Church of the Intercession at Fili, Orthodox church in Filyovsky Park District, Moscow, Russia
The Church of the Intercession at Fili is an Orthodox church built in Naryshkin Baroque style using red brick, featuring five stacked tiers with three open porches on its exterior. The intricate brickwork patterns create a distinctive visual texture across the entire structure.
The church was commissioned by Lev Naryshkin, brother of Tsarina Natalia Kirillovna, and built between 1690 and 1694 to replace an earlier wooden structure. This construction represented a shift from simple timber buildings to more elaborate stone churches in the area.
The building contains two distinct prayer spaces stacked vertically: a winter church dedicated to the Intercession on the lower level and an upper church devoted to the Holy Face. This arrangement allowed worshippers to use different sections depending on the season and practical needs.
The building reopened to visitors in September 2023 following extensive restoration work that preserved its structural elements and exterior surfaces. Visitors should expect narrow staircases and uneven flooring when moving between the two distinct prayer levels.
During World War II in 1941, the domes were removed to prevent German artillery from using the church as a targeting landmark. This unusual defensive measure helped preserve the building throughout the war years.
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