The exact date of the founding of the Holy Spirit Monastery (Borovichi) has been lost for centuries, we have heard of the monastery in various sources. The monastery is one of the oldest in Russia, where life was always in full swing. Today, monasticism is gradually reviving, the number of brethren and pilgrims arrives. Gradually, the look of the old churches, cells, buildings is updated, the ancient walls come to life again.
The base of the monastery
Historians suggest that the monastery was founded according to the ancient Russian tradition - a group of monks went on a journey to find a remote place in order to arrange their hostel, to spend time away from the world in prayers to save the soul. A suitable site was found - a small plain bordered by hills on three sides, and on the fourth side the river Msta carried a stream of water. The year of foundation was lost for a prosaic reason - the archives of the chronicles burned down in the fire of 1732.
It is believed that the Holy Spirit Monastery in Borovichi appeared at the beginning of the 14th century, as evidenced by the inscription on the cancer of St. James stored in the monastery, from which it follows that the monastery was founded in 1327. The construction of the main cathedral church dates back to 1345. The fame came to the monastery in the 15th century, when the relics of St. James were first acquired imperishable, and then transferred to the monastery.
Development
The heyday of the monastery was promoted by Tsar Ivan the Terrible. He gave the brotherhood vast lands and fat lands for cultivation. The proceeds went to the construction of a wooden church, consecrated in honor of the Holy Spirit. A four-tier iconostasis was installed in the church, which housed 19 icons and one large icon with the image of the Savior. The first row was occupied by rare painted icons - all the images were painted in gold. The ancient icons kept in special esteem - St. Paraskeva, St. Nicholas and others, of which there is no written evidence.
The Holy Spirit Monastery (Borovichi) was constantly rebuilt and grew by churches - a small, warm church was erected near the cathedral, where the established icons of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, St. John the Baptist, St. Nicholas were venerated. To honor the transferred relics of St. James, a gate temple was built and consecrated in his honor. Funds for the church were collected by the whole world, the local nobility and merchants actively helped. A high belfry was erected in the monastery, the voice of which was 4 bells. For a small fraternity, a wooden house with cells, a refectory and a kitchen was intended.
During the reform period
The Time of Troubles caused damage to the monastery - in 1613 it was ruined at the hands of a gang of robbers, which included Poles, Russians, and Swedish tramps. With the beginning of the reforms, Patriarch Nikon wished to build a new Holy Spirit Monastery on the banks of the Msta River opposite the existing monastery. The stone temple was laid in 1664, building materials were mined on the monastery territory.
Soon Nikon fell out of favor, and the unfinished church was dismantled, the existing wooden buildings found a place in the Holy Spirit Monastery (Borovichi). From the building materials of the dismantled stone church, a cathedral church was erected, it happened in 1676, it has survived to the present day.
Historical ensemble
On the territory of the Holy Spirit Monastery (Borovichi) there were five temples:
- Holy Spirit Cathedral.
- Church of the Icon of the Iveron Mother of God.
- Church of St. James.
- Church of the Icon of the Virgin "Tenderness."
- Temple of St. Paraskeva.
The main temple of the monastery, the Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, was built in 1676, replacing two wooden churches. It has two thrones, the north - in honor of the Protection of the Virgin, the south - in honor of the prophet Elijah. The southern limit was a tribute to the ascetics who founded the monastery, sincerely venerating the prophet Elijah. In Borovichi, the temple became the first stone building and has survived to the present.
The church is not preserved in its original form. In the 17th century, the temple suffered significant fire damage, and later restoration work completed the architectural changes. Also in the fire, the central gate and the temple of St. James were killed. In 1792, the holy gates and a brick gate church were erected, it was consecrated again in honor of St. Jacob.
According to some reports, the temple was surprisingly beautiful - its walls inside and outside were covered with murals and murals. A single-tier bell tower towered over it. At the beginning of the 20th century, she convened parishioners by ringing 10 bells, some of them were cast in antiquity.
In the 19th century
The first half of the 19th century in the Borovichi Spiritual Monastery was marked by rapid construction. A large abbot building was erected in two floors, in the 20s they built buildings for the fraternity, they joined the gate church. In the 40s, the monastery was surrounded by a stone fence with corner towers, crowned with a drum with a spire; several more cell buildings and outbuildings were also laid.
