Any historian who specializes in the period of our history associated with Kyiv knows very well how important faith was for the people of that time, how significant its contribution to the common culture and the formation of the state. Therefore, for any historian involved in this, it is important to know the history of the first monastery in Russia. Where did it appear, how was it built, and why is it so important? Let's try to figure it out together.
Why is this worth it?
The monastery is an extremely important part of the historical heritage and cultural we alth of our people. In any ancient settlement, you can see magnificent and ancient buildings, raising their luxurious golden domes to heaven. Cathedrals and temples impress tourists from neighboring settlements and other countries. The monasteries are no less impressive. In total, our Church unites 804 monasteries - such a number involuntarily makes one admire. The peculiarity of the monastery is the atmosphere that reigns inside. The word appeared inancient times and comes from the foreign term “one”, which symbolizes the opportunity to be alone with oneself, one’s faith and one’s thoughts – this is precisely why monasteries were created in antiquity.
One of the oldest Slavic cities is Novgorod. It was extremely important both within the framework of the formation of power, statehood, and for the culture, creativity and religion of its time. Here is the Yuriev Monastery. Historians almost unanimously declare that this building is the first monastery in Russia. Photos of its magnificent walls, interior decoration can be seen in specialized reference books and all city guides. The monastery is really famous, from year to year both pilgrims and inquisitive citizens from all over the planet come here.
And if in more detail?
One of the first monasteries in Russia was founded on the banks of the majestic Volkhov River. The initiative to erect a building dedicated to religious culture here, as is known from historical annals, belongs to Yaroslav the Wise. Initially, a small church made of natural wood was erected, and after some time the building grew, and its purpose changed somewhat - this is how the Yuriev Monastery appeared. In ancient times, any monastery was not just a place of worship for the gods, but also a fortress that protected the common people during the invasion of the enemy. The siege of the walls of a real monastery took a lot of time, very often ended in nothing. It so happened that the monasteries were the first to take the blow of the enemy during the next military conflict.
Simultaneously with the protective function was significanteducational. It is known that the first monastery in Russia was founded on the banks of the Volkhov not only to protect the common people. In those days it was a key educational center. Ancient books were kept in the monastery walls, people were taught here. Traditionally, workshops worked within the walls of the monastery. If the life of the common people became especially difficult, the ministers shared food and clothing with those in need. Anyone who was in great need could count on the assistance of holy people.
What happened next?
With the demise of the Russian Empire, there is no longer support for religion in the Slavic lands. The Soviet authorities began a program of redesigning and changing the functionality of buildings. Many objects went bankrupt and closed, since then they have been abandoned for a long time or remain so to this day. Some opened clubs, cafes. In recent years, the monasteries have been actively revived. New religious institutions are opening.
About Yuryev Monastery in more detail
This religious building is about 4 km away from the modern center of Veliky Novgorod. A unique building was erected on the banks of the Volkhov. This monastery is revered as one of the oldest Orthodox monuments in all Slavic lands. The name of the monastery was given in memory of the one who ordered to found it: when Yaroslav the Wise was baptized, he was named Yuri. The chronicles that have survived to this day tell about when the first monasteries appeared in Russia. From them it can be concluded that in 1119, on the base, formerly woodenchurches began to build a stone cathedral, which was given the name of St. George. Then the monastery became the spiritual center of the republic. After some time, it turns into the largest and most powerful plot in the possession of the church.
Secularization, organized by Catherine in the 18th century, caused the decline. Documents that tell when the first monasteries appeared in Russia, what fate awaited them later, give an idea of the ups and downs that befell the religious institution. It is known that a century after Catherine's reforms, the restoration of a unique structure began. This caused the loss of incalculable we alth - the most ancient frescoes. Only a few survived to this day.
Yuriev Monastery: twists and turns of fate
It is known that the first monastery in Russia was founded near the banks of the Volkhva. Despite numerous complex twists of fate, this object still exists today. Nowadays, this monastery invites only believing men. At the same time, it is a historical, architectural monument, giving an idea to a modern person about how they lived and worked in the period of Ancient Russia. The diocese of Veliky Novgorod is in charge of the monastery. The object includes an archimandrite building. A religious school has been opened here.
