The Holy Vvedensky Convent (Ivanovo), located in the center, is an undoubted decoration of this wonderful town. A feature that distinguishes the monastery from many others is that it was founded not so long ago, and to this day its construction continues. Of particular interest is the history of the revival of the temple. The events that have already taken place in our days are rich in excellent examples of Christian achievement.
Rise
Like other churches, the Holy Vvedensky Convent has its own history, which began not so long ago - in the last century, and is associated with the church, which is popularly called Red. The solemn consecration of the territory of the future temple took place in the spring of 1901.
Construction ended in 1907. The author of the project was Peter Begen, a fairly well-known architect in those days. Funds for the construction were donated by merchant families, owners of the city's factories. A special contribution to the creation of the church was made by the then mayorP. N. Derbenev. On June 21 of the same year, the temple was consecrated. It provided for three thrones:
- Great Martyr Theodore Tyrone;
- St. Nicholas the Wonderworker;
- main - Introduction of the Blessed Virgin, thanks to which the monastery got its name, since this part occupies the main territory of the temple.
St.
Since 1925, Zosima Trubachev, appointed by Bishop Augustine, has become the rector of the church. During this difficult time, the priest carried out his ascetic service, despite the many obstacles that the Soviet government, renovationists, and atheists put in place. There was also no unity among the parishioners. Father Zosima always defended and guarded the church entrusted to him, tried to strengthen his flock by preaching, being an example of Christian piety.
The Age of Oblivion
This sad fate did not pass the Holy Vvedensky Convent in Ivanovo, whose church in those days was just a parish. In the autumn of 1935, the Soviet government handed over the church to the Renovationists. As is known from history, this organization was created with the aim of destroying the true canonical church, which in those days the Bolsheviks called Tikhonovskaya.
In 1938, the authorities closed the temple, referring to the fact that the townspeople did not attend it. All the magnificent decoration of the church was plundered or destroyed, and the building itselfwas used as an area archive.
Start of revival
The first efforts to resume worship were made during the war years. In 1942, having collected signatures, believers turned to local authorities with a request to open the temple. Numerous petitions and appeals were submitted to representatives of the authorities. Unfortunately, all these attempts came to nothing. The party leadership of the city considered that the opening of the temple was not an urgent need for Soviet citizens.
Implacable struggle for the temple
In 1988, attempts to return the temple resumed. With the blessing of Father Ambrose, twenty people of believers were gathered - this is exactly the condition that was set by the Soviets for the opening of the church. In the autumn of the same year, the Council for Religious Affairs finally gave its positive answer in the form of a document allowing the community to be registered.
However, the victory was achieved only on paper. For the next two years, with the blessing of Bishop Ambrose, the church community persistently fought for the Red Church. The believers wrote to various authorities, Vladyka himself turned to the authorities, but there was no answer.
These events culminated in the spring of 1989. March 17 was supposed to hold a rally for the Red Church. The authorities refused, and on the 21st, not far from her, near the Sovremennik cinema, four representatives of the church community settled down, who went on a hunger strike in favor of opening the temple. A day later, they were forcibly transported to the territory of the Red Church. The hunger strike lasted ten days. All this time, women were threatened with violence,there were people who spat at them, the authorities threatened Father Ambrose and his followers through newspapers, protests were organized against the demands of believers with slogans calling for an end to the hunger strike.
Prediction of St. Leontius
All these events attracted the attention of not only Ivanovo residents, but also residents of other cities of both the USSR and the whole world. This was talked about in the news. Christian communities from different countries began to collect signatures in defense of believers.
The words of Archimandrite Leonty Mikhailovsky came true, who, anticipating a long struggle for the temple, said that it would be given away, but the whole world would have to shout about it.
Women who went on a hunger strike were sent by force to the hospital, where the secretary of the regional executive committee talked to them for a long time. The official urged them to stop the protest. The women agreed only after promising that the issue would be resolved as soon as possible.
Resonance did not ensure a quick victory, but made it possible to find many like-minded people who contributed to the fact that the Holy Vvedensky Convent (Ivanovo) was finally opened. And by common efforts on Holy Week in 1990, the keys to the church were finally given to the church community.
