The monastery, named after the holy apostle John the Theologian, is located in one of the most beautiful places in the Ryazan region. He stands on a hill directly above the Oka River. The exact date when the St. John the Theological Monastery (Poshchupovo) was built is unknown. Over its centuries-old history, he managed to acquire many legends and traditions.
Legend one: the emergence of the cloister
One of the legends says that the monastery appeared at the end of the XII or at the beginning of the XIII century. It is believed that Christian missionary monks came to these lands in order to enlighten the pagans here. With them was a miraculous icon of St. John the Theologian, in whose honor the monastery founded by the monks was named. This image was one of the many shrines that the Church of Constantinople donated to the Russian state. According to legend, it was written by an orphan boy who lived in Byzantium in the VI century, whose hand was allegedly controlled by the apostle himself.
At first, the monastery was located south of the present, on a hillside, above the Oka River, in a cave. Naturally, the area around in those days looked a bit different than now: centuries-old oak forests grew on high hills, and the rest of the space was occupied by small lakes and elders.
St. John the Theological Monastery, Poshchupovo. History reference
A whole complex of inhabited caves has survived to our days, the estimated time of their settlement is the end of the XII century. And this fact allows us to make an assumption that the monks acted in the same way as their brothers during the founding of the Kiev-Pechersky monastery, which later became wooden.
Legend Two: The Golden Seal
Khan Batuy, who moved with his army to the Russian lands, met fierce resistance from the inhabitants of Old Ryazan, which defended for five days. But still, the city was taken and, of course, burned to the ground (it is known that the modern city was erected in a new place). Then the khan and the horde approached the monastery and became a camp for the night. The next morning they were going to rob and burn him. According to legend, Batu had a dream where he saw the face of the Apostle John. He and his warriors were so frightened by the vision that they abandoned their original plan. It is said that the khan was very afraid of Christian saints.
Arriving at the temple, he saw on the icon the same dream face of the apostle. After that, Batu put a personal golden seal on the shrine, which was supposed to protect the monastery and its entire brethren from numerous raids and ruins. The monks carefully preserved it for 416 years. Subsequently, it was melted into a bowl used for communions.
Legend Three: The Missing Icon
Over time, power in the Horde changed, and the golden seal of Khan Batu ceased to be a defense for the monastery. The raids that bring with them the killing of brothers and ruin have become more frequent. But each time the monks with enviable tenacity restored their abode.
But in the end, the monks were tired of it, and they decided to find another place for the construction of the monastery. We collected all our surviving property and hit the road. But after some time they discovered that the miraculous icon with the face of St. John the Theologian disappeared. And then they doubted the correctness of their act.
The brothers decided to return and, by all means, find the lost shrine. On the way back, they, passing through the grove, saw a missing icon on a tall oak tree. Taking this as a sign from above, they decided to build a new monastery on the spot where they found the face of John the Theologian. Now the monastery is located a little north of its original location.
From the oak on which the icon was found, a board was made and placed on the main throne in the St. John the Theologian Monastery (Poshchupovo). Later, she was transferred to the newly erected Assumption Cathedral.
Construction
The construction of the monastery in its present place began in the 16th century. At first it was wooden, and by the end of the 17th century, stone buildings had already begun to be built. Now the St. John the Theological Monastery (Poshchupovo) is completely stone.
By the middle of the 19th century, the monastery had become very dilapidated and desolate until David Ivanovich Khludov settled in these places in 1859. He made every effort to revive him. At the end of the 19th century, it became almost the most beautiful in the Ryazan diocese. A four-tier bell tower 76 meters high was also built.
At the same time, a monastery was organized at the monastery, where peasant children were taught. It was it that saved the monastery from closure after the October Revolution.
In the spring of 1931, the St. John the Theological Monastery (Poshchupovo) was still closed, and the monks were arrested. And on the eve of it, the ancient miraculous icon of John the Theologian disappeared, which, by the way, has still not been found. In Soviet times, various institutions were located in the monastery buildings. Only in the fall of 1988 was he returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Reviews
Now the monastery lives its measured life. For pilgrims, excursions are held here, including visits to temples and prayer at the shrines of the monastery. Judging by the reviews, they like that travelers are offered a free meal. There is a hotel where you can spend the night.
I must say that nature is unusually beautiful in the places where the St. John the Theologian Monastery (Poshchupovo) is located. Reviews of numerous tourists are the most positive. Here you can buy monastic products and consecrated herbal tea, as well as real rye bread!
On the territory of the monastery is the Holy Spring, which, according to pilgrims, has healing power. A lot of people come here to get water or plunge. It is quite cold here - only 4 degrees.
There are many stories related to miraculous healings that the Holy Spring can do , located at the base of the hill, where the St. John the Theologian Monastery (Poshchupovo) is located. Treb can be ordered right here, as well as purchase various souvenirs and icons.
Another attraction of this monastery is a rather extensive library. It stores not only modern books on philosophy, theology, history and art, but also ancient books, manuscripts of the 17th century, as well as the rarest pre-revolutionary publications.
The address of the monastery and the schedule of services
The location of the monastery: Ryazan region, Rybnovsky district, St. John the Theologian monastery, Poshchupovo. Schedule of services: Divine Liturgy is held on weekdays . It starts at 8.30. Evening service at 18.00. On Sundays, the Divine Liturgy begins at 9.00, and on the eve of the holidays, the all-night vigil at 17.00.