Katharinenstadt

Names

Baronsk, Jekaterinenstadt, Jekaterinograd, Katharinenstadt, Marks, Markstadt, Marx, Marxstadt

Location

51º42' N 46º46' E

History

      Katharinenstadt was founded by Protestant (both Lutheran and Reformed) and Roman Catholic colonists on 27 June 1766 by Baron Caneau de Beauregard.

Churches

      Soon after the founding of Katharinenstadt, a Reformed parish was established in north Katharinenstadt and a Lutheran Parish in south Katharinenstadt. The Reformed pastors of the Katharinenstadt (North) parish served the Wiesenseite's Reformed colonies. The Lutheran pastors of the Katharinenstadt (South) parish served the Wiesenseite's original 21 Lutheran colonies. Beginning in 1820, the distinction between Reformed and Lutheran parishes was removed by Imperial Edict. In September 1905, the North and South parishes were merged into a single Katharinenstadt parish.
      The first Lutheran church building in Katharinenstadt was a wooden structure. It was replaced by a Kontor-style brick building located nearby that was whitewashed inside and out. The Lutheran Church had a massive steeple with a four-sided clock in the top section. The clock functioned until the deportation of the Germans from Katharinenstadt in 1941. An organ built by the Walker company in Ludwigsburg (Germany) was installed in 1895. Soviet authorities dismantled the steeple in 1956 claiming that bricks were needed for other official buildings. The building was used as a Cultural Center until it was officially returned to use as a Lutheran Church in 2002.
      There was also a Catholic parish in Katharinenstadt. The church, built in the Kontor style near the Lutheran church, was made of wood in 1815 when the Jesuits were providing priests to the parish. After the 1941 deportation, the building was used as a cinema and was eventually torn town and replaced by a park dedicated to Karl Marx. A new Catholic church with a modern architectural style has been constructed in Katharinenstadt with the assistance of funding from Germany.

Pastors

Pastors - South Katharinenstadt Parish:

Pastors - North Katharinenstadt Parish:

Pastors - Merged Parish:

Priests

      The priests who served Katharinenstadt's Catholic parish included:

Map showing Katharinenstadt
known as Marxstadt at this time (1935).

Katharinenstadt Lutheran Church (1917)

Katharinenstadt street scene showing the Lutheran church at the end.

Panorama of Katharinenstadt taken between 1917 and 1941.
Lutheran church is in the distance on the right; the Catholic church steeple can be seen in the distance toward the center of the photo.

Katharinenstadt Lutheran Church.
Interior (1917).
Courtesy of Heimatbuch der Deutschen aus Rußland, 1972.

Katharinenstadt Lutheran Church
during the demolition of the steeple
in 1956.

Katharinenstadt Lutheran Church.

Katharinenstadt Lutheran Church.
Exterior (2009).
Courtesy of Ekaterina Govorova.

Katharinenstadt Lutheran Church.
Interior-rear during restoration (2001).
Courtesy of Vladimir Günther.

Katharinenstadt Lutheran Church.
Interior following restoration (2003).
Courtesy of Johannes Herber.

Katharinenstadt Catholic Church.
Photo taken in 1917.
Courtesy of Heimatbuch der Deutschen aus Rußland, 1972.

Katharinenstadt Catholic Church.
Photo taken in 1917.
Courtesy of Heimatbuch der Deutschen aus Rußland, 1972.

Painting of Katharinenstadt showing the Catholic church in the foreground with the Lutheran church behind.
Artist: Michael Boss.
From the collection of Linda Tate, Cincinnati, Ohio.

New Katharinenstadt Catholic Church
Source: Bradley Hepfner (July 2009)

Interior of New Catholic Church
in Katharinenstadt
Source: Bradley Hepfner (July 2009)
Map of Katharinenstadt (1933)
[called Marxstadt at the time]
Source: Wolgadeutsche.net
Contemporary Map of Katharinenstadt
Source: Wolgadeutsche.net