The monastery, which will be discussed later, rightly takes the place of one of the most beautiful Russian monasteries, which initially, as is known from the most ancient sources, was a male monastery. Now it is known as the Alekseevo-Akatov Convent. In the Voronezh region, it is the oldest, its history goes back to the very beginning of the XVII century.
Temple in honor of the victory over enemies
The monastery is located next to the Voronezh reservoir in the private sector near the Chernavsky bridge. Once upon a time in a deserted forest thicket in Akatovaya Polyana, two miles from the city, it was decided to build a temple. It received its name in honor of the memory of the first Russian saint Metropolitan of Moscow Alexy. In 1620, enemies (Lithuanians and Cherkasy) came to this land. Residents, repelling the attack, in honor of the victory laid the church on this site. This day just fell on the day of memory of St. Alexei. This is how the monastery in Voronezh got its name (the schedule of services in it can be found below).
The foundation of the monastery desert
Initially, this rather uninhabited place was based on desertification and was named after the old document “The New Desert of Metropolitan of Moscow Alexy the Wonderworker”.
Hegumen Cyril became the first abbot of the monastery. From the very beginning of its creation, the future Alekseyev-Akatov monastery of Voronezh owned a church assembled from the "ancient dumplings", in which there were only five cells for the abbot and four elders. Their names are hitherto known: Abbot Cyril, the old monks Theodosius, Savvaty, Abraham, Lavrenti, Nikon. Next to the newly formed wooden monastery, people began to settle, who built their houses nearby. By the XVII century, the monastery had its own hayfields, lands, serfs and fishing. In 1674, the brethren decided to build the first stone church for income from crafts, and destroy the old wooden one.
In 1700, the Assumption Church was attached to the monastery, and with it the lands of Uspenka were transferred to it.
The arrangement of the monastery
This monastery was the only monastery in the city. His abbot had the rank of archimandrite. At the beginning of the 18th century, Archimandrite Nikanor brought to the monastery a list from the ancient icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary “Three Handgrips”, which over time began to be revered as miraculous.
From 1746 to 1755, the second floor was erected under the rector Ephraim, and a temple was placed in honor of the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. Then limits were organized in memory of Saints Anthony and Theodosius.
During the reign of Catherine the Great, Alekseevo-Akatov was given a second class in importance to the Voronezh monastery. He began to be supported by the state (714 rubles in silver per year), in his possession remained 8 acres of land and a lake.
A well-known fact is that in the XVIII century, the shimonks Agapit (hieromonk Habakkuk in the past) lived in the monastery, who received the blessing from the saints Tikhon Zadonsky and Mitrofan, and the retired military nobleman George Mashurin, who later became a reclusive monk.
Over time, the monastery expanded, new buildings and structures in the form of towers were built.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Anikeeva Avdotya Vasilievna donated a large sum of money to the monastery, for which a new stone church was built in the Byzantine-Russian style. The lower part of the temple was consecrated in 1812, the upper - in 1819.
Revolutionary time
After the revolution, the temple was ravaged, and all jewelry was seized. In the 20s, another priest was replaced by a jealous opponent of the renovationist movement Peter (Zverev), and at the same time, Archimandrite Innokenty (trouble), sent from Moscow, appeared in the monastery monastery.
Alekseevo-Akatov monastery of Voronezh was not closed, like many others, and therefore it focuses on the center of the spiritual life of the city.
In 1926, the abbot and archimandrite were detained by representatives of the new government and sent to the Solovetsky camp. There they rested with the Lord. The organization of underground anti-Soviet agitation was attributed to the guilt of the next rector, Bishop Alexy (Buy), he served a considerable period in the camps and was shot in 1937. In the 30s there were mass arrests of another 75 monks. All of them were canonized in the face of saints in 2000 as new martyrs of Russia.
The history of the temple in the Soviet years
In the winter of 1930, according to the requirements of the Alekseevo-Akatov factory, the monastery was closed, bell ringing was prohibited, the bells were melted down. And then in 1931 all the monks were expelled, the icons were burned. Only the miraculous icon of the Virgin called the “Life-giving spring”, preserved in the main Pokrovsky Cathedral of Voronezh, survived. She was returned to the monastery with the blessing of Bishop Mythodius only in April 1991. The icon of the Virgin “Three-handed” was irretrievably lost.
