- Address: Japan, 〒040-0054 Hokkaido Prefecture, Hakodate, 元町 3-13
- Phone: +81 138-23-7387
- Founder: Joseph Goshkevich
- Founding date: 1859
- Visiting time: Mon-Fri 10: 00-17: 00, Sat 10: 00-16: 00, Sun 13: 00-16: 00
- The cost of visiting: $ 1.76 (200 yen) in the form of donations
In the heart of the prefecture of Hokkaido, the oldest Orthodox church of Hakodate and all of Japan - the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. For more than 150 years, it is an ornament and a kind of symbol of this exotic city.
History of the Church of the Resurrection
Until the middle of the XIX century, there was not a single Orthodox church on the territory of Japan. In 1859, in one of the central cities of the country, the Church of the Resurrection of Christ was founded under the name of Hakodate , which was made possible by the initiative of the Russian consul Joseph Goshkevich. It was here that Archbishop Nikolai of Japan worked, also Ivan Kasatkin, who is considered the founder of the Japanese Orthodox Church.
In the period from 1873 to 1893, the temple was initially a primary school, and afterwards - a school for girls. In 1907 a severe fire took place in Hakodate, which was also captured by the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. In 1916, restoration work was completed, as a result of which the temple acquired a modern look.
Architectural style of the Church of the Resurrection
During the construction and reconstruction of this object, the architects adhered to a mixed pseudo-Byzantine Russian style. That is why the main details of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Hakodate are the following:
- six greenish domes, each of which crowns a cross;
- gable arched arches, looking like pointed bulbs;
- White walls, decorated with a bizarre ornament.
- octagonal bell tower.
If you look at the temple from a bird's-eye view, you can see that it looks like a cross. In this case, it is divided into three levels:
- the first is assigned to the main building of the temple;
- on the second level there are small windows;
- as the third act the central bell and five small bells.
After the fire incident, it was decided that the new building would be built of fire-resistant brick, which was then covered with plaster. By the way, the architect of the new church was the clergyman Idzo Kawamura.
The center of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Hakodate is the altar, whose height reaches 9.5 m. The throne and the gates of this religious structure are located in its front part, while the rear part is placed under the holy of holies, having a semicircular shape. The dome is decorated with two beautiful chandeliers.
In the depths of the temple there is an iconostasis made of zelkva. A Japanese carpenter worked on his creation. The decoration of the church in Hakodate is the icon depicting the Resurrection of Christ. In addition to it, there are even more than three dozen icons on which you can see images of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, saints and angels.
The side walls of the temple are decorated with 15 icons, painted by the hand of the first Japanese icon painter Rin Yamashita. Thanks to them, a quiet atmosphere is created here, which allows you to quickly enter into a prayerful state.
Activities of the Church of the Resurrection
Initially, Iosif Goshkevich founded a small chapel on this place. As soon as a full-fledged Church of the Resurrection was built, Ivan Kasatkin arrived in Hakodate. After he was awarded the title of Archbishop of Japan, and the temple itself became the cradle of Orthodoxy and Russian culture in Japan.
After the fire destroyed the old building, it was Ivan Kasatkin who called on patrons and believers to make every effort to restore the temple. Thanks to these donations, the opening ceremony of the new Church of the Resurrection of Christ was held in October 1916 in Hakodate.
At present, the temple is a valuable cultural monument of Japan. It is ruled by the East Japan Diocese, which in turn is subordinate to the Japanese Orthodox Church. In September 2012, the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Hakodate was visited by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. Resting in one of the most beautiful cities of Japan, you should definitely visit this Orthodox church. After all, it is not only a landmark, but also serves as a center of influence of Russian culture on the life of Japanese society.
How to get to the Church of the Resurrection of Christ?
In order to contemplate the beauty of this cult structure, you need to go to the central part of Hokkaido Prefecture. The Church of the Resurrection of Christ is located in the north-eastern part of Hakodate . You can reach it by tram or car. Just 15 minutes from it there is a tram stop Dzyudzigai.