The Church of St. John the Theologian appeared in Saransk back in 1693 ., replacing the church standing on this place before from the tree . Thus, it is not only the oldest church in Saransk, but also in general the oldest building that has survived to the present day in the whole country . In the 18th century the church was enlarged by attaching chapels to it, and at the beginning of the 19th century, the bell tower was added to the construction . The Church of St. John the Theologian was closed only once in history and then for less than 15 years . In the building was placed the archive of the NKVD . About the church was opened in 1944 ., becoming the first in the republic, and all the rest of the time it operated, during the Soviet period remaining the only city Orthodox church . In 1991 the . church of St. John the Divine received the status of a cathedral and kept it up until 2006 . when the F . Ushakov cathedral was built . Since 1960 . the church is included in the register of architectural monuments of federal significance .
The church before It was lent a unique example of the republic of ancient architecture. It was rebuilt several times, but insignificantly, and in general kept the very image that was given to it during construction.
This beautiful old church is a cubic building with five chapters , four small in the corners of one central . Head of black color that creates an impression of rigor in contrast to the white main structure . Outside the church building is decorated with platbands, a portal and decorative elements from a figured brick . Frieze under the cornice in the Old Russian style reminds of the Moscow Region and Pskov churches . There is a low rectangular bell tower of a simplified appearance with three tiers and a sharp and thin spire, also black .
Practical information
Address: st. Democratic, 28.
The church is located on a street parallel to Bolshevik, which departs from the cathedral, exactly in the middle between the Communist and Soviet streets. You can reach it from the cathedral in a couple of minutes.