Not everyone knows that in this ancient monastery there is a temple of Singing Angels. Monks rarely show it to tourists. He is known for his unique acoustics: when a singer sings in choirs (even very quietly), there is a feeling that they are singing everywhere. It is completely impossible to clearly indicate the direction of the sound source.
It is believed that the Mother of God Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna was founded by Governor Bobrock, who served as the commander of the ambush regiment during the Battle of Kulikovo. According to another version, it was founded by the repentant robber Beaver.
Where is the monastery
From the north to Kolomna is Egorievskaya road. In the past it was called Vladimir or Pereyaslavskaya. It has been known since the fourteenth century, although historians suggest that it existed in earlier times. It offers stunning views of the Old Kolomna. Many artists were impressed by the amazingly picturesque panorama of these places. It was here, near the lake, which today turned into a small pond, on a small elevation appeared at the end of the XIV century, a monastic monastery.
The Mother of God-Nativity Monastery, better known as the Bobrenev Monastery of Kolomna, is a bright, chamber and very quiet monastery, which is located in the village of Old Bobrenevo, Moscow Region, Kolomensky District, in the suburbs of Kolomna. The temple of the icon of Our Lady of Theodorov and the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin have been preserved to this day.
The monastery is known under three names at least:
- Virgin Mary, since the Battle of Kulikovo, in honor of the victory in which the monastery was named, fell on the birthday of the Virgin;
- Bobrenev - the monastery received this name in honor of the governor of Bobrock;
- Vowed, because the monastery was founded according to the vow.
A bit of history
The history of the Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna, the photo of which you can see in this article, is closely connected with one of the most revered Orthodox saints - Dmitry Donskoy and Sergius of Radonezh. Rev. Sergius blessed the blessed prince for the construction of the holy monastery as a token of gratitude to the Mother of God for the great victory over Mamai.
Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna became not only a holy monastery, it played the role of a defensive object on the outskirts of Moscow. Despite the fact that no documentary evidence of the founding of the monastery was found, thanks to the finds of archaeologists, scientists were able to prove such an early appearance on this earth. The remains of ceramics discovered during excavations are characteristic of the turn of the XIV-XV centuries.
Some modern scholars disagree with this statement and date the foundation of the monastery to a later period - the 15th century. They substantiate their version with the features of stone processing. It is likely that the current appearance of the Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna is not original, and the cathedral once had a wooden predecessor. Hot discussions about the age of the monastery are ongoing today.
The heyday of the monastery
By the beginning of the XVIII century, the ancient monastery was dilapidated. In the officer records of 1763, information was preserved about the beginning of the construction of a brick cathedral in 1757. From the same inventory, it is known that there is another stone structure in the monastery - it was the Holy Gate. The rest of the buildings were made of wood.
On the site of the existing temple, a two-story building of a new architectural form was erected. The refectory was located on the second floor. In addition, at the same time a bishop’s house and the abbot’s chambers were built. According to the design of Matvey Kazakov, a stone fence with towers in the corners was built around the monastery in 1795. In 1830, the two-story cathedral was rebuilt into a one-story cathedral.
Since it was not heated in winter, it was decided to build two aisles, which were consecrated in the name of Theodore and Kazan icons of the Mother of God. The Abbot building is a two-story brick building, the lower floor of which belonged to the bishop's house, and the upper one was built later (1861). Another brick building is the cell building. Its lower floor is reserved for igumen cells.
Stable and cell buildings have window and doorways of an unusual shape with a triangular top. The cloister of the monastery, built in 1795 along the southern and eastern borders and having four two-story towers, attracts with a combination of snow-white towers against the background of red walls.
The fence of the western and northern sides, built in the 19th century, is sustained in the style traditional for the 18th century.
The monastery in the XIX century
In 1861, at the expense of a well-known philanthropist from the merchant family D.I. Khludov, an insulated temple of the Theodore Mother of God was built, as well as two chapels. The old rooms where the cells were located were replaced by stone ones. In addition, Khludov donated arable land to the monastery. She was surrounded by a fence, which stylistically repeated the fence of the XVIII century.
At the end of the XIX century, new outbuildings appeared on the territory of the monastery. And in the spring, a parish school begins its work, the opening of which was initiated by Hegumen Varlaam.
Recent story
In Soviet times, like most religious buildings in our country, the Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna was closed. Its facilities were used as warehouses for storing fertilizers.
