[Тютчев]

On the ruins of the Third Rome

Konstantin Mikhailov

For a complete description of Moscow losses 1917-2008 period are needed, unfortunately, many volumes. No European capital in the twentieth century, so did not suffer. In the Kremlin, which only seems to us beyond the control of storm-time sanctuary of antiquity, destroyed, for example, 17 churches of 31. Half of the cultural and historical heritage of Moscow, which existed in 1917, was destroyed as early as 1941. Then - as the Russian proverb: it ctolko, took away half as much from him even half as much, yet half so much, yet half so much ... How much is left?

In the author's archive holds information on more than 2,000 died of old buildings in Moscow, but this list, alas, is far from complete. In our city, where the historical and building layers of XVIII-XX centuries still found the remains of medieval buildings, every home deserves careful and painstaking study. And the old Moscow in the twentieth century broke the entire neighborhoods, trying to clear the construction site for another masterpiece of the new architecture bound to the specified date or the nearest holiday. Many ancient monuments have died so not only obscure, but simply unknown.

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And this, unfortunately, does not cause long ago. And in our time of local lore and enthusiasts have described and photographed destructible monuments race with construction excavators. So it was, for example, with the chambers of XVII century in the Big Gnezdnikovsky Lane, dead for exactly three years ago, in February 2006 the second.

... One day (as always, sorry, "only to live in this time of'm not perfect nor have I nor you") in power in Moscow will be people who understand that the historic city of a thousand years of history deserves a much better fate than to stay arena of infinite extract super profits from the lucrative areas in its center. One day in Moscow will understand that the preservation of its original historical monuments - this is the public interest that goes beyond the private interests of specific investors, developers and officials. And the second will be easy to sacrifice in the name of the first, and not vice versa. And the center of Moscow declared cultural and historical reserve, and each house would hang commemorative plaque describing its historical, cultural and memorial values. And any investor who comes to the city authorities with a proposal to demolish any historic building, will be the threshold point to the door. And maybe even send in the 101-km mark. Know if only as monuments of Moscow is destined to lose, yet in the minds of mayors and city residents will not come from the euphoria sobering transformation ...

about the benefits of staring at old photographs

Moscow is no worse than a glass, suitable to illustrate the well-known paradox of pessimists and optimist. The city is half empty or half full? The question is not an easy one.

Kremlin. St. Basil's Cathedral. Novodevichy Convent. Church of the Ascension in Kolomna. Church of the Intercession in Fili. Menshikov Tower. Pashkov House. Donskoy Monastery. Church of the Resurrection in Kadashi. All intact. Worth. I will rejoice, I dare to hope, our grandchildren. I list the fact that I dearly love. Everyone, perhaps, in the heart of Moscow his rating masterpieces.
Sukharev Tower. Red Gate. Simonov Monastery. Grand Cross of the Church of St. Nicholas. Chudov and Ascension Monastery in the Kremlin. Ibid - Cathedral of the Savior on Bor. The walls and towers of the China-town. Church of the Assumption on Pokrovka. Temple Joasaph Tsarevich in Izmailovo. Church of St. Nicholas in a pillar of ... Total killed in Moscow - sorry. But this - sorry immensely. It is a masterpiece (again, in my personal opinion) the first row. They would decorate any of the capitals of Europe, if so fortunate to European capitals.

Look at their old pictures. Rate exquisite lines, subtle silhouette, the harmony of proportions. Even looking at the pictures, you can feel, feel - let the elusive moment, and probably a tiny fraction - the impression of grandeur and charm that gave the inhabitants of the surrounding spaces of these famous buildings in Moscow. Glory does not occur in a vacuum, legends are not born on orders from above.

Looking at these old photos, I once knew that you can not believe conventional wisdom phrases from books: the backwardness of Russian culture, that Russia in its history, and was just so busy that someone catching up, someone studied , someone that something took over. The fact that the only ray of light in a dark, uncultured, stagnant and superstitious country have been gleaned in western magazines progressive ideas and ideals ... All this thinking stuff, which to this day with a significant view speaketh other historians and journalists who can not stand comparison with a single photo of the church of St. Nicholas or the Grand Cross of the Sukharev Tower. In a dark and superstitious country, this will never create.

And all this for centuries posed, multiplying and cherished the beauty and glory in Moscow destroyed, and - this is hard to believe - for some ten years, from 1927 to 1936. Only ten thousand years of history of Moscow, and the city has changed in the face.
Since then, it was not until the seventy-odd years, and the city changed in the face again and again. Today it pulled new carnival mask - pseudo-theatrical scenery with concrete walls under uzorochnymi casings. Thank God, masterpieces have not touched. In Stalin's Moscow, they also did not touch - for the time being ...

about the benefits READING Journal articles

I allow myself one more lyrically autobiographical digression. I'll tell you how I first questioned the Soviet regime. The case was still in school, age twenty-six or twenty-seven years ago. I have read ... no, no samizdat about Stalin's camps. In a magazine I read an article about the demolished architectural masterpieces of Moscow. With pictures. The article was in these times quite harmless, with no conclusions, no generalizations, without documentary revelations. But until now, surprisingly, as it was then missed censorship. Because without generalizations and revelations impression was terrible. How? That is - destroyed by Soviet authorities and Soviet citizens? Not barbarians, not by foreign invaders, not saboteurs, not a disaster? Destroyed not by accident, not by inadvertence, not at the barrel of a gun to his temple, and quite consciously, deliberately, and even joyfully and with enthusiasm? Destroyed by the very people whose deeds and accomplishments we are taught in school to be proud of one's heirs and successors, we are accustomed to consider himself?

