On the left bank of the Volga, in the Lyskovsky district of the Nizhny Novgorod region, there is the Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery, the photos of which, presented in the article, fully confirm that it is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful in Russia. The snow-white walls of the monastery, as if rising from the water, involuntarily bring to mind the image of the fabulous city of Kitezh, and the blasphemy coming from behind them only strengthens the association. However, such marvelous beauty hides a long and dramatic story.
How the Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery was born
The chronicle reports that in 1435 the monk of the Caves Nizhny Novgorod monastery Macarius, with the blessing of the abbot, left his monastery and retired to the desert on the shore of the Yellow Lake, located near the Volga. By the name of the lake and the whole area was called the Yellow Waters. There, among the forests and fields, he cut down a cell for himself and, having renounced the vain world, indulged in fasting and prayers.
But it just so happened that the light of God's truth is never hidden, and soon the news of the ascetic spread throughoutdistrict, and people were drawn to his lonely cell on the shore of the lake. Some, having made a prayer with him, returned to the world, while others, having received permission for that, remained and arranged their dwellings nearby. Soon, by joint efforts, the monks cut down a wooden church, consecrating it in the name of the Holy Trinity. Thus, a monastic community was gradually formed, in the place of which, many years later, the Holy Trinity Makaryevsky Zheltovodsky Monastery stood on the banks of the Volga.
The destruction of the monastery and the captivity of its inhabitants
But the Monk Macarius and his brethren were not destined to live in this place for long. Only four years have passed since they settled on the Yellow Waters, when the Lord allowed the Tatar Khan Ulu-Mukhammed to raid the Nizhny Novgorod lands and, together with other holy monasteries, destroy and set fire to the newly created monastery. Many monks were martyred by adversaries, and those who were passed by the Tatar sabers and arrows were driven away in full.
Among the other slaves was the Monk Macarius. And to be sold into slavery, if not for the formidable khan. The infidel was struck by the deepest humility, poured into the whole guise of a captive monk, and unearthly grace that shone in his eyes. After asking about him the soldiers who drove the captives, he heard from them that in front of him was a man who did no harm to anyone and tried all the way to do good not only to his comrades in misfortune, but even to those who drove him, bound, along a dusty road.
Unexpected freedom and new hardships
Struck by what he heard, the khan ordered the guards to untie the meek monk and grant him freedom. He explained his decision by the fact that God - the same for all, regardless of what faith a person lives in - will inevitably punish everyone who harms such a righteous man. Having released Macarius, he, at the request of the latter, allowed numerous more slaves to leave with him, including several women with children.
In only one thing, the khan was inexorable - he forbade the restoration of the devastated monastery on the Yellow Lake. No one knew that one hundred and ninety years would pass, and the Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery would be reborn in its former place, but at that time the monks, who received freedom in such a miraculous and unexpected way, had no choice but to set off in search of a new place for their monastery.
Wandering's End
Long and difficult was their way to their native land. On the way, Saint Macarius and his companions came across a wonderful place located on the banks of the Sviyaga River. It was just right for arranging a new monastery. Here, nature itself favored them, creating a small hill, surrounded on three sides by hills and washed by the river. But this territory belonged to the Kazan Khan, and he, having learned about the appearance of Orthodox monks in his possessions, ordered them to leave.
The monks walked for a long time, until finally they reached the Kostroma lands and stopped in the city of Unzha. Those who returned from Tatar captivity were always received in Russia with cordiality, and since the former captives were also God's people, they were treated with special sympathy, and Macarius - withunderlined respect.
Foundation of a new monastery
But far from the thirst for worldly honors, the reverend considered it good to retire to the wilderness. There, fifteen miles from the city, he founded a new, already second Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery. The history of its creation exactly repeated everything that happened a few years ago on Yellow Lake. Soon the solitude of the hermit was violated by those wishing to share the monastic feat with him, and as a result, cells reappeared in the dense forest, followed by a wooden church, and, finally, a community was formed.
By that time, the Monk Macarius had reached an advanced age, and in 1444, when he was ninety-five years old, he peacefully reposed. Shortly before this, anticipating the imminent parting with the brethren, he bequeathed to his spiritual children to return, when possible, to the Yellow Lake, to the place where the Tatar Khan had captured them, and to transfer the Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery there.
Murom monk - the executor of the commandment of St. Macarius
It's been almost two centuries. And the time has come when the Lord blessed the honest monks to re-found their cells on the shores of the Yellow Lake. This event is associated with the name of Avraamy Zheltovodsky, a monk of one of the Murom monasteries, who has not yet been canonized, but who has earned immortal fame for his deeds.
Since childhood, aching with his soul about the once devastated monastery, he often prayed before the icon of St. Macarius, asking for his heavenly protection in its restoration. Exactlyit is known that the pious monk received a certain sign that testified that his prayer was heard, and that the Grace of God would assist him in this good deed.
The revival of the monastery and its official status
Having prepared a list from the icon through which he received this good news, Abraham and several monks from the monastery brethren arrived at the Yellow Lake and, earnestly praying to the Lord, began to restore the monastery on the old ashes. Local residents, wishing to contribute to this charitable cause, provided them with assistance.
