John the Baptist Convent (Moscow)– is a functioning monument of federal and even global significance. By its existence and architectural changes, one can trace almost the entire past of Moscow, with its conquest, fires and restoration. He could simply get lost in history and undergo barbaric destruction. But, thanks to the faith and efforts of many Russians, he still pleases our eyes.
Saint John the Baptist
This saint is revered in much the same way as the Virgin Mary herself. After all, it was he who announced the future birth of Christ. And therefore, a huge number of temples and churches were erected in his honor, both in Russia and in the world. One of the most famous is the John the Baptist Convent in Moscow.
This extraordinary child was born in the family of clergy Zechariah and Elizabeth. Archangel Gabriel predicted his appearance to his father. Hesaid that the unborn child is the forerunner of the great messiah. Not believing, Zechariah paid with dumbness.
Until the age of 30, John was in the wilderness. He led the life of a righteous man, for which he earned the respect and worship of the people of Jerusalem. People often came to him to receive the great sacrament of baptism. According to tradition, Christ himself came to John. There, in the desert, in the Jordan River, he was baptized.
For his sermons and stories about the Messiah, as well as for exposing many in power, John the Baptist was beheaded. Later, part of his relics were given to various monasteries as a shrine.
Architectural ensemble
John the Baptist convent is located almost in the very heart of Moscow. It is located on a high picturesque hill that goes around the old path to Ryazan and Vladimir, called "Solyanka".
This territory has belonged to the Russian grand ducal house since ancient times. Once there was a country residence and extensive gardens. It was they who gave the names to the local monasteries and temples - in the "Old Gardens".
The appearance of the monastery and surrounding areas were greatly affected by fires, devastation and destruction. Therefore, it is impossible to see his original image today.
Initially it was a classic one-domed temple. There were three vestibules in the architecture. Therefore, from above, the temple seemed cruciform.
Now we can observe only the restored complex, which was developed in the 19th century by the famous and respected academician Bykovsky.
In the center of the ensembleits main part is located - the Cathedral with a huge faceted dome. The territory of the monastery is separated by an ancient stone wall. And near the main Holy gates, two bell towers settled down. In the eastern part, a special hospital building with a church is visible. At the same time, absolutely all buildings are connected by galleries.
In the north-west, a cell-refectory building has been preserved. Today, this part of the complex is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Unfortunately, it is slowly falling into disrepair.
History of Creation
John the Baptist Monastery is a rather ancient building. After so many events, there is practically no documentary evidence of its creation. Therefore, in some sources, the data is slightly different.
The first mention of this monastery can be found in the surviving chronicles of 1415. They described the birth of Prince Vasily II the Dark. Initially, this monastery was male. And only in 1530, after being transferred to Kulishki, in honor of the birth of Ivan Vasilievich, he was consecrated as a woman.
The main holiday, on the day of which the festive exits of the kings were made, was August 29th. It was dedicated to the beheading of John the Baptist. Also Moscow princes visited the monastery on Easter. Then alms and colorful Easter eggs were distributed.
There was another name - St. John the Baptist stauropegial convent. Over time, it acquired new complexes and lands donated by kings and those in power. However, he is just as oftencollapsed as it was built. And at all times this holy place had powerful and virtuous patrons.
History of the monastery in Tsarist Russia
Despite the centuries-old past, the St. John the Baptist Monastery gained its greatest recognition during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich. She and Tsarina Evdokia Lukyanovna annually made festive exits to the monastery on the day of commemoration of John the Baptist. During these times, a refectory, a stone bell tower were completed and a new bell was cast.
At the same time, the tradition began to take root for servicemen and princely families to bury loved ones in the monastery. The monastery was maintained on the contributions of these families, as well as deductions from the sovereign's treasury.
Significant changes in the architecture and general life of the John the Baptist Convent underwent during the reign of Peter I. Then a decree was adopted to replace numerous wooden cells with stone ones. Over time, the very social composition of the monastics also changed. Now more and more people from the merchant class and the clergy began to lead the monastery.
