Gleb Nikitin discussed the development of the Studeny Quarter in Nizhny Novgorod with the leadership of the Catholic Church.

      Photo: Maksim Gerasimov, photo.pravda-nn.ru

      The Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, Gleb Nikitin, discussed with the Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow, Bishop Nikolai, the rector of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Father Georgy, as well as with representatives of the region’s relevant ministries and investors interested in the project, the prospects for developing the Studeny Quarter in the capital of the Volga region. It is located within the boundaries of Alekseevskaya Street, Zvezdinka Street, Studenaya Street and Kholodny Lane in the Nizhegorodsky District.

      The head of the region visited the building where, at the beginning of the 20th century, the main Catholic church of Nizhny Novgorod was located. During the Soviet period it lost its religious function, and it was recently transferred into the ownership of the Catholic parish. At present options for restoring the former Catholic church are being considered. Representatives of the Catholic community showed Gleb Nikitin archival materials indicating how the church looked at the beginning of the 20th century, and also presented a preliminary architectural sketch reflecting the concept of its future restoration.

      “We welcome the revival of the historical architectural and symbolic landmarks of Nizhny Novgorod. And the transfer to the Catholic parish of the building in which, before the Revolution, the city’s main Catholic church was located, accommodating up to 3,000 people, is a landmark event,” said Gleb Nikitin.

      The Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region added that the key task for the regional government remains the revival of the entire quarter as an integrated space, and its comprehensive transformation will help attract residents and tourists. The central element of the Studeny Quarter should be the new Catholic church. The quarter itself may reflect characteristic features of European architecture. To date, nine properties, including cultural heritage sites (OKN), in the quarter have been fully vacated and prepared for investment. Four more properties will be ready in the near future. Thus, the investment lot for the comprehensive development of the historic territory of the quarter, formation of which is overseen by the ANO “ASIRIS” (Agency for the Preservation and Development of Historical Environment Objects of the Nizhny Novgorod Region), will include 13 historical real estate properties with different protection statuses.

      “When working with the city’s and region’s historic environment we rely on an integrated approach. All valuable buildings will be preserved, and improved inter-block spaces and courtyards will form a unique creative cluster in the city center. One of the properties — house 14/32 on Studenaya Street, which has found an owner, will in future be transformed into an intimate hall for classical music. It is important that investors interested in such projects see in them not just commercial real estate, but an opportunity to create new points of attraction: guest houses, accommodation facilities, galleries, cultural and gastronomic spaces,” said Gleb Nikitin.

      It is expected that by the middle of next year a final vision for the revitalization of the Studeny Quarter will be formed, after which the practical phase of the project implementation will begin.

      As Bishop Nikolai of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow noted, design work on the reconstruction of the church will begin in the near future.

      “We fully share the governor’s desire for the most accurate restoration of this unique Gothic-style building. In the coming months we plan to present a project to restore the church’s historic appearance. The return of historic churches is a great joy and a responsibility. For us believers it is the restoration of a generational link, a sign that we are not strangers here. For the whole city and society it is another reminder: our region is a common home where, despite differences of cultures, peoples and faiths, we can and must live in harmony and mutual respect. Our main dream is that the revived church will become in Nizhny Novgorod an eloquent symbol of such unity in diversity,” said Auxiliary Bishop Nikolai of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow.

      According to Jakob Pinnecker, General Director of the “OKA” agency, many families from EU countries, the USA, Canada and Australia are coming to the Nizhny Novgorod region. The key motive for most of them moving is the search for an environment that preserves traditional values. These are most often people over 50 years old who strive to give their children upbringing in the traditions in which they themselves were raised.

      “Over the past 14 months about 100 people — more than 20 families — have moved to us. We always ask: ‘Why?’. One of the main answers is the search for traditional values. A significant portion of our migrants are Catholics, but most often they do not attend churches. For many of them the Catholic quarter project can become not only a spiritual support, but also an instrument for restoring trust in the Church,” said Jakob Pinnecker.

      Today the congregation of the active Catholic church in Nizhny Novgorod includes at least a hundred foreign students studying at universities in the regional center; their number is constantly growing and will increase even more with the start of full operation of the student complex of the IT campus “Neymark.”

      “Nizhny Novgorod Region is historically multi-confessional. Today we are discussing not only the revival of an old church, but also the construction of a Catholic quarter around it. This large project is not only a tribute to historical justice and a reflection of traditional Russian values that imply peaceful coexistence of various religious confessions. It is also a large-scale transformation of the territory in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod. The church will become an additional incentive for many foreigners who profess Catholicism and will help them decide to move to the Nizhny Novgorod Region to study and possibly live with us,” said Gleb Nikitin.

      During the meeting with Bishop Nikolai of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow and the rector of the Nizhny Novgorod Catholic church, Father Georgy, the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the Catholic Church in Russia for the attention and support given to the project to restore the building transferred to the parish.

      “This speaks of a complete alignment of the interests of secular and ecclesiastical authorities. And, of course, of a common mission to strengthen spiritual and moral values,” added Gleb Nikitin.

      Background: The Catholic community existed in Nizhny Novgorod as early as the 16th–17th centuries. The first Catholics appeared here during the Time of Troubles. Many Catholic families took part in the militia of Minin and Pozharsky. After 1812 French prisoners of war who practiced Catholicism remained in the city, to which exiled Poles were added in 1830. By 1917 the number of Catholic parishioners in Nizhny Novgorod was estimated at 25–30 thousand people. In 1912 the Catholic Church bought a plot of land on Studenaya Street to build a new church, as well as a two-story house to house the presbytery (Studenaya St., 6). Services began in the church in the summer of 1915. The church and the presbytery were confiscated in 1929, and since then for most of the time office premises have been located in the building.

      By 2025 the number of baptized Catholics living in Nizhny Novgorod is estimated at approximately 12,000 people. The existing church, occupying the premises of the former service wing (stables) of the Shchelokov estate, can accommodate no more than 200 people.