Russia has always been highly spiritual, as evidenced by the huge number of shrines in all corners of the country. In particular, the extensive list of monasteries in Russia is striking. Among them there are both operating monasteries and those that have long become religious and cultural monuments.
St. Michael's Mount Athos Desert
St. Michael's Mount Athos Desert is a man’s monastery in Russia, belonging to the Maykop diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is located in the village of Victory in Adygea. The monastery building is listed as a monument of architecture.
The history of the monastery began in 1877, when a plot of land was allocated for the construction of an Orthodox monastery on the slope of Mount Fiziablo. The construction process was led by Hieromonk Martyrius. All work was carried out through voluntary donations.
By 1883, five churches were built in the cloister, and a priceless shrine was also transferred - a part of the Life-giving cross of the Lord. Martyrius was already elevated to the rank of archimandrite, and 180 inhabitants lived in the monastery.
By 1917, the monastery accepted up to 150 thousand pilgrims a year. But in 1920, the land and all the property of the monastery were confiscated. The monastery was closed, and a rest house worked on its territory, then a children's colony, and later a camp site.
In 2001, part of the buildings was again transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church, and in 2002 the holy spring was revived. But a significant part was still occupied by the camp site. Only by 2003, all the buildings were returned to the monastery, restoration work began.
Today, life in the monastery is completely revived. The territory is landscaped, old buildings were restored, new facilities were opened. With the proceeds from visits by tourists and pilgrims, work continues on the restoration of the Assumption Cathedral, which was blown up in 1947.
Alexandro-Oshevensky monastery
Among the male monasteries of Russia, the Alexander-Oshevensky monastery of the Plisetsk diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, located in the village of Pogost in the Arkhangelsk Region, also attracts attention.
The monastery was founded by the Rev. Alexander Oshevensky in the 1460s. After the first temple was built, the founder died, and the monastery began to decline. The monastery was empty, there were only five elderly monks left.
The situation changed in 1488. The new abbot of the monastery was the son of a local priest, Maxim. Thanks to him, the landed estates of the monastery increased, another temple was erected, the number of brethren increased. But after 1531, difficult times came again. The monks had to conduct land lawsuits with the peasants, there were repeated arsons.
In 1706 there was a massive fire. After him, the monks began large-scale construction and restoration work. The cloister acquired its own cattle, land, and fishing.
The monastery ceased to exist in 1928, was looted and turned into ruins. At the moment, the monastery is at the initial stage of restoration, in dire need of funds from the state and philanthropists.
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery
In the list of men's monasteries in Russia, a special place is occupied by the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery, located in the city of Kirillov, Vologda Region. The cloister is located right on the shore of Lake Siversky. This is the spiritual center of the Russian North, one of the largest monasteries in the country.
The history of the monastery began in 1397. Its founder is Cyril Belozersky - a follower of Sergius of Radonezh. He dug a cave on the lake. Later, Ferapont Belozersky founded a monastery nearby. Later, a whole network of monasteries grew around this place.
At one time, the monastery became not just a major spiritual, but also an economic center. Trade routes crossed through it, the monastery itself for a long time hunted with fish and salt. Also, the monastery was the most important book center of the country. Even despite the great fire of 1557, the monastery did not lose its status as the largest and richest in the Russian North.
In 1918, the abbot was shot, and the monastery was abolished and ruined. In 1924, a museum-reserve was opened here, thanks to which historical monuments were preserved. After the war, restoration activity was launched. In 1998, the monastery was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. Today, one of the oldest male monasteries in Russia is almost completely restored and is operational.
Valaam Transfiguration Monastery
One of the most famous functioning male Orthodox monasteries in Russia is the Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky monastery. Once there was a temple, then a monastery, and later a state farm. The monastery was destroyed and plundered. Also during Soviet times, the House of Disabled People worked here. Since September 1989, the monastery was transferred to the use of the Leningrad diocese. Restoration work does not stop to this day.
You can get to Balaam by air or water. The monastery is open to pilgrims, but you cannot roam the island on your own. Visitors are divided into groups and organize excursions for them. There is a hotel for 200 pilgrims.
This is one of the most visited cloisters in Russia. Every year, up to 100 thousand pilgrims and tourists come to the active male Orthodox monastery for three summer months. But the abbots of the monastery offer to limit visits on the model of Athos monasteries. You will need to receive a written blessing in advance.
Savvino-Storozhevsky monastery
The Savvino-Storozhevskaya cloister is another Orthodox monastery in Russia. It was founded in 1389 by the monk Savva, who was a student of Sergius of Radonezh, on Mount Watchmen. This place is considered one of the most beautiful in the suburbs. Initially, the Monk Savva lived in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. But at the request of Prince Dmitry Donskoy, he left his monastery and founded a new one near Zvenigorod. He became the abbot of this monastery.