The first monastery in ancient Russia was built around St. George's Cathedral. This element is not the only important part of the architectural ensemble. There are two more cathedrals on the monastic lands: Spassky, Ex altation of the Cross. One church is open and functioning,named after the Burning Bush. All four places are used for worship. During the war, the temple of the Archangel Michael was destroyed. Restoration work, which started some time ago, is already fully completed. One of the local attractions is the bell tower, which reaches a height of 52 meters. There is a legend that tells that the object was originally planned to be built higher. Changes in the plan were made under the pressure of Nicholas I. It is believed that he wished that the Moscow bell tower of Ivan the Great remained dominant. I had to remove the middle tier from the project in order to reduce the height of the building.
Monasteries: what else is known?
Novospassky is one of the first Orthodox monasteries in Russia. It is located behind Taganka. The building was built during the reign of Ivan the First. From the annals it is known that the foundation took place in 1490.
No less famous monastery is called Borisoglebsky. It was founded during the period when Dmitry Donskoy was in power. Among the common people, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra is extremely popular. It is assumed that this monastery for some time was the largest in the country. Lavra is extremely important as an element of the formation of Christianity in the Slavic lands. However, one should not underestimate the importance for the history of the Pskov-Pechersk religious institution. It was created specifically for men. The year of foundation, known from the annals, is 1473. A distinctive feature is the strongest walls that protected the monastery, and the presence of towers, loopholes, which gave the inhabitants of the holy building the opportunity todefend your independence in the face of even a very powerful enemy.
The whole country knows
Referring to the period of the founding of the first monasteries in Russia, it is worth mentioning the fundamentally important buildings in Suzdal. And today they are revered as an incredible we alth, an exceptionally significant cultural heritage. As some historians say, the one erected in Murom can compete with the St. George's Monastery for the right to be considered the most ancient - it is called the Transfiguration of the Savior. This monastery was created specifically for men. Even if it is not the oldest, it definitely belongs to the list of the oldest, important, significant for culture, history and religion. A distinctive feature is a wide variety of icons with atypical plots preserved from ancient times. To see these beautiful icons, people come to Murom from all over the world.
Monastic history
The first monasteries of Kievan Rus began to be built after 988, that is, after the official moment when the country adopted the Christian faith as the state. As historians say, in those days people lived frankly poorly, life was extremely difficult, so everyone tried to find some consolation for themselves, a way to a simpler existence. For the needs of just such tired, desperate, lost people, the first monasteries appeared. They were created so that people could hope and count on consolation. Anyone could come here. It did not matter what class a person belonged to, what he was like. If someone wanted to turn to God, he was allowed intomonastery. It is known that many princes of that time went to monasteries towards the end of their lives. This practice was also common among the boyars. Of the legends, almost any of our compatriots knows about Ilya Muromets. This is a hero who had no equal. Few people know that the real person, from whose life story the legend appeared, ended his life in the Pechersk Monastery, where he took the vows as a monk.
In short, the first monasteries in Russia appeared by the grace of the we althy. In those days, these institutions were called ktitorsky. Anyone who had sufficient funds could initiate the construction of the monastery. This is how the first Kyiv religious institutions appeared. They were founded by the princes, the boyars made their contribution.
New times and new places
After some time after the appearance of the first monastery in Russia, the Christian religion acquires a much more powerful foundation than before. Religion is spreading beyond Kyiv. It is accepted in different parts of Ancient Russia. Cititor institutions are absolutely dependent on who allocates money for them. From the annals, information about several fairly extensive institutions has come down to our days. For example, the first major monastery in Russia is believed to be the Kiev-Pechora. In addition to him, in Kyiv in the 12th century there were 14 more fairly large monasteries. Another 26 were in Novgorod, four - in Pskov, three - in Chernigov. Chronicles report 14 monasteries that existed in the 12th century in VladimirSuzdal principality. In those days, faith in God was exceptionally strong. A huge number of cases are known when the prince did not go to war until he received the blessing of the holy father. For this reason, Western peoples began to call Russia Holy, because every city had monasteries, had a temple or several.
