How painful the heart becomes when you have to see the temple ruins. Or when you read about how monasteries were destroyed in godless times.
Terrible events did not pass around the John the Baptist Monastery in Pskov. He once had a rich history. Nowadays, the only surviving church recalls the majestic and once luxurious monastery.
Origin history
In Pskov, in the Zavelichye area, there once was a handsome monastery. The nuns-rulers ruled the divine services, worked and lived their own, special charter.
The first mention of this place dates back to the 13th century. The abbess and founder of the monastery was the wife of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich. Euphrosyne (that was the name of the princess in the world) was forced to marry. The marriage was very tragic. The prince was not constantly at home, but in the end was seduced by one girl. And for her sake he left his wife.
Euphrosyne suffered the blow steadily. She did not despair, did not lay hands on herself. And she took up the founding and construction of the St. John the Baptist Monastery (Pskov).
She also became the first abbess in the monastery. And she was killed in a vile way. The princess-abbess, named tonsured by Eupraxia, was called by her ex-husband to the Livonian city of Odemp. The murder was committed by the stepson of the abbess. Her body was transferred to Pskov and buried in a holy place.
After the death of the abbess
Prince Ivan Dovmont and his wife Maria were very favored by the Ivanovo monastery. The martyr Eupraxia was the prince’s aunt and after her death he did not forget about the monastery. Generous donations were regular. After his death, his wife settled in the monastery, taking tonsure. Buried in the monastery.
XVII century
What happened to the monastery during this period? Formerly wealthy, especially favored by the princes, she survived many raids. When the city was attacked by the Polish king Stephen, he did not stop at anything. Burned in the fires of Pskov, and the John the Baptist Monastery was no exception.
After the settlement was besieged by the Swedish king Gustav, the holy place was completely looted. The economy fell into decay. It was 1615.
In 1623 the monastery was "taken under guardianship" of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. He, together with Patriarch Filaret, presented the abbess of the Pskov monastery with a letter. It confirmed that the monastery has the right to own the lands granted to it by Prince Dovmont. In addition, the monastery was allowed to independently judge its inhabitants for any misconduct, other than murder and robbery.
They confirmed these rights in 1646. This was done by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. And after 40 years, the sovereigns Ion Alekseevich and Peter Alekseevich this right was re-confirmed.
XVIII century
The new century began quite well. In 1716, the Pontifical Monastery in Pskov was visited by the wife of Peter I. She made a donation to the iconostasis in the amount of 50 rubles.
But at the end of the reign of Peter I, prosperity in the monastery began to decline. Finally finished off her Catherine II, depriving her decree of all the land. And the convent became second-class.
The monastery was quietly smoldering, life continued to glow in it, despite a significant decline.
XIX century
He was the most eventful and the last for the John the Baptist Monastery in Pskov.
It all started with the fact that the number of inhabitants in the monastery began to gradually increase. At the very beginning of the century the monastery was given some estates. In particular, these were lands in Novo-Usitovskaya, Polonskaya volosts and lakes for fishing. True, wealth was taken away after 25 years and money subsidies were put for them.
In 1845, a one-story warm stone church was built on the territory of the monastery.
The empress made a donation to the tomb of the first abbess in 1859. Maria Alexandrovna gave the cloister a carpet.
The economy was growing. All new and new buildings included a convent. So, in 1864, a bathhouse and laundry were built. A little later - a barn for grain. In 1865, a firewood shed and a glacier were erected.
In the XIX century, the monastery had a lot of land. All of them were recorded in monastic books. Also in the income - expenditure Talmuds entered data on income received from these lands.
In addition to the lands that brought a penny of the monastery, there was also a cemetery. Nuns were buried on it, and for a fee, in favor of the monastery and ordinary people.
There were 18 people monastic in the monastery for 1874.
In 1882 a bell tower was built on a generous donation of benefactors. The amount spent on construction amounted to more than 4000 rubles. In addition to money, bells were donated for the construction. And two years later, the merchant widow Catherine donated a tower clock. They cost 1000 rubles.
Another 10 years have passed. At the John the Baptist Monastery (Pskov) , a hospital and an almshouse began to operate. It was then inhabited by 5 people.
In 1896, repairs were made in the Andreevsky warm temple. They served in it only in the winter. And in 1897, they carried out the repair of John the Baptist.
By 1900, the construction of a special house was completed. It was intended for the church sacristy, under the prosphora and needlework rooms.
