In 1914, a special census was held. Its purpose is the existing monasteries of Russia, their number, as well as the number of people living in them. At that time, counted 1025 operating cloisters. There were 16 of them under the Soviet regime. According to 2013 data, about 700 monasteries operate on the territory of Russia, but this figure is changing, as new monasteries are constantly opening.
Monasteries of Moscow: history
The appearance of the Russian capital is very characteristic of the magnificent buildings of cathedrals, temples, monasteries. The oldest of them - Epiphany and Danilov, were founded in the second half of the XIII century. Large-scale monastic construction began at the end of the 14th century. At this time, Miracles, Andronnikov, Simonov, Sretensky, Christmas monasteries appeared on the territory of the city. Most Moscow churches appeared in the XVI-XVII centuries. It should be noted that at this time the cloisters not only appeared, but also closed. For example, in 1626 the Ilyinsky Monastery ceased to exist. Several monasteries were closed during the reign of Peter I.
The first geodetic plan of the city, published in 1739, showed all the monasteries of Moscow (operating). At that time there were 28 of them. Four of them were closed in the same century.
Lost cloisters
After the revolution (1917), all the monasteries of Moscow were abolished. Some of them were completely destroyed; new buildings were being built in their place. So the Ascension and Miracle monasteries disappeared , as well as the Zlatoust, Passion and Nikitsky. Some (a very small part) have become museums. This is the Don, Novodevichy Convents. Only in the late 90s did the position of church monasteries begin to improve. Most of the surviving monastery buildings were returned to the church. In many monasteries, restoration work is still underway. Today in Moscow there are 22 operating monasteries. We will introduce you to some of them today.
Existing male monasteries in Moscow
First of all, I would like to talk about St. Danilov, or Danilov Monastery, as it is often called, a man’s monastery. This is the residence of the Holy Patriarch. This is the oldest Moscow monastery, founded in 1282 by the son of Alexander Nevsky, Daniel. After death, he was buried in this territory. Almost four centuries later, his remains were moved to another place, and in the 80s returned to Danilov Monastery.
In 1812 the monastery was devastated by the French, then rebuilt. During the years of power of the Bolsheviks it was closed, the churchyard was demolished. The burials of famous people of Russia - Nikolai Gogol, Nikolai Rubinstein, Nikolai Yazykov were transferred to the Novodevichy Convent. From 1931 to 1983, a colony for juvenile offenders was located on this territory.
In 1983, the holy monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church and completely restored.
It is located at Danilovsky Val, 22 (Tulskaya metro station).
Male Don Monastery
It was founded in 1593 by the son of Ivan the Terrible, Fedor Ioannovich. Before, in its place, during the battle with the Crimean Khan Girey, there was a camp church. According to the existing legend, the icon of the Don Mother of God helped to win the Russian army . Now she is in the Tretyakov Gallery.
The Donskoy Monastery was looted and destroyed - in the early 1600s and with the withdrawal of the French troops in 1812.
In 1917, it was closed, and the Museum of Architecture was founded on its territory.
In 1991, the Don Monastery, unfortunately, was transferred to the Moscow Patriarchate with great delay. This date can be considered the day of his second birth. Since then, the monastery has been functioning again.
The cloister is located at Donskaya Square, 1 (Shabolovskaya metro station).
Novospassky Monastery
He is also called Tsarskoye, because from time immemorial, royal people and representatives of great princely families were buried on its territory. It was founded in the 13th century by Prince Daniel. He was transferred several times. The current monastery, the photo of which you see in our article, was rebuilt in 1645.
After the revolution, the monastery, like many others, was closed. On its territory they arranged a prison of the NKVD. The graveyard with the graves of the Zakharyins, Romanovs and other princely families was barbarously destroyed. After the Second World War, a sobering station was located here. Since 1968, the restoration museum was located in the monastery. Since that time, restoration work has begun in preserved buildings.
In 1990, he was returned to Orthodox believers and again began to exist as a functioning monastery.
