Russian Memorial Church of Saint Alexius (Leipzig)
The Russian Memorial Church of Saint Alexius was inaugurated and dedicated from October 17–18, 1913, one hundred years after the Battle of Leipzig.
Less than a year after the dedication of this centenary memorial, a different set of alliances resulted in World War I.
Many external and internal features enhance the functionality of the church as a monument and a place of worship, including a wall of icons, a large chandelier, tablets bearing inscriptions on either side of the doors and four coffins containing the remains of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Leipzig.
He followed a policy of obedience toward the Golden Horde, who had forced the Russians into a tributary relationship over a century before.
On October 18, the allies forced some of the French lines back but failed to break through and lost more men than Napoleon.
Napoleon's troops, still outnumbered about three to two, began their retreat at 2 am on October 19, eventually crossing the single bridge spanning the White Elster river.
[8][9] After Napoleon's final defeat, Leipzig suffered due to war debts and new international trade.
[12] It ultimately took less than ten months from the laying of the foundation stone on December 28, 1912 before the church was ready to be dedicated on October 17, 1913.
[12] The church was built in the Novgorod style, 55 metres (180 ft) tall, capped with a golden onion-dome.
[16] The icons were painted by Luka Martjanovich Jemelyanov, a painter from Moscow, and decorated with semi-precious stone, silver, and other metals.
Only about a year after the consecration of the church, Germany found itself embroiled in World War I with these global rivals as well as Russia.
The other was the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, where approximately 100,000 people took part in ceremonies and processions for the dedication.
[18] In contrast with the church, however, this monument had taken 15 years to build and is 91 metres (299 ft) tall and weighs 300,000 tons.
Also in attendance were important dignitaries from German-speaking countries: Kaiser Wilhelm II, King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony, and Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
The assassination caused Austria-Hungary to declare war on Serbia, whom they blamed for the assassination, which led Serbia's allies Russia, France, and Britain to declare war on Austria-Hungary, which was then backed up by its own allies, Germany and Italy.
[1]: 166 Still, the church was in a bad enough state by 1927 that demolition was considered, but the conquering Russians in 1945 ensured that the damage from World War II was repaired.
[21] This renovation was initiated by an order from the Russian Marshal Georgy Zhukov to put the building in to exemplary shape after his visit.
[15] They also installed a plaque with an inscription, in Russian, that translates to: "Eternal glory to the heroes who died in the struggle for the freedom and independence of our homeland 1813–1945.
Most of this came from the governments of Germany and Saxony, but the congregation, individuals in Leipzig and Moscow, and an art preservation association also donated.
[16] Today, Orthodox Christian worshipers with Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Bulgarian, and German backgrounds attend services at 10 am on Sundays and holidays.
