Forty-two kilometers northeast of Moscow, on the banks of the Vori River, is the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery, which survived, together with most of the holy monasteries of Russia, its heyday and years of desolation. His fate was clearly reflected in the anger and grace of those in power. And today, when the people woke up after decades of atheistic madness, it is again necessary for people as the keeper of their original spiritual values.
The first monks on the river Vor
Among historians there is an opinion that the St. Nicholas-Berlukovsky monastery originates from caves excavated here by the first monks who came here in the XII-XIII centuries. Despite the fact that in Russian lands cave-dwelling, due to climatic conditions, was the destiny of only a relatively small circle of the most ardent ascetics, examples of this monastic feat can be found throughout our history.
It was established that in ancient, pre-Christian times, a pagan temple was located on the banks of the Vori River , and the first inhabitants of the monastery, having settled in these places, erected two temples on the site of the statues they defeated - in the name of St. John the Baptist and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra. In this regard, the history of the foundation of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, where the first buildings were erected on the site of idols dumped into the Dnieper waters, involuntarily comes to mind.
Hieromonk Pogorelets
The place chosen by the first settlers was not far from the village of Berlin (in subsequent years Avdotino), therefore the monastery founded by them was initially called the St. Nicholas Berlin Desert. Her story is actively developing after the appearance in these parts of Hieromonk Varlaam, who came here at the beginning of the XVII century, when Russian land was swept by the fire of the Time of Troubles. Previously, he was a resident of the Stromynsky Assumption Monastery, located near the village of Fryanovo, but devastated by the Poles and burned by them in 1603.
It is interesting to note that it was precisely after its appearance in the historical documents of that era that the monastery began to be referred to as the St. Nicholas-Berlyukov Monastery. Researchers have no definite opinion about the origin of this name. People’s rumor connects him with the name of a certain man who hunted in these parts and then repented of a robber named Berlyuk, which means “wolf”, or simply “beast”.
Whether this legend has real foundations is unknown, especially since it is a tradition to attribute the foundation of monasteries to former penitent villains. An example of this is the famous Optina Desert, also allegedly founded by the robber Optoy.
The beginning of the monastic community
About how Father Varlaam began his monastic service on the shores of Vori, only fragmentary information was preserved that brought documents to us from that era. However, it is known that soon after the ascetic dug up an earth cell and settled in it, gave himself up to fasting and prayer, other monks from devastated monasteries began to come to him, and along with them lay people who wanted to devote their lives to the service of God. Gradually, the number of inhabitants of the desert began to increase.
It is also known that one day two venerable old ladies appeared to Father Varlaam - Abbess Evdokia, who headed the Assumption Baptist Monastery, located nearby, and her treasurer Juliania. They brought the ancient icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker as a gift to the monastery.
For this holy image, the elder Varlaam and the brethren set up a wooden chapel cut down from the trunks of a pine forest spread around. The inhabitants of the surrounding villages soon learned about the appearance of the shrine and began to come in many to the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky monastery. Very soon miracles began to be performed through prayers before the image, and many of the afflicted received healing.
The first stone building of the monastery
As the number of pilgrims wishing to bow to the miraculous icon and to heed the instructions of the elder Varlaam increased, the meager treasury of the monastery, which was still scarce, was replenished. Several years passed, and a stone temple was consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker to the donations of pilgrims and contributions from those who visited the monastery of the boyars.
In 1710, since the monastery (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) did not yet have official status by decision of the diocesan leadership, the temple received the status of the monastery of the Moscow Miracle Monastery, and several monks headed by rector Pohomiy arrived from the capital to serve in it, as well as general arrangement. This was a significant step towards the recognition of the monastery by the Moscow Patriarchate.
The patriarchal order to establish a new monastery came out seven years later, and, having received official status, the deserts were removed from the Chudov monastery. History has preserved the name of the first abbot of the monastery, he was hieromonk Diodorus, who gave service to God within the walls of the monastery entrusted to him for twenty years.
Mother Superior Dissident
In 1731 he was replaced by Hieromonk Josiah, who enjoyed great authority among the Tsars Maria and Theodosia, the native sisters of the sovereign Peter the Great, who had died by then. The fate of this faithful son of the Russian Orthodox Church was tragic. He had the courage to openly oppose the policies of the empress Anna Ioannovna, who ruled in those years.
As you know, the decade of her reign was characterized by the dominance of foreigners in all state structures and the general pro-Western orientation of politics. Being a patriot of Russia, father Josiah was not afraid to publicly denounce the empress herself, who was violating national interests, and her corrupt bureaucracy. For his dissidentism, he was exiled to an eternal settlement in Kamchatka, where he soon died, unable to withstand its harsh climate.
Kramolny monastery
Many monks fell into disgrace, according to the denunciations received by the Secret Chancellery, who “favorably listened” to their abbot. True, the sentence was not so severe in relation to the brethren, and the authorities limited themselves to their deportation to other cloisters. However, since then, the monastery itself (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) began to gradually decline. In Russia, secular power has always had priority over ecclesiastical one, naturally, the monastery, which has stained itself with political sedition, could not count on the support of the Holy Synod.