First service in a dilapidated church
Fr. Ambrose held this service on Easter night. The service was held in the quiet glow of the stars under the open sky. The condition of the temple was deplorable: dilapidated walls studded with logs, broken windows, leaking roof. However, the main thing was accomplished - the service to the Lord began. A long journey of seventy years wasovercome, and the fight is finally over.
Day by day, the church was gradually restored. Today you can see for yourself how the Holy Vvedensky Convent (Ivanovo) has been transformed. The photos show the amazing beauty of the temple, which, of course, is the decoration of the city. Construction and finishing work on the territory of the monastery continues to this day. New buildings of the monastery are growing, the walls of the temple itself are being transformed and updated.
The beginning of the life of the monastery
The parish church stayed for a short period. A small group of his spiritual children formed around Father Amrosy, expressing their desire to serve God. And already in March 1991, the archimandrite filed a petition to bless the creation of the monastery. And on March 27, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II, the Holy Vvedensky Convent began its spiritual mission. Six months later, the first tonsure was made.
With the joint efforts of the nuns of the monastery, parishioners and donors, the church was quickly restored. Several two-story buildings and a bell tower were built next to it. All buildings were built taking into account the architectural features of the Red Temple. The result was the emergence of a beautiful architectural ensemble in the heart of the city. So the Ivanovo Svyato-Vvedensky Monastery (female) settled here. This monastery began to expand over time due to the farmsteads that were organized in the Ivanovo region.
Foundermonastery - Archimandrite Ambrose (Yurasov)
Ivanovo (Holy Vvedensky Convent) today has become a refuge for more than 200 nuns. Archimandrite Ambrose instructs and spiritually nourishes the monastery. Having overcome the resistance of the authorities in the 1990s and opened the Red Church for believers, to this day he remains a true warrior of Christ: he actively preaches and instructs, writes books, and broadcasts Orthodox.
The topics of his conversations concern the most difficult moments of the Christian faith. About salvation, about repentance, why it is necessary to do good, how to heal a sick soul - these and many other questions are raised by Father Ambrose in his radio broadcasts. For this, he even gained fame as the "confessor of Radonezh".
Holy Vvedensky Convent: Metochion
There are several today:
- Preobrazhenskoye in the village of Doronino;
- Pokrovskoye, which is located in the landowner's estate of the village of Zlatoust;
- Ilinskoe, located in the city of Gavrilov Posad;
- Another one is also being restored, which is located in the village of Stupkino, it was named Sergius Hermitage in honor of St. Sergius Abbot of Radonezh.
Each farmstead is a separate story. Temples and estates were restored, new buildings were erected. Today, farmsteads cover not only house, parish churches and agricultural land. The Pokrovskoye Compound is preparing to open a boarding school for girls: a three-story building has already been erected. They also try hereto create all conditions for the development of long-forgotten crafts. The sisters of the monastery help orphanages and baby houses located in the surrounding areas.
Modern life of the monastery
Despite the fact that the future nuns won back their monastery, the Holy Vvedensky Convent (Ivanovo), they do not have to calm down, because the struggle continues to this day. Today there is no more godless Soviet power, but there are other problems. The nuns, praying for world peace, do not stop working for the glory of God.
A feature of this young monastery is that the nuns, led by their mentors, are active in social work: they visit prisons and colonies, help the sick and infirm, take care of the elderly and disabled children.
The sisters of the monastery participate in the work of the prison commission, often visiting the prisoners. There are representatives of the monastery and in the composition of the commission involved in the canonization of saints.
Today, the Holy Vvedensky Convent (Ivanovo) seeks to help the needy, alcohol and drug addicts, prisoners and those released, the homeless and the childless. The helpline (+7 4932 5898 88), which can be called by anyone who needs support or help, is a clear confirmation of this.
Everyone can visit the monastery, which is located in the city center - not far from the railway station, a ten minute walk. If you have to get from another areacity, then a stop near the Sovremennik cinema can serve as a guide.
