rus", "Light to the World", etc. Participant of exhibitions in the Museum of Moscow History in the White Chambers and in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

• Diploma at the International Exhibition DENKMAL 2008 in Leipzig,
• Silver Diploma of the International Festival "ZODCHESTVO".

Charity

Conducts its own charity and trusteeship programs:

• Church of the Archangel Michael (Mikhailovskaya Sloboda, Moscow region);
• School number 2, pos. Tumbotino, Nizhny Novgorod region;
• Orphanage "Otrada" at the St. Nicholas Chernoostrovsky Monastery, Maloyaroslavets, Kaluga Region;
• Holy Trinity Abode of Mercy, Saraktash, Orenburg region;
• Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky male Stavropegic Monastery;
• Charitable Foundation "Way of Good", Moscow;
• Neskuchny Sad magazine ( Orthodox magazine);
• Charitable Foundation "Ray of Childhood".