The Virgin Mary-Alekseevsky Monastery (Tomsk) is one of the oldest monasteries in the region. Currently, the monastery is given the status of spiritual and cultural heritage. The history of the Mother of God-Alekseevsky Monastery (Tomsk), its architecture and features will be described in this essay.
History of the cloister
The Virgin Mary-Alekseevsky Monastery (Tomsk) is an Orthodox male monastery, which was founded, according to one version in 1605, and according to another - in 1622. It is known for certain that the monastery existed in the 30s of the XVII century.
Some scholars explain this early appearance of the monastery in the newly built and founded city by the issued government decree on the construction of the monastery, and not by a large number of monks.
Initially, the population of the city of Tomsk consisted of rampant Cossacks, self-serving industrialists, foreign adventurers who wanted to get rich quick, convicts, expelled Poles and local Tatars. Given the current situation, the government decided to build the Virgin Mary-Alekseevsky monastery in Tomsk.
Description
From 1630 to 1650, the Virgin Mary-Alekseevsky Monastery (Tomsk) was located at the place where the Kyrgyz River flowed into Tom. After 28 years, he was transferred to Yurt Mountain. During the construction of the monastery, underground warehouses were created, as well as exits to the Ushayka River.
In 1663, the church was consecrated in honor of St. Alexei, and from that time the monastery began to bear his name. It is noteworthy that from this monastery control and management of the remaining eight cloisters of Siberia, which were part of the Tomsk rank, were carried out.
The cloister in the 18th century
The Mother of God-Alekseevsky Monastery (Tomsk) until 1764 was the only one that owned 400 serfs and possessed impressive lands near the Ob and Tom rivers. Also in the possession of the monastery there were manholes near the Ob and Tom rivers, on which fish were hunted year-round. It is worth noting that the monastery was the largest supplier of fish, not only in the city, but throughout the district.
In the 18th century, a hospital was opened at the monastery, and in 1746 - the first school in Tomsk. The Russian Theological College, after 16 years, was transformed into a Russian-Latin school. In 1858, the monastery began training in a theological seminary, which had an extensive library. The Virgin Mary-Alekseevskaya monastery, like other monasteries in Siberia, was the place of exile for all those who violated the monastery charter. Also, secular people who fell into disgrace were exiled here.
Monastery church
The main temple of the monastery is the Kazan Church, which has two chapels - in the name of Flora and Lavra, as well as the man of God Alexy. Initially, the temple was built of wood, because of which fires repeatedly occurred in it. Some were so powerful that they almost completely destroyed the temple.
In 1789, a modern stone building was erected in the style of the Siberian chrome baroque. Inside the church was the image of Our Lady of the “Burning Cup”, which is especially revered by the monks. After the construction of a new temple, striking in its beauty, it was decided to erect new monastery walls. However, their construction was delayed for various reasons.
In the 30s of the XIX century, the walls of the monastery were built according to the project of the famous architect Tomsk K. G. Tursky. A beautiful garden was built in the monastery courtyard, a lake was created and summer cells were arranged. There was also a cemetery on the territory of the monastery, on which monks and priors were buried.
Monastery in the 20th century
The Virgin Mary-Alekseevsky Monastery (Tomsk) gradually fell into decline in the 20th century. In the summer of 1923 the monastery was closed. The whole brethren of the monastery from that time was on the capture, where the monastery was originally located. There remained an old wooden Pokrovskaya church. Until 1926, the monks were here.
In the second half of the 20s of the XX century, the monks were transferred to the fraternal corps and taken into custody. Their further fate is unknown, however, according to the monastery sources, most of them were shot on Mount Kashtak.
After some time, the monastery territory was transferred to the pedagogical school. The construction of new buildings for the needs of students has begun. In 1930, the Industrial Pedagogical Institute was opened here. During the Great Patriotic War, workshops in which military uniforms were sewn were placed on the territory of the former monastery. In other rooms, a school for the training of sanitary instructors worked.
After the war, due to partial collapse, the holy monastic gates and also the corner towers were dismantled. In the 80s, the monastery complex began to be restored, however, due to the destruction of the Soviet Union, work was suspended.
Cloister now
In 1992, the Kazan Church was returned to the jurisdiction of the Tomsk diocese, and regular worship services began. The cell building was gradually restored. In July 1995, on the site of the destroyed chapel, the relics of Fedor Tomsky were found, which became one of the main monastery relics. Two years later, the chapel was restored.
In 2010, the house church in the name of the Three Saints was consecrated in the former building of the bishop’s house, and now the cell of the monastery building. A new iconostasis made of marble was installed in it. The church is decorated in the Byzantine style.
In 2012, it was decided to restore the Kazan Church, which by that time was dilapidated. The Ministry of Culture, under a special program, allocated funds from the budget for these purposes. Currently, all work is completed, and the temple pleases believers and pilgrims with its updated appearance and interior decoration.
Kazan Church is one of the most revered in Tomsk. Here you can meet a large number of parishioners daily. On major Orthodox holidays, thousands of pilgrims come to the church to pray and touch the relics of St. Theodore of Tomsk. In addition to spiritual value, the monastery is an architectural monument of temple baroque.
Schedule of services in the Theotokos-Alekseevsky monastery (Tomsk)
Divine services are held daily: at 7.00, at 9.00 and at 18.00. The schedule of church services is changed during major Orthodox holidays. Information about this is always published on the official website.
Address of the Theotokos-Alekseevsky Monastery: Tomsk, Tomsk Region, ul. Krylova, 12/1.