The postcard dating back to the early 20th century shows an embankment of the river Tsna and two Intercession churches, the old one and the new one. The former, which has survived to-date, was built in the mid-18th century, the latter in the middle of the 19th century.
The history of the Intercession Church is associated with the founding of the city of Tambov. In 1636, at the confluence of the Tsna and the Studenets, a major construction project began to be implemented: the Russians were going to erect a fortress and town to strengthen the country’s borders and protect the region against Crimean Tatar raids.
One year later, in the middle of October 1637, namely on the Holy Virgin’s Intercession day, the city walls, the fortress and the dwellings were blessed. According to a legend, the Virgin Mary appeared before the citizens of Tambov and pointed to a site where to build a church dedicated to her veil, the kerchief, a piece of white garment with which she covered and protected people in prayer. A small wooden church was built on the southern side of the fortress. By the 18th century, the Intercession Church grew into the centre of community life.
In 1763, the church burnt down, and the foundation of a new church, made of stone and designed in the Russian-Byzantine style, was laid on the same site. The church gave its name to the street, square, and sloboda, a small self-governed community.
In 1846, a major three-throne cathedral was built next to the Intercession Church. The funding for the construction was allocated by a Tambov family, the Baikovs. In 1867, the new cathedral was consecrated in the name of the Holy Virgin’s Veil (Intercession). In 1903, the Old Intercession Church was assigned to the military as the church of the 7th Cavalry Reserve Regiment. Popularly, it was known as the Soldiers’ Church.
The history of the Intercession Church is associated with the founding of the city of Tambov. In 1636, at the confluence of the Tsna and the Studenets, a major construction project began to be implemented: the Russians were going to erect a fortress and town to strengthen the country’s borders and protect the region against Crimean Tatar raids.
One year later, in the middle of October 1637, namely on the Holy Virgin’s Intercession day, the city walls, the fortress and the dwellings were blessed. According to a legend, the Virgin Mary appeared before the citizens of Tambov and pointed to a site where to build a church dedicated to her veil, the kerchief, a piece of white garment with which she covered and protected people in prayer. A small wooden church was built on the southern side of the fortress. By the 18th century, the Intercession Church grew into the centre of community life.
In 1763, the church burnt down, and the foundation of a new church, made of stone and designed in the Russian-Byzantine style, was laid on the same site. The church gave its name to the street, square, and sloboda, a small self-governed community.
In 1846, a major three-throne cathedral was built next to the Intercession Church. The funding for the construction was allocated by a Tambov family, the Baikovs. In 1867, the new cathedral was consecrated in the name of the Holy Virgin’s Veil (Intercession). In 1903, the Old Intercession Church was assigned to the military as the church of the 7th Cavalry Reserve Regiment. Popularly, it was known as the Soldiers’ Church.
