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Russian Memorial Church of Saint Alexius (Leipzig)

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Front view of church exterior

The Russian Memorial Church of Saint Alexius was inaugurated and dedicated from October 17–18, 1913, one hundred years after the Battle of Leipzig. It was a memorial to the 127,000 Russian troops who served in the Battle, also called the Battle of the Nations, including the 22,000 who died there.

In addition to serving as a memorial to the Russians who died freeing the Germans, its construction exhibited cooperation between Russians and Germans in 1913. In 1813, the German-speaking Austrians and Prussians had been united with the Russians in their battle against Napoleon and the French. Less than a year after the dedication of this centenary memorial, a different set of alliances resulted in World War I.

It was named after Alexius of Moscow, a patriarch of Moscow during the 14th century recognized as a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. Many external and internal features enhance the functionality of the church as a monument and a place of worship, including a wall of icons, a large chandelier, tablets bearing inscriptions on either side of the doors and four coffins containing the remains of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Leipzig.

Its fortunes varied over the years partially based on what government controlled Leipzig. The church was not always a high priority before 1945, but after Russians made it to Leipzig in World War II, they began to take care of the church and inserted a new plaque extending the purpose of the church to commemorate Russian soldiers down to 1945.

The church continues to serve as a place of worship for a congregation of about 300 with a weekly attendance of about 100. It is part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Both interior and exterior portions of the church have undergone necessary renovations in recent decades. This has been funded by the governments of Germany, Saxony and Leipzig, as well as by Moscow. Groups to preserve monuments and art, the congregation and individual donations also contributed.

Namesake

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Icon painted by Dionisius, showing Alexius and scenes from his life.

The church was named after Alexius of Moscow.[1]: 150  He was born around 1295 and served as Metropolitan of Moscow from 1354 to 1378. This role gave him a large amount of responsibility within the Russian Orthodox Church. For example, he appointed subordinate bishops. He also had an active role in Russian politics of his day, even acting for a time as regent. He followed a policy of obedience toward the Golden Horde, who had forced the Russians into a tributary relationship over a century before.[2] He was credited with at least two miracles, one of which involved healing the wife of the Golden Horde's khan. In one tradition, he cured her of blindness by praying and sprinkling her with holy water.[3] Meanwhile, he worked to keep Western intervention out of Russia and to strengthen the political bond between Moscow and the outlying Russian lands. His policies worked so well that they contributed to Russia being able to throw off Tatar domination.[2]

Battle of Leipzig

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Main article: Battle of Leipzig
Dedication to Russian and allied soldiers at Leipzig

Schwarzenberg led the Army of Bohemia, Blücher commanded the Army of Silesia, Bernadotte commanded the Army of the North and Bennigsen led the Army of Poland. Russians fought in all of these armies while Prussians fought in the first three. Along with soldiers from the Austrians in the Army of Bohemia and the Swedes in the Army of the North, these men supplied most of the anti-Napoleonic field forces in Germany.[4]: 454  Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony, who ruled Leipzig, had become King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony. He was also given the Duchy of Warsaw.[5] His kingdom became part of the Confederation of the Rhine, subordinate to France. At Leipzig, 127,000 Russian troops fought alongside 89,000 Austrians, 72,000 Prussians and 18,000 Swedes.[1]: 160-161  Including Napoleon's side, about 600,000 soldiers from twenty countries fought.[6]

Napoleon reached Leipzig on October 14.[4]: 470  Blücher and Schwarzenberg were near Leipzig on the night of October 15. Tsar Alexander I was on site and anxious for battle, which began on October 16. Napoleon was outnumbered about 200,000 to 180,000.[4]: 472  The first day's fighting was inconclusive.[7] The next day saw limited fighting, but reinforcements arrived, mostly from the Army of the North and Army of Poland. Napoleon was now outnumbered about 300,000 to 170,000. On October 18, the allies forced some of the French lines back but failed to break through and lost more men than Napoleon. But afterward, Napoleon had only 16,000 artillery rounds, having used 220,000. Napoleon's troops, still outnumbered about three to two, began their retreat at 2 am on October 19, eventually crossing the single bridge spanning the White Elster river. The Allies soon pursued. A corporal in Napoleon's army blew up the bridge too early at 1 pm. About 38,000 of Napoleon's troops were killed or wounded. About 15,000 sick and injured were captured, while 15,000 more were captured as a result of the bungled retreat.[4]: 472-483  The allied dead included 22,000 Russians, 16,000 Prussians, 12,000 Austrians and 300 Swedes.[1]: 161  The battle ended French sovereignty east of the Rhine River.[8] After Napoleon's final defeat, Leipzig suffered due to war debts and new international trade. About half of Saxony was annexed by Prussia.[5] The remainder of the kingdom continued to be ruled by Frederick.[9] Leipzig remained part of the Kingdom of Saxony after 1815.[10]

