Igreja de Santa Mártir Zenaide, Russian Orthodox temple in Santa Teresa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Igreja de Santa Mártir Zenaide is a Russian Orthodox temple in Santa Teresa featuring a distinctive central dome and white walls. The building displays traditional Pskov architectural style with decorative elements typical of Russian religious structures.
Russian refugees fleeing the 1917 Revolution built this temple between 1935 and 1937. Its completion established the first Russian Orthodox parish in Rio de Janeiro and marked an important presence of the Russian diaspora in Brazil.
Services blend Russian Orthodox customs with Portuguese language use, drawing both Russian descendants and Brazilian worshippers into shared religious life. The community maintains its traditions within a bilingual setting.
The temple holds regular services in Portuguese and Russian, mostly on weekends. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing when entering and note that head coverings are customary for men.
This is the only church worldwide dedicated to Saint Martyr Zenaida, reflecting a specific connection to Russian Orthodox heritage in South America. The choice of this uncommon name shows the veneration of this early Christian saint among the Russian community.
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