Interest in spiritual life and the Orthodox Christian faith has a growing tendency in society. For some, it is conditioned by a love of history, and for many it is an urgent need and the only way to understand the world, to find an inner core. The forerunner of many temples was the insight of holy people, a rich historical heritage, and St. Barsanuphia Convent (Mordovia) was no exception.
Story
At first glance, St. Barsanuphia Convent has a very short biography, only twenty years old. But the background of the monastery began much earlier, with the command of Anna Ioannovna about the baptism of the Moksha people. It happened in 1740. Residents of the village showed not only obedience, but zeal for religious life. In 1756, the community built two wooden churches at once: Pokrovsky and Nikolsky. Pokrovsky temple was summer, and the village received its church name from it - Pokrovsky Selishchi, and in Nikolsky the services were corrected in the cold season.
By the beginning of the 19th century, Pokrovo-Selishchansky parish numbered 5500 people. Over time, the settlement grew and divided into two parish villages. Pokrovsky Selischi remained at the St. Nicholas Church, and parishioners of the village of Novye Vyselki or Borzunovka (3900 parishioners) visited the Church of the Intercession, in which Nikolsky chapel was.
By the middle of the 19th century, in 1854, a large stone church was built in the village of Novye Vyselki, which housed three thrones: the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and chapels consecrated in honor of Grand Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir and Great Martyr Irina. The temple repeated the architecture of the Seraphim-Diveevo monastery.
After the revolution of the 17th
After the revolution, a struggle with religion began, but parishioners for some time managed to preserve the temples. In 1934, in New Settlements, the church was completely destroyed. In Pokrovsky Selishche, the temples stood intact, but not functioning, and the warehouses of the local commune were located in them. Crosses from the domes were knocked down, and the bell tower was completely destroyed.
In 1975, the local authorities attributed both churches, Nikolsky and Pokrovsky, to architectural monuments; they became valuable objects protected by the state. But, despite such subtleties of history, the summer temple was destroyed. But the parishioners had faith and hope that in the place of the destroyed churches the domes of the new monastery would ascend upwards, and this faith was connected with a local legend.
In the post-revolutionary years, there is a local story about the blessed old woman Daria. Old-timers say that Darius was born in the village of Pokrovsky Selishchi, having matured, believed in God and became a seer. About eighty years ago, she made a prophecy stating that on the site of the local Church of the Intercession “God's grace will shine and a huge candle will burn here from earth to heaven!”
Return of the parish
In 1991, the revival of spiritual life began in the village of New Selishchi. The first significant event was the formation of the Saransk diocese, where residents asked to return the church and form a parish. Requests were addressed to Vladyka Barsanuphius, and in 1992 the St. Nicholas Church was returned to the community. She required repair, restoration and new consecration. The ceremony took place on February 7 of the same year, the church was consecrated in honor of St. Barsanuphius, Bishop of Tver and Kazan the Wonderworker.
The solemn liturgy was performed by the rector of the church Alexy. Active participants in the restoration of temples and the most zealous parishioners are often women. So it was in the parish church, where a small sister community was organized quite quickly. A lot of work was done by the hands of the sisters, and the number of adherents was gradually growing.
The origin of the monastery
The collective of sisters, united by faith and the desire to devote their lives to monastic service, increased. Their works ennobled the territory where the Holy Barsanuphia Convent (Mordovia) would soon be formed. Hegumen Alexy was the first in his works, in prayer and instruction.
The cloister was surrounded with a high (2.5 meters) wall; arched iron gates were made to enter the territory. The arrangement of the monastery immediately had a large scale: a rector’s building was built, a room for the manufacture of prosphora. Cells were intended for sisters in the renovated library building. Bookmarked a bakery, a home for novices, a bakery, a bathhouse and a barn. To ensure their own needs, a garden with fruit trees and berry bushes was set up at the farmyard, a garden was marked out and planted.
In 1996, twenty sisters worked in the monastic life at the church, which, according to the rules of church life, made it possible to rename the community into a monastery after an application. The decree on renaming was issued on February 22, 1996.
Monastic life
St. Barsanuphia Convent (Mordovia) from the moment of its foundation has been living according to monastic laws. The founder of the monastery, hegumen Alexy and the abbess of the Mother Superior, Barsanuphius, are making every effort to develop the monastery. More than one hundred sisters are already in the monastery with an outgoing charter. Significant issues of monastic and monastic life are decided by the Spiritual Council.
