中文 | Русский | by Peter Erickson, Nov 20, 2005

Former Entry of the Theotokos Church of Hengdaohezi

In the town of Héngdàohézi in southern Heilongjiang stands an old church, entirely built of wood and crowned by a gleaming bronze onion dome. A fence surrounds the church and hanging from the fence is a sign that reads: "Historical Site: Entry of the Theotokos Orthodox Church." This church, with a floor area of 614 square meters, is the second largest Orthodox church in China (only St. Nicholas Cathedral in Harbin is larger) and for decades served the spiritual needs of the pre-Revolutionary residents of Hengdaohezi, most of whom were employees of the China Far East Railway. Hengdaohezi has now become a destination for tourists curious about the "old Russian town" and its rustic church. Entry of the Theotokos Church, which is even older than St. Sophia in Harbin, is now undergoing restoration under Chinese government auspices. The restoration project will also include the construction of a China Far East Railway Museum.

Photos

September 2, 2010

engraved stone lying
next to the church
from Zebra, May 2006

from msn group