But Savva himself did not live in the monastery. To hide from worldly fame around his name and monastery, he built a cave in a ravine in the middle of a dense forest. Now on this place is a monastery and a holy spring with a bath. That is the main goal of the pilgrims. And on the territory of the monastery there is a historical and art museum.
Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery
Among the active male monasteries in Russia, one of the largest and most famous is the Holy Assumption Pskov-Pechersk Monastery. It all started with a cave church, which was consecrated in 1473. The first 500 years of the monastery’s existence were very turbulent. But then, when Abbot Dorofei became rector, the heyday began. The monastery was landscaped and expanded, which generously spent funds from donations. The next heyday began with the advent of Abbot Cornelius. Under him, the monastery gained the widest possible fame; a huge number of pilgrims rushed here.
Unlike other monasteries, this one never ceased to exist. Although after the revolution, monks and parishioners were persecuted, and during the war many buildings were damaged. To date, the monastery is almost completely restored and is operational. The monastery carries not only spiritual, but also great cultural value.
Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is one of the largest male monasteries in Russia. It is located in Sergiev Posad, Moscow Region. This is not just a monastery, but also a major educational and publishing center. Here is the theological academy.
The foundation date of the monastery is considered to be 1337, when Sergius of Radonezh settled on the Makovets hill. After several years of lonely asceticism, inhabitants began to flock here, deserts turned into a monastery.
In the Middle Ages, the monastery played an important political role, being a support for both the people and the authorities. The monks fought against the Tatar-Mongol yoke, opposed False Dmitry and Semiboyarschina, Polish-Lithuanian troops.
The heyday of the monastery is associated with the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. She founded a theological seminary and a theological academy here. She endowed the monastery with the title of laurel.
In 1918, the monastery was transformed into a labor artel. Later, electrotechnical courses, hospitals, schools, children's institutions, and museums appeared here. Many buildings were converted for residential and household needs. Only in the postwar period did restoration work gradually begin.
Today, most buildings are returned to their original appearance (painting walls, roofing, murals, bells). The brotherhood has about 200 monks. The architectural ensemble of the laurels is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ascension of David Deserts
The list of men's monasteries in Russia continues Voznesenskaya Davidova Pustyn. It is located on the banks of the Lopasni river in the Chekhov district of the Moscow region. The monastery was founded in 1515 by the Rev. David. Near the monastery, he broke a lime grove.
In 1619, the monastery was devastated by the troops of the Hetman Sagaidachny. After another 10 years, the deserts were excluded from the New Jerusalem List. In the XVII century, an unprecedented flowering began, which after 100 years gave way to the decline associated with the reforms of Peter the Great. In Soviet times, the monastery was closed, and the brethren were repressed.
The modern history of the monastery began in 1992, when residents of the village of New Life formed the Orthodox community. Today, pilgrims come here to venerate the holy particles of relics, of which there are more than 200 in the monastery.
Krypetsky John the Theological Monastery
The list of existing male monasteries in Russia is continued by the Krypetsk John-Theological Monastery. It belongs to the Pskov diocese and is located near the village of Krypetsky in the Pskov region. The monastery was founded in 1455 by Savva Krypetskiy, a native of Serbia. Prince Obolensky took an active part in the construction of the monastery.
By the end of the XVII century, the monastery experienced many favorable and unfavorable periods, but eventually became impoverished. Although, by the twentieth century, he again became the richest in Russia. After the Revolution, the monastery was closed. All values were taken out, many were irretrievably lost. For a long time there was a farmyard on the territory of the monastery.
In 1960, the monastery was declared a monument of republican significance, in 1990 it was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. To date, the monastery has been restored, new facilities have been built. It is home to 40 monks and novices, as well as more than 50 workers.
How to become a monk
At the moment there are many male monasteries in Russia where new novices are accepted. But it is not as simple as it may seem in reality. Before you get to the monastery, you will have to go through something like a probationary period to prove your bright intentions (both to the abbot of the monastery and to yourself). It implies the following:
- A regular visit to the temple. You must constantly attend services, confess, receive communion, and observe all posts. It is also important to talk with the priest about your intention.
- Stay at the monastery as a worker. Monks not only pray, but also work in the monastery. This is hard physical labor. As a rule, workers stay in the monastery for two to three weeks a year.
- Raising to the novices. If you have not changed your intention after being a worker, then you must write a petition to become a novice. In doing so, you will bear a worldly name.
- Monastic tonsure. Those who have passed the probationary period become monks and begin to live in the monastery, spending time with labor and prayers.
Keep in mind that monks are more likely to accept people over 30 years old. The reason for refusal may be the existence of dependents, large debts, as well as recent severe stress.
Conclusion
Russian monasteries have not only spiritual, but also cultural and historical value. Each of the monasteries experienced both favorable times of prosperity and very terrible periods of decline and ruin. Today, the state, the clergy and philanthropists, and simply believing people make every effort to preserve the invaluable heritage for future generations.