St. Barsanuphia Convent took as a rule a strict charter of monasticism. Here, every day during the day, a large circle of services is performed, the Psalter is constantly read, prayers are held for the saints on the days of the week. Daily funeral services have become a tradition; prayers are held in honor of the Mother of God.
The sisters strive to take zealous participation in all church rites and prayers. In addition to the general church service, there are monastic morning and evening rules. One of the important daily events is the nightly procession around the monastery with the icon of the holiday of the day or St. Barsanuphius.
White Temple and its wonders
At present, St. Barsanofievsky Convent has eight churches, one of which is located near a lively spring. The monastery is justly proud of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ. Cross-domed church with ten chapters and a bell tower. The snow-white majestic church was founded in 2002, the author of the project is Kurbatov V.V. The bell tower is 39 meters high, and its “voice” consists of eight bells. The festive, most powerful stopudovy bell is decorated with a commemorative inscription.
This temple has an interesting story. When choosing a place for its construction, for a long time they could not make any decision. The abbot and sisters, the nuns of the monastery, asked for God's help in this matter. Once, a fire broke out on a bought out yard, consisting of a stone house and wooden outbuildings. This site was previously bought by a monastery from an ardent opponent of religion. As a result of the fire, only the house survived, and the wooden buildings were completely burned down. As it turned out later, they were stacked from the logs of an old village temple. So the Lord indicated to the flock where to stand the new cathedral.
Also in the lower temple of the cathedral, even when it was built in 2003, before the Christmas fast there was an amazing event. On the ceiling of the temple under construction, a cross of the correct form shining with hoarfrost appeared, he consecrated the St. Barsanofievsky convent and the construction of the church before Lent.
The iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is unique - it was created especially for this church by the masters of ceramics in Yekaterinburg and has four tiers. The cathedral was consecrated in a festive atmosphere in early June 2012 (during the celebration of the Week of All Saints).
Monastery temples and holy spring
In addition to the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, the following churches are located on the territory of the monastery and beyond: Saint Barsanuphius (formerly St. Nicholas Church), St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, Archangel Michael, Martyr Panteleimon the Healer, chapel and church of the icon of the Don Mother of God or Life-giving spring.
Among the shrines especially revered in the monastery is a spring with healing power, which is confirmed by many facts of recovery from illnesses. The source has been known since time immemorial. According to legend, he was found by a small blind girl, who had a dream the day before, telling about the place where she should wash herself. As a result, the girl received her sight and saw the icon of the Don Mother of God. Since then, the source has been a pilgrimage site for numerous Selishchansky parishioners and people from different parts of the country.
The source has always been revered; there has been a chapel for centuries. It was destroyed immediately after the revolution, and the holy place remained for a long time without special signs, but the stream of suffering to it did not dry up. The situation changed in 2000, when a church was erected near the spring by the efforts of sisters and patrons of art in honor of the icon of the Don Mother of God. Since 2007, a closed bathhouse has been operating.
The care of the source and the temple was taken over by the St. Barsanuphia nunnery (Mordovia). Photos of the processions with a large flock, accompanied by priests and sisters of the monastery, indicate a respectful and Christian attitude to the iconic place. Religious procession takes place on the feast of the Pentecostal Retreat, anyone can take part.
In the warm season, prayers are held every Wednesday for the icon of the “Inexpressible Chalice”. A special holiday is the day of honoring the icon of the Don Mother of God (September 1). On this day, a solemn prayer service is served, thanksgiving words are given to the Queen of Heaven.
Worldly Concerns
The main concern of the monks is prayer, but in any monastery they devote much time to worldly affairs. The monastic life can be considered an attempt to create an ideal community, where mutual understanding, prayer, love for any neighbor and constant work for common welfare reign. The Holy Varsonofievsky convent for its short history demonstrates adherence to the fundamental principles of Orthodoxy, where the social sphere is as important as the rule of prayer.
The monastery has an orphanage for girls, for whom life at the monastery means normal socialization, education and, above all, love. Many of them have seen a lot of grief in their short lives, are traumatized by parental refusal, cruelty. There are several children with disabilities. Girls live at the monastery, receive full school education. To reveal their talents, sisters teach them all kinds of needlework, drawing, and singing. Pupils are full participants in the monastic life.
