I drive along the road that passes by this temple every Sunday. And I have been doing so for several years now... when you pass by, you only see the domes and the shining crosses. The sun coming from the sea illuminates the cross, which then shines even brighter, and in the background, the mountains and the blue sky create a very harmonious landscape. Yesterday I took the time to stop here and finally visit the temple.
I remember that I came to it once a few years ago, but we never went in. Since it was the time of the service (it was Sunday yesterday when I stopped here), many cars were parked on the curb of the narrow street below the temple. There is no accessible parking space, so it is a bit of a problem when you come by car, but you can't help it because this place is a little isolated from the city of Altea. You have to come by car, or a motorbike could be a better option.
You pay 3 euros to enter and you get a candle that you can light inside the temple. It is an Orthodox tradition.
Orthodox? In Spain?
Well, believe it or not, this beautiful Orthodox church is located in Spain, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. You would think you were somewhere in Russia. And you wouldn't be wrong, because all the materials, everything was brought from Russia for its construction.
It is the first Russian Orthodox temple built in Spain! It also makes it the westernmost outpost of the Russian Church on the Eurasian continent. The foundation stone was consecrated in 2002, and the temple was built and consecrated in 2007.
The building is a replica of a wooden church from the 17th century; it has the shape of a cross, five domes, and an octagonal bell tower. It is a temple dedicated to Archangel Michael, in Russan it would be: Русский Православный Храм Архангела Михаила.
When you enter the yard, the first thing you will find on your right is the statue of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
As I paid the entrance fee, I got the candle but I didn't have a scarf or else to cover my head. If I am not mistaken, women can't enter Orthodox temples without a covered head. And I didn't want to dishonour the tradition.
Also, I didn't want to dishonour the Sunday service they had so I went around the wooden temple and took a few photos from the other side of it and some other details, although the main entrance door was the most decorated one.
So beautiful details carved in the wood...
I was strolling there around the temple with the candle in my hand... I brought it home and will keep it, or gift it to an Orthodox friend.
In the same yard, by the temple, another wooden house is being built. It will be a cultural and educational centre dedicated to the famous Russian cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich.
The surroundings around the temple is also a paradise, on one side surrounded by the mountains and on the other, facing the sea. Well, it can't be seen from this angle, I am not so tall.
I was pleasantly surprised by the temple, its beauty and by the fact that the cultural centre is also being built there. A peculiar place to find this Russian Orthodox temple here in Spain, but yes, it exists here, close to the town of Altea.
Hello @mipiano , how nice that this time you decided to pass, in a beautiful place, I like its architecture and it is a pity that you did not wear anything to cover your head, but you did well not to pass.
The candle is beautiful and strange , it looks like an incense stick.
The candle has a very pleasant scent too 😇
I was also glad I stopped to see it at least from outside, I felt I shouldn't enter with an uncovered head, and also they had the Sunday service, so I didn't. Thank you @soyunasantacruz :)
That's beautiful, I loved it, in Havana there is also a Orthodox church but I like the colors in this one better, lo que me gusta del de la habana es las cúpulas doradas , gracias señorita mi piano de los templos 😁
Yes, I vaguely remembered the one from your city, from this post so I found it now ;)
While I was responding to another Hiver, I found out what the second Russian Orthodox temple in Spain looks like. It resembles the one from your post, look here
I didn't know women had to cover their hair when entering an Orthodox church. I probably would have walked straight in and offended everyone 😅
That said, it's a very nice church
You would see that all the other women had their heads covered so you would not enter, I suppose ;)
Made of wood, it makes it so different from the other churches or temples I have seen so far!
The style of this temple is great, very interesting to know that it was the first Russian Orthodox temple built in Spain. You got very good shots. Have a wonderful week @mipiano 😊
!discovery 40
!LUV
Well, photos taken with a phone and at noon were not the best I guess, 😁 but indeed, so cool to see something "first". The first Russian Orthodox temple on the Iberian Peninsula actually, to be more precise. Thank you very much, @dimascastillo90, I am glad you liked it 😇
What a beautiful architecture... and a lot of wood, just as I like it, I always say beyond cult or religion, I value great art and here there is a lot of it, what a beauty!💗
And there were also wooden horses, which I didn't have time to put into the post as I was almost late for lessons while writing this post haha
Screenshot from Gallery
Oh! My God! I died again! How wonderful, now I prefer that to the temple!!!! Dead dead!😍😍😍😍😍😍
Many temples now separated as I know. But when you mentioned about Spain I remembered how I was surprised when found Orthodox temples in Brazil or even Argentina. It seemed to me so unusual to see Orthodox temples there.
It indeed is surprising, for me too. However, there are many Russian people who live here so it is also somehow normal that a temple or cultural centres will be built
Oh glad, you posted a place I've been. We passed by here many times in Altea. I didn't know you have to pay 3 euros to get in.
Maybe that entrance fee is a recent thing, I think it was not fenced some years ago and now it is. Glad you also passed here many times, the road between Altea and Calpe with its curves and beautiful views :)
This Russian architectural style is imposing, as a first step towards that country, I love it 😍
What I liked the most were those details in wood, it always looks so elegant 😍 each country has its own culture and beliefs, I was curious about the head covering thing haha
Who knows in what kind of a church Buhito entered :D
Here he would feel good, and we saw he also had some scarves, a whole collection actually, he could give us some so we could enter and see the interior of this temple too ;)
The temple is so beautiful! Years ago, Catholic women also had to cover their heads to enter churches. I didn't know that that tradition was preserved in the Orthodox cult.
Dice el refrán: “Nunca te acostarás sin saber algo más”. Ya me puedo ir a dormir por hoy. 😁
Yes, it seems that this tradition is preserved in the Orthodox church.
jajaja, ya? Yo acabo de venir a casa hace poco jaja, pero sí, necesitaría yo también ir a dormir, Paloma mía 😁🎶
Que hermoso templo y por lo que describes, con una ubicación paradisíaca. El contraste del color de las paredes con el azul del cielo crean una composición perfecta. Gracias por detenerte y llevarnos a conocer ese lugar 🤗.
Y gracias a ti por venir a visitarla - a través de este post. Y yo espero ver los lugares paradisíacos de tu visita a tus origenes, seguro son maravillosos!
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What an unusual but beautiful find @mipiano! The wood carving is gorgeous, especially the one of the grapes and vineleaves. Pity you could not see the interior.
A happy 2025 to you and yours @mipiano 💕
WOW -- 2007? That just says a great deal about the history of Spain and Catholicism and the Great Schism all at the same time. What a beautiful site, though -- delayed is not denied!
I love how respectful you were ... many would have barged on in to some places at certain times because it is their moment ... but you showed respect, and that makes this extra beautiful!