The Great Patriotic War came, during the occupation of the city the gate bell tower was destroyed. In 1943, the entire monastery courtyard was developed for housing. The belfries had stables and warehouses. Already in the 60s, the monastery was used by artists, setting up their workshops in it.
In 1970 there was a local history museum. The treasury building was destroyed. The wooden building - the abbot's house on the second floor - was given to the collective farm for needs, and then completely dismantled.
Rebirth
In the 80s, the temple began to be revived. He was returned to the jurisdiction of the Voronezh diocese in 1989. At first, the old bell tower and some surviving buildings were restored, but the cemetery with tombstones was barbarously destroyed. Next, a two-story church was rebuilt. The gate bell tower was not built up to its former 50-meter height, but only the second tier was left and crowned with five chapters. Cells, outbuildings, a chapel for blessing water were rebuilt. The remains of the lords were reburied.
Since November 4, 1990, a convent was opened for the feast in honor of the icon of the Kazan Mother of God. Until 1992, the abbess of the monastery was Abbess Love, and then Abbess Barbara came.
The residence of the diocese was transferred from the Intercession Cathedral to the Alekseevo-Akatov Monastery from the Intercession Cathedral, where Metropolitan of Voronezh Sergius (Fomin) resides. In the residence there is a house church with the icon of the Blessed Mother called the “Sign”.
One of the most revered icons in the monastery is the image of the Mother of God “Life-giving spring”.
Alekseevo-Akatov Monastery (Voronezh). Icons
On September 7, 1997, on the feast of the Presentation, the Sretenskaya Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God began to flow. The blessed world comes from the scroll of the Baby Jesus and the Rod of the Virgin.
The icon of the great martyr Panteleimon the healer is miraculous and healing, she also began to exude the world in 1997. And at the same time, the icon of St. Pitirim of Tambovsky was updated, which was painted at the beginning of the 20th century and transferred from the village parish church to the Aleksey-Akatov monastery on the long-awaited opening day of the monastery. Since the icon was old and stored inappropriately, the letters on it turned gray and practically could not be read. But one evening after the service, the image brightened, the background acquired a blue tint, and the letters became golden. During the morning Liturgy, the image began to myrrh.
Myrrh-streaming icons of the monastery
Since 1997, another icon is myrrh-streaming. This is an icon of St. Tikhon of Zadonsky and Mitrofan of Voronezh. It was also presented by the village parish of the village. In 2002, it was updated. The world proceeded from the panagia of St. Mitrofan.
In the temple there is also the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary “In grief and sorrow Consolation”. This is a copy of the miraculous icon from the Athos Russian St. Andrew's Monastery. In June 1999, the icon also began to exude the world.
The icon of the Mother of God "Kasperovskaya" also streams. Since February 27, 200 nine streams of peace have come out from the hand of the Blessed Mary and the scroll and head of the Baby Jesus. The relics of the Russian holy martyrs, ranked as saints since 2000, are also carefully preserved in the church.
Alekseevo-Akatov Monastery (Voronezh). Schedule of Divine Services
Divine services in the monastery are held every day. On ordinary days, the morning Liturgy begins at 7.30, the evening - at 17.00.
On festive twelve days, memorial Saturdays and Sunday of Alekseevo-Akatov, the Voronezh Convent will change the schedule of services. On these days, two morning services are served at 6.00 and 8.30, evening service also at 17.00.
In 2009, the holy relics of blessed old woman Feoktista (Shulgina) were transferred to the monastery cemetery, which Voronezh residents especially respect and love to visit the Voronezh Convent at her grave in Alekseevo-Akatov. It is necessary to add to the schedule of services in the monastery that every week funeral services are served on the grave of the righteous and the Voronezh archpastors of Voronezh. The Divine Liturgy is performed daily in the monastery, and the prayer is offered "for the city and the people." Priests perform Church Sacraments, conduct sermons, and nurture parishioners. A lot of people visit the Alekseevo-Akatov Convent of Voronezh. Requests can be ordered here at any time.
Conclusion
The nun sisters constantly read the indestructible Psalter and commemorate the living and the departed. You can come here for an excursion; it is held both for residents and especially for nonresident pilgrims. They get acquainted with the history of the ancient monastery on the background of the church and the history of the Voronezh region. Issues regarding spiritual morality and modern life are also discussed.
By prior arrangement, the monastery can accommodate up to 25 people (preferably women). The reception of workers is also possible.