Veliky Novgorod throughout its history has been in the thick of historical events. It was a city of artisans, through it passed the path "from the Varangians to the Greeks", which contributed to its development and exaltation.
Staraya Ladoga, and then Novgorod - the two northern capitals of Russia, which were in the X-XIII centuries. the following cities after Kiev in importance.
Novgorod, with its veche until the sixteenth century, was a stronghold of medieval feudal democracy, which was eventually destroyed by Ivan the Terrible.
Temples were erected on the Novgorod land by the efforts of the princes of Rurikovich, who converted to Orthodoxy, from Yaroslav the Wise to Ivan III.
During the reign of Yaroslav the Wise, Novgorod iconography appears, literacy develops, the first monasteries are erected. Today these are world architectural monuments included in the list of UNESCO sites.
Nowadays, there is growing interest in architectural monuments. Novgorod has become a famous tourist center. The monasteries of the Novgorod region attract attention with the beauty of architecture and nature surrounding them.
According to statistics, the city is visited annually by more than thirty thousand tourists from abroad and at least two hundred thousand Russian tourists.
Monasteries of the Novgorod region
Of particular interest to visiting tourists are the ancient Russian monasteries. And there are a lot of them in the Novgorod region.
In 1030, Yaroslav the Wise founded the St. Yuriev Monastery. It is located on the banks of the Volkhov River at the place of its confluence with Lake Ilmen.
At the beginning of the XII century, the Pokrovsky Zverin Convent was founded. In the middle of the XII century, the Holy Spirit Monastery appeared. It has been mentioned since 1162. In the Time of Troubles was ruined and was badly destroyed. After the revolution it was closed, a factory was placed in its buildings.
At the end of the XII century, Varlaamo-Khutynsky monastery was founded, which became famous in the XV century. after visiting him by Ivan III. He suffered during the Great Patriotic War, in 1994 he was revived as a convent.
Many monasteries in the Novgorod region are active. There are those that need restoration. There are many of them, and you can’t tell about all in one article - you get a whole book. Let's talk about two - Rdeisky and Iversky.
Rdeisky Assumption Monastery
It appeared in the middle of the XVII century among impenetrable swamps on the shores of Lake Rdeisky. The place for the monastery was chosen on the protruding land area, surrounded on three sides by water.
The fate of the monastery from the very beginning was unsuccessful. In 1764, with the adoption of the law on secularization, monastic land was transferred to state revenue, and all property was distributed to other monasteries.
The parish of the Assumption Cathedral, due to its remoteness and inaccessibility, was transferred to the village of Navolok. After this, the territory of the monastery gradually became desolate.
The revival began at the end of the 19th century. Starting in 1880, his fate was closely connected with the activities of the merchant Mamontov, who became the trustee of the monastery.
He wants the parish to again go under the arches of the Assumption Cathedral - the only stone building among the desert swamps. And already beginning to collapse without proper care.
An Orthodox women's community arose and began to operate on the territory of the monastery.
After some time, the community was transformed into a nunnery “Assumption Rdeiskaya sociable desert”.
In 1902, at the expense of the merchant A.N. Mamontov, a new cathedral was rebuilt anew, since the old one was declared emergency by the conclusion of the invited commission.
The fate of the monastery in the post-revolutionary time is tragic. She lasted longer than others - until 1937. Separated from the world by impassable swamps, the monastery hoped that it would not be touched. But the commissars from the NKVD came here too. The last abbot of the monastery, Hieromonk Dimitrian, was arrested and executed in December 1937.
Nowadays, the Rdeisky monastery of the Novgorod region is in poor condition. In the building of the Assumption Cathedral in many places there is no roof, the foundation and masonry sprout with shrubs and gradually collapse.
Now measures have been taken for its conservation and further restoration. Public organizations and charitable foundations take care of the fate of the temple. The monastery needs help and restoration. You can find it on the map:
Iversky monastery
It was founded in the XVII century. during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. The immediate initiator of the construction of the monastery and its further construction was Patriarch Nikon.
According to legend, it all started with the trip of Nikon, then hegumen of the Kozheozersky monastery, to the Solovetsky monastery with the aim of transferring the relics of Patriarch Philip to Moscow.
On the way back, when he sailed through the calm waters among the silence of the surrounding Valdai nature, he came up with the idea to establish a monastery in these places. Dozing off, in a dream he saw St. Philip, who blessed him to arrange a monastic monastery in Valdai.
Upon arrival in Moscow, Nikon a month later received the rank of Patriarch and immediately set about implementing his plan.
He decided to build a monastery on one of the islands of the Valdai Lake in the likeness of the Iversky monastery on Mount Athos. This is how the Valdai Iversky Holy Lake Monastery arose.
The most experienced architects and carpenters were specially called from Moscow. Due to the special location of Tsar Alexei, which Nikon used, the monastery was given a special status that equated it with the ancient monasteries.
The Valdai Lake and the village, together with the nearby villages and peasants, also passed into the possession of the monastery.
In the future, the monastery began to distribute typography and literacy, acquired a rich library. It appeared its own printing house. All monasteries of the Novgorod region are distinguished by educational activities. This is the legacy of Yaroslav the Wise.
After the revolution, the fate of the monastery was more prosperous than that of many others. He escaped ruin, an archive was placed in it. During the war years there was a hospital in it. Iversky monastery of the Novgorod region resumed its ministry.
Now in the monastery divine services are held from 7 to 9 in the morning and from 18 to 20 on weekdays; from 9 to 12 and from 18 to 21 on Sundays and holidays.
Conclusion
The Russian land holds many spiritual treasures, in contact with which, one cannot help but think about the meaning of one’s life and the unity of all living on earth.
Russian history is rich in examples of self-sacrifice and ministry. The monasteries of the Novgorod region are not just beautiful architectural monuments. For a Russian, they have always been the foundation of faith and perseverance.