With the revival of Christianity in Russia, more and more people are eager to learn the history of the emergence, formation of the native Orthodox faith, as well as to see and feel the beauty and strength of our spiritual culture with our own eyes. The Lipetsk region is an excellent example of the development of Orthodoxy in Russia, where, after a long spiritual devastation, the ancient traditions of this religion were successfully revived.
The history of Orthodoxy in the Lipetsk region
Orthodoxy came to the land of Lipetsk in the days of Kievan Rus. At the turn of the XIV-XV centuries, the entire Upper Don region, as a result of constant Mongol-Tatar raids, turned into wasteland. Only in the middle of the XVI century the Orthodox population returned here, and with the advent of the clergy and the construction of the first temples, faith began to revive. At this time, Zadonsky Bogoroditsky, Donkovsky Pokrovsky, Yelensky Trinity Orthodox monasteries of Russia appeared. In the XVII-XVIII centuries, the Lipetsk region belonged to the Voronezh and Ryazan dioceses, and after, up to the events of 1917, its Orthodox history was connected with the Oryol, Tambov, Tula, Ryazan church districts. At the beginning of the twentieth century, about ten monasteries and five hundred temples operated in the modern borders of the region.
After the revolution, during the time of the Bolshevik persecution, most of the churches were destroyed, and the shrines acquired over the centuries were plundered or destroyed. Since then, Orthodoxy on the Lipetsk land has been revived several times with the creation of the Lipetsk diocese in 1926, but the constant repression and persecution of the clergy led the church into utter decline. Only in the 1980s, when the state’s attitude towards faith changed, did a new stage in the development of Christianity begin. Temples and monasteries are being restored in the vicinity of Lipetsk, and new ones are being actively built. At that time, the real pearl of Orthodoxy in the Lipetsk Territory, the Zadonsky Monastery, was restored.
Lipetsk monasteries
The Lipetsk region is rich in historical religious buildings related to Orthodoxy. On the territory of the Lipetsk region, there are 9 operating monasteries, 281 parishes, 316 churches, 34 chapels, and the number of clergymen is 365 people. Such spiritual wealth, of course, cannot fail to attract pilgrims and tourists. Some come here, hoping for miraculous healing, others - for advice or blessing, others just admire the monasteries of the Lipetsk region. The following monastic monasteries located in this region can satisfy the spiritual needs of the afflicted today:
- Zadonsky Nativity-Theotokos Monastery;
- Zadonsky Holy Trinity Tikhonov Monastery;
- Zadonsky Mother of God-Tikhonovsky Tyuninsky monastery;
- Zadonsky Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery;
- Trinity Yelets Monastery;
- Znamensky Yelets Monastery;
- Troekurov Dmitrievsky Illarionov Monastery;
- Trinity Lebedyansky Monastery;
- Assumption Lipetsk monastery.
The most popular among pilgrims and tourists deservedly enjoy precisely Zadonsky monasteries. Photos of these works of architecture can be seen in this article, the schedule of services and news of the spiritual world can be found on the website of the Lipetsk diocese.
Russian Jerusalem
The small town of Zadonsk is located in a picturesque area 60 kilometers from Lipetsk, on the left bank of the Don, near the federal highway "Rostov-on-Don-Moscow". This settlement arose at Teshevsky (from the name of the Teshevka river) monastery in 1620. Later, in 1779, the settlement became known as Zadonsk, and the local monastery acquired the name Zadonsky Monastery. The glory of “Russian Jerusalem”, as Zadonsk is also called, is associated with St. Tikhon Zadonsky, who appeared here in 1769 and dedicated his life to the revival and establishment of Orthodoxy in these parts. In 1861, Tikhon, who gave a spiritual beginning to Zadonsky monasteries, was canonized. The main attractions of the Zadonsky district and the city itself, which has become the largest center of the Orthodox faith and spiritual Christian culture, are three operating and one preserved monastery.
Saint Tikhon
The future saint and bishop was born in 1724 in the Novgorod village of Korotsko into a family of a clerk. In the world, Tikhon Zadonsky had the name Timothy Sokolov. His father Savely died early, and given that the family lived very poorly, according to his son's 14 years old, his mother sent him to Novgorod, where Timothy was admitted to the Theological Seminary. Having shown good knowledge, he was transferred to state support, and in 1754, after finishing the training course, he remained to serve as a teacher of rhetoric at the seminary, but more and more he was visited by thoughts about monasticism. After one mysterious incident, when Timothy miraculously escaped falling from a ladder, he finally makes a decision to serve God, and in 1758 he became a monk with the name of Tikhon. In the same year he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and appointed rector in the Tver Seminary.
Three years later, by the decision of the Holy Synod, Tikhon became bishop of Novgorod, and in 1763 he was sent to Voronezh. At that time, the Voronezh diocese was not going through the best of times: the Don steppes were inhabited by various sectarians and Old Believers, and among the educated people, most worshiped pagan gods. There is a known case when the bishop found out about the celebrations in honor of the god Yarila in the very center of Voronezh. He personally arrived at the square and made a speech, from which part of the crowd scattered, and the other part knelt with a petition for clemency. After this event, all pagan celebrations ceased. Caring about attracting the population of the Voronezh lands to the Orthodox faith, Tikhon opened new schools, read sermons, and taught the flock to honor the Church and clergy. At night, he wrote his works on the Orthodox faith.
