The Christian cultural heritage of the Russian Federation is very great. The most beautiful temples and cathedrals towering above the modern buildings of cities testify to the well-established ancient canons of the Orthodox faith. Having passed the difficult tests of history, Christian relics have survived and retained their value to this day, delighting many parishioners and tourists with their unsurpassed beauty.
Most of the Orthodox churches were built by our ancestors in honor of certain miraculous spiritual images that influenced the course of the history of the country's development.
One of the most picturesque Christian objects of cultural heritage in modern times is the Moscow Donskoy Monastery, the icon of the Mother of God for which became the basis of a majestic construction.
Location of the monastery
The majestic monastery is located on the Donskaya Square of the capital of Russia, not far from the Shabalovskaya metro station.
The territory occupied by the monastery parish unites several Orthodox churches: Alexander Svirsky, George the Victorious, Archangel Michael, a hospital church, a largeand the small cathedrals of the Don Icon of the Mother of God, John of the Ladder, John Chrysostom, Tikhon of Moscow and the gate church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God.
The historical significance of the Don Icon of the Mother of God
Donskoy Temple was erected in honor of the Mother of God. It is the picturesque Donskaya Icon of the Mother of God that is the shrine that saved Moscow from the invasion of the Crimean Tatar troops during the reign of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich. In 1591, before the onset of enemy troops, a service was held around the city with this icon, the next day the Russian army won.
The miracle work of the icon of the Mother of God is also described in early historical events. So, in 1552, Ivan the Terrible himself prayed for her intercession before the Kazan military campaign.
Many historians even associate the victory of the Don Cossacks in the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380 with the icon. It was on the eve of the battle that the Don Icon of the Mother of God was brought to the soldiers from the city of Sirotin and handed over to Prince Dmitry Ivanovich of Moscow. It was with it that he blessed his army for victory.
Interesting facts
The ancient original of the miraculous icon in modern times is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery.
The Don Icon of the Mother of God is double. The face of the Mother with Jesus in the style of Tenderness is depicted on the front.
And on the reverse side - the Assumption of the Virgin.
The true author of holy imagesconsidered an adherent of Theophanes the Greek. And many attribute the icon to the works of the most outstanding master of painting.
The Don Icon of the Mother of God is not only a symbol of military victories, but also has the ability to heal many ailments, which is why it is classified as a miraculous shrine.
From the original of the icon, several lists were made, the artistic decoration of which looks more attractive than the original itself. The Don Icon of the Mother of God (photo below) is depicted on a golden rich background, expressing the great significance of this image for believers.
In the seventeenth century, a precious salary was made for the marvelous icon, in which she was dressed. But the most beautiful decoration was looted by Napoleon's troops in 1812.
Historical past of the monastery
The construction of the temple is attributed to 1591-1593. It began with the construction of the so-called now small cathedral. The Church of the Don Icon of the Mother of God did not differ in prosperity, its appearance was similar to simple churches of that time.
Only during the reign of Catherine, work was organized on the construction of a new Temple and the reconstruction of old premises, a beautiful fence rose around the buildings. The church parish developed, owned a huge territory on which it was engaged in agriculture. It is the seventeenth century that is the most favorable for the formation of the Christian faith, which was followed very strictly by the queen, during whose reign the temple was considered the richest and hadsignificant importance in the historical and political life of the country.
During the war with Napoleon, the most beautiful Temple of the Don Icon of the Mother of God was plundered by the French. But, despite this, its walls survived, the monastic life in it was in full swing until 1920. After that, with the onset of revolutionary anti-religious times, the monastery was closed for worship, all important documents were sent to the archive, and the building itself was used to organize anti-religious exhibitions.
In the 90s, the temple was transferred under the authority of the Moscow Patriarchate and is now functioning according to its Orthodox purpose. To this day, the Don Icon of the Mother of God is mainly worship before God in this monastery, built in her honor.
Beautiful architecture
The Temple of the Don Icon of the Mother of God has a beautiful baroque fence with exquisite tiles and twelve towers, reflecting the rich essence of the monastery. The Great Donskoy Cathedral is executed in the Ukrainian style, the emphasis in the building is on non-canonical architectural solutions. But the small cathedral belongs to the Godunov era, which was characterized by the elevation of the main dome of the building on rounded kokoshniks.
All buildings within the monastery were built gradually and cover the historical period from 1591 to the end of the twentieth century.
Christian heritage of the monastery
The main holy values of the temple are: the Don Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, which werediscovered only in 1992, while extinguishing a fire after a provoked arson of the monastery.
The modern purpose of the temple
Thanks to such a Christian attraction, Orthodox believers do not forget the miraculous deeds of the icon for many centuries, worshiping her. In the cathedral erected in her honor, a prayer always sounds, the Don Icon of the Mother of God is a divine symbol of peace on Russian soil, which to this day has the ability to protect, heal and give strength in matters related to resistance to evil intent.
organizes study tours around the monastery, including pilgrimages to Russia and Europe.