Due attention is also given to the elderly members of the community. An almshouse has been set up for them, where elderly nuns and pious lay women who have no relatives live. They receive medical care, care. For spiritual needs in the building there is a temple of Panteleimon the Healer, bedridden patients receive communion in their cells. The medical center at the monastery provides professional assistance not only to its natives, but also to local residents. Reception is conducted by sisters with a medical education.
Righteous works
The life of sisters is filled with labor and prayers to the brim. For their own support, monasteries have gardens, vegetable gardens, wheat, rye and other crops grown. The farmyard is filled with animals, there are cows, goats, sheep. The monastery bred chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese. In the ponds, the fish splashes.
The pharmacy garden of the monastery is one of the places where it is pleasant to visit and learn new things about the surrounding plants, to understand their medicinal properties. The traditions of traditional medicine are supported by the St. Barsanuphian Convent. Ointments made by sisters are very popular, they cure many diseases. The preparation is based on natural raw materials - beeswax, herbs and God's blessing.
In 2004, the monastery won the main prize of the thematic exhibition “Christmas Gift” for medicinal fees and a blend of herbs. Preparations, herbal and therapeutic teas can be purchased at exhibitions, directly at the monastery, or contact the monastery with any request in any convenient way.
The sisters have a lot of worries, and everything needs to be done. Here they take care of the sick, teach and care for children, sisters and themselves read a lot of spiritual literature, continue their own education. A lot of time is devoted to local history research. The abode of life with a firm hand is governed by Abbess Barsanuphius, her writings and prayers are flourishing at St. Barsanuphius Convent. Mother Jeremiah acts as an accountant of the monastery, she is energetic, full of strength and energy, ready to do more than is due according to her obligation.
Zealously, the natives observe the charter of the monastery, which requires humility, renunciation of one's own will and many prayers and services. Hassle about a diverse economy also lies on their shoulders. At the monastery there are workshops for sewing vestments for priests, an icon painting workshop, a book binding workshop, the art of embroidery is being improved, warm clothes are knitted.
Reviews
A large stream of pilgrims annually goes to the St. Barsanuphia Convent. Reviews about the monastery are the most flattering, filled with words of gratitude and some surprise. It often comes as a surprise to visitors that such a large monastery has a very short history. But, having become acquainted more closely with the sisters, their way of life and the general mood prevailing in the monastery, everyone will understand why in a short time he has flourished. Here, an atmosphere of goodwill, active active kindness, obedience, love for others and for any work reigns.
Many were surprised by the rule of placing pupils with sisters in the same cell, which pursues family education for children who early lost their parental love. This fact is not denial, but is an unusual form of guardianship. Looking at children, it becomes clear that such a tradition has many benefits, but there is no harm at all.
Pilgrims were pleased to see the well-groomed territory, large areas and participate in the prayer life of the monastery according to the local charter. Many people provide all possible assistance to sisters through deed, financial participation or just prayer.
The number of pilgrims is constantly growing, and in many respects this is the merit of Abbot Alexy (St. Barsanuphia Convent). Father Alexei, whose reviews are flattering, as one of the most respected clergy of the Saransk diocese, does everything possible for the monastery. It was through his tireless labors that the female abode in Pokrovsky Selischi arose and flourishes. His active position and unshakable faith not only support monastic life, but also changed the rural way of life, for which the locals are grateful to the abbot.
Helpful information
The address where the monastery is located: Zubovo-Polyansky district, the village of Pokrovsky Selishchi, St. Barsanofievsky Convent (Mordovia). Phone for information and communication: 8 (987) 683-03-94.
For those who wish, pilgrimage trips are constantly organized in a group, resettlement takes place in the hotel of the monastery. You can go on your own to the St. Barsanuphia Convent (Mordovia). How to get there: take the train to the Zubova Polyana station (Kazan direction), then transfer to the local bus, taking the flight to Spassk or the village of Pichlanda, get off at the Novye Vyselki stop and walk to the monastery (about 2 km). GPS Navigator Coordinates: N54 ° 0'12.72 "E43 ° 0'9.79".