The Martha-Mariinsky monastery of mercy in Moscow is a convent. In it, life proceeds according to a special schedule. The Martha-Mariinsky Convent of Moscow was founded in 1909 by Princess Elizabeth Fedorovna. However, already in 1928 it was closed until 1992.
The beginning of the story
The founder of the Martha-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow left secular life as soon as her husband, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, died. In addition, she sold all her property, giving part of it to the treasury and her relatives. It was with the money from this transaction that the Martha-Mariinsky monastery in Moscow was erected.
According to the original plan, each sister living there made a vow of chastity, non-possession. At the same time, the life of novices in the Martha-Mariinsky monastery in Moscow was different from the monastic one. So, they could, with the expiration of the term, renounce their obligations, create a family.
The novices in the Martha-Mariinsky monastery in Moscow lived a spiritual life following the example of Mary, and were engaged in charity following the example of the founder. They provided a lot of help to everyone who needed it.
Even before the monastery was opened, Elizaveta Fedorovna visited monasteries, spent time there, talking with the elders. She read many ancient scriptures. A number of representatives of the Holy Synod met her initiative rather skeptically, believing that the princess was spreading Western values. The emperor had the ability to accelerate the opening of the monastery, but the princess eventually altered the charter several times so that he began to satisfy the conditions of the Holy Synod.
About buildings
The address of the Martha-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow was specially selected so that the territory would accommodate a whole complex of buildings. On Bolshaya Ordynka Street there was an estate with 4 houses, a garden. At this address of the Martha-Mariinsky monastery in Moscow there was a dining room, a kitchen, a pantry, a hospital. Next door was the abbess's house, a pharmacy. There was also a separate prosphora, and classes for training were equipped.
In addition, in the place where the Martha-Mariinsky monastery is located in Moscow, a hotel was opened for pilgrims. The former winter garden was converted into a temple at the hospital. Consecrated him in the name of Martha and Mary. The schedule of services at the Martha-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow was arranged so that patients watched the process without leaving their beds.
The monastery opened in February 1909. Initially, there were 6 novices in it. After 12 months, 16 more women were dedicated together with the Grand Duchess. Orthodox girls aged 21-40 could become novices. In 1911, Maria Morozova donated a sum of money for the monastery. And then a house was built in the neoclassical style. Novices lived in it, there was also a needlework. A passage was built that connected the dispensary and the pharmacy.
The construction of the church in the name of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up by the architect Alexei Schusev. As soon as it was erected, in 1910 Nesterov began painting the room. In addition, the church arranged an underground tomb. The abbess bequeathed to bury her there. Consecrated the building in April 1912.
About Activities
In total, the monastery conducted 3 varieties of services - guardianship, enlightenment, and activity. The first was to visit those who need help, the second to raise girls, Sunday school activities, and the third to serve in a hospital, pharmacy, and outpatient clinic. Each novice underwent spiritual training, studied the basics of medicine.
About the hospital
The hospital here was free, with 22 beds. Until 1913, a refuge was located nearby for those who suffer from consumption. Further, the building was converted into cheap apartments for poor women, factory workers. Every week, a confessor came to them to hold prayers.
A library was opened for sisters and patients, in which about 2000 volumes were stored. In total, 4 departments were represented in it - historical, religious, children's, fiction. The monastery issued its own brochures with leaflets, they were issued to hospital patients. The princess also took care that the novices were literate. And in Sunday school, the priest Eugene of Sinadsky began to teach.
In addition, the monastery was a dining room for the poor. Every day about 100-300 dinners were prepared here.
The food was intended for women with many children, workers in daily jobs. In 1913, about 18 people aged 12-17 years stayed in the shelter. They studied as servants or maids. Someone was a nanny with sewing skills.
To educate others around the empathy for the disadvantaged, the princess opened the program “Children's Mite”. She acted in the cold season. Everyone came to the Nikolaev Palace, where, while praying, he sewed clothes.
The Hitrov market was considered the most disadvantaged area in the capital of those times. Although the police department made many warnings to Elizaveta Fedorovna, she continued to regularly visit those who lived there. She asked parents in need to give her children to be raised. Dormitories were arranged for boys, and for girls, closed educational institutions and shelters.
When the First World War began, the princess organized the All-Russian Headquarters of Mercy. Warehouses with donations were set up, all the things she collected were sent to the front line. In addition, she opened training courses for nurses.
To raise money, Elizaveta Fedorovna opened art exhibitions, arranged concerts, performances. In 1914, she published her own book. Having collected money from her, she sent everything to the children of the front-line soldiers. A monastery was established in the monastery for those who were seriously injured. In total there were 50 places. In 1917, a chapel was opened nearby.