After the burning of Moscow and the abolition of many monasteries, the John the Baptist Monastery was able to recover and even renew itself. This happened thanks to St. Philaret and Maria Mazurina.
USSR period
With the advent of "people's" power, Christianity and any other religion and its ministers were severely persecuted. The inhabitants of the Forerunner Monastery were also persecuted. The new government decided to set up special concentration camps in the monastery.
It was he who was the first to be closed to parishioners. The authorities seized all bank accounts, confiscated movable and even real property, and also closed the operating infirmary. Thanks to denunciations, nuns and novices were subjected to persecution and all sorts of infringements.
And already in 1931, all its remaining inhabitants were arrested on unfounded and very common charges of anti-Soviet agitation. Many of the nuns were exiled to Kazakhstan.
By the 80s, almost the entire territory of the monastery was given over to municipal and administrative needs. Most of it belonged and belongs to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a departmental pool and bath. There was also a shooting range, a printing house and a repository of a special state archive on the territory.
Only after the collapse of the USSR, John the Baptist Monastery was gradually restored. Gradually, parishioners and ministers returned to it, and the previously occupied premises began to be vacated.
Famous inhabitants of the monastery
At different times, a variety of people from different classes and different ages have visited here. And, of course, they each had their own reasons. Believers came here, with a difficult fate or to atone for sins.
During the years of tsarism, the St. John the Baptist Convent was almost completely supported by the money of the Grand Dukes. All the we althy class made certain contributions, participated in the life of the monastery. By the end of their lives, members of noble families left here. Here they buried their dead relatives. And the monastery became a family home for those in power.
But not only volunteers were tonsured. By royal decree, people objectionable and dangerous to the authorities were exiled to the monastery. One of the most famous inhabitants at the turn of the troubled XVIII-XIX centuries was the famous Princess Augusta Tarakanova. She, as the direct heir to the throne, the daughter of the secret marriage of Elizaveta Petrovna and Razumovsky, was forcibly tonsured and deprived of the opportunity to live freely.
The well-known tormentor of the peasants, S altychikha, was also imprisoned here. More than 140 ruined souls are on her conscience. Daria S altykova spent 11 years in the crypt. Then she was forced to live in a special open cage, in full view of all parishioners.
There were also their holy fools who were revered as saints. For example, the story tells about the monk Martha. She was revered by the wife of Mikhail Fedorovich, as an assistant in childbirth. And even after the death of Martha, the custom remained to serve on her grave for the successful resolution of pregnancy.
Shrines of John the Baptist Monastery
Faith brings forth many wonderful things. Of course, the place for the construction of the monastery was chosen by ordinary people, and not by signs, like the Leushinsky John the Baptist Convent. But for so many years, thanks to faith and worship, the Moscow monastery has earned the glory of miraculous.
During the centuries-old history, this place has accumulated enough items for worship. In addition to miraculous icons, the monastery has pieces of holy relics:
- St. John the Baptist.
- St. Alexis.
- Apostle Matthew.
- St. NicholasMiracle Worker.
- Healer Great Martyr Panteleimon and many others.
John the Baptist Convent (Vyazma)
Many churches and temples have been built in the name of the great Prophet. In Russia, in addition to the Moscow monastery of the same name, the John the Baptist convent (Vyazma) is also known. It was founded in the Smolensk region, according to various sources, in 1536 or 1542
At the beginning of the history of the monastery, it was visited by Russian sovereigns Boris Godunov and Ivan the Terrible. He experienced the period of Troubles and wars almost the same as other monasteries. It has been robbed and destroyed many times, and it is no longer possible to see its original appearance.
In the 18th century, a special seminary was organized here, and then the Theological School. During the Soviet era, most of the complex was destroyed, and restoration work is ongoing to this day.
