Mikhailo-Klopsky Monastery is an Orthodox male monastery located 20 kilometers south of Veliky Novgorod. It is located on the river Veryazhe, in the place where it flows into Ilmen. In this article we will talk about the history, architecture of the monastery, options for how to get to it.
Story
Mikhailo-Klopsky Monastery was founded at the beginning of the 15th century. The first mention of him in the annals dates back to 1408. It is due to the fact that the Orthodox novice Mikhail Klopsky appears in the parish, whose name, as a result, was called the monastery.
However, there is another version of the origin of the name of the Mikhailo-Klopsky monastery in Veliky Novgorod. Some researchers claim that the river Veryazha and the nameless stream, located in the area on which the monastery stands, are in the form of a bug.
Today, the main shrine of the monastery are the relics of Mikhail Klopsky, who are under the cover in the southern aisle of the Trinity Church.
After the Bolsheviks came to power, the monastery worked until 1934, after which it was closed.
The persecution of the monks began already in 1918. Then, a school was organized at the monastery, and the communists forbade the service of the prayer. After the revolution, the monastery parish was abolished. However, this did not mean the end of the spiritual life in this place. In 1922, a government commission seized all the values that were in use of the community. Everything was transferred to the Novgorod Museum.
In the mid-1920s, the monastery was at the center of the renovation movement. Priest Nikolai Letitsky appeared, whom the local authorities opposed in every way. As a result, the priest was removed. After the closure of the cathedral in the monastery for worship, the keys to it were handed over to museum workers.
The Mikhailo-Klopsky Monastery was revived in 2005. Buildings returned to the Novgorod diocese. Now its restoration is continuing, it is being conducted under the direct supervision of Hegumen Jacob (Efimov).
Architecture
The center of the architectural ensemble of the Mikhailo-Klopsky Monastery in Veliky Novgorod is the three-headed four-pillar Trinity Cathedral. It was supposedly built in 1560. Over time, galleries with a bell tower, which were not preserved, and picturesque aisles were attached to it.
According to the fashion that existed during the reign of Ivan IV, in the Mikhailo-Klopsky Monastery, the Trinity Cathedral was made multi-altered. Since at least 1581, there has been a stone church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with a refectory. It was at this time that her first mention in the annals dates back.
At the beginning of the XIX century, the appearance of the cathedral underwent significant changes. The temple became five-domed; a bell tower and cells were built on the territory of the Mikhailo-Klop Monastery.
During World War II, the refectory church was almost completely destroyed. In 1960, the cathedral was mothballed. St. Nicholas Church remains in ruins.
Location
The Mikhailo-Klopsky monastery has no exact address. To get to it, you need to go south from Veliky Novgorod.
By car, you should leave the city on the P56 highway. Then after 11 kilometers turn left following the sign leading to the monastery.
Who is Mikhail Klopsky?
The Orthodox monk in whose honor this monastery was named was a holy fool. According to one version, he was related to Dmitry Donskoy. He was either the grandson of the boyar Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok Volynsky, or the illegitimate son of Mozhaisk prince Andrei Dmitrievich, brother of Dmitry Donskoy.
It is known that Michael officially renounced power and fortune, having assumed the feat of foolishness for the glory of Christ. He walked away from Moscow. In a monastery in the Novgorod Republic was declared in one rags.
In the monastery, he spent the next 44 years of his life. The saint during this time became an example of strict observance of the monastic charter and ascetic feat. According to his life, he possessed the gift of foresight and prophecy. He also became famous for exposing the rulers, not paying any attention to their status and origin.
For example, he predicted the victory of Ivan III and the fall of Novgorod. Also, the miracles performed by him include the discovery of a previously unknown source on the territory of the monastery, which came in handy, since the novices suffered from the drought that formed that year.
Mikhail Klopsky died in 1453 or 1456. Was canonized at the Makaryevsky Cathedral after almost a century. The Orthodox Church honors his memory on January 11.
Trinity Cathedral
Trinity Cathedral is the main decoration of the Mikhailo-Klop monastery in Veliky Novgorod. This is a monument of Novgorod architecture in the first half of the 16th century. The construction preserved the construction and architectural traditions that developed during the independence of the Novgorod Republic.
