Many Christian relics have amazing miraculous powers. The grace of God overshadows them. Icons, relics of saints, rags from their clothes, religious objects more than once returned lost health, peace of mind, helped to overcome difficult periods in life, to find those who came to church, monasteries for moral support, in search of a way out of deadlocks and many other cases.
Great shrine
In the very center of Russia, in the Yaroslavl region, near Pereslavl-Zalessky, there is one of such relics - the Life-Giving Cross. Godenovo is a small village in which the female St. Nicholas Monastery has long existed. On his courtyard there is a temple built in honor of John Chrysostom. It was this church that became the place where in the 30s of the last century the great Life-giving Cross found its refuge. Godenovo saw a lot in his lifetime. Domes of his five-domed church have been sparkling in the sky since 1794, and sonorous bells are filled with raspberry evangelism throughout the district. Since the opening day, the church has not been closed, as if invisible forces had kept it in the era of godlessness and hard days of the revolution, wars, repression, hunger, persecution for faith and belief. Signs of antiquity are visible in the temple everywhere. Its walls were painted at the beginning of the 19th century. A masterfully crafted iconostasis dates from the same time. The left side of the church is consecrated by the Bogolyubsky icon of the Mother of God. To the right of the wall, in a special case, fireproof, and placed the Life-giving Cross. Godenovo has always been very popular among pilgrims. Thanks to the relics stored here, the village is visited annually by thousands of believers and the afflicted.
Mysterious phenomenon
The history of finding a shrine by people is mysterious and wonderful, like everything that the hand of God touches. The inhabitants of the monastery keep a detailed chronicle of all the events in which the Life-Giving Cross appears. Godenovo is the second homeland of this great creed. And it all began in the distant 15th century, in 1423. From ancient times these places were marshy. The largest swamp was called Sakhotsky. Both people and animals tried to avoid him. However, at the end of May 23, it was here that the shepherds had a wonderful vision. In the air from a pillar of light a cross arose with the Savior crucified on it. And next to it is Nikolai the Pleasant with the Gospel. And a voice from heaven ordered us to immediately build the House of God here, in which the Life-giving Cross would be placed (in Godenovo, we repeat, he came later).
Nikolaev Pogost
Residents of the area, fearing to disobey, immediately set to work. Moreover, during the night there was no trace of the swamp, the land turned out to be dry and suitable for construction. The wooden church was erected quite quickly and was named Nikolskaya - in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The area around began to settle in - near the church appeared the village of Nikolsky Pogost. Later it was renamed Antushkovo. And in the temple the Life-Creating Cross was exhibited - in Godenovo it was moved already in the 20th century. St. Nicholas Church survived several fires, until in 1776 a large stone church was built in its place on 3 thrones - the main one in honor of the Cross, as well as two in honor of St. Nicholas and the Protection of the Mother of God. And already in the first quarter of the 19th century they decided to build a monastery around the church in Nikolsky Pogost. By that time there were more than one and a half thousand people.
Tales of the Cross
In 1933 he was transferred to the Godenovo Life-giving Cross. When the Zlatoust temple was opened, we already wrote. Now the narrative is about moving the relic. That this Cross is not easy, people could be convinced more than once. When the St. Nicholas Church was burning, he was found in the ashes completely untouched by the flames. As if the Lord guarded His Token, protected it for all those in need. The very story of miracles begins not only with the appearance of the Cross, but also with the voice of the Almighty, who warned: “Whoever comes to crucifixion with faith and prayer will receive healing and will witness many glorious and unusual deeds, done in My name and for the sake of St. Nicholas the Creator ".
After this, a whole series of signs really happened - from a dried swamp and the formation of a convenient river, on the banks of which the first St. Nicholas Church was built, to the miraculous salvation of the crucifix on a fire. All these events were recorded by monks in a special book. Alas, it burned down, but many other records, old scrolls - evidence of the past were preserved. In particular, when a thanksgiving prayer was held in honor of the surviving cross, “the blind were seeing, the lame began to walk straight, the sick were healed.” A similar thing happened in Godenovo. The Life-giving Cross, when it was open for worship, showed everyone its miraculous power.
Worship of the people
On June 11, the Shrine Worship Day is celebrated every year. People come from all over Mother Russia, from Ukraine and Belarus, and even from far abroad.
