With the revival of Christianity in Russia, more and more people seek to learn the history of the emergence and formation of their native Orthodox faith, as well as to see and feel the beauty and strength of our spiritual culture with their own eyes. The Lipetsk region is an excellent example of the development of Orthodoxy in Russia, where, after a long spiritual devastation, the ancient traditions of this religion were successfully revived.
History of Orthodoxy in the Lipetsk region
Orthodoxy came to the Lipetsk land during the time of Kievan Rus. At the turn of the XIV-XV centuries, the entire Upper Don region, as a result of constant Mongol-Tatar raids, turned into wastelands. Only in the middle of the 16th century did the Orthodox population return here, and with the advent of the clergy and the construction of the first churches, the faith began to revive. At this time, Zadonsky Bogoroditsky, Donkovsky Pokrovsky, Yelensky Trinity Orthodox monasteries of Russia appeared. In the XVII-XVIII centuries, the Lipetsk Territory belonged to the Voronezh and Ryazan dioceses, and after, up tobefore the events of 1917, its Orthodox history is connected with the Orel, Tambov, Tula, Ryazan church districts. At the beginning of the 20th century, about ten monasteries and five hundred churches operated within the modern borders of the region.
After the revolution, during the Bolshevik persecution, most of the churches were destroyed, and the shrines acquired over the centuries were looted or destroyed. Since then, Orthodoxy in Lipetsk has been revived several times with the creation of the Lipetsk diocese in 1926, but constant repression and persecution of the clergy led the church into complete decline. Only in the 1980s, when the attitude of the state towards faith changed, did a new stage in the development of Christianity begin. Temples and monasteries in the vicinity of Lipetsk are being restored, and new ones are being actively built. At the same time, the real pearl of Orthodoxy in the Lipetsk Territory, the Zadonsky Monastery, was restored.
Lipetsk monasteries
Lipetsk region is rich in historical places of worship related to Orthodoxy. On the territory of the Lipetsk region, there are 9 active monasteries, 281 parishes, 316 temples, 34 chapels, and the number of clergy is 365 people. Such spiritual we alth, of course, cannot but attract pilgrims and tourists. Some come here hoping for a miraculous healing, others - for advice or blessings, others just to admire the monasteries of the Lipetsk region. The following monastic cloisters located in this region can satisfy the spiritual needs of the suffering today:
- Zadonsky Nativity-Bogoroditsky Monastery;
- Zadonsky Holy Trinity Tikhonovsky Monastery;
- Zadonsky Mother of God-Tikhonovsky Tyuninsky Monastery;
- Zadonsky Tikhonovsky Transfiguration Monastery;
- Trinity Yelets Monastery;
- Znamensky Yelets Monastery;
- Troekurovsky Dmitrievsky Hilarion Monastery;
- Trinity Lebedyansky Monastery;
- Assumption Lipetsk Monastery.
The Zadonsk monasteries deservedly enjoy the greatest popularity among pilgrims and tourists. Photos of these works of architecture can be seen in this article, the schedule of services and news of the spiritual world can be viewed on the website of the Lipetsk diocese.
Russian Jerusalem
The small town of Zadonsk is located in a picturesque area 60 kilometers from Lipetsk, on the left bank of the Don, near the federal highway "Rostov-on-Don-Moscow". This settlement arose at the Teshevo (from the name of the river Teshevka) monastery in 1620. Later, in 1779, the settlement became known as Zadonsk, and the local monastery acquired the name Zadonsky Monastery. The glory of "Russian Jerusalem", as Zadonsk is also called, is associated with St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, who appeared here in 1769 and devoted his life to the revival and establishment of Orthodoxy in these parts. In 1861, Tikhon, who gave the spiritual foundation to the Zadonsk monasteries, was canonized. The main attractions of the Zadonsk region and the city itself, which has become the largest center of the Orthodox faith and spiritualChristian culture - these are three active and one preserved monastery.