The monastery was blooming. The 19th century was the brightest in its history after the founding of the monastery.
XX century (before the revolution)
The bloody XX century brought the cloister complete ruin. But first things first.
The beginning of the century was calm and joyful. Almost 80 people lived in the monastery, of which 22 were monks, along with the abbess. The novices are 21. The rest belonged to the whites and those who live above the state.
In 1903, the monastery was surrounded by a high wall. The territory was very vast by the standards of the time - 80 fathoms.
For three consecutive years, starting in 1910 and ending in 1912, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Fedorovna visited the monastery.
In 1915, due to martial law, a hospital was located in the monastery. More than 20 people could be there. The sisters courted the sick and wounded.
XX century (1917-1925)
The revolution did not spare the monastery. The new government did not intend to put up with the existence of the John the Baptist Monastery (in Pskov). The natives leave only two small houses. The remaining territories are occupied by red troops.
They took everything they could from the nuns. Food, kerosene, property. Everything, prepared with great difficulty, was now consumed by the troops. And the monastery did not have any means of subsistence, in fact putting it on the brink of starvation and death. Even the petition of the Pskov spiritual consistory did not help.
In 1919, an orphanage was placed in the monastery. And three years later, the monastery was confronted with the fact: it is necessary to give all the jewelry in favor of the starving. Robe with icons, silver lamps, censers, liars, saucers, bowls. In general, all values were seized.
In 1923 the monastery was closed. In 1925, the cemetery was razed to the ground. Now in the former monastery was a village, a playground and a club.
XX century (recent history)
The monastery was completely destroyed. During the war, the surviving buildings were buried in a fire. They were not subject to recovery.
Nevertheless, in the late 70s, the restoration of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was carried out. During the study and restoration of the monastery, a treasure with coins and icons was discovered.
In 1991, the cathedral was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. And on July 7, the first worship was held in the renovated temple.
Patron Holidays
The current cathedral is not one of the individual monasteries of the Pskov region. He was transferred to the Krypetsk Monastery.
Patronal festivities are solemnly celebrated in the church: July 7 in honor of the Nativity of John the Baptist, September 11 - in honor of the truncation of the head of John the Baptist, October 6 - the conception of John the Baptist.
How to get?
What is the address of the John the Baptist Monastery in Pskov? More precisely, the former monastery. It is located on Gorky Street, 1.
In order to clarify how the cathedral works, you can call.
Rules for visiting the monastery
As it is supposed to enter the saint’s temple, knowing or not that there was once a nunnery here:
Women should be in skirts and shawls. Pants are not allowed. The longer the robe, the better. You will have to forget about the mini-skirt, going to the temple. Any scarf, to the taste of the wearer.
Makeup on the face is not welcome. Especially lipstick. With painted lips can not be applied to the icons. Yes, and if a woman was going to receive communion, then approaching the Chalice with lipstick on her lips is an absolutely wrong decision.
As for men, for them the uniform is pants and a shirt (sweater) with a long sleeve. No t-shirts and shorts should be.
They come to the service in advance, 10-15 minutes before the start. You will have time to write notes, put candles, and attach to the icons.
On the territory of the cathedral you can’t talk loudly, laugh out loud, smoke or drink alcohol.
It is strictly forbidden to spit on the ground, husk seeds.
- Ask your parishioners or ministers in advance what time the service begins.
Remember that this is the courtyard of the monastery. And you need to behave accordingly.
It is interesting
Once in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Pskov) was an icon of the All-Merciful Savior. Above the tomb of Eupraxia - the first abbess of the monastery - it was located. And the shrine is known for its myrrh-streaming. According to legend, the fragrant world flowed from the icon for 12 days.
For those who want to see the shrine with their own eyes, adhere to it, we inform you: the icon is in the Pskov Trinity Cathedral.
Conclusion
Excursions in Pskov can be absolutely amazing. If you are planning on one, be sure to visit the former convent. This is the oldest shrine, which, unfortunately, has not been completely preserved to our times.
The monastery founded by Princess Euphrosyne is still lucky. From her there was a cathedral, which became the courtyard of the monastery. Other shrines were much less fortunate. From them there is only a mention in the archives of a particular locality.
Many holy places suffered at the hands of the atheists. How many destructions and troubles the XX century brought to temples and monasteries - not to count. The Pskov women's monastery, as we can see, could not withstand the onslaught. A monastery with a long history was almost completely destroyed.