Over time, Tikhon's health began to deteriorate, and he was forced to retire, retiring to the Zadonsky monastery and distributing all his property. But here the saint continued to work. He wrote the books “Spiritual Treasure Collected from the World”, “True Christianity”, “Cell Letters”, which in the future will play a crucial role in the development of Orthodoxy. Tikhon possessed a unique insight that allowed him to predict a war with France, a fire in St. Petersburg and the end of Napoleon. After 15 years lived in the monastery, the saint, broken by paralysis, fell ill, but continued to pray until his last day.
In 1783, Tikhon Zadonsky died. He was buried in a special crypt under the altar in the Cathedral Church of the Zadonsky Monastery. In 1846, during construction work on the restoration of the temple, a stone altar was demolished, under which Tikhon rested. Despite the ruined crypt and the time elapsed since the bishop’s burial, his body remained incorrupt, as well as the vestments. The Archbishop of Voronezh Anthony reported this amazing fact to the Holy Synod and Emperor Nicholas I with the aim of discovering the relics of the hierarch. In 1861, the discovery of the holy relics of the bishop took place, which attracted more than 300 thousand pilgrims. In the same year, Tikhon Zadonsky was glorified in the face of saints.
Zadonsky male Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery
Historical sources indicate that in 1620 two monks - Gerasim and Cyril from the Moscow Sretensky Monastery, wishing for solitude, crossed the Don and settled in a deserted deserted desert, the inhabitants of which were only wild animals. The elders had only a copy of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God with them. It was these God's people who laid the first Zadonsky Monastery. The wooden buildings of the monastery burned to the ground during a fire in 1692, but the icon brought by the elders miraculously survived.
In 1798, the monastery began to rebuild, the first stone buildings appeared, such as the Vladimir Church, and in 1824, the buildings were laid according to the plans of Voronezh architects. The best times of the monastery fall on the years of the reign of Tikhon Zadonsky, when the monastery gained unprecedented popularity among pilgrims from all over Russia. Continuing to recover, by the beginning of the twentieth century, it was a whole complex consisting of 6 temples, a strange house, a bell tower, a pharmacy, a hospital, a brick and a candle factory.
In the post-revolutionary time, the monastery was completely looted and partially destroyed. On its territory various city services and offices were located. The desolation of the monastery continued until 1990, when its territory was transferred to the disposal of the Orthodox Church. With the restoration of the main temple of the monastery - Vladimir Cathedral - a new era began in the history of the Zadonsky monastery. Today restoration work is nearing completion, and new buildings are being actively built. Part of the money for reconstruction is allocated by special federal and local programs, but most of them are own funds and donations.
Zadonsky Monastery has at its disposal 500 hectares of land, which allows you to grow a good crop. Cattle breeding is also practiced here, and there is its own apiary. 500 residents are managing this farm, who also carry out construction work. In addition, about 50 people come by bus from Lipetsk every day, mostly women who donate to farming, canning, and harvesting mushrooms and berries. Zadonsky Monastery fully provides for itself, and in addition, arranges free meals for pilgrims. There are no centers for help to drug addicts and alcoholics, but such people are accepted for obedience.
Holy Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery
The monastery is located 7 kilometers north of Zadonsk, on the ruins of a former monastery. In 1865, with the receipt by Archimandrite Dmitry of permission to build a monastery, monks began to live here. He loved to visit the monastery and lived for some time Tikhon Zadonsky. It was here that he wrote his main book, “The Spiritual Treasure Collected from the World,” and also dug a well on his own on the banks of the Prokhodnya River, where today a healing spring is located. Before the revolution of 1917, about 100 novices lived in the monastery, but after the October events, the monastery befell the fate of most religious buildings - it was first closed, and later plundered and destroyed. Only in 1991, the territory was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Now here is the Holy Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery, or as it is also called Zadonsky Nunnery.
The main temple of the monastery is Trinity, next to it are the bell tower and the Transfiguration Church. In memory of the stay of Tikhon Zadonsky in one of the towers, a separate cell was equipped with the icon of the saint, streamed in 1998. A particle of his relics is also in eternal storage in the monastery. In 2000, on the Day of All Russian Saints, during the prayer in front of the pilgrims in the Trinity Church, the Crucifixion was bleeding. Particles of blood oozing from the Savior’s crown have been preserved in the temple to this day. Currently, 82 nuns living in subsistence farming, sewing and icon painting live in the monastery. Zadonsky Nunnery, as well as the nunnery, provides free shelter and food for pilgrims. About 80-90 people eat here daily in the summer, and up to 1000 in the winter.
