St. Danilov Monastery in Moscow is considered one of the oldest monasteries located on the Moscow River. It is a unique example of beautiful Russian architecture. The complex of monastic buildings includes several churches, abbot chambers, fraternal corps, the patriarchal residence and the DECR building.
Nowadays, the monastery is both the spiritual and administrative center of Orthodox Russia - it has several farmsteads located in Ryazan, Moscow and the Moscow region.
History of the Danilovsky Monastery
In 1282, according to the order of the holy prince, Blessed Daniel of Moscow, the male St. Daniel Monastery was founded. But the monastery did not last long - according to legend, a few years later it was transferred to the Kremlin and renamed the Spassky Monastery. There is another version: the holy prince Daniel, before his death, became a monk and was buried in his monastery in 1303.
According to the Degree Book, as a historical and literary source, in the 15th century there was a church on the site of the monastery, consecrated in honor of Daniel Stolpnik, the heavenly patron saint of the holy Prince Daniel of Moscow. Monastic life returned to this place only under John the Terrible, in 1560. There is an assumption that the Danilov Monastery in Moscow was erected on the site of the old necropolis.
In 1561, the monastery stone church was consecrated in honor of the holy fathers of the seven Ecumenical Councils.
The Danilov Monastery in Moscow was partially destroyed in 1610 due to the arson organized by False Dmitry II. At the beginning of the 17th century, a stone wall with towers was erected around the monastery. There is information that in 1710 the monastic brotherhood numbered 30 monks.
Danilov Monastery in Moscow: the period of Soviet power
Despite the fact that in 1918 the monastery was actually closed, monastic life continued until 1930. In the 1920s, many bishops were appointed to the walls of the holy monastery, appointed by the Patriarch of Moscow Tikhon, but not allowed to the diocesan administration due to the obstacles of the secular authorities.
In 1929, an official decision was made to close the monastery, and a receiver-distributor of the NKVD was equipped within its walls. Soon the bell tower was ruthlessly dismantled, but, fortunately, the bells were saved from re-melting (thanks to the efforts of Charles Crane, an American diplomat and industrialist). Until 2007, they were within the walls of Harvard University, after which they were again returned to their homeland. At the closing of the holy monastery, part of the monastery manuscripts stored in the library were transferred to the Moscow archives (they are currently in the RGADA).
Since 1930, the monastery housed an insulator for children of political criminals and repressed. The authorities of the USSR ordered all children left without parents due to repressions to be taken to a children's detention center. The conditions in which the orphans lived were inhuman: due to lack of proper nutrition and care, many were sick and dying, they were buried here - at the former monastery cemetery.
After 1930, the relics of St. Daniel of Moscow were transferred outside the walls of the monastery to the Church of the Resurrection of the Slovozh. With the closure of this temple in 1929, the latest information on the further movement of the holy relics disappears, and their whereabouts are still unknown.
The revival of the holy monastery
In 1983, by decree of the government of the USSR, it was decided to return St. Danilov Monastery to church ownership. In addition, it was also allowed to start the construction of new facilities necessary for official use.
After the monastery returned to its native church harbor, Archimandrite Yevlogiy (Smirnov) became its first governor. The monastery began to revive and gradually recovered with funds that came both from Moscow church parishes and from all the dioceses of the Patriarchate.
A special commission responsible for the restoration and restoration of the monastery was organized and appointed at a meeting of the Holy Synod. Restoration work was led by architect I.I. Makovetsky.
Monastic services began again from the Great Lent of 1984. In 1985, the first consecration of the throne of the lower Pokrovsky church was made. In the same year, the DECR moved to a new fraternal restored building.
In honor of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, festive celebrations took place in the monastery walls. A festive liturgy was served on All Saints Week, celebrated by several patriarchs (Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow, Georgian, Romanian, Bulgarian patriarchs and many bishops participated in the service).
In March 2007, an agreement was reached on the return of the ensemble of bells of the Danilov Belfry to Moscow, thanks to the zeal of entrepreneur Viktor Vekselberg, who took upon himself all the costs of the project.