In 1872, a majestic temple was built in the northeastern part of the monastery’s territory and consecrated in honor of St. James, and the gate church was dedicated to the icon of Our Lady of Iver. At the end of the 19th century, to the south-east of the monastery, the wooden chapel erected at the place where the relics of St. Jacob was acquired was replaced with the stone church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, it carefully kept the icon of St. James revered by the brethren and parishioners.
Lists were written from the image and dispersed in the parishes and in the houses of believers. Also in the temple was preserved a fragment of a wooden deck, on which the righteous Jacob sailed. Now the icon is in the museum-reserve of Novgorod. By the beginning of the 1917 revolution, 16 monks lived in the monastery, including the abbot and 10 novices.
After the revolution
In January 1918, an inventory of property took place in the monastery , parishioners and monks resisted. In February, a verdict was issued on the cessation of the activities of the Holy Spirit Monastery Borovichi. The seizure of property was carried out in the spring, they took all grocery supplies, stole cattle. Young monks were invited to leave the walls of the monastery, and the elderly to remain in an almshouse organized at the monastery.
Of the whole brotherhood in May 1918, only the abbot Vladimir, the hierodeacon and two monks remained at the Borovichi Monastery. In 1920, several kilograms of silver utensils were confiscated; church services continued to rule in the cathedral. In the 30s, all services were already banned, and churches were closed. A tougher fight against faith began - the heads of all the temples were dismantled.
The Church of the Icon of the Mother of God was used as a shoe workshop. During the war, the territory of the former Holy Spirit Monastery of Borovichi established the production of incendiary mixture. Later, a kerosene shop, a warehouse of the Mstator plant were located. Also, throughout the war, part of the monastery buildings were given over to a prisoner of war hospital. Later, the former monastery was placed at the disposal of a military unit, which was stationed here until 2001.
Restoration of status
The first restoration work in the Holy Spirit Monastery of Borovichi began in the 80s of the last century. The office buildings and the northwest corner tower were partially restored and restored. In 1995, divine service was partially restored.
In the autumn of 2000, the Holy Spirit Church (Borovichi) and the entire monastery complex were returned to the bosom of the Orthodox Church. By 2002, golden domes and a cross shone again at the main cathedral. Currently, the monastery is a bishop’s compound. Restoration and construction work is constantly being carried out - the bell tower is being erected on the gate church, and the church itself above the holy gate is waiting for its restoration.
Since 2012, residents have been living in the monastery, and monastic life has been restored. Life is gradually getting better, historical buildings are being repaired, heating, water supply have been carried out. There is a kitchen and a refectory.
On the territory of the monastery the holy well of Taisiya Solopova was restored. She became famous in 1861, receiving a blessing for monasticism, and chose her own path of service. In her honor, the Taisin Readings are held annually in the monastery.
Monastery Shrines
Currently, the monastery has temples:
- Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
- Temple of the Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "Iverskaya".
- Temple of Jacob Borovichi.
- Chapel of Tisia.
- Chapel.
Within the walls of the Holy Spirit Monastery, the following shrines are open to pilgrims and parishioners:
- The relics of the righteous John of Borovichi (in the main cathedral).
- Particles of the relics of the saints of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and other saints who shone in the Orthodox faith.
Pilgrim's rules of conduct
Monastic rules are more stringent than those that are mandatory in city and village parish churches. Going on a pilgrimage, it is necessary to remember the general provisions that women can stay in the monastery in long skirts. The top of the dress or blouse should not be open, ideally only part of the neck should remain open. The head is covered with a scarf. Lack of makeup or minimal makeup is appreciated. For men - classic trousers, a shirt with a buttoned collar and a long sleeve.
On the territory of the monastery, in monastery churches, the visitor should not distract the monks and novices with idle talk. The fraternity is always busy with business and prayer. No one will refuse to answer questions, but nevertheless, the place is intended for prayer, and every visitor should be aimed at this spiritual action. More information about the rules of the monastery can be found directly on the spot.
Address of the Borovichi Monastery
Holy Spirit Monastery is located in the city of Borovichi, Novgorod Region. The building complex is located on Alexander Nevsky Street at number 6.
The Holy Spirit Monastery (Borovichi) operates around the clock. The schedule of services in the public domain is only indicative - at 7:30 the morning liturgy begins, and the evening service begins at 18:00.