In the heart of Moscow is the Sretensky Monastery. Its gates are open to all Orthodox Christians. Everyone can go to Sretensky Monastery, its address is easy to remember: it is located on Bolshaya Lubyanka, number 191.
The history of the monastery
The monastery appeared in 1397 thanks to curious historical events, accompanied by divine patronage. At that time, Moscow miraculously escaped from the invincible army of Tamerlane. This event happened in 1395. According to the annals, Khan Timur with the Tatar hordes moved across Russia, sweeping away everything in its path. Moscow was ahead. Anticipating considerable trouble, the great prince Vasily and Metropolitan Kiprian ordered to deliver from Vladimir to Moscow the miraculous icon of the Mother of God (Vladimir). All ten days that the icon was on the way, it was accompanied by tearful prayers of the Russian people, who were kneeling along the road. In Moscow, they met the image of the Vladimir Mother of God on August 26.
While the Orthodox met the icon, Khan Tamerlan rested in his rich tent. In a dream a certain woman appeared who was surrounded by a myriad angelic army, staring menacingly at him. As soon as the khan woke up, he gathered his elders and ordered him to explain his vision. They, in turn, made it clear that the Mother of the God of Christians came to him - an intercessor of the Russian people with her irresistible force. Khan was horrified by such an interpretation. He immediately turned back his army before reaching Moscow.
Muscovites in memory of this miracle put a church on the site of the meeting of the Vladimir Icon. Later, the Sretensky Monastery was erected here.
Centuries of existence
In Moscow at that time there were many church monasteries. Sretensky monastery was not among the most popular. He was not famous for the loud spiritual exploits of the inhabitants; the decoration of the monastery was very modest. The life of the monks proceeded peacefully, quietly, measuredly. The cloister, however, often participated in social events of that time. Not the last role was played by the monastery in overcoming the Time of Troubles that took place in the capital 1611-1613. The formation of the royal dynasty took place with the support of the monastery. By virtue of its location, the monastery witnessed the Salt riots of 1648, which began at the local walls. Joyful events are also found in the annals. In 1552, it was here that Muscovites met troops who brought victory from Kazan, the monastery became a witness to that event.
Moscow Sretensky Monastery in the Romanov era
The first of the Romanov dynasty greatly respected Sretensky Monastery. Particular attention was paid to him by Tsar Fedor Alekseevich. His reign did not last long, but during this time the monastery flourished. At this time, the cathedral was built, glorifying the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, to this day it was he who survived from all the others. Valuable contributions were received in those years by the Sretensky Monastery; royal services were also held here.
In the XVIII century the monastery began to decline. Its structures were damaged in the fire of 1737. Sretensky monastery has not yet had time to recover from such dire events as in 1737 Catherine II issued such a decree that said about the secularization of lands belonging to the church. The monastery became contingent. Sretensky Monastery could leave only fourteen inhabitants.
Only by the end of the century the monastery began to gradually recover, some buildings began to be erected.
The cloister during the Patriotic War of 1812
The war in 1812 greatly influenced the condition of the Sretensky monastery. An interesting fact is that the battle of Borodino took place on the day when the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was celebrated. Muscovites saw this as a good sign. Further events - the retreat of the Russian army to Moscow, the capture of the ancient capital by the French shook the hopes of the inhabitants to some extent, but subsequent events of the war strengthened faith in Orthodoxy. Sretensky monastery was not damaged during the fire of 1812. The French soldiers “affected” the monastery; they plundered many of the values belonging to the church. It is worth noting that the monks of Sretensky Monastery steadfastly guarded the shrines and did not stop worship even during the war. Then, for hundreds of years, the monastery was in relative peace.
The advent of Soviet power
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Sretensky monastery was completely landscaped, although it was modest in size. In 1907 there were fourteen novices in the monastery, four hierodeacon, six hieromonks. In the very near future Sretensky monastery was going to endure severe trials.