Habit Soviet world collapsed almost overnight. That's when the first stirred in me a worm of doubt. That's when it all began: the bitterness and pain and a burning desire to find out about the masterpieces of the victims as much as possible, and to recall them at least in his own mind, and tell others about it, and pay tribute to the memory of themselves and their creators ... The most desire, which is not dead in me so far and, indeed, your humble servant, led to writing books in the series "Moscow, we have lost."

But all the same, and after so many years, and after reading hundreds of books, articles and archival documents about the history of destruction of monuments of national culture in the twentieth century - largely due, I open my eyes to many things - with loss of masterpieces can not be reconciled. And it is impossible to explain them by any logical, rational reasons.

about the benefits COMPARISONS Causes and consequences

Among the adherents of old Moscow is still alive the legend, in recent years and told the press. Its meaning is that supposedly in the early 1930's leading restorers and scientists were summoned to the Moscow City Council and asked to draw up a list of the best, most valuable architectural monuments of Moscow. The question - why? - Explained: in order not to affect to necessarily save them for starting the reconstruction of the city. Restorers and scientists have made such lists, and handed them over to the Moscow City Council, happy preventive care authorities on the historical heritage. And when the reconstruction of Moscow gathered pace, scientists and restorers with horror realized that the best architectural monuments of the city destroyed one after the other - carefully compiled on their list ...

True or not, probably no longer be doznatsya. But for us it is in this case is not important. Legend is often truer than reality. Because it conveys a better sense of what is happening, cut out unnecessary details and details. And the sense that the great architectural and historical monuments of Moscow, the symbols of the ancient city, were, with few exceptions, destroyed in 1927-1936, respectively.

The history of the struggle of the then very few defenders of the old Moscow against the destruction of its masterpieces, let me say a few monotonous. Are changing the dates and names, but the development of the plot, not to mention the finale, in general, the same thing.
Object (Sukharev Tower, Kitaygorodskaya wall, Simonov monastery, then on the list, underline) is listed in all imaginable and unimaginable lists of sites approved by state authorities. His knowledge, study, organize excursions to him. His restored, muzeefitsiruyut paint prospects. Prominent leading figures of the art restoration and publish it on the articles and books, not forgetting to praise the Soviet regime, under which first made possible the restoration and public demand, the study of an object or opening a museum. The eminent historian Moscow Peter Sytin wrote in 1926: "Sukharev Tower in over two hundred years vegetating. Today the Soviet authorities returned her to life in the fullest sense of the word, not only updating the overhaul of decrepit members, but vdunuv in her living soul ". Before demolition Sukharev Soviet power remained for eight years ...

So, for the time being, nothing thundery. And suddenly in the evening paper or in speeches of some minor economic planner for the first time is: be ruined. Demolished to improve the traffic, or improve the urban form, or make room for the construction of something much needed proletarian capital.

Maestros smile. It must be the same as occur yet we have illiterate and short-sighted business leaders. They do not understand that urban problems can always be solved without destroying the famous monuments. Maestros condescending remarks published in newspapers (as long as they are allowed). I. Grabar wrote about the project demolition Sukharev: "We tend, in his enthusiasm for the right idea at the basis of a few too far ... in those days swam alone, especially objectionable by their obvious absurdity: draft demolition Sukharev. Do not worry, dear reader, no more nor less than the Sukharev Tower! It is not a joke, but seriously. You admit that one day into his head to destroy the painting of Raphael, the manuscript of Beethoven or Goethe? "

It decays over time, sometimes for several years - and suddenly! - On the table luminaries sitting in the committees of scientists, paper rests with the coat of arms. By decision of the Moscow City Council! Demolish! In order to streamline the flow of traffic!
This is serious. Scientists, experts and restorers are rushing into battle. Write complaints to the Central Executive Committee of the republic. Write letters to Stalin. Bringing tens of historical, cultural and artistic arguments. Reference is made to Lenin, who ordered once the glass in a broken window in the Kremlin's churches. Convince the authorities that all their concerns can be addressed much cheaper and easier, and do not have to break. Developing projects in traffic management, improved streets, underground tunnels, at worst - Movements masterpiece to the adjacent empty lot ... And suddenly the greatest authorities realize that talking to the void. Emptiness does not understand what they were talking with her. They cry about the artistic value, the emptiness - the expansion of driveways or building materials it needs. They beg to spare the ancient temple - they say: it must be demolished to put in its place stand Mosgorspravki. They are asked to save another temple - they are responsible: it is impossible, because of his business man loses precious seconds, because that comes down from the sidewalk into the roadway.

