From the depths of time: the church of St. Nicholas Thaumaturgus at the Pirogov Center

The paper examines the history of the hospital temple at the National Medical and Surgical Center named after N.I. Pirogov. The authors describe the emergence of the first hospital churches in Russia, their historical, cultural and spiritual significance. It is also mentioned about church charity in Russia in various historical periods. There are separately reviewed the theological aspects of the Church’s influence on human physical and spiritual health. The role of anoutstanding cardiac surgeon of our time, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yuri Shevchenko (Archimandrite George) in organizing the construction and arrangement of the Pirogov Center church is noted. The paper describes in detail the architectural features of the hospital temple built in the traditions of Russian wooden architecture in comparison with the famous wooden churches of the Russian North. The authors also describe temple sanctuaries, including holy relics and especially revered icons.