The first abolition of the monastery
The position of the monastery did not change for the better in subsequent reigns. Moreover, in 1770, under Catherine II, who carried out, as you know, the policy of secularization, that is, the seizure of church lands, the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky monastery was completely abolished, and the Nikolsky church located on its territory received the status of a parish church.
Only after nine years, thanks to the numerous appeals of local residents and representatives of the clergy, the monastery (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) regained its rights by decree of the Moscow Spiritual Consistory. However, the previous freethinking of his brethren was not in vain - the monastery received the status of a contingent desert, that is, it lost all material support from the church authorities and should have existed exclusively at the expense of its own resources. In that year, there were eight such monasteries in the Moscow diocese.
Under the auspices of Metropolitan Plato
Hieromonk Joasaph was appointed rector of the revived monastery, a man who was not only deeply religious, but also had an extraordinary economic and business acumen. He managed to gain the trust of the outstanding church leader of that time, Metropolitan Plato (Levshin), who was very influential at the court, and, thanks to his support, received a blessing and, importantly, funds for the construction of a new church in honor of the Holy Trinity. When the construction was completed, Metropolitan Plato personally consecrated it, and from himself made a significant contribution to the service books and various utensils.
The century of active construction of the monastery
After the death of Hegumen Joasaph, in 1794, the monastery continued to expand. Throughout the 19th century, various buildings of both liturgical and economic purposes were erected on its territory. In 1835, the laying of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior took place, which later became the architectural center of the monastery complex.
In addition, the most notable structures are: the gate church built in 1840 in honor of Basil the Great, as well as the bell tower erected in 1851, to which a bell weighing more than a thousand pounds was raised. In addition, two years later, the brethren made the solemn consecration of a new stone church, built on the donations of the merchant F.F. Nabilkin.
Unique monastery bell tower
The end of the 19th century was marked by the construction of the most ambitious structure, which throughout the whole of Russia became famous for the Nikolo-Berlyukovskaya deserts. The monastery managed to find funds and opportunities for the construction of one of the highest bell towers in Russia. This building, designed by the Moscow architect Alexander Stepanovich Kaminsky, is unique both as an architectural monument and as a bold engineering project.
Its height is eighty-eight meters, and on top it was crowned with a cross cast by master Shuvalov from red copper and weighing more than six hundred kilograms. All construction was carried out on the voluntary donations of the capital’s merchants Samoilov and the Lyapin brothers.
The second abolition of the monastery
In 1920, the anti-religious campaign undertaken by the new authorities reached Avdotino. Nicholas-Berlukovsky monastery was closed, most of its buildings began to be used for various household needs, and the main temple was turned into a parish. A year later, reinforcing atheist activity, the authorities banned religious processions, and in 1922 they seized values.
All silver utensils, including vessels, salaries of icons and liturgical books, as well as pectoral and altar crosses, were requisitioned. The last time the Divine Liturgy in the temple was performed in February 1930. The whole subsequent period, until the beginning of the nineties, the construction of the monastery was used for purely economic purposes.
The revival of the monastery
The beginning of the revival of the monastery should be considered the autumn of 1992, when a religious community was created and registered at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. However, restoration work in it took considerable time, and the first liturgy was only served in 2004. This event marked the beginning of a new historical period, in which Nicolo Berlukovsky Monastery entered. The schedule of services that appeared on his door after a long break was the first sign of the upcoming spiritual renewal. Then the temple, the bell tower and part of the monastery were officially transferred to the newly formed community.
An important stage in the revival of the monastery was the decision of the Holy Synod, adopted by him at the January 2006 meeting. According to his decree, the temple, which operated before as a parish, was again transformed into the St. Nicholas-Berlukovsky monastery. Photos of the monastery, returned to believers after sixty years of abuse, are presented in the article. They speak for themselves.
Works begun at the monastery
Ahead is still a long work to restore everything that was so ruthlessly destroyed, and it has already begun. Soon after giving the monastery official status, a fifteen-meter cupola crowned with a gilded cross was raised to the top of the bell tower. Once again, the symbol of the atoning sacrifice of Christ shone over the monastery.
In 2011, the monastery’s brethren embarked on a unique project - the creation of the Romanov Walk of Fame. According to the authors, the monuments to representatives of the dynasty that ruled in Russia for three hundred years should be erected on it. Today, in this memorial, created as a tribute to the Romanovs, the first four monuments are erected.
In full, church services have also been restored, attracting thousands of pilgrims to the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery in previous years. The schedule of services for the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is generally consistent with the schedule set for most churches. On weekdays, midnight, matins and hours begin at 6:00, the Divine Liturgy - at 8:00, Vespers - at 17:30. During holidays, the schedule may change, but you can find out about this on the monastery's website.
Nikolo-Berlyukovsky monastery - how to get to it?
Despite the great work still to be done by the builders and restorers of the monastery, you can already see a significant number of pilgrims who come here not only from Moscow and nearby cities, but also from all over the country. We inform you for those who wish to visit the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery, address: Moscow Region, Noginsky District, village of Avdotino. You can get to it by bus No. 321 from the Shchelkovskaya metro station to the stop of Avdotino village. Another option: by electric train from the Yaroslavl station to the Chkalovskaya station, and then by the same bus No. 321.