St. Tikhon
The future saint and bishop was born in 1724 in the Novgorod village of Korotsko in the family of a deacon. In the world, Tikhon Zadonsky had the name Timofey Sokolov. His father Savely died early, and given that the family lived very poorly, when his son was 14 years old, his mother sent him to Novgorod, where Timofey was admitted to the Theological Seminary. Having shown good knowledge, he was transferred to state support, and in 1754, after completing the training course, he remained to serve as a teacher of rhetoric at the seminary, but more and more he was visited by thoughts of monasticism. After one mysterious incident, when Timothy miraculously avoided falling down the stairs, he finally decides to serve God, and in 1758 he is cut as a monk with the name Tikhon. In the same year, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and appointed rector at the Tver Seminary.
Three years later, by the decision of the Holy Synod, Tikhon became Bishop of Novgorod, and in 1763 he was sent to Voronezh. At that time, the Voronezh diocese was going through hard times: the Don steppes were inhabited by various sectarians and Old Believers, and among the educated people, most of them worshiped pagan gods. There is a known case when the bishop found out about the celebrations in honor of the god Yarila in the very center of Voronezh. He personally arrived at the square and delivered a speech, from which part of the crowd fled, and the other part knelt down with a petition for pardon. After this event, all pagan celebrations ceased. caringabout attracting the population of the Voronezh lands to the Orthodox faith, Tikhon opened new schools, read sermons, and also taught the flock to respect the Church and the clergy. At night, he wrote his works dedicated to the Orthodox faith.
Over time, Tikhon's he alth began to deteriorate, and he was forced to retire, retiring to the Zadonsk monastery and giving away all his property. But even here the saint continued to work. He wrote the books “A Spiritual Treasure Collected from the World”, “True Christianity”, “Cell Letters”, which will play a major role in the development of Orthodoxy in the future. Tikhon had a unique insight that allowed him to predict the war with France, the fire in St. Petersburg and the end of Napoleon. After 15 years of living in the monastery, the saint, stricken with paralysis, fell ill, but continued to pray until his last day.
In 1783 Tikhon Zadonsky died. He was buried in a special crypt under the altar in the Cathedral Church of the Zadonsky Monastery. In 1846, during construction work to restore the temple, a stone altar was dismantled, under which Tikhon rested. Despite the destroyed crypt and the time that had passed since the day of the burial of the bishop, his body remained incorruptible, as well as the vestments. Archbishop Anthony of Voronezh reported this amazing fact to the Holy Synod and Emperor Nicholas I in order to open the relics of the hierarch. In 1861, the opening of the holy relics of the bishop took place, which was attended by more than 300 thousand pilgrims. In the same year, Tikhon of Zadonsk was glorified as a saint.
Men's Zadonsky Nativity-Bogoroditsky Monastery
Historical sources testify that in 1620 two monks - Gerasim and Kirill from the Moscow Sretensky Monastery, desiring solitude, crossed the Don and settled in a deaf, deserted desert inhabited only by wild animals. With them, the elders had only a copy of the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir. It was these God's people who founded the first Zadonsk monastery. The wooden buildings of the monastery burned to the ground during a fire in 1692, but the icon brought by the elders miraculously survived.
From 1798 the monastery began to be rebuilt, the first stone buildings appeared, such as the Vladimirskaya Church, and in 1824 buildings were laid according to the plans of Voronezh architects. The best times of the monastery fell on the years of Tikhon Zadonsky's rectorship, when the monastery gained unprecedented popularity among pilgrims from all over Russia. Continuing to be restored, by the beginning of the 20th century it was a whole complex consisting of 6 churches, a hospice, a bell tower, a pharmacy, a hospital, a brick and candle factory.
In the post-revolutionary period, the monastery was completely plundered and partially destroyed. Various city services and offices were located on its territory. The desolation of the monastery continued until 1990, when its territory was transferred to the disposal of the Orthodox Church. With the restoration of the main temple of the monastery - Vladimir Cathedral - a new era began in the history of the Zadonsky Monastery. Today, restoration work is nearing completion, as well as activelynew buildings are being built. Part of the money for reconstruction is allocated by special federal and local programs, but most of it is own funds and donations.
Zadonsky Monastery has at its disposal 500 hectares of land, which allows you to grow a good harvest. Cattle breeding