Construction

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Interior view of the church

The church was built in the southeast of Leipzig, where the Battle had occurred. The church was built by Russia on land provided by Leipzig. While the church cost about one million Marks, about half was raised through donations.[11] A Russian architect, Vladimir Potrovsky, provided the plans for the building while German architects Weidenbach and Tschamer worked directly with the Russian and German builders.[12] It ultimately took less than ten months from the laying of the foundation stone on December 28, 1912 before the church was ready to be dedicated on October 17, 1913.[13]

Potrovsky designed the building with the Ascension Church [ru] in Kolomenskoye as a model. The Ascension Church had been built between 1530 and 1532, one of the first tent-roof churches to be made of stone rather than wood. Potrovsky's design began with a square base which becomes eight and then sixteen-sided as it rises.[11] Therefore, the influence of the Ascension Church on that in Leipzig is evident in the sixteen-sided tent roof on a stone structure.[citation needed]

The church was built in the Novgorod style, 55 metres (180 ft) tall, capped with a golden onion-dome.[14] The building was meant to be visible from far off and – in addition to promoting the memory of the Russian troops who died in battle – the church holds the remains of some of these soldiers within four coffins inside the church. Three coffins hold the soldiers Nicolas Kudaschev, Iwan Jegorowitsch Schewitsch, and Andrej Jurgenew, while the fourth contains remains from unknown Russian soldiers from the battle.[15]

The church includes an wall of icons, typical of Eastern Orthodox churches. In this case, the wall includes 78 icons, pictures of saints and holy figures. The wall is 18 meters (59 ft) high and 10 meters (33 ft) wide.[16] The icons were painted by Luka Martjanovich Jemelyanov, a painter from Moscow, and decorated with semi-precious stone, silver, and other metals.[11][16][13] This set of icons was a gift from the Don Cossacks.[12]. Above the wall of icons hangs a chandelier weighing about 800 kilograms (1,800 lb) and holding 72 lamps. This chandelier was also a gift, this one from Tsar Nicholas II.[13]

1913 context

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See also: Causes of World War I
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, c. 1914

Since 1813, Leipzig's situation had changed. In 1913, it was now part of a German Empire, which included Prussia after German Unification. The commemoration plaques honor the soldiers who died "for the liberation of Germany".[1]: 160  The church has been called a "reminder of peace for all people".[12] Regardless of the church's symbolic meaning, by 1913 Germany had acquired, by means including the Scramble for Africa in 1884, an empire larger than all but the British and French colonial empires. Only about a year after the consecration of the church, Germany found itself embroiled in World War I with these global rivals as well as Russia.[citation needed]

On October 18, the hundredth anniversary of the battle was celebrated at two new and substantial memorials. The other was the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, where approximately 100,000 people took part in ceremonies and processions for the dedication.[17] In contrast with the church, however, this monument had taken 15 years to build and is 91 metres (299 ft) tall and weighs 300,000 tons.[6]

On October 18, a day after the church was consecrated, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia attended a special service to dedicate the new church, as a representative of Czar Nicholas II. Also in attendance were important dignitaries from German-speaking countries: Kaiser Wilhelm II, King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand.[1]: 156  The archduke was the heir apparent to the Austrian throne and was assassinated less than a year later by Gavrilo Princip. The assassination caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, whom they blamed for the assassination, which led Serbia's allies Russia, France, and Britain to declare war on Austria-Hungary, which was then backed up by its own allies, Germany and Italy.[18][19]

Under communist rule

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Plaque celebrating Russian soldiers 1813–1945

The church had undergone a renovation in 1923.[1]: 166  Still, the church was in a bad enough state by 1927 that demolition was considered, but the conquering Russians in 1945 ensured that the damage from World War II was repaired.[20] This renovation was initiated by an order from the Russian Marshal Georgy Zhukov to put the building in to exemplary shape after his visit.[15] They also installed a plaque with an inscription, in Russian, that translates to: "Eternal glory to the heroes who died in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our homeland 1813–1945."[1]: 162  Although the Soviet government had suppressed Christianity and persecuted its followers, it used the church to show Russian valor in both the Napoleonic Wars and the Second World War.[1]: 162  Under the German Democratic Republic, it received further renovations in 1963, 1978, 1981, and 1989.[1]: 166  The 1981 work was fairly significant, leaving the church fully restored.[12]