Much credit for the success of such an important undertaking belongs to the pious Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, the first sovereign of the Romanov dynasty. Having visited the Unzhensky monastery in 1619 and learned about the innermost desire of the monks to perform their monastic deeds in the place where the Monk Macarius founded his first monastery, he rendered them every assistance. The sovereign not only supported them by his decree, but provided significant material assistance. The status of the monastery was finally confirmed in 1628 by the letter of the Moscow Patriarch Filaret.
Prosperous years of the monastery
But not only earthly lords rendered their assistance to the monastery. The Grace of God was abundantly sent down to him. By the will of the Almighty, the Volga eventually changed its course, completely absorbing the Yellow Lake, and the Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery, thus, ended up on the banks of the great Russian river, which was one of the main navigable arteries of Russia.
So comfortablethe location of the monastery contributed to the fact that over time, fairs began to be organized on the lands belonging to it, which were called Makarievsky after the name of the monastery. As owners of the territory, the monks had the right to collect trading fees - very significant amounts that allowed them to build many stone buildings in the monastery in a short time and significantly equip their life.
The decline and abolition of the monastery
This fertile time continued until 1817, until the Lord allowed the fairs, which so abundantly replenished the monastery treasury, to be moved to Nizhny Novgorod. There they took on an even greater scope, while retaining their former name. However, the monastery of Macarius Zheltovodsky, having lost its main source of income, began to decline. Over time, he received the status of a freelancer.
Trouble, as you know, does not come alone, and after a few years there was a fire in its walls that destroyed much of what had been built over the years by several generations of monks. The Holy Synod did not consider it necessary to restore the monastery, and it was abolished. Icons and utensils saved from the fire were ordered to be transferred to the Nizhny Novgorod Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky.
The monastery was restored only in 1883, after the accession to the throne of the God-loving sovereign Alexander III, but already as the Trinity Makariev Zheltovodsky convent. From now on, the sisters became its inhabitants, who wished to leave the vanity of the perishable world and with all their souls surrender toserving God.
Disaster of the seventeenth year
From the documents that have come down to us, it is known that by the beginning of the Apocalypse, which was the year 1917 for Russia, more than three hundred nuns lived within the walls of the monastery, and it was among the most equipped in the country. However, in their attitude to the monastery, and indeed to Orthodoxy in general, the Bolsheviks differed little from Khan Ulu-Mohammed, who once ruined the Makariev monastery.
As five centuries ago the caravans of slaves moved along the dusty Russian roads, in the same way in the 20th century endless echelons of the repressed were pulled to the north and northeast, among which were mournful women in monastic cassocks. But, unlike the steppe nomads, who once granted freedom to the Monk Macarius, and with him hundreds of other Russians, the khans of the current horde had no mercy, and many of their captives never again could see their native places.
Monastic buildings have since been used for household purposes. At one time, a livestock farm was located on the territory of the former monastery, and cattle were kept in the premises, which were previously God's temples.
Time of long-awaited changes
But the reproach allowed by the Lord for human sins did not last forever. The fresh wind of perestroika also reached the banks of the Volga. In 1991, by government decree, the Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery, whose churches had by that time fallen into disrepair, was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. Since that time, its active restoration began.
A few months later, the Holy Synod issued a resolution that the Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery resumes its activities, interrupted by decades of atheistic obscurantism. Its first inhabitants were twenty-five nuns who wished to move into it from other monasteries in the country.
Today Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery, whose address is: Nizhny Novgorod region, Lyskovsky district, pos. Makaryevo is one of the most famous and most visited by pilgrim monasteries in Russia. Every year it receives hundreds of thousands of guests from different parts of the country. And this is natural, since here, on the banks of the Volga, visitors become witnesses of the unity of the spiritual greatness of the Orthodox faith with the unique beauty of its temple architecture.
The territory of the monastery is surrounded by powerful fortress walls reinforced with watchtowers. Inside them, the architectural center is the majestic Trinity Cathedral, during the construction of which the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin was taken as a model. In addition, the monastery complex includes five more churches built at different times, but united by a common compositional design.
What people who visited Zheltovodsky Makariev Monastery write about
Reviews of those who happened to visit the monastery can be read in the monastic book specially designed for this purpose, as well as on the information resources belonging to the monastery. Many note the high level of organization of worship in churches and pay special attention to the professionalism of the choir, made up of the sisters of the monastery.
Often the reviews also mention that withwith what courtesy and kindness the nuns respond to any question or request of the guests of the monastery. In the vast majority of records, one can find an expression of admiration for the unearthly beauty that reigns in the monastery, where the ancient walls and domes of snow-white temples ascending to the sky merged in unbreakable harmony with the mighty river, which has become a symbol of Russia since ancient times.
You can get to the monastery by boat from Nizhny Novgorod. Those who wish to use land transport should get from the Nizhny Novgorod bus station Shcherbinka to the city of Lyskovo, and then continue on to the monastery by ferry departing from its pier.