Soviet power immediately began to establish its own rules, immediately took up the ministers of the churches. A 1918 decree issued by the Council of People's Commissars stated that the Church was being separated from the state and, at the same time, was losing the status of a legal entity. All property belonging to the Church began to belong to the people. All buildings intended for worship began to be confiscated in favor of society, this included both farm buildings and all cell buildings. Sretensky monastery did not escape this fate. In 1922 he was captured by the Renovationists. At the same time, state bodies seized from the cloister all church utensils of any value: liturgical vessels, altar crosses, salaries of icons, and books in precious bindings.
The sad fate of the monastery
To expand the traffic, in 1927-30 many of the monastery buildings were destroyed. This number included the temple of Mary of Egypt, which was considered the oldest in Moscow. The remaining monastic utensils were distributed among various cultural institutions and museums. The ancient icon "Exaltation of the Cross" was transferred to the Anti-Religious Museum, then it got into the Tretyakov Gallery, where it is still stored.
In the monastery buildings, which survived the destruction, housed the hostel of the NKVD. During the years of terror, a lot of people were shot on the territory of the former monastery. In nameless graves, here, they were buried. In 1995, a worship cross was erected in Sretensky Monastery in memory of those who were martyred in this place, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy consecrated it.
In the only surviving temple in 1958-1962, after its restoration, the Scientific and Restoration Center was established.
The revival of the monastery
At the end of the 20th century, when church traditions finally began to revive in Russia, the Cathedral of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was handed over to the Church, it happened in 1991. In 1994, with the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch, monastic life began to revive on the territory of the Sretensky Monastery. The first inhabitants had to do hard work to revive the monastery.
In 2008, a plan was developed, according to which the monuments that once existed on the territory of the monastery should be reconstructed, new churches, office buildings were erected. The plan provides for the construction of a gateway church with a baptistery, a youth Orthodox center, and a conference hall. The neighboring buildings, given to the monastery, are arranged under the cell buildings, the infirmary and the refectory. From the side of Bolshaya Lubyanka, areas are expanding for training seminaries, for housing for seminarians.
Monks cherish, guard the Sretensky monastery. Its address is known to many parishioners, and everyone can visit it, admire the beauty of the revived church, worship the holy icon.
Life in the monastery
Of course, for monks the main act is prayer. A liturgy is performed daily (early, late, midnight). Any local novice, monk are proud that the place of their monastery is Sretensky monastery. Service to God is the main meaning of life. Everyone here has a special obedience, everyone has their own business: someone works in the garden, someone in the publishing house, others carry out chores. If you compare the condition of the monastery in the 90s and now, you can see how much incredible work, effort is invested in the improvement of the monastery. Seminarists also participate in the life of the monastery, carry obedience, attend worship services.
Male Choir of the Sretensky Monastery
The male choir in the monastery has existed for many centuries, from the very date of foundation (1397). A break in activity occurred only during the years of persecution during the period of Soviet rule. More recently, the choir began to acquire modern features. In 2005, the choir of the Sretensky Monastery was headed by the regent, whose name was Nikon Stepanovich Zhila. He is a graduate of the Gnesinka, since childhood he sang in the church choir of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
The basis of the choir is the seminarians of the Sretensky Seminary, as well as graduates of the Theological Academy of Moscow. An important part of the composition is the vocalists of the Moscow Conservatory, the Moscow Academy of Choral Art, the Gnesins Academy. The choir includes thirty people, it includes first-class soloists, has its own arrangers and composers.
Sretensky choir holds regular services in the monastery. At important ceremonial services, she sings in the Moscow Kremlin. Choir members often travel with missionary tours under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church. The repertoire includes not only sacred music, romances, songs of the war era, Russian folk, Cossack, Ukrainian songs are performed. The choir performs all compositions only in the original processing a cappela.
The pacification of the monastery
Sretensky Monastery is modestly located in the very heart of Moscow, behind the snow-white walls on which the tiles are laid. The doors of the monastery are open to all who desire peace and tranquility. People go to this place not only during the service, many come just in the midst of a busy day. When you attach to the holy Vladimir icon or to the relics of St. Hilarion, you forget about worldly turmoil for some time. An interesting fact: although Bolshaya Lubyanka is constantly buzzing outside the walls, there is complete silence and tranquility on the territory of the monastery (or maybe this seems to visitors). The life of the monks here is not simple, they carry obedience all day, but their affairs always remain humble, restless, useful.