Church of Sts. Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia
   Photo: Church of Sts. Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia

By the early 90s of the 20th century in Klaipeda operated only one Orthodox church, built in 1947. The idea of ​​building a new church existed already, but real possibilities for she had not.

Start 90s can be characterized by a flood of many people in the churches of God; a considerable number of people baptized. For these reasons, Klaipeda Temple barely accommodate all those wishing to listen to the Sunday liturgy. One of the permanent members of the church began Artamonov family: husband, Vladimir was the headmaster and his wife - a teacher of drawing at the school.

When the school were released several rooms, Vladimir Artamonov proposed clergy House of Prayer is located here. The extension took place to the porch, as well as a place to study at Sunday school and city officials agreed to Home improvement prayer.

For the renovation of old buildings it requires a lot of effort: it was necessary to equip a separate entrance to the temple, change the shape of the windows, and separate rooms for prayer and learning from each other. Already in the process of building a new house of prayer people began to come to school and help with construction work, in addition, during the construction of the church began to be made and the first services were held in uncomfortable conditions, but that did not stop the faithful.

The walls of the church were painted by the artist Valery Osyshnym who lived at that time in Klaipeda. It was a very hard-working man, after just one year, he painted all the walls of the temple, which differed artistic freedom and purity of lines. After registration of the walls Bishop Chrysostomos began to prepare the room for the lighting: it was established, and the elevation of the altar iconostasis.

Church of the Holy Martyrs Faith, Hope and Charity and their mother Sophia in 1995 was covered by Klaipeda Archimandrite Anthony. The name of the Church was not chosen randomly, because it is a virgin, suffered for their faith in Christ, considered the patroness of church ministry to children.

The internal arrangement of the school and teachers took part. Christian direction of the school could not affect the learning process, and in many schools and secondary schools of Klaipeda, which was taught the basics of religion. After some time, the school was named in honor of Andrei Rublev, who was a painter of the 15th century. This event is closely linked to school with the Orthodox Church.

An important event that took place in the school Andrei Rublev, was the erection of the rank of priest Vladimir Artamonov of Lithuania and Vilna Metropolitan Chrysostomos, with Artamonov and was director of the school. It was the only precedent in Vilna Orthodox Church when the secular duties are performed by a clergyman. The school appeared iconography, headed by the director, and three students enrolled in the school MPSTBI - icon painting department.

The new parish there are people who are seriously engaged in the publication of literature, social and religious direction. Parish "Bulletin" released the first issue in 1996, in which the questions were consecrated church life. And in 1999, the parish published a book, "Do not leave you comfortless," written by Pontius Rupysheva ideas archpriest, who served in Lithuania and the Vilna diocese.

When the church became a Sunday school, where he taught the basics of worship in the churches and Christianity. Now the school also held training for this kind of group of people with different levels of training. The classes are taught: History of the Church, God's law, theatrical skills and church singing. Young people do performances that show the parents involved in theological contests holidays.

In the spring of 2004, Vladimir Artamonov held a drawing contest for children "Slavic Spring", dedicated to the Apostles Cyril and Methodius. This competition received a huge amount of work, and now the forum is carried out annually.

Thanks to. Vladimir Artamonov became known in Lithuania and demand Penza architect Dmitry Borunov, because he built a lot of projects of the Russian Orthodox churches.

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