At a distance of several kilometers from Rostov, the walls of the Varnitsky Monastery rise, which is the courtyard of the famous Trinity-Sergius Lavra. In view of such a high status, the general leadership of the life of the monastery is carried out directly by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Let us turn to the wanderers of the history of this hearth of Orthodoxy, lit several centuries ago in the homeland of the “great sad man of the Russian land” - St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Abode born almost six centuries ago
As in the history of many Russian monasteries, very little information has been preserved about the early period of the existence of the Trinity-Sergius Varnitsky Monastery. It is generally accepted that it was founded in 1427, that is, only thirty-five years after the blessed death of a native of those places - St. Sergius of Radonezh, and five after finding his relics.
This suggests that in those days many of those who were honored to see the saint of God with their own eyes and hear the stories of contemporaries abouthis pious parents Cyril and Mary. The name of the founder of the monastery remained unknown.
Entrepreneurs from the banks of Pesosha and Pechna
Varnitsa monastery was founded in the neighborhood of the settlement, located near a small settlement, the original name of which has not been preserved. It is only known that in the scribe books of the 16th and 17th centuries. it was officially called Nikolskaya by the name of the church of St. Nicholas located on its territory.
The main occupation of the Slobozhans was the extraction of s alt, for which there were s alt pans along the banks of two rivers flowing nearby - Pesosha and Pechna. Over time, their fishing fell into decay, and the settlement, which began to empty, gradually turned into a small village. However, the name once given to it - Varnitsa, is firmly rooted among the people, reminiscent of the former occupation of the inhabitants.
In an atmosphere of desperate need
The decline of the commercial activity of the weaklings had a detrimental effect on the lives of the inhabitants of the Varnitsky Sergius Monastery, whose well-being largely depended on their voluntary donations. It so happened that the Lord did not send the monastery any great ascetics, to whom crowds of people would flock from everywhere, nor the relics of the holy saints of God, nor miraculous icons that bring healing from ailments. That is why the monastery treasury was always empty, which doomed the brethren to a half-starved and almost beggarly existence. It should be noted that even at the beginning of the 17th century, when stone churches were erected everywhere in Russia, the inhabitants of the Varnitsky monastery continued toworship in a shabby wooden church.
On the verge of starvation
In the turbulent time, called the Time of Troubles, the Polish invaders seized the monastery and burned all its buildings. They took out their anger for the fact that there was nothing to rob in it on the monks themselves, giving many of them a fierce death. Even after the expulsion of the invaders, the surviving monks for a long time were on the verge of death from hunger and disease.
Their situation partly improved only after in 1624 the sovereign Mikhail Fedorovich sent them a letter of commendation, giving them the right to receive from the treasury, albeit a small, but extremely necessary content. This made it possible to somewhat improve the condition of the inhabitants of the Trinity-Sergius Varnitsky Monastery, but did not save them from constant and hopeless need.
Troubles beyond the strength of women
In the history of the monastery there was a period that lasted from 1725 to 1731, when the brethren were forced to give up their places to the nuns. This happened by order of the Rostov Archbishop Georgy. The male Varnitsky monastery was transformed into a female one, and sisters from the nearby Nativity monastery filled its cells. However, the hardships and deprivations with which the monks had long become accustomed turned out to be beyond the strength of weak women, and they asked for their former place. Their wish was granted, and the men returned to the walls of the monastery.
Further life of the monastery in the XVIII century
During the reign of Catherine II, who carried out large-scale secularization (withdrawal in favor of the state)church lands, many Russian monasteries lost their main source of livelihood. Rostov the Great did not bypass the trouble. Varnitsa monastery in those years was withdrawn from the state, that is, left without state support, but, fortunately, managed to keep, although small, but generating a certain income, land plots. In addition, in the second half of the 18th century, he was actively assisted by voluntary donors from among the local merchant class.
It was during this period that many stone structures were erected, which made up its unique architectural complex. So, on the site of the former wooden church, a monumental stone cathedral, consecrated in honor of the Holy Trinity, grew in the late 70s. Its bell tower has long been the tallest building in Rostov. At the same time, another temple was built in the Varnitsky Monastery, dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, but it was destined to stand for no more than half a century. In 1824, the temple was destroyed by a terrible fire that engulfed the monastery.
Records in an old book
Despite the fact that at the beginning of the next 19th century the monastery suffered significant material damage caused by a hurricane that swept over Rostov and its environs in 1811, in general this century was favorable for him. In a special book designed to record all the significant events in the life of the monastery (it is now in the Rostov Museum), you can find very interesting information about this period.
