Ascension Caves Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Nizhny Novgorod is rich in monasteries and temples. One of them is the Ascension Caves Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod, located on the right bank of the Volga, not far from the Kremlin. The history of the emergence of the monastery and its present day will be discussed further.

Founding History

In the 20-30s of the XIV century, St. Dionysius, the most educated person of that time, arrived in Nizhny Novgorod. It is he who is considered the founder of the monastery. Dionysius took the tonsure at 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 there are no documents to prove this. Historians usually 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 the blessing, set off on his journey, taking on the road a list from the Image of the Virgin, revealed on the wall of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery. This icon has become the mainshrine of the monastery in Nizhny Novgorod and the whole city on the Volga.

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 his spiritual brothers began to come to him, wishing, like him, to devote their lives to serving God. Over time, there were not enough caves for everyone, which was the reason for the construction of a wooden monastery in Nizhny Novgorod.

Why is it named like that?

The first temple was erected in honor of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, 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 abbots of new monasteries. Macarius founded the hermitage known to us as Makarievskaya, as well as the Trinity and Makariev monasteries. Evfimy became the founder of the Spassky and Pokrovsky monasteries in Suzdal.

Piety of Dionysius

St. Dionysius established the Caves Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod according to the principles of cohabitation. The brothers did not have property, worked incessantly, and could not leave the monastery without a blessing. They recorded all the sacrifices to the monastery in special books.

Dionysius was for the brothers an example of industriousness, meekness and non-covetousness. Eminent people of that century revered the founded monastery, 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 in1597 was destroyed by a huge landslide. All the buildings were destroyed, but none of the brothers were hurt.

Later the monastery was revived, but upstream of the Volga. The ensemble of the monastery was rebuilt by the middle of the 17th century, to this day the center of the 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 lands were returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Tikhon Zatekin became hegumen of the monastery in 1999.

Resident Today

Today, restoration work is in full swing in the monastery, the premises are being repaired. The monastery is being revived, which helps many spiritual children to embark on the path of Orthodoxy.

There is a church shop, the Nizhny Novgorod Starina magazine, the Pechersky Blavest newspaper, and the historical museum of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese.

The small brotherhood of the Ascension Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod includes:

• Archimandrite Tikhon;
• hieromonks - 6 people;
• hierodeacons - 3;
• monks - 2;
• novices - 6.

Every day there are services:

• midnight;
• liturgy;
• fraternal prayer service;
• evening service.

The monastery is open for visits from 7:30 to 18:30. Weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12:00, prayers for the sick are served, on Thursdays at the same time - a prayer service for St. Macarius. the restinformation about the monastery schedule can be found on the official website of the monastery.

The complex still needs donations for its revival and restoration.