Beautiful and majestic, located in a picturesque place of the Volga River in the city of Cheboksary, the Holy Trinity Orthodox Monastery was founded by Tsar Ivan the Terrible with the aim of preaching the Orthodox faith among the ethnic peoples of the Volga region. This monastery had a communal charter; since 1582, its rector was Archimandrite Ioannikius.
Holy Trinity Monastery: Cheboksary
At the beginning of the XVII century during the time of unrest in these parts insurgent movements of the Volga Cossacks began, crop failures and famine were added. In 1609, the monastery was ruthlessly burned and looted, its abbot Archimandrite Gelasiy rebelled from the bell tower. But over time, the monastery again resumes and flourishes, at that time it owns six villages, fishing grounds along the Volga and almost 900 acres of land. The original buildings and churches of the monastery were built of wooden beams. Ancient historical documents also indicate that in 1763 there were four churches in the monastery: Holy Trinity, Our Lady of Tolga, the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (which was later dismantled due to the dilapidated construction) and the holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilates.
Reform
In 1764, as a result of the secularization reform carried out by Catherine II, the monasteries were divided into three classes, at the same time all the estates and villages were taken from the monastery and carried to the lowest 3 class, which included twelve monks in the state.
During her journey in 1767, the empress herself arrived at the monastery and decided to stay in Cheboksary. She began her acquaintance with the city by visiting the monastery, where she attended a solemn prayer, served by its rector Archimandrite Chrysanthus.
In 1789, the Holy Trinity Monastery (Cheboksary) takes control of the Vladimir-Sretensky deserts. In 1791, hegumen Anthony was appointed rector. By the end of the 18th century, at the behest of Paul I, the monastery managed to regain 30 acres of land and lakes for fishing. In 1838, the monastery took control of the Spaso-Gerontieva Desert, located on the right bank of the Volga.
Rebirth and ruin
In the XIX century, Archimandrite Demetrius (1899-1902) began to engage in the renovation of the monastery’s monastery and put in order the dilapidated Trinity Church.
In 1902, Archimandrite Seraphim (Pavlinenko, 1902-1922), who was tied to the monastic service on Mount Athos about 20 years ago, began to manage the monastery. It is thanks to his piety and prayerful feat that the spiritual revival of the monastery begins, the number of brethren grows, and a parish school for men consisting of 73 students is created in a separate building. In 1918, a decree of Soviet power in the monastery first conducted a census of property, and then its confiscation.
After Vladyka Seraphim in 1922, the abbot of the monastery was Abbot Vassian (Shaposhnikov), who until the last fought to keep the monastery operating. However, this did not help, and in the middle of the autumn of 1924 it was closed, and in 1926 the Komsomol and Pioneer clubs were made of it.
Return to the diocese
Holy Trinity Monastery (Cheboksary) - a monument of architecture. In 1974, the state allocated money for restoration, and the tourist company, submariners and the Theater of the Young Spectator began to be housed in the buildings.
In 1992, the Chuvash Republic decided to transfer the monastery buildings to the Cheboksary-Suvash diocese. A year later, restoration work begins. On July 30, 1993, the position of governor was hieromonk Savvaty (Antonov). Gradually, the first novices began to come to the monastery, they began to restore the destroyed walls, corner towers and bell towers. In 1994, on January 15, 1994, in honor of the feast of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the first service and procession were performed.
Bells
Holy Trinity Monastery (Cheboksary) in the summer of 1996 raised its first bell to a new bell tower weighing 59 pounds, followed by a second bell weighing 75 pounds. And in the same year, Patriarch Alexy II visited the monastery, in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, he performed a prayer service to St. Nicholas. In 2001, he again came to visit the monastic fraternity. On the territory, the Diocesan Theological College and Sunday School begin to work over time.
Since then, the Holy Trinity Monastery became a real gem of the city. Cheboksary is famous for this ancient attraction, which, due to its high spiritual life and rich history, constantly meets guests and pilgrims.
Since 2009, the Holy Synod has appointed hegumen Vasily (Pascier) as governor, and in April 2011 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. The holy archimandrite and the ruling bishop of the monastery is currently Metropolitan of Cheboksary Barnabas (Kedrov).
Holy Trinity Monastery (Cheboksary): schedule of services
On the official website of the monastery you can always see the schedule of services, especially on holidays.
On ordinary days pass:
- 06.30 - Prayer service of St. Philotheus to the Metropolitan of All Siberia. Midnight Office.
- 07.45 - Divine Liturgy.
- 16.30 - Evening service.
On Saturday:
- 06.30 - Prayer service.
- 07.45 - Divine Liturgy.
- 16.30 - All-night Vigil.
In Sunday:
- 06.15 - Divine Liturgy.
- 07.20 - Prayer service with water blessing.
- 08.30 - Divine Liturgy.
- 16.00 - Akathist.
- 16.30 - All-night Vigil.