The village of Vyshny Volochyok arose in 1471. This was facilitated by its geographical location. He stood on a trade route from the Neva basin, across Lake Ilmen, to the Volga basin.
In the 16th century the St. Nicholas Monastery was founded, and at the end of the 19th century, the Kazan Women's Monastery in Vyshny Volochyok.
Today Vyshny Volochek is a city in the Tver region, which is the administrative center of the Vyshnevolotsky district.
History of the Kazan Monastery (Vyshny Volochek)
According to legend, at the end of the 16th century an icon of the Mother of God of Kazan was brought to Vyshny Volochyok by local merchants. As a result of the fire, the icon was lost, but many years later it was unexpectedly found in a remote place, in a forest on a stump. A chapel was built on the site of her miraculous attainment.
In 1870, Prince A. S. Putyatin, the leader of the nobility, raised money from philanthropists to acquire land adjacent to the chapel in order to establish a female Orthodox community on this site. The community was created, and on October 20, 1872, a resolution of the Synod was received on its approval.
In 1877, the Andronikov Icon of the Mother of God was delivered to the community from the St. Petersburg Trinity Cathedral. It was named after the emperor Andronicus III, to whom she originally belonged. Later, in 1901, in honor of this icon at the expense of John of Kronstadt, the Bogolyubsky (Andronnikovsky) Cathedral (1897-1901) was erected on the territory of the monastery. Andronikovโs icon is made in the ancient Greek style, the Mother of God is depicted shoulder-length (to the shoulders) and without a baby. Unfortunately, this icon was stolen from the Epiphany Cathedral in 1984, and its whereabouts are still unknown.
After 9 years in the community, there were already more than 260 sisters. 13 buildings were built: cells, a hospital, an icon painting school, and carpet and shoe workshops.
On November 20, 1881, by decree of the Holy Synod, Prioress Dosifeia Saltykova was elevated to the rank of hegumen, and the community was transformed into a monastery.
The chapel, on the site of which the image of the Mother of God of Kazan was found , was rebuilt into a church, later on it was built a bell tower and the Church of St. Ephraim the Syrian and Neonila.
There are 2 cathedrals on the territory of the monastery: Kazan and Andronnikovsky, as well as the Nadlozhnaya Chapel and the Hospital Monastery Building with the House Church.
Kazan Cathedral Monastery
Built in 1877-1882 according to the project of A. S. Kaminsky.
The cathedral is notable for its complex architecture and is considered one of the most beautiful religious buildings built in the 19th century and is an adornment of the Kazan Monastery.
The Upper Volochek attracts pilgrims with holy places, as well as the beauty and splendor of the cathedrals.
Andronnikovsky Cathedral
Built in the years 1897-1901. The cathedral building is located in the depths of the monastery, to the right of the Kazan Cathedral. The building of the cathedral is made in the Byzantine "tone" style, like all church architecture of the late XIX century. The temple is tall and spacious: 18 meters high, 47 meters long and 34 meters wide.
The main throne was consecrated in the name of the Andronic icon. The left one is in honor of St. Gregory and the Great Martyr Dmitry Solunsky, St. Innocent and St. John of Rylsky. Right - in honor of All Saints. The iconostasis of the main aisle is carved and gilded.
Monastery after the revolution
After 1917, thousands of temples were closed and looted. Vyshnevolotskaya Kazan Monastery did not escape this fate. Vyshny Volochek, like hundreds of other Russian cities and villages, lost its shrines. In 1922, a military unit was located on its territory, and then they began to use the monastery buildings and churches as storage facilities. In the fall of 1941, the monastery was in the front line, but was not injured. In November, the distance from the front line to the Vyshny Volochyok was about 100 kilometers.
In 1991, the Kazan Monastery of Vyshny Volochyok was returned to the church.
The restoration of the monastery
After the monastery was opened, cathedrals and other buildings needed to be repaired, both external and internal. There was no heating in the buildings, it was necessary to begin plumbing, change pipes, sewers. Interior decoration needed restoration. The territory of the monastery was groomed, overgrown with grass. The monastery needed money and labor.
During the years of Soviet rule, the bell tower in which the Temple was built in honor of Ephraim the Syrian was the most affected. Not only the bells were removed from it, they began to use it as a water tower.
Over the years, water flowed down the walls and caused great damage to the structure. The building gradually collapsed and fell into disrepair. An inscription was even made on the wall of the bell tower, forbidding approaching the structure closer than 10 meters. Now the situation has improved: through the efforts of novices and laity, the monastery is gradually regaining its original appearance.
In December 2016, by decree of the Tver Metropolitan, Bishop Victor, the nun Theophylact became the abbess. She is distinguished by rigor and hard work, and she already has experience in restoring the cloisters.
Holy places and icon worship
In 1999, a chapel was erected at the burial place of the old woman Lyubushka. Also in 2000, schema-nun Maria Matukasova was buried near Lyubushka.
Under the porch of the temple of Andronnikovsky Cathedral there is a tomb, in which the founder of the monastery Dosifei found the last shelter. Nuns Macarius and Pelagia were buried there.
The main shrine of the city - the Icon of the Kazan Mother of God - is exhibited in the Epiphany Cathedral, 2 kilometers from the Kazan Monastery.
Monasteries in the Vyshny Volochyok: the Monastery of Kazan Mother of God and Nikolo-Stolpensky (located in the village of White Omut).
How to get to the monastery?
The address where you can find the Kazan Convent: Vyshny Volochek, st. Siversova.
This address is indicated on the official website, telephones are also indicated on which you can call to clarify information.
In the Vyshny Volochek monastery of the Mother of God of Kazan is easy to find. The distance from the city center to the monastery is only 2 kilometers.
The working hours of the monastery and worship
Services in the monastery are performed daily; you can order a memorial service through the official website.
Access to the laity is allowed only on holidays. On weekdays, the monastery rules apply.
The monastery is open to pilgrims and tourist groups. You can book a tour on the official website of the monastery.
To visit the monastery as a pilgrim, you need to receive a blessing and be sure to warn by telephone of your intention to come. Pilgrims can stay in the monastery from one to three days.