History of the Church of Cosmas and Damian in the Old Pany

Abstract

The article deals with the history of the Church of Cosmas and Damian in the Old Pany, one of the oldest preserved churches in Moscow. The history of the temple is linked with famous and notable families in the history of Russia such as Godunovs, Sheins, and Princes Golitsyn. The article attempts to look into in detail and consistently the history of the church from its first mention in 1475 to the present. The published as well as archival sources, some of which are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, allow to add a number of details to the history of the church, its formation and reconstruction in 1803. The article focuses on the side-altars of the church, its lost and forgotten cemetery. The connection of a group of young people with the temple is also shown with, who united in a special spiritual community-the family headed by V.P. Savelyev (1899–1977), later Archimandrite Sergius. It draws attention to the marks left in the history of the church by the Great fire of Moscow in 1812, describes three houses belonged to the temple and gives details of the closure of the church of Cosmas and Damian.