The revival of the monastery
After the blessing by the Patriarch Alexy II of the opening of the monastery in March 1991, who returned to the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church, large-scale restoration work began in it. The community of the Church of All Saints, led by the headman B. S. Kudinkin, began to restore the monastery.
In the fraternal building, a house church was opened, the restoration of the Fedorov Church of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin began. Hegumen Ignatius became the first abbot of a reviving monastery. The brotherhood of the monastery together with him was Hieromonk Ambrose, Philip and Hierodeacon Demetrius.
The First Divine Liturgy in the monastery on September 12, 1992 was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Juvenal of Krutitsy and Kolomna. In 1998, Ignatius was appointed abbot, who managed to quickly change not only the appearance of the monastery, but also its internal structure. It was under him that the monastery began to recover rapidly. On June 7, 1993, the monastery was visited by Alexy II.
Since 2013, Abbot Peter took over as monastery head. Currently, a Sunday school is working in the monastery, and church and local history work is underway. At the end of September 2016, the Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna celebrated the 25th anniversary of the revival of monastic life. Vladyka Metropolitan in the Theodore Church held the Divine Liturgy. On this solemn day, honored guests arrived at the monastery - numerous pilgrims and parishioners, heads of districts of the Moscow region. After the procession, all those present were invited to a festive meal.
And already on October 3 of that year, spiritual dignitaries of the Kolomna district gathered in the monastery to discuss many important issues of church life. For more than 6 centuries of history, the monastery has known periods of ups and downs, and today it is reborn after the tragic oblivion and persecution during the years of Soviet rule. And although restoration work in the monastery is in full swing, those who wish can visit the main temple of the monastery, consecrated in the name of the Nativity of the Virgin, which is famous for its amazing acoustics, and bow to the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God, which was especially revered by the Russian sovereigns.
What to see in the cloister
The Bobrenev Monastery, located on the banks of the Moskva River, is fascinating with elegant forms - the bell tower of the Nativity Church, pseudo-Gothic walls, Theodore Church of soft blue color are reflected in the quiet surface of the river and give an amazing sense of peace and tranquility.
When entering the monastery through the Holy Gates, which is crowned with the image of the Star of Bethlehem, visitors enter a small, well-groomed and very cozy courtyard. They see directly in front of them the Theodorovsky Church, in which the main shrine of the monastery is carefully preserved - a list of the icon of the Mother of God Theodorovsky. Judging by the legend, this image was captured by the Evangelist Luke. Since 1613, the icon was recognized as the patroness of the Romanov dynasty. For this reason, foreign brides of the Russian tsars and emperors who accepted Orthodoxy were given the patronymic of Fedorovna.
The snow-white church in the name of the Nativity of the Virgin is the main cathedral of the monastery. The restoration work has not been completed yet, however, visitors can look inside and appreciate its impressive height.
Other shrines of the monastery include a cross with a particle of the Holy Cross, slippers of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt, a particle of the relics of St. George the Victorious, as well as an icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna: schedule of services
The cloister is open daily from 6:00 to 18:00. In the Bobrenev monastery (Kolomna), the schedule of services is compiled for a month. Details can be found on the official website of the monastery in the last days of the current month. As a rule, morning prayers, confessions, liturgies begin at 6:00, and evening services at 17:00. Saturday night vigil - at 16:00.
How to get there
The monastery, located at: Russia, Moscow region, the village of Old Bobrenevo, can be reached in several ways:
- To get to Kolomna, you can use the Ryazan - Kolomna or Moscow - Kolomna intercity buses.
- By car, you should move along the Novoryazanskoye highway to Kolomna, in front of the city, following the sign to Ryazan, after 300 meters you will see the sign "Bobrenev Monastery."
- If you are interested in how to get to the Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna by public transport, we recommend that you go on a journey from the Kazan station to the Khoroshovo station. After this you should transfer to bus number 43 or go on foot - a distance of 3 km.
Reviews
Everyone who has visited these places leaves enthusiastic reviews about the Bobrenev Monastery in Kolomna. Many note that despite the fact that the monastery was severely destroyed, the main temple has now been practically restored, and restoration work is being carried out throughout the monastery. This is a prayed and very bright place that makes an amazing impression - joyful and sad at the same time. And the matter is not only in the history of the monastery, but also in the warm atmosphere reigning there.