The land of Siberia is rich in holy monasteries. From time immemorial, over the ancient taiga land and over its mighty rivers, the raspberry ringing of their bells floated. One of these monasteries was founded in 1689 on the high bank of the Angara River, near the Irkutsk prison under construction. His main church was consecrated in honor of the Sign of the Mother of God. Thus began the Znamensky Nunnery. Irkutsk gradually turned from a prison to a city. Grew and the monastery. In those years, it had special significance for the state - the Christianization of Siberia was ongoing.
Birth of the cloister
History has retained the name of the main organizer and leader of all works. This was a resident of Irkutsk, Vlas Sidorov. Sovereign Peter I himself, noting the importance of this construction, granted the monastery the Gospel. It is still stored in the monastery. But the wooden temples of the monastery deteriorated over the years, and now another generous donor, the merchant Bechevin, laid the stone cathedral at his own expense. Its construction lasted for many years. Repeatedly, various changes were made to the architecture of the cathedral, additional extensions were built and the decoration was changed.
But the flow of funds received from benefactors did not dry up. In 1886, the rich Irkutsk heiress A.N. Portnova allocated a huge amount for the construction of a two-story stone building, which housed the cells of nuns and novices, and by that time there were one hundred and twenty souls. So, with the donations of the inhabitants of the city, the Znamensky Monastery grew and developed. Irkutsk is the heart of Siberia, and Siberia has always been famous for its generosity.
Craft Development at the Monastery
It should be noted that the nuns of the monastery themselves did not sit idly by. Although their primary task remained prayer works and everything related to the spiritual side of life, nevertheless, by the end of the 19th century, they managed to create a large economic entity in the monastery. Sewing workshops were opened in which ceremonial and everyday priestly vestments were made. Various church utensils were also sewn - both for their own needs and for sale.
In addition, to replenish the budget, orders were made for sewing secular clothing to residents of Irkutsk. We even learned to make shoes. The craftsmanship of the inhabitants of the monastery was widely known. And this is no coincidence. The nuns were fluent in a wide variety of sewing techniques. Among them, the front, gold embroidery, embroidery with various types of surface, beads and even precious stones.
Epitimians of the monastery
But the main concern of the monastery was, of course, service to God. Life in it was built according to the charter of sociable Russian monasteries, the main task of which was to strengthen faith and monastic exploits. Above all, love for God and others was placed. And in this field the Znamensky Monastery became famous. Irkutsk has historically been the place where many lived, who had previously come into conflict with the law. These are both former criminals and political criminals. Among them were many women. The nuns of the monastery took care of their spiritual revival.
The monastery itself was a permanent place where the spiritual authorities sent the so-called epithymians, that is, women, for various reasons, exiled and excommunicated. They were kept at the monastery and were used in the most difficult and dirty work. Caring for these unfortunates made it possible to show true Christian love.
The “state criminals” were also held here. One of them was the daughter of Artemy Volynsky, executed under Anna Ivanovna, Anna.
The empress's death field in 1740, she gained freedom and left the Znamensky monastery. Irkutsk became the place from where Anna went on a long return trip. In gratitude to the sisters of the monastery for their love and heartfelt care, she sent them from St. Petersburg the altar gospel in a precious salary.
Opening of a hospital and a shelter for girls
In 1872, a hospital for monks was opened within the walls of the monastery. She was known throughout Siberia. Znamensky Monastery, Irkutsk - the address to which the suffering nuns and novices addressed. Here they were waiting for so rare in those years of medical care. In addition, the monastery opened a school at the Women's Theological School and a strange house. Subsequently, several more schools were opened for girls, in which they studied not only literacy, but also church singing. Also a great merit of the nuns was the founding of a shelter for girls. It is known that in 1912 it contained 44 people.
Monastery during the revolution
Events related to the revolution and the Civil War also affected the Znamensky Monastery. Irkutsk became one of the centers of the Socialist Revolutionary movement in Siberia. He organized an uprising against A. Kolchak, as a result of which in 1920 the Supreme ruler of Siberia was overthrown and shot at the walls of the monastery. With the transfer of power to the Bolsheviks, all church councils were dissolved, and house churches were closed. The temples were turned into defensive structures. But not only this trouble visited the Znamensky monastery. Irkutsk, whose photo of those years is presented in the article, has become the place of formation of the renovationist church. In 1923 many values were requisitioned in the monastery in favor of the noncanonical archbishop.
The period of Bolshevik rule was marked in Siberia by the closure of most churches and monasteries, as well as by total repressions against clergy and monks. In 1934, the Znamenskaya Church was also closed. Since that time, the once-prosperous Znamensky monastery came to complete desolation. And not only he, all over Russia, this terrible wave of the atheism took place, destroying the spiritual, historical and cultural monuments of our homeland.
The revival of the monastery
During the restructuring, the walls of the ancient monastery again revived spiritual life. Despite the fact that many of its buildings were completely destroyed, it was still possible to restore the church, the cells of the abbess, the fence and the Holy Gates. Again, as in previous years, the Znamensky Monastery (Irkutsk) appeared among the Russian holy cloisters. The schedule of services posted on the doors of the temple, as in the past, informs parishioners about services where they can offer their prayers to the Lord. Everything is gradually getting its way.
Spiritual feeding of youth
The monastery conducts extensive work on spiritual nourishment and religious enlightenment of a number of educational institutions of the city. Among them are a female Orthodox gymnasium, orphanages and boarding schools. This work is carried out both in the educational institutions themselves and in the church. Its interior decoration contributes to the formation of students' correct perception of Orthodox aesthetics. Through the efforts of the parishioners, during difficult years, many icons were preserved in ancient salaries, liturgical books (including the Gospel given by Peter I) and other church attributes of spiritual, historical and artistic value.
And another remarkable opportunity is provided by the Znamensky Monastery for young people: the schedule of services provides for certain days on which they can attend services. They are led by Metropolitan Vadim of Irkutsk and Angarsk, a wise shepherd and scholar-theologian. In a country that has survived decades of atheism, this work is very important, aimed at returning to our spiritual origins. All who wish to come and worship the shrines are waiting for the Znamensky Monastery (Irkutsk). Address: Angarskaya street, 14. Everyone who visited it leaves the most favorable reviews.