Modern use

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Detail of a portion of the wall of icons

Beginning in 2012, renovations with a price of about a million euros (equivalent to €1,256,068 in 2023) began in preparation for the building's one hundred year anniversary, though the renovations ultimately continued beyond 2013. The renovations included work on the gold-plated covering of the onion-dome, among other things. Moscow, Leipzig, Saxony, and the private German Foundation for Monument Protection all contributed to the cost, with the Russian government contributing 250,000 euros (equivalent to €314,017 in 2023).[11]

The wall of 78 icons underwent a lengthy restoration process that ended in 2018. The wall of icons was restored at a cost of about 300,000 euros. Most of this came from the governments of Germany and Saxony, but the congregation, individuals in Leipzig and Moscow, and an art preservation association also donated.[16]

Today, Orthodox Christian worshipers with Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Bulgarian, and German backgrounds attend services at 10 am on Sundays and holidays.[21] Approximately 100 people attend worship each week, while the full membership of the church is about 300.[11][22] The building is also open to tourists daily from 10 am to 5 pm (4 pm in the winter).[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Dmitrieva, Marina (July 11, 2016). "Die Russische Gedächtniskirche in Leipzig als Erinnerungsort". In Dmitrieva, Marina; Karl, Lars (eds.). Das Jahr 1813, Ostmitteleuropa und Leipzig (in German). Köln: Böhlau Verlag Köln Weimar. ISBN 978-3-412-50399-4.
  2. ^ a b "Biography & Feast Day". Encyclopedia Britannica. July 20, 1998. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  3. ^ "Saint Alexei, Metropolitan of Moscow, Wonderworker of All Russia". Orthodox Church in America. February 12, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Adams, Michael (2006). Napoleon and Russia. London New York: Hambledon Continuum. ISBN 0-8264-3193-3.
  5. ^ a b "Frederick III of Saxony". napoleon.org. October 14, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Monument to the Battle of the Nations (Völkerschlachtdenkmal)". City of Leipzig. 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  7. ^ Broers, Michael (August 30, 2022). Napoleon. New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 397-404. ISBN 978-1-63936-178-6.
  8. ^ "Napoleonic Wars, 1813 Campaign, Coalition Forces". Encyclopedia Britannica. December 28, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  9. ^ "Elector of Saxony, Elector Palatine & Saxon Dynasty". Encyclopedia Britannica. December 19, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  10. ^ Chapman, Tim (1998). The Congress of Vienna. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 1-134-68050-3.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Die russische Gedächtniskirche in Leipzig wurde 100". Monumente Online (in German). February 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d "Internationale Architektur-Datenbank". archINFORM (in German). October 26, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c Weinhold, Sophie (May 5, 2022). "Leipzig: Russische Gedächtniskirche". Leipziger Stadtgeschichte erfahren (in German). Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  14. ^ Brekle, Dipl.-Päd. Ursula (January 1, 2021). "Russische Gedächtniskirche". Leipzig-Lese (in German). Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Die russische St. Aleksij-Gedächtniskirche in Leipzig. : Orthodoxie Düsseldorf". Orthodoxie Düsseldorf (in German). November 19, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  16. ^ a b c Volkszeitung, Leipziger (November 18, 2018). "180 qm groß: Leipziger Sankt Alexis zeigt erstmals restaurierte Ikonenwand". LVZ - Leipziger Volkszeitung (in German). Retrieved December 22, 2024.
  17. ^ Lüpke, Marc von (October 18, 2013). "Völkerschlachtdenkmal in Leipzig". DER SPIEGEL (in German). Retrieved January 17, 2025.
  18. ^ Backhouse, Fid (December 14, 2024). "Biography, Assassination, Facts, & World War I". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  19. ^ "Shooting Franz Ferdinand, Black Hand, & Nationality". Encyclopedia Britannica. December 6, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  20. ^ "Kirchen zu Leipzig". Archived from the original on March 13, 2007.
  21. ^ a b "Russisch-Orthodoxe Gedächtniskirche – Kirchen in Leipzig". Kirchen in Leipzig – Evangelisch-Lutherischer Kirchenbezirk Leipzig – Kirche kommt vor, in jeder Hinsicht (in German). Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  22. ^ "The Russian Memorial Church (Russische Gedächtniskirche)". City of Leipzig. 2025. Retrieved January 17, 2025.
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