Russian Athos is the southern outskirts of ancient Kyiv. It was here that the light of Christ's faith, brought by the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, shone for the first time from the height of the hills. Here, in 1071, the Church of God appeared, built by the grandson of the baptist of Russia, Prince Vladimir - Vsevolod Yaroslavovich. The prince loved to hunt in these places, and therefore he called this area the Menagerie. But true glory came to her much later, when the Ionian Monastery built here filled the hills with the ringing of its bells.
First settlers in the holy place
In 1860 Hieromonk of the Vydubytsky Monastery - Jonah found refuge here. The fame of his humble and righteous life soon spread around the surrounding villages and became known in Kyiv itself. Since then, an endless stream of pilgrims has reached out to him. The pious father did not refuse to help anyone. To whom he helped with wise advice, and to whom with fervent prayer. Very many, having visited the elder, went under his spiritual guidance.
Soon two more monks joined him - Hilarion and Gabriel. The three of them lived together, prayed to God, helped the coming people in whatever way they could. There is a legend thatElder Jonah was honored twice to see the Most Holy Theotokos, who appeared here with a host of saints, blessed this place and commanded to build a holy monastery here.
Later, when the Holy Trinity Ioninsky Monastery settled here, the miraculous appearance of the Queen of Heaven was reminiscent of a church built on the spot where her footprints were left in the snow. And it is not surprising that this monastery eventually became one of the centers of the spiritual life of the country, because it was built with the blessing of the Mother of God herself.
But before he raised the domes of his temples to the sky, the Ioninsky Monastery, it took a lot of time and work for its creators. Despite all the piety of such a thing, his opponents turned out to be too zealous, both among officials and even among the clergy. So Father Jonah had to confine himself to building a small skete at the Vydubitsky Monastery.
Pious Sacrifice
But the Most Holy Theotokos not only blessed the creation of the monastery, but sent down help in this good deed. To do this, she chose the wife of the Kyiv Governor-General, Princess Ekaterina Vasilchikova, who was the spiritual daughter of Elder Jonah. The pious woman became a generous donor. For the needs of the future monastery, she donated her country estate, and in addition to it a large sum of money.
But the benefactor did not stop there either. According to the laws of those years, an imperial decree was necessary for the establishment of the monastery, and Vasilchikova went to St. Petersburg. It should be noted that she had a strongally - Metropolitan Filaret of Moscow. This outstanding religious figure entered the history of Russian Orthodoxy as the smartest and most educated person of his time.
A miracle that influenced the will of the emperor
However, the idea of creating a new monastery was received very coldly, both among the higher clergy and in the aristocratic salons of the capital. Not wanting to enter into an argument with anyone, Alexander II postponed the decision of the issue for an indefinite period. And then a miracle happened, because it was not for nothing that the Most Holy Theotokos consecrated the slopes of the Kyiv hills with her appearance.
The refusal to establish a monastery was announced by the sovereign just on the eve of the day when an attempt was made on him by the terrorist Karakozov at the exit from the Summer Garden. Only thanks to a happy accident, or rather, to the Providence of God, the emperor remained unharmed. Seeing this as a command from above, he immediately changed his mind. Thanks to this miracle, a new monastery adorned the Christian world, later called the Ioninsky Monastery.
Building a monastery
When all the formalities were settled, the construction of the monastery began. A characteristic detail - first of all, a hospital, an orphanage and a school were built. And only after that the brethren took care of their own arrangement - the construction of residential cells. This is how the commandments of Christ were once fulfilled in practice. A stone temple was erected in 1871.
His main throne was consecrated in the name of the Holy Life-GivingTrinity, and the side limits: one in honor of the icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands, and the other in the name of all the saints. The now widely used name of the Holy Ioninsky Monastery appeared only after the blessed death of the elder, and then the monastery was called the Holy Trinity.
The spiritual and economic life of the monastery
Over time, economic life expanded widely in the monastery. Various workshops were created for the manufacture of church utensils for their own needs and for sale. In addition, among the monks there were skillful carpenters, coopers, blacksmiths and other artisans who carried out the orders of the people of Kiev. This providence, as well as abundant donations from parishioners, provided the inhabitants of the monastery with everything necessary for life and prayer service. By the way, many of the surrounding residents, working for hire in the monastery economy, thereby gained a livelihood.
But the main thing that is famous for the Ioninsky Monastery today and what made it famous during the life of the Monk Jonah is the endless spiritual labors of the brethren. The holy elder, in conversations with the monks, likened the monastery to a shovel, with which the Almighty rakes human souls out of hellish darkness. The influence of the abbot himself extended far beyond the walls of the monastery. Such was the result of his activity in the field of eldership - the highest monastic feat.
The troubles that befell the monastery after the revolution
With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, hard times began for the monastery. In 1918, extensive construction work was planned on the site where the Holy TrinityIonian Monastery. For the implementation of the project, the demolition of the monastery buildings was supposed. But, as in previous years, the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos saved - collapses of the earth occurred at the site of future work, caused by the presence of underground galleries throughout the territory. The site was declared unsuitable for construction, the monastery was saved.
Before the revolution, the construction of the tallest bell tower in Russia was undertaken on the territory occupied by the Trinity Ioninsky Monastery. Its height was to reach 110 meters. But in the very first post-revolutionary year, the still unfinished building was destroyed by an explosion. Of course, the restoration of her speech could not be. Soon, repressions began against the inhabitants of the monastery. The rector, Archimandrite Filaret, was sent to jail. The empty monastery premises were used by the new government for economic purposes for many years.
In a short period from 1942 to 1949, the monastic life was restored, but then interrupted again for a long forty years. Some of the monks became residents of other monasteries, and some were forced to hide, fleeing the persecution of the godless authorities.
Revival of the monastery
And only with the advent of perestroika, the Ioninsky Monastery began its revival. The service, which has not been held within its walls for so many years, has finally become a reality of the new time. And although the temple building itself was closed, it was carried out right on the porch. The choir of the Ioninsky monastery sang in the open air in the rain and in the bitter cold. Enormous work on the restoration of the monastery lies behind the shoulders of monks and laity. buy temple atits pristine beauty strikes the eye with the beauty of wall painting and decoration.
As in previous years, Sunday school, catechization courses, and many more useful and necessary institutions opened their doors to everyone. Particular attention is paid to work with young people. The Youth of the Ioninsky Monastery (as it is called here) is a spiritual conversation over a cup of tea, held every week. Their importance in the Christian upbringing of young people cannot be overestimated.
The monastery is waiting for its guests
Under its hospitable roof, the revived Ioninsky Monastery is glad to welcome people of all ages. How to get to it? You can use a trolleybus or fixed-route taxi No. 14. They go directly from the Kyiv railway station. The final stop will be the Botanical Garden. If you use your own transport, the map of city highways will easily tell you the route.