About closing
When the revolution of 1917 took place, the Commission of the Moscow Soviet was created to protect monuments of art and antiquity. The monastery began to guard the interior of the church with icons, murals. But in 1920 they were excluded from the list of protected objects.
Princess Fate
The princess, who belonged to the Romanov family, was arrested on May 7, 1918. Together with the 2 sisters of the monastery, she was sent to Perm and then to Yekaterinburg. After a couple of months, she ended up in Alapaevsk, where one of the sisters was released, and the princess, along with Varvara, who wanted to share her fate, was shot. In October of that year, their remains were transported to Shanghai, and then they were transported to Jerusalem.
The fate of the monastery
In the winter of 1919, the property of the monastery was transferred to the Martha-Mariinsky labor community. A year later, a decision was made to close the church of St. Martha and Mary. However, a number of ministers wrote a letter of request to keep the temple open, since it held services in the winter season.
About the Intercession Church
The temple on Bolshaya Ordynka is a significant monument of modern temple art. Its architect was Academician Shchusev. The church was painted by the artist Nesterov, utensils are highly artistic work.
Although the church was not eventually closed, in 1922 most of the values ​​contained in it were confiscated. But in 1924, a workers 'and peasants' inspection organized an inspection of the Martha-Mariinsky community. Then a decree was issued that the hospital should be transferred to the Ministry of Health with all the property. Nevertheless, on concessional terms, they were bought by the community. The pharmacy was transferred to Moscow State University. A year later, the community charter was annulled. She was called the Marfo-Mariinsky Artel of the Sisters of Mercy.
In the fall of 1925, the monastery was accused of conducting anti-Soviet activities, as well as stole property. Although the community denied the above arguments, the auditor decided to dissolve it and was held accountable. The sisters were interrogated and deported from the capital, the monastery was dissolved. All buildings were soon transferred to the district council of the Zamoskvoretsky district.
After 3 years, a statue of Joseph Stalin was installed in the Intercession Church, a club and a cinema were opened there. In the 1940s, the demolition of the temple was planned. However, the Academy of Architecture of the USSR advocated his salvation. During World War II, the temple became the headquarters of the Local Air Defense. After the war he became a workshop. The chapel became a passage. Then the building was overhauled.
Nowadays
In 1990, a monument to Princess Elizabeth Fedorovna was erected in the courtyard. Soon the monastery was transferred to the Moscow Patriarchate. The church began to conduct services. By 2008, most of the interior of the Intercession Church was restored. In addition, a cross was erected here in memory of the Alapaevsk martyrs. At the same time, the territory was greened, trying to preserve and restore the original appearance of the monastery. The interiors were recreated, and in the chambers of the princess herself, an exhibition was organized that tells her story.
In addition, some traditions were restored. For example, they began to again celebrate White Daisy Day, which is dedicated to the fight against tuberculosis. All funds collected on this day are sent to those who need them. Soon a nunnery began to function here. Also, a shelter for orphans was opened here, the once-opened dining room, once opened by Elizaveta Fedorovna, began working again.
Also in the monastery in 2018, courses for free pre-school education of minors with moderate and severe forms of cerebral palsy were opened. At the moment, a dormitory for novices is located at the northern borders of the monastery. It connects to the pharmacy and outpatient. The gates of the complex have carved wooden bars in a medieval style. They were created by the architect Shchusev. Around the monastery grows a garden decorated with fountains, a home for the gardener. Many quiet paths are broken here.
Despite the small total area of ​​the monastery, the space is organized quite organically. Here, in silence and solitude, you can draw, walk with children in specially equipped areas for them, as well as enjoy the fresh air on the benches and in the gazebos.
Reviews
Before you get to the Martha-Mariinsky monastery in Moscow, you should familiarize yourself with the reviews of visitors about it. So, many say that it is of extraordinary beauty. It has a calm atmosphere, it is quiet here. By uploading a photo of the Martha-Mariinsky monastery in Moscow, many people admire the beauty of the monastery. Many are used to the fact that the most significant monasteries are located outside the city, but in this case the monastery is located in the center of Moscow. And this also gives him a special charm.
Among the main shortcomings, visitors note the lack of the ability to book an individual tour. Many people like that the case of Elizaveta Fedorovna continues to this day, the traditions introduced by her are observed. For example, novices of the monastery combine obedience and help to their neighbors.
How to get there
When figuring out how to get to the Martha-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow, it is worth taking into account that the nearest metro station to it is Polyanka. You can get to it from the metro station "Tretyakovskaya". The monastery is located at 34 Bolshaya Ordynka Street. The schedule of services is available on the official website of the monastery, it is updated weekly.