In the centuries-old history of Russia, monasteries arose simultaneously with the acquisition of Christianity. Translated from Greek, “monastery” means “secluded place”.
Communities of monks (monks) lived in monasteries according to a strict charter, in unceasing prayer.
Those who wished to give themselves to God, left worldly life for the sake of attaining spiritual purity, retired here.
The emergence of monasteries
As a rule, monasteries were built away from people, in impassable forests, by unknown lakes and rivers.
But the fame of the piety of the monastic inhabitants, who help pilgrims and the weak, diverged widely, so that over time settlements arose around the monastery, sprawling into large cities.
Communities were replenished with novices, on the lands of monasteries extensions were made to existing buildings, chapels, new churches and bell towers were built.
Over time, the monasteries formed entire architectural complexes of extraordinary beauty, born in a combination of different styles.
Historic Torzhok
So the city of Torzhok arose in due time on open spaces of ancient Russia. The largest architectural complexes in it are the male Borisoglebsky and the female Resurrection Monastery. Torzhok today is a district city of the Tver region of Russia.
Torzhok is located along the Tvertsa River, 60 km from the regional center, near the Moscow-St. Petersburg highway.
In the past it was called Novotorzhsk. Since that time, the townspeople are still called novotory, many places and buildings in the city are called novotorzhsky. Since 1917, the city finally turned into a province.
For the first time, the female Resurrection Monastery in Torzhok was mentioned at the beginning of the 17th century, and it was founded a century earlier.
To this monastery, the nun Martha (in the world Ksenia Ivanovna), the mother of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, sacrificed the icon of the Resurrection of Christ in a silver robe.
And along with the icon are two goblets of coconut in silver. Later, these cups were converted into lamps.
Monastery
Contrary to everything, the Resurrection Monastery has been well preserved to our time. Torzhok, like most ancient cities, it was built of wood. And the first buildings of the monastery were also wooden.
At the beginning of the XVIII century, the building of the Resurrection Cathedral and the chapel of the Savior Not Made by Hands were built of stone, and by the end of the century they surrounded the monastery territory with a stone wall.
Some of the buildings were updated later, so their architecture is different. The Resurrection Cathedral was built in a classical manner, and the bell tower remained baroque architecture.
The exact dates of construction and remodeling vary from source to source.
There were two floors in the cathedral: on the first church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on the second - the Resurrection of Christ.
Later, in the 19th century, cell buildings (housing for nuns and abbesses), a refectory and the Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist were built.
The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ is the leading building. The Resurrection Monastery got its name from it. Torzhok today is a very small town, about 50 thousand people, but it has many churches.
Monastery today
Pilgrims and ordinary tourists interested in the history of Russia can easily find the Resurrection Monastery in Torzhok. His address is indicated in Orthodox directories, although the monastery is not functioning.
It stands on the high left bank of the Tvertsa River, on the street called Red Town, Building 22, next to the automobile and pedestrian bridges, in the historic center of the city.
On the contrary, on the right bank, the Borisoglebsky Monastery, a little upstream. According to legend, under the river there is an underground passage to the right bank.
In the 20s of the last century, the complex was closed. And still does not operate the Resurrection Monastery in Torzhok. A photo of the buildings conveys a sad picture of his current condition.
Before the revolution, the monastery had an orphanage and a school for girls from the families of the poor. Monastic novices were engaged in icon painting, lace weaving, embroidery, and prepared a dowry for rich brides.
It is believed that the Resurrection Monastery gave a start to life to the famous craftsmanship called Novotorzh gold embroidery.
Torzhok not this way It has long received the status of a city-museum of federal significance, since many architectural monuments of past centuries have been preserved in it.
And although the monastery is desolate, its buildings are being destroyed without repair and there is nothing left of the former well-being, the complex is very beautiful.