Nizhny Novgorod is rich in monasteries and temples. One of them is the Ascension Pechersky Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod, located on the right bank of the Volga, not far from the Kremlin. The history of the monastery and its present day will be discussed later.
Foundation History
In the 20-30s of the XIV century, St. Dionysius, the most educated person of that time, arrived on Nizhny Novgorod land. It is he who is considered the founder of the monastery. He was tonsured by Dionysius in the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, from where he later moved to spread the cause of monastic asceticism.
The generally accepted date for the emergence of the Ascension Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod is 1328 or 1330. But the documents confirming this were not preserved. Typically, historians refer to the lives of the disciples of Dionysius - Euthymius, Macarius and St. Vassa. It follows from them that in the 30s of the XIV century the monastery was already operating.
Dionysius, with blessing, set off on the road, taking on the road a list from the Image of the Virgin, shown on the wall of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. This icon became the main shrine of the monastery in Nizhny Novgorod and the city on the Volga as a whole.
On the right bank of the Volga, Dionysius dug a cave for himself, where he lived, spending time in austerities. Soon the ascetic became known in the vicinity, and spiritual brothers began to come to him, who, like him, wanted to devote their lives to serving God. Over time, caves were not enough for everyone, which was the reason for the construction of a wooden monastery in Nizhny Novgorod.
Why so named?
The first church was built in honor of the Ascension Day, which explains the name of the monastery. And “Pechersky” is a reminder of the caves, on the site of which the monastery arose.
Famous monks
Later, the disciples of Dionysius themselves will become priors of the new cloisters. Macarius founded deserts, known to us as Makaryevskaya, as well as Trinity and Makaryevsky monasteries. Euthymius became the founder of the Spassky and Pokrovsky monasteries in Suzdal.
Piety of Dionysius
Saint Dionysius built the Pechersky Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod on the basis of community life. The brothers had no property, worked constantly, could not leave the monastery without blessing. They recorded all the sacrifices to the monastery in special books.
Dionysius was an example for the brothers of industriousness, meekness and non-possessiveness. The founded monastery was revered by eminent people of that century, coming there to ask for advice or blessings, to leave gifts.
Destruction and rebirth
Repeatedly the monastery was ruined as a result of the Tatar-Mongol raids. And in 1597 it was destroyed by a huge landslide. All buildings collapsed, but none of the brothers were injured.
Later the monastery was revived, but upstream of the Volga. The ensemble of the monastery was rebuilt by the middle of the XVII century, to this day the center of architectural composition is the Ascension Cathedral.
After 1917, the monastery suffered the same fate as the others - complete desolation and ruin. And only in 1994, the land was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. The abbot of the monastery in 1999 was Tikhon Zatekin.
Abode today
Today, the monastery is in full swing restoration work, renovated premises. The monastery is reborn, which helps many spiritual children to embark on the path of Orthodoxy.
A church shop operates here, the journal "Nizhny Novgorod Antiquity" is published, the newspaper "Pechersky Evangelism", the historical museum of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese is open.
The small brotherhood of the Ascension Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod includes:
- Archimandrite Tikhon;
- hieromonks - 6 people;
- hierodeacon - 3;
- monks - 2;
- novices - 6.
Every day there are services:
- midnight;
- liturgy;
- fraternal prayer;
- evening service.
The monastery is open to visitors from 7:30 to 18:30. Every week on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:00, prayers for the sick are served, on Thursdays at the same time, a prayer service is held. Macarius. The rest of the information on the monastic schedule can be clarified on the official website of the monastery.
As before, the complex needs donations for its revival and restoration.