Temples of Danilov Monastery
A modern complex of buildings located on the territory of the monastery took shape during the 18th-19th centuries. At the end of the 20th century, additional buildings necessary for the functioning of the DECR were erected here.
Among other attractions, Danilov Monastery in Moscow occupies a special place. Photos of temples, chapels and architectural buildings of the monastery eloquently speak about the beauty of this place.
Temple of the Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils
In 1730, the old stone church of the Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils was dismantled, and soon rebuilt on the arches of the old Intercession Church, which became the lower basement of the new cathedral. It is considered central among other buildings of such an architectural complex as Danilov Monastery. Pokrovsky temple, supposedly built in the 70s of the XVII century, is the oldest architectural building that has survived to this day. There is a chapel in honor of the holy prophet Daniel.
In 1806, two chapels were consecrated in the upper temple. In the third tier of the cathedral from the 18th century there is the church of St. Daniel the Stylite, which is the protector and patron of the holy monastery.
Gate Church
In addition to the above churches, the monastery’s complex of architectural structures includes the Gate Church, dedicated to the holy Rev. Simeon Stolpnik, built in 1731.
Trinity Cathedral
In 1833-1838, according to the project of the architect O. I. Bove, the Trinity Cathedral was built, decorated in the style of Russian classicism. The building has a cubic shape, its facade is decorated with Tuscan porticoes. The cathedral has two chapels dedicated to the feast of the conception of Righteous Anna and the Monk Alexy, the man of God. The consecration of the Orthodox church took place on September 13, 1838, it was performed by the Metropolitan of Moscow Filaret.
Modern chapels
In honor of the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, the Memorial and Nadkladnaya chapels were built, designed by architect Yu. G. Alonov. Modern buildings fit perfectly into the architectural composition of the monastery buildings.
Danilovsky Necropolis
In the XIX century, the monastery cemetery became the burial place of prominent Russian figures. There is speculation that this is the first Moscow monastery necropolis. According to archaeological research, it can be argued that burials at this place were made before the restoration of the monastery by John IV, back in the 15th century. Stone gravestones of the XV-XVI centuries with inscriptions in German and Latin were discovered during excavations in 1869-1870, which indicates the burial here of either foreign nationals or local Kukui Germans.
After the 17th century, the deceased monks and abbots of the monastery were buried at the monastery cemetery, among which there were outstanding church figures. High-ranking officials and representatives of the nobility, aristocracy, and philanthropists were buried here. But the graves of such famous figures as N.V. Gogol, A.S. Khomyakova, Yu.F. Samarin, Prince V.A. Cherkassky, A.I. Koshelev, Yu. I. Venelin and others brought true fame to the Danilovsky cemetery. .
In 1931, the monastery necropolis was destroyed, and the remains of N.V. Gogol, D.A. Valuev, the spouses Khomyakov and N.M. Yazykov were transferred to the Novodevichy cemetery of the capital.
After the return of the St. Danilov Monastery to church ownership, a new building was erected on the site of the necropolis - the patriarchal residence.
Male choir of St. Danilov Monastery
In 1994, a male festive concert choir of the Danilov Monastery was organized. It consists of highly professional musicians, vocalists - graduates of higher musical and choral educational institutions of the capital. The artistic director and regent of the choir is Georgy Safonov.
On Sundays and public holidays, the Danilov Monastery’s choir participates in solemn patriotic services. In addition to purely church activities, the team takes part in many educational concerts both in Russia and abroad.
The choir’s repertoire includes the most complex church author’s chants dedicated to various Christian holidays from the annual and weekly liturgical circles. In addition to church works, the collective performs a variety of piping, carols, Russian folk and military-patriotic songs, hymns, waltzes and romances. He regularly produces studio recordings and has released several CDs with a variety of works.
Conclusion
Moscow Danilov Monastery is one of the most famous sights of the capital. Many Orthodox pilgrims seek to come here to worship the holy relics and prayers. Guests are always welcome here - a hotel is offered for visitors.
If you are going to visit the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, his address will not hurt to know: Moscow, st. Danilovsky Val, 22.