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
According to some historians, it is she who is the first monastery in Russia. It is believed that it was founded in 1051. If we compare this date with the one above for the building near Volkhov, we can see that the event happened earlier. Disputes over the primacy of old age, however, are due to the fact that while scientists doubt the date of construction of the wooden church, which later became the base for the monastery near Novgorod. The initiator of the founding of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra was Yaroslav the Wise. It is believed that a unique religious place, significant for pilgrims to this day, began with a small cave in Berestov, a settlement that the Kyiv princes chose for their summer stay. The cave was dug out by Hilarion so that one could pray in solitude. In the future, this holy father will receive the status of a metropolitan. The same cave became the habitat of Anthony, the first Russian hermit.
In the ancient Russian language, the caves were called caves. It was from here that the name of one of the first monasteries in Russia came from. At first, churches, cells - all this was organized in caves. However, already in the 11th century, it was possible to erect an above-ground building. Herfirst built of wood, after some time rebuilt of stone. This is how the Assumption Church appeared. Today it attracts connoisseurs of history, art, cultural heritage, as well as pilgrims from all over the world - it has preserved a huge collection of frescoes, mosaics made in ancient times.
Development and growth
Gradually the first monastery in Russia is growing, expanding. Caves are gradually changing their purpose - they become resting places, reliquaries. To visit here, pilgrims come from various remote corners of the world. Most of all, Theodosius of Pechora, Anthony are revered in the monastery. The raids of the enemy over and over again lead to ruin, but in the 12th century it was decided to protect the building with powerful walls so that the holy people could keep the defense. In 1240, Batu, however, besieges and defeats the city, takes the monastery under his power. Soon life will be restored again. In 1598 the monastery received the status of a Lavra, and since the end of this century and the beginning of the next it has been the center of conflict between Orthodox Catholic clergy. Ultimately, it is the Orthodox who keep the Lavra.
The current appearance of the magnificent monastery is the result of extensive building work that began at the end of the 17th century and ended only in the first half of the next. However, the work did not stop for a long time - the Lavra was completed many times, mainly adhering to the style of classicism.
Yanchinmonastery
On what was the first convent in Russia, few people know. It so happened that the topic of female monasticism, in principle, does not attract too much public attention. The information that has survived to this day suggests that the very first monastery created for women was Yanchin, which was also called Andreevsky-Yanchin, built in Kyiv. It was put in honor of the sister of Vladimir Monomakh, nicknamed Yanka in the home circle. Anna Vsevolodovna entered the history of Orthodoxy as a prominent figure who promoted religion on the territory of Russia. She was a link to Constantinople, an activist who urged her contemporaries to be more humble, pious. And today historians know that the nun was very active. Was she going to become a nun right away? Historians believe that there were no such intentions. Anna was betrothed to a distant prince who was forced into a monastery in his own country. The faithful bride wasted no time in following his path. She was not obliged to do so, but in many ways her act changed the fate of Orthodoxy in Russia - the Yankees opened a monastery, and later a women's school with it.
Life turned out so that Anna Vsevolodovna had to go to Constantinople more than once. She brought new ways and customs from there to her native lands, studied the statutes and manuscripts, acquired important materials that would later help her in her holy work in her native lands. Arriving home once again, the princess turns to her father with a request to build a convent. The brother supports the young girl. In 1086, the decision was made: Vsevolod orders to puta temple named after Andrey, at which a monastery is being created. The post of abbess is occupied by the prince's daughter. She decides to keep her home nickname in the annals; the monastery itself was nicknamed Yanchin. He was incredibly handsome. Contemporaries described him as amazing and majestic. Until now, it has not been preserved - the building was consumed by fire during the time of Batu.
Already in the first year of the existence of the new monastery, the princess produces a set of girls to study at the school at the monastery. Girls are taught needlework, give them the skills of writing and singing. Here they teach sewing skills and various crafts. In a word, the emphasis is on acquiring the most useful skills for girls.
