Practically all the monasteries of Kyiv are picturesque, beautiful and unique in their own way. Almost all of them are silent witnesses of those historical events that took place in Kyiv over the past thousand years. Let's start by listing the most famous monasteries - Vvedensky, Ioninsky Holy Trinity, Holy Intercession (Goloseevsky), Holy Trinity (Kitaeva Hermitage) and, of course, the famous Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. They are followed by the most famous women's monasteries in Kyiv: Pokrovsky, Florovsky Svyato-Voznesensky, St. Panteleimonovsky (Feofaniya). It is impossible to describe each in two lines, let's focus on only two, the history of which can surprise anyone.
Vvedensky Monastery (Kyiv)
One of the most beautiful monasteries in Kyiv is the male Vvedensky Monastery of the UOC (MP). It is located at 42 Moskovskaya Street. In 1996, the parish church was reorganized into the Vvedensky Monastery. Kyiv is rich in monasteries, but this one is special and has a unique history.
Egorova Matrena Alexandrovna, the widow of an officer who died in the Crimean War, moved to Kyiv from St. Petersburg. She began to buy up all the real estate in the Pechersky district of Kyiv. Over 16years, she practically bought two streets (Moskovskaya and Rybalskaya). In 1877, Yegorova petitioned Metropolitan Philotheus to allow him to open a community for 33 widows and orphans.
In 1878 the monastery was opened. But Matrona herself did not become abbess, she took the tonsure and received the name Dimitra (in honor of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica). In early March 1878, while in St. Petersburg, she died. She was temporarily buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, but then, according to her dying will, she was reburied in Kyiv in the Vvedensky community in the tomb church on the ground floor.
Opening of the monastery
Matrona did not live to see the consecration of the temple, which took place on November 14 (27). Abbess Evfalia became the new leader of the community.
On June 17 (30) the monastery church was consecrated in honor of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica. And in 1892, the nun Cleopatra began to lead the community. By the beginning of XX, the number of nuns-sisters had reached 118 people.
During the years of the revolution, the monastery was closed, the nuns were repressed, and the remains of Dimitra were buried at the Zverinetsky cemetery. The monastery building housed a club for several years.
All this time the monastery was opened and closed. Here it should be noted that the monasteries of Kyiv have that spiritual power that helps, heals and simply does not leave anyone indifferent. And here is one example of this.
In the autumn of 1992, the icon of the Mother of God appeared in the temple again, called "Look for humility." It was brought by the schema-nun Theodora, she got this holy relic from the priest of the Vvedensky Monastery BorisKrasnitsky, who was repressed in 1937. Schema-nun Theodora kept the icon in the Florovsky Monastery for 55 years.
Miracles
The real miracle happened in early September 1993. On the glass covering the icon, the image of the Mother of God was suddenly imprinted, although the icon did not come into contact with the glass. Scientists have proven that the image of the Mother of God with a baby on glass is not made by hands. From the icon itself and from the impression, people began to receive healing.
On August 21, 1996, under the guidance and blessing of the Metropolitan of Kyiv, His Beatitude Vladimir, the relics of the holy nun Dimitra were uncovered, which were returned from the Zverinets cemetery back to the monastery. On April 18, 2008, nun Dimitra was canonized as a locally venerated saint.
Holy Intercession Monastery (Kyiv)
Another pearl of Kyiv monasteries is the Intercession Convent of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP). It is located at: Bekhterevsky lane, 15. It was founded on January 11, 1989 by Grand Duchess Romanova Alexandra Petrovna, wife of the brother of Tsar Alexander II. Being expelled from home by her husband, she moved from St. Petersburg to Kyiv, where she began to create a monastic community. She donated all her savings to the monastery. Over 20 years, about 30 buildings were rebuilt. Among them - a shelter for the blind and disabled, an outpatient clinic, a hospital with surgical and therapeutic departments and a free pharmacy. He equippedhospitals with modern equipment. The first x-ray machine first appeared in this monastery too. The hospital received 5020 patients, medicines were given free of charge, 2298 operations were performed in surgery. The Grand Duchess very often herself assisted surgeons. She passed away to the Lord in a convent in mid-April 1900, and her work was continued by others.
Projection
This Kyiv nunnery occupies an impressive area and unique pseudo-Russian architecture. It was designed by Nikolaev V. N. The first stone of the foundation of the cathedral was laid by Tsar Nicholas II, the second by his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, and the third by Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna herself. The cathedral took 15 years to build. On May 9, 1911, Bishop Pavel of Chigirinsky consecrated its main altar.
The princess herself died of a serious illness, she was buried in the monastery garden next to the Church of the Intercession. A simple wooden cross, made according to the will of the princess herself, was placed over her grave.
In 1925 the monastery was closed. It will be opened only in 1941 with the assistance of the nun Epistimia and Archbishop Anthony (Abashidze). From 1943 to 1948 there will be a hospital and an infirmary here. In 1981, the Nikolsky Cathedral was badly damaged by fire, lightning struck the roof, and it caught fire. Then it was repaired for a long time, and it already acquired its original appearance in 2006-2010.
In the 90s, according to archival drawings, the Intercession Church was rebuilt from stone, the domes and internal painting were restored. The temple was consecrated in 1999.
In conclusion of the topic, I would like to note that the monasteries of Kyiv have that powerful spiritual energy that attracts and leaves an indispensable desire to return again.