So, on its pages it is told thatduring the cholera epidemic that raged in 1871 and claimed the lives of many citizens, continuous prayer services were held in the monastery, thanks to which not only the monks, but also the laity who sought salvation within its walls, escaped death.
Charity of Countess Orlova
Opening the book, you can also learn about the beneficence rendered to the monastery by one of the representatives of the highest Petersburg society - Countess Anna Alekseevna Orlova-Chesmenskaya. The maid of honor of the once reigning Empress Catherine II and the daughter of her closest associate, the legendary Count Alexei Orlov, she repeatedly contributed large sums of money to the monastery treasury. At her expense, the brethren managed not only to overhaul the previously built structures, but also to build new ones. An example of this is the stone Vvedenskaya Church, built on the territory of the monastery in 1829.
Almshouse opened in the monastery
An interesting record is also dated 1892, when the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the 500th anniversary of the blessed death of St. Sergius of Radonezh. This significant event was marked by the construction of an almshouse in the monastery, designed to accommodate persons from among the elderly or extremely impoverished clergy.
Thanks to this good undertaking, the ministers of the church, who dedicated their lives to God, but did not acquire earthly goods, got the opportunity to gain a piece of bread and shelter at the end of their days. This record is very important because it shows that the casesthe monasteries recovered so much that the brethren got the opportunity to do charity work.
Under the yoke of godless rulers
The coming to power of the Bolsheviks was a real tragedy for the entire Russian Orthodox Church. Very soon, a wave of anti-religious campaigns swept Rostov as well. The Trinity-Varnitsky Monastery was closed in 1919, but long before that, many inhabitants of the Polotsk Spaso-Efrosinevsky monastery, devastated and plundered in the fall of 1917, found shelter within its walls. Later, they were joined by old people from the abolished city almshouse in Rostov.
Thus, in the cells crowded with hungry people, the monks met March 1919. By order of the new city authorities, their monastery was closed, and they themselves were expelled. This was immediately followed by the seizure of everything that, according to the Bolsheviks, was of value, and the rest, including church books and ancient icons, were ruthlessly destroyed as a relic of the past. Many monks were arrested at the same time and disappeared without a trace in the endless expanses of the Gulag. Those who escaped repression were assigned to the local parish church, which was closed a few years later. The further fate of these people is unknown.
Return to life and light
The spiritual darkness that reigned with the advent of the godless government began to dissipate only after almost seven decades. In the summer of 1989, in the wake of perestroika, the inhabitants of the village of Varnitsa created and registered a religious community,consisting of 110 people. Two nearby church buildings were placed at her disposal. After the completion of the necessary restoration and restoration work, services began to be held in them.
Revival of the monastery
Simultaneously with this leadership of the diocese, vigorous activity was launched aimed at returning the church of the Varnitsky monastery that once operated in Rostov. Due to the fact that the political situation in the country was very favorable to this undertaking, three years later, on the day of the 600th anniversary of the death of St. Sergius of Radonezh, a chapel was erected on the site of the Trinity Cathedral destroyed in 1919, which marked the beginning of the further revival of the monastery.
A powerful impetus that contributed to the successful implementation of all the planned work was the decision of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II to take the Trinity-Sergius Varnitsky Monastery (Rostov) under his patronage. This made it possible, first of all, to resolve the issue related to the transfer of all the buildings that once belonged to the monastery, as well as a number of other legal problems. At the same time, the first rector of the resurgent monastery was appointed. Hegumen Boris (Khramtsov) became them.
The fruits of tireless labor
Today, after almost three decades, the monastery, brought back to life by the labors of the monks and many hundreds of their voluntary assistants, has become one of the largest Orthodox centers in Russia. Its clergy carry out extensive pastoral activities, ministering not onlyresidents of Rostov and nearby settlements, but also numerous pilgrims coming from all over the country. Suffice it to say that the hotel of the Varnitsa Monastery is never empty.
We should especially note the Orthodox gymnasium opened at the monastery, which in recent years has gained wide popularity far beyond the Rostov region. Along with general education subjects, it teaches the Law of God and a number of other religious disciplines, the knowledge of which helps young people to fully feel their unity with the Orthodox Church and turn to the patristic spiritual heritage. For a detailed acquaintance with the conditions of admission, you should contact the address of the monastery: Yaroslavl region, Rostov the Great, Varnitsy village, Varnitskoe highway.