Its address is Krestyanskaya Square, 10 (Proletarskaya, Krestyanskaya metro stations).
Moscow Monasteries (active) for women
Pre-revolutionary Moscow was rightly proud of its church buildings. Temples and cathedrals delighted overseas guests. Below you will find the convents of the capital.
Alekseevsky monastery
The oldest women's monastery, founded in 1360 by Metropolitan Alexy in Chertol, on a hill above the Moska River, was called by his name in those days. The stone cathedral church was built by decree of Father Ivan the Terrible, praying for the birth of an heir, in 1514. The monastery burned several times, but it was restored. In 1547, it burned to the ground. In 1584, Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of the Alekseevsky monastery in a new place where the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is now located. Some novices did not want to leave the ashes of the burnt monastery, and in this place the temple was restored and called Zachatievsky. Thousands of believers are still praying earnestly for the long-awaited conception.
In Soviet times, many of the premises of the monastery were blown up, some were destroyed. On the territory there was a children's colony and prison.
In the 90s, the monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church. By 2010, it was completely restored and regained its status - a functioning monastery. You can see the photo in our article, and its address is 2nd Zachatievsky Lane, 2 (Park Kultury metro station, Kropotkinskaya metro station).
Novodevichy Convent
It was built by Prince Vasily III on the occasion of the return of the ancient city of Smolensk to the Principality of Moscow in 1524.
In the old days, it was the country's most privileged and very wealthy monastery. Women of noble families came to him and before shearing they sacrificed their jewels, gold, pearls, and silver.
By the beginning of the XVII century, a magnificent ensemble was created, created in the style of Moscow Baroque. Openwork crowns decorated the towers, the second tallest bell tower in Moscow was built, as well as the Assumption Church and the refectory.
The history of the Novodevichy Convent keeps secrets of novices who fell into it not of their own free will. Here the first wife of Peter I, Evdokia Lopukhin, the noblewoman Morozova, Tsarevna Sofya languished in captivity.
By a happy coincidence, the monastery survived in 1812. However, after 1917, he did not escape the fate that awaited all the monasteries of Moscow. The new authorities operating in those days closed it in 1922. Here began the work of the Liberation of the Woman Museum, which was later transformed into an art museum. You can find it at the address - Novodevichy proezd, house 1 (Sportivnaya metro station).
Theotokos-Christmas cloister
All the monasteries of Moscow - operating and already lost - are very different. Not only in terms of "age", but also in architectural style.
In 1386, the mother of the hero of the Battle of Kulikovo Field, Vladimir the Brave, Princess Maria Serpukhov founded the Virgin Mary-Nativity Monastery. It was erected in honor of the victory on the Kulikovo field.
The first sisters of the monastery were orphans and widows of soldiers who died on the battlefield. It must be said that for a long time the Baptism of Rus, the Orthodox with special reverence revered the Queen of Heaven. Her earthly life was dedicated to the temples and monasteries of Moscow. The current monasteries, to one degree or another, preserve the blessed memory of Mother of the Virgin. In memory of her, temples were built in the pre-Mongol period. One of the first was the Mother of God-Nativity Monastery.
Over time, it has grown. In 1505, the stone Cathedral of the Holy Virgin appeared; in subsequent years, it was rebuilt several times. In 1687, the Church of John Chrysostom appeared on the territory of the monastery . In 1836, the bell tower and the church of Eugene of Kherson were built. According to the project of architect P. Vinogradov, in 1906 the Church of the Kazan Mother of God was built.
In 1922 the monastery was closed, and until the 70s all the premises of the monastery were occupied by communal apartments. At the very end of the 80s, the monastery was returned to the Moscow Patriarchate. Divine services began in 1989, and the first monks appeared here in 1993. Since then, the monastery began to live an ordinary measured life. His address is 20 Rozhdestvenka Street.
We have presented you only some of the monasteries of Moscow (operating). We have indicated the addresses of the cloisters here for your convenience. If you want to see them with your own eyes - come, you will always be welcome.