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St. Innocent Monastic Community
Redford, Michigan

 

I. VIDEOS IN ENGLISH

 

VE-19.  THE GREAT CHURCH OF RUSSIA:
CHRIST THE SAVIOR CATHEDRAL, MOSCOW
Its Construction, Destruction & Reconstruction
1813 - 1931 - 1997
 
DVD     1 hr.     Made in Russia in 1997   ENGLISH VERSION   
[English Voice-Over Made in 2002 by St. Innocent/Firebird Videos.]

 

 

PRICE: $24.95

DESCRIPTION:

ST. INNOCENT / FIREBIRD Videos is pleased to create an English voice-over of this wonderful Russian production, so that it may be accessible to the English-speaking world. Truly "the Great Church of Russia," no other monument in Russia can begin to compare with Christ the Savior Cathedral: it is truly the people’s church, and it reflects the national soul. This excellently crafted and technically superb documentary was produced for the 850th anniversary of Moscow. Seen through Moscovite eyes, the video depicts the history of this amazing Cathedral, built on the Moskva River near the Kremlin, and its central role in the life of Moscow and the nation. Numerous drawings, paintings, prints, archival photos and film footage, plus considerable contemporary film footage are combined in this fascinating documentary. Portrayed are the original construction and consecration, its destruction by Stalin in 1931, and its reconstruction in the 1990's. The major people involved with the life of the Great Church are profiled, including its saints. The final third of the video depicts the process of reconstruction in the 1990's, and includes views of the consecration of different parts of the enormous complex and Divine Services, outside and in the Lower Church of the Transfiguration.

The original enormous church was built by contributions from people all over Russia to commemorate the fallen, and to give thanks to God for Russia’s being saved from devastation by Napoleon’s invasion in 1812. It was built to be a place of gratitude and prayer to the holy patrons and heavenly protectors of the Russian land, and to the Savior, Jesus Christ. Its artistic decoration illustrates the unity of the life of Christ with the history of Russia—inseparable from its Orthodox Faith. For 30 years the Metropolitan of Moscow, Philaret, inspired and guided much of the creation of this spectacular Temple of God. It was here that in 1917 Patriarch St. Tikhon was elected the first Patriarch of Russia in over 200 years, and it was here that opposition to the Communist destruction of Russia was centered. This church symbolized that Russia’s greatest strength was its faith; by destroying it, Stalin was trying to crucify Russia, her history and culture, her past and her people. Therefore, its recent reconstruction affirms Russia’s dedication to rebuilding its own soul, and the hope for her continuing spiritual revival. This Great Church had been, and once more has become a center of spiritual and cultural life in Moscow and Russia.

THE PERFECT COMPANION TO THIS VIDEO IS THE DOUBLE-VIDEO SET OF THE COMPLETE GREAT CONSECRATION OF CHRIST THE SAVIOR CATHEDRAL, #VS-7

THIS VIDEO IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE THE ORIGINAL RUSSIAN VHS VERSION, VR-23. CHRIST THE SAVIOR CATHEDRAL.