Finally, Stalin - the ultimate truth and the last hope of leading lights - meets them that the Soviet people will be able to build a more magnificent structure than the Sukharev Tower.

Dialogue with hollow ends. Masterpiece exploded or disassembled. After some time it turns out (and even recognized by the authorities or newspapers) that the sacrifice was in vain. Traffic has not improved, cleared land in the city center empty and then for decades, kiosk Mosgorspravki appears in another place. And then the void recognized in error. She says: We nedodumali. Of course, you can not just demolish the Red Gate and think that everything in the area will improve. No: we must tear down another nearby church of the Three Saints and the house where he was born Lermontov - then everything will be very good.
History repeats itself.

Repeated and its laws. Emptiness does not accept and discusses the rational counter-arguments and alternative solutions to the problems posed by it. Void tends to target destruction by hook or by crook. Upon reaching her, she calms down and is looking for new victims. The stated goal initially and cause drift masterpieces emptiness immediately forgotten or replaced by others. In place of the Passion of the monastery did not receive any of the Palace of literature. Lots of churches of St. Nicholas and the Grand Cross of the Assumption on Pokrovka empty to this day. Masterpieces are replaced by empty lots. Actions voids at first glance inexplicable, insane.
But perhaps the emptiness is not so empty as it seems? And not so crazy - just about the true purpose of their preferred not to talk about?

about the benefits RESISTANCE progress of society

In closing - another digression. It is necessary to explain why our service - the protection of monuments - and dangerous, and difficult. And why is it so problematic, not only in Russia. Because the protection of monuments is a conscious opposition to social progress. If you understand this progress as a constant and justifiable desire of mankind to develop, update and improve all areas of human existence. Including the environment in which mankind lives. Around us - not the conscious enemies of historical heritage. Do not blame people for wanting to live in a new spacious apartments, convenient to work in new offices, driving around in new cars by a wide new roads and park them in a spacious parking lot in the heart of the beloved city. To condemn the citizens of these desires, as well as a desire to build new buildings and thus earn money - just pointless, then, they are people.

It is only necessary to understand that in these circumstances, the physical preservation intact of any kind were buildings, neighborhoods, urban types, items, layout and other things that we call the architectural heritage, is possible only through violence. Opposition progress otherwise not happen. Law on the Protection of Monuments used in practice, real control over its implementation - this is abuse of officials, investors, tenants, private owners, architects, etc. It limits their proprietary, economic, entrepreneurial, creative will. This, however, applies to any law that is always somebody in something limits.

So it is futile to blame the people who will demonstrate this. But then there are the state power to stop this will legitimate violence - if the business or creative impulses threaten cultural and historical values. But when the government fails to comply with this its high destiny, when the city turns into a historical constructor, which can be on mutually agreed terms to replace old buildings novodelnymi concrete copies, and the leader of the government declares a program article that "in Moscow's concept of culture copies are sometimes no less meaning than the original. Because semantic, historical and cultural "load", which carries a copy of this can often be richer and deeper than the original architectural solutions "... I think Talleyrand attributed to the winged phrase -" it's more than a crime - it is a mistake. "

The originals, the originals - and this is the ancient monuments - are valuable not only the architectural qualities or memorial memories. The originals are evidence of the historical existence and development of the nation. Link of Times, the continuity of generations, the duty to preserve and pass on the relay and historical heritage and other lofty words are no longer abstractions and empty slogans, if we can touch the wall of the temple or at home, confident that this could touch the wall, our great-grandfathers. And the same uzorochny clypeus feast their eyes by their elastic forms. And if by this we find the casing in situ concrete - all the high words become meaningless, in the deception, in nihilism, which denies all the original values.
And if there is no immortality of the soul, embodied in including in the historical monuments - then everything is permitted.

The destruction of the original architectural and historical past - in Moscow and throughout Russia - about the same operation, which is implemented now in the national historiography, with the help of the so-called "School Fomenko. Yaroslav the Wise is Batu, Novgorod - Yaroslavl, Moscow Tsar - Egyptian Pharaoh. Monolithic concrete equates the chamber of the XVII century the office of the late twentieth century, the memorial house playwright Sukhovo-Kobylin with his new-built copy, novodelny Cathedral of Christ the Savior to the present. The real history was. The real story is not needed. History is written, and is built anew. Before our very eyes. A clean slate. Important and valid only today's day spent under the wise and effective leadership of the current authorities.

That's why so enchanting in Russia protection of ancient monuments. That is why it can not participate, despite the numerical advantage and the administration's opponents. Here, perhaps, the same principle that was once in the Olympic movement: the main thing - part. Above all, on whose side you were.
With a crowbar - or against the scrap.

Photo provided by Center for History and Archives of urban research