After the accession of Veliky Novgorod to the Moscow state in architecture, there is a tendency to assimilate the "Moscow rules". They have since become decisive in the guise of Novgorod stone construction.
Changes are noticeable in the restructuring on the territory of the male Mikhailo-Klopsky monastery of the Trinity Cathedral at the beginning of the XVI century. Many researchers associate the construction of this temple with a visit to it by Ivan the Terrible in 1568.
Multiplicity is becoming one of its hallmarks. It is typical of most temples of that time. In the dedication of the chapels, they see the king’s special ideological program, since the temple was built according to his order and partially at his expense. The dedication of the aisles to Theodore Stratilates and John Climacus indicates a desire to receive patronage for the sons of Ivan IV - Fedor and John. And in the other initiations, a set of prayer topics is traditional for the ruler. They are associated with the appeal to the Mother of God, the Trinity and John the Baptist.
The Trinity Cathedral of the Mikhailo-Klopsky Monastery in the 19th century was significantly rebuilt. Two more decorative chapters appeared in the western part, the bell tower disappeared, wall painting was updated.
As a result of excavations carried out by Soviet archaeologists in the late 1980s, it was found that during the construction of the Trinity Cathedral on the territory of the Mikhailo-Klop Monastery in the 16th century, the masonry of the original stone cathedral along with the foundation was almost completely selected. Specialists managed to find only two small fragments dating back to the beginning of the 15th century.
St. Nicholas Church
Another attraction of the monastery is St. Nicholas Church with a refectory. This is a unique architectural monument of the 16th century. Currently, it is almost destroyed, its condition is considered disastrous.
The arch of the church is on the verge of collapse. Experts fear that soon the only opportunity to explore this monument will be archaeological excavations.
The date of construction of the St. Nicholas Church remains unknown. It is believed that she appeared either in the time of Ivan the Terrible, or much later than his death - in 1632.
Modern researchers are inclined to an earlier dating.
Famous Rectors
During the existence of the Mikhailo-Klopsky monastery, he had many leaders who played an important role in its development and the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. From 1414 to 1421, the monastery was led by Theodosius, who was later elected archbishop.
In the life of Mikhail Klopsky it is indicated that he arrived at the monastery under Metropolitan Photius, and then remained when Theodosius became hegumen in it.
According to the annals, it was with this clergyman that the Holy Trinity Church was placed in the Mikhailo-Klopsky monastery.
There is information that Theodosius helped residents of the surrounding villages during the famine, was connected with Prince Konstantin Dmitrievich, who arrived in Novgorod in 1419. This was the son of Dmitry Donskoy, who chose Theodosius as his confessor. He regularly visited the monastery, gave money for the construction of the Trinity Cathedral.
In 1421, Theodosius was elected archbishop. For two years he led the diocese without ordination, until the Novgorodians forcibly removed him from the pulpit. After this, Theodosius returned to his monastery, where he died two years later.
Gerasim (Ionin)
Among the abbots was Gerasim (Ionin), who became known for serving in the Solovetsky Monastery. It was after the Novgorod monastery in 1793 that he was transferred to Solovki.
In a new place, he proved himself, demanding that the novices thoroughly implement the charter, petitioned for the cancellation of the division between the monks of the remnants of annual income, as well as the resumption of the hostel on the basis of the rules instituted by the abbot Zosima the Wonderworker.
In 1796, Gerasim was sent to retirement, having appointed a pension. He died in old age in the Sophronian desert.
Gerasim (Gaidukov)
Gerasim (Gaidukov) was at the head of the monastery from 1806 to 1817. It is known that he took monastic tonsure in 1795. In the early years of the 19th century, he worked on the construction of the Anthony-Dymsky monastery, which belonged to the St. Petersburg diocese. Then he was transferred to the Vologda region.
Having become head of the Mikhailo-Klopsky monastery, he was elevated to the rank of hegumen. In 1815, he published a brief description of the monastery.
But this was not the last place of his service. In 1817, Gerasim became archimandrite, he was transferred to the Skovorodsky monastery of the Novgorod diocese. Then he led the St. Nicholas-Vyazhishchi and Valdai Iversky Monastery.
In 1829 he died, was buried in the cathedral church of the Iversky Monastery.