Tikhvin Monastery is the oldest in the glorious Russian city of Yekaterinburg. Its long history began with an almshouse at the Assumption Church (1796). Initially, the women's community consisted of three women, led by Sister Taisiya (in the world - Tatyana Kostromina).
Creation of a monastery
Tatyana Kostromina, daughter of a worker at the Verkh-Isetsky Plant, founded the Novo-Tikhvin Convent in Yekaterinburg.
For several years she went to Petersburg, trying to get the monastery to open and receive salaries for her sisters. On December 31, 1809, the Novotikhvin Monastery of Yekaterinburg was officially opened. It continued to be built for almost the entire 19th century.
Every year the monastery was actively developing. All interested women could join the community, regardless of their position in society and age. By the middle of the XIX century, the Novo-Tikhvin Nunnery (Yekaterinburg) became the largest in the Urals, as well as one of the most significant in all of Russia.
Monastery Shrine
The icon of the Virgin Mary has been and remains the most revered shrine of the monastery today. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the country came to her.
In 1824, Emperor Alexander I came to the monastery, and 13 years later (1837), Prince Tsarevich Alexander, in the future Alexander II, visited.
Description of the monastery
By the beginning of the last century, 135 nuns and 900 novices lived in the monastery. In those days, the monastery was surrounded by a high and powerful fortified wall with towers. It had six temples, various workshops, monastic cells, an orphanage, a library, a hospital, a bakery.
A strange house was built near the monastery (today it houses the Institute of Law and Philosophy, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences). The diocesan school was located in the premises of the current Mounting College. Orphan girls studied in it.
The Novotikhvin monastery in Yekaterinburg owned subsidiary farms, where nuns and novices grew vegetables, fruits, and raised poultry.
Assumption Church
This is the oldest temple of the monastery. The Assumption Church was built in 1782. The construction was financed by the merchant I.I. Khlepetin. Later, it was rebuilt and reconstructed many times.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
On the territory of the monastery there is a temple, which is known far beyond the monastery. Novotikhvinsky Convent (Yekaterinburg) is rightfully proud of its largest temple. The majestic and very beautiful cathedral is newly restored today. It used to be the main architectural attraction of this part of the city. On patronal feasts, the temple accommodated more than six thousand people.
All Saints Church
This building is interesting, first of all, because it is a very rare example of the Byzantine architectural style for Yekaterinburg. The church was erected in 1900 at the expense of the local philanthropist M. I. Ivanov.
Monastery development
M.P. Malakhov, a well-known architect, a native of this wonderful city, made a great contribution to the unique appearance of the monastery. The Novotikhvin Monastery of Yekaterinburg was known for its beauty. Malakhov led the reconstruction of the temples of the monastery. Today it is the most famous landmark of Yekaterinburg.
The monastery received the main income from the sale of various products produced in workshops. It was partially funded by the state.
The novices and nuns were engaged in silk, seamstress and gold sewing needlework, sewed cassocks for priests, painted porcelain, spun canvas and carpets.
The Novotikhvin monastery of Yekaterinburg had the most prestigious cemetery on its territory. Many great citizens of Yekaterinburg are buried on it - the local historian Chuprin, architect M.P. Malakhov, doctor A.A. Mislavsky and many others.
Monastery after the revolution
At the risk of their lives in 1918, novices and nuns of the monastery tried to the last to help Nikolai II, who was under arrest in Yekaterinburg, and the imperial family. They carried products, supported them in every way spiritually. This continued until the execution of the royal family.
In Soviet times, the Novotikhvinsky Convent in Yekaterinburg was first closed (1920), and later the cemetery was liquidated. Tombstones and slabs, many of which were true masterpieces of stone-cutting art, were barbarously turned out of the ground, and then used for construction. The graves of the great Yekaterinburg residents were lost forever. Bala put forward the idea in his place to build a zoo. Fortunately, she was not destined to be realized.
In 1922, monstrous sacrilege occurred in front of the monastery church - the monastery’s archive was burned at the stake, which contained unique historical documents.
Crippled fate
The nuns of the Novotikhvinsky monastery had a difficult fate - many of them were arrested, they were sent to camps and prison cells. The last abbess Magdalene was arrested eight times, but after several months in prison, she was released. Magdalene died in 1934. She was buried in the Ivanovo cemetery.
Soviet years
Many buildings of the monastery in the Soviet years were rebuilt, and more often destroyed. A military hospital was placed on this holy site.
In one of the temples of the monastery for 30 years there was a museum of local lore.
New life of the old monastery
Only in 1994 did the Novo-Tikhvin Nunnery begin its normal life. Now this monastery is reviving, the place of the destroyed churches is occupied by new beautiful temples.
As before, one of the main shrines of the monastery remains the miracle of the icon of the Mother of God that survived in difficult years. In addition, all the parishioners and nuns venerate the ark that stores the relics of 25 saints, the sacred icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and a particle of its relics.
Nowadays, Novotikhvinsky monastery is engaged in charity work, helping all those in need. The creators of a guide to the sights of the Urals have joined these good deeds . In 2011, the author of the collection, Marina Chebotayeva, presented the monastery with dozens of these books about her native land.
How to get there
Everyone who would like to see the Novotikhvinsky monastery would like to say that the directions to the monastery can be found on the official website of the monastery. The address of the monastery: st. Green Grove, house 1.