Pilgrims go to the monastery in advance to see the Godenovo Holy Cross. How to get to your destination faster - depends on the route and mode of transport. If you are leaving from Moscow, there will be about 200 km to Godenova. First you should arrive in the town of Petrovsk (this is 180 km from the capital), and then to the temple itself - another 15 km. By public transport - railway, buses - choose this route: Moscow-Petrovsk. There you need to transfer to a local bus / minibus and go towards the village of Priozerny to Godenov itself. Getting by personal transport - follow the signs. In Petrovsk, focus on the direction to the Zlatoust church and then follow the signs to Godenovo. Getting lost here is simply impossible. And any local will gladly show you the way, because this is for the glory of the Lord!
Years of Soviet Power
But back to the story of how the relic was transferred to the village of Godenovo. The Bolsheviks who came to power wanted to take out the life-giving Cross from St. Nicholas Church in order to destroy the "nursery of obscurantism and religious dope". However, the crucifix suddenly became literally unbearable, although earlier it had been carried out more than once outside the church. Then, not understanding God's providence, the Bolsheviks decided to cut it in the room, despite the fact that they desecrated the sacred place with their actions. But as before the tree was not taken by fire, now axes and saws are powerless against it. It seemed that the cross was made of the most durable stone. Then the church was simply locked up, leaving a relic in custody of several soldiers. But the parishioners of the temple, worrying about the shrine, managed to bribe them. Then the Life-giving Cross was sent to Godenovo. The miracles of the will of the Lord also manifested themselves in the fact that only a few believers could take it out - under cover of night, secretly, and hid it in the church of John Chrysostom.
Second phenomenon
It was a long time before the God-giving Life-Giving Cross of the Lord was again opened for worship. The sisters from the Nikolsky monastery near Pereslavl took care of the dilapidated church and shrine. It is deeply symbolic that in the walls of the church in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker in the 15th century, crucifixion became a symbol of faith, and at the end of the 20th it returned to people in the monastery of Nikolai Ugodnik.
Since 1997, when the church of John Chrysostom in Godenovo was restored and restored, the Life-giving Cross of the Lord took its place of honor in it. But even then it was difficult to imagine that the shrine, located in a remote provincial outback, would gain such loud fame in modern times and would receive the status of an all-Russian one. And the arriving pilgrims with tears of gratitude and trembling of peace tell of the visible miracles that happened to them, or those whom they became eyewitnesses.
First-hand stories
It is very interesting and instructive to listen to those who saw the Godenovo Holy Cross. The reviews of those who pray before him are filled with sincere trepidation and delight. So, from year to year a gray-haired man comes to worship. He moves with a slight limp. It turns out that he once served in Afghanistan, was seriously wounded. Doctors saved his life, but they could not return the movement. Wheelchair, helplessness and complete dependence on others - such was the sentence. Through despair, thoughts of suicide, alcohol then went through this still young guy before turning his thoughts to God.
One day he dreamed of St. Nicholas, who pointed the way and said that his salvation was Goden's Cross of the Lord. The unfortunate disabled person turned to his relatives, with difficulty persuaded them to take him to the shrine. And a miracle really happened. The guy served the service in a stroller. And after the prayer, with the help of relatives, I got to my feet. And he began to slowly return to duty. Now every year he comes to places where he has gained faith in the Lord, health and himself.
Mother and children
Another touching story that has occurred in our days. It clearly shows what the Life-Creating Cross does in Godenovo’s miracles. Unfortunately, female alcoholism is a dangerous phenomenon and, alas, widespread, it is very difficult to cure. And not only the victims of the phenomenon themselves suffer, but also those around them. The mother of 4 children, descended to the point that she sent the youngest to beg for street service, was deprived of parental rights. Children were resettled in shelters, and the woman was sent to the social and medical services for compulsory treatment. She was very lucky that among the attending staff was a pilgrim in Godenovo. Tales of the miracles of the Lord inspired the unfortunate patient. Having made every effort, praying to God, she was able to overcome the addiction. And at the first opportunity, she went on a pilgrimage. After all, the woman really wanted to return the children, and only a miracle could help her. During prayers, the Wonderworker also appeared to her, who explained what to do in order for the family to reunite. Soon after the pilgrimage, thanks to the help of God - and only to her! - mother and children found each other.
Holidays of the Cross of the Life-Giving
During the year, events are marked several times in which an Orthodox shrine participates. First, solemn services are held at Holy Cross week, the third during Lent. Secondly, on the Day of the Crucifixion itself - June 11, as well as August 14 and September 27.
Temple work schedule
- For its pilgrims, the temple is open daily from 8:00 to 20:00.
- The open feet of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord can be touched on days such as Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- On Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m., a liturgy is performed here, and evening service begins at 17:00.
- At 8 a.m. during Lent, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is celebrated on Wednesdays and Fridays.