Zadonsky Mother of God-Tikhonov Monastery
Another monastery is located in the village of Tyunino in the vicinity of Zadonsk. It was founded at the time when Tikhon Zadonsky ceased to head the Voronezh diocese and retired. Here, in the Tyuninka settlement, at the source, the saint liked to retire for prayer. At the beginning of the 19th century, the local landowner A.F. Vikulin, inspired by the thoughts of Vladyka Anthony visiting these places, laid and built the temple of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life-giving Spring", and in 1814, 30 nuns began their hermitage in the buildings attached to the temple. In the 1820s, A.F. Vikulin began to build another church - in honor of Alexander Nevsky. After the patron’s death, his son Vladimir began to oppress the monastery, and soon closed the main temple of the monastery, and turned the Nevsky temple into an almshouse. In 1860, the monastery acquired the status of a monastic monastery, and with it the abbess. She became a nun of the Intercession Monastery of Polixenia, which from the first days began active improvement of the monastery, and in 1889, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord was founded by her efforts.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the monastery consisted of 86 novices and 45 nuns. With the advent of the Bolsheviks, at first nothing changed in the life of the monastery, but already in 1919, after the death of the abbess, all lands and property were confiscated. Melitina became the abbess of the deserted monastic shelter, thanks to which the community was able to exist for more than 10 years. In 1930, local authorities decided to transfer the sacred territory for the benefit of advice and the eviction of nuns. In response to this, the novices resisted, for which they were convicted and sent into exile, and Melitina was shot in prison in the city of Yelets. The revival of the monastic monastery, initiated by the inhabitants of the neighboring Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery, began only in 1994.
At the moment, restoration work is being completed. The cathedral temple of the monastery is Ascension. Next to it is the sister building with the refectory and adjoining church of Alexander Nevsky. In 2005, landscaping of the holy spring of Tikhon Zadonsky was completed, pilgrims and tourists seek to swim in the healing waters of it. Now the monastic way has strengthened here. The community is led by the abbot Arsenia. As befits in monasteries, novices are busy with the housework, and also constantly pray to God, the Virgin and St. Tikhon. Five times a week, the Divine Liturgy is held here, prayers are held daily.
Zadonsky Holy Trinity Tikhonov Monastery
Holy Trinity Nunnery, formerly called Sorrow Church, is located 90 km from Zadonsk, in the town of Lebedyan - the district center of the Lipetsk region. The monastery arose at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries from a monastic community founded by Matrona Popova, who, having just begun a charitable work, died. The embodiment of Matron’s dream was continued by her clerk, Archpriest Peter, who built the church of the Icon of the Mother of God at the expense of the nun’s funds. In 1860, the church was consecrated by Bishop Joseph of Voronezh, and the community of sisters of mercy named after Tikhon Zadonsky began to exist under it.
In the 1870s, a stone fence was built around the community buildings, as well as a bell tower. In 1889, by the decision of the Holy Synod, the community was elevated to the Zadonsky Holy Trinity Tikhonov Monastery, which, developing successfully, lasted until 1917. After the revolution, the cloister buildings were gradually taken away, and in 1929 the community ceased to exist. Today, the office premises of Zadonskgaz and a bakery are located on the territory of the monastery. Of the entire complex, only Holy Trinity Cathedral was placed at the disposal of the Church.
Pilgrimage to Zadonsk
Every year, thousands of pilgrims flock to Zadonsk. Most visitors come here during the celebration of major Orthodox holidays: Easter, Christmas, Intercession. Most often, the pilgrimage motive is the desire to confess, pray, touch the incorrupt relics or the miraculous icon, receive grace, receive blessings, bathe in a sacred spring, and also make donations or even take a vow. Many Orthodox come here to order trebes at the Zadonsky Monastery.
It is believed that such sacraments performed here have enormous power. Going on such a trip on your own, it should be borne in mind that it is practically impossible to settle in Zadonsk during the holidays, the city is full of visitors, therefore they agree on the settlement in advance by booking accommodation by phone or via the Internet. There are practically no problems with visiting monasteries. The Zadonsky Monastery is a place where they will not refuse anyone, or maybe feed them. Here you can buy goods and environmentally friendly products made by community members, from kvass and milk to dishes and wood products, not counting souvenirs and objects of worship.
How to get to the monasteries
Getting to Zadonsk is a simple matter, because it is located near the Rostov highway M-4. Right in the center of the city is the Nativity of the Theotokos Zadonsky Monastery. How to get there or to get off the Rostov highway, any person will tell, including not a local one. From Zadonsk to Tyunino, where the Virgin Tikhonovsky Monastery is located, can be reached by bus, minibus or, like a true Orthodox, on foot. The distance between the villages is just over 2 km. A little further, about 7 km from Zadonsk, is located the Tikhonovsky Monastery, which can be reached by public transport or taxi. It is more difficult to get to Lebedyan. There is the Holy Trinity Monastery of Zadonsk. A road map or car navigation will help. The most convenient and closest way to get from Lipetsk. Given this location, one day to visit all Zadonsky monasteries is quite problematic.