In the XIII century, Prince Daniel, one of the sons of Alexander Nevsky, five kilometers from the Kremlin, on the banks of the Moscow River, founded the Danilovsky Monastery. In Moscow, he became the first men's monastery. The wooden church erected on its territory was dedicated to Daniel the Stylite.
Prince Daniel
Prince Daniel was born in Vladimir-on-Klyazma in 1261. In 1272, by lot, the Moscow principality, which was poor at that time, passed to him. During his reign, he proved himself to be a meek and peace-loving statesman. Prince Daniel participated in the war only once, defeating a Tatar detachment in the vicinity of Pereslavl Ryazan, sent by Prince Konstantin to annex Moscow lands. Having won, he, contrary to all expectations, did not capture Ryazan. Prince Vladimir, who was taken prisoner, was kept in very good conditions until reconciliation. Daniel's wisdom and mercy were noticed, and he became very respected by other princes and common people.
In 1269 he becomes the Grand Duke of All Russia. Prince Daniel ruled for about 30 years. By the way, exactlyhe laid the foundation for the unification of Russia, fragmented at that time, around a single capital - Moscow. The prince died at the age of 42 and was buried in the Danilov monastery founded by him.
History of the monastery
Danilovsky Monastery experienced many different events during its existence. In Moscow in 1330, a new monastery, Spasskaya, was founded at the Church of the Savior on Bora (Kremlin). The brethren of the Danilovsky Monastery were transferred here. In 1490, the Spassky Monastery was moved to Krutitsky Hill and named Novospassky. The Danilov monastery was in complete desolation for a long time. It began to revive only under Ivan the Terrible. It was during his reign that the first stone temple was erected here.
Such a disaster as a fire also affected the ancient Danilov Monastery. In Moscow at the beginning of the seventeenth century there were troubled times. The monastery was set on fire by False Dmitry II, who fled from the capital. However, the monastery was soon rebuilt, moreover, the temple was surrounded by a stone wall with seven towers. The monastery also suffered during the war of 1812. Then it was looted and defiled by the French. In particular, they stole the silver setting that adorned the tomb of Prince Daniel.
In the cemetery near the monastery at different times such famous people as N. V. Gogol, N. G. Rubenstein, V. G. Perov and others were buried. However, the churchyard has not survived to this day. Now a chapel has been built in its place.
Abode after the revolution
In 1918 the monasterywas officially closed, but the monks lived in it until 1930. From that time until 1983, a children's colony and warehouses were located here. The monks, for the most part, were shot in the 1930s. The graves of famous people have been moved to other places.
Restoration of the monastery
In 1983, the Danilov Monastery was the first to be returned to believers. By 1988, by the millennium of the baptism of Russia, the almost completely devastated monastery was restored and restored. The complex was returned to the look it had in the 17th-19th centuries.
Today the monastery takes an active part in the life of society. For example, the monastery even has its own website. Danilovsky Monastery in Moscow is considered the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox Church. Here is the residence of the most holy Patriarch. His current viceroy is Archimandrite Alexei. Under his leadership, a huge amount of the most diverse Orthodox literature is published in the monastery. For example, it is here that the Danilovsky Blagovestnik series, known to all believers, is published, which contains the biographies of Orthodox ascetics of the 20th century.
Description of the complex
The main temple of the monastery - the temple of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils - is a complex architectural structure, including seven churches. On the first floor there is a Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. The largest cathedral in the complex is the Trinity Cathedral, built in 1838 by the architect O. Bove. Here are the miraculousicons of John Cassian the Roman and the Mother of God "Three Hands". In the course of restoration work on the territory, the churches of St. Simeon the Stylite and Seraphim of Sarov, as well as two chapels - one above the well and a memorial one, were restored.
Danilovsky Monastery in Moscow. Shrines
The most important shrine of the monastery are the miraculous relics of Prince Daniel, its founder. It was thanks to them that the restoration of the monastery began during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. After the transfer of the monks to the Spassky Monastery in Danilovsky, only a small church and a cemetery remained. However, at the grave of Prince Daniel, various kinds of miracles and healings of the sick began to occur. Most likely, this was the impetus for the restoration of the monastery. The prince was canonized as a saint in the 17th century. Then his relics were found. After 1930, they were kept in the Church of the Resurrection of the Word, located not far from the Danilovsky Monastery. Then they disappeared without a trace. In 1986, the Metropolitan of Washington handed over the first particle of the relics to the monastery. To date, several parts are kept here, placed in icons, a shrine and an ark.
The icon of the Matrona of Moscow is another shrine that the Danilovsky Monastery in Moscow has. Matrona during her lifetime was a deeply religious person. She was born completely blind. On her body there was a bone bulge in the form of a cross. From the age of seven, she had the gift of healing the sick. She died on May 2, 1952. For a long time her grave at the Danilovsky cemetery was in disrepair. Later, miraculous healings began to take place here. The relics of the saint were found in 1998. Now they are kept in the Intercession Convent.
Danilovsky Monastery in Moscow is the owner of other shrines. The most interesting can be called:
- The ark with the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
- The ark with the relics of Alexander Nevsky.
- Slipper of Spiridon Trimifuntsky.
- The icon of Sergei Radonezh.
- Icon of Seraphim of Sarov.
The monastery today
Today, the Danilovsky Monastery (address in Moscow: Danilovsky Val, 22) is a kind of "island of salvation" for the homeless and the poor. Many have been given shelter and blessings for meals in the refectory. The monastery also has clothes for the needy - it is brought by believers. In addition, an infirmary has been opened at the monastery, where anyone who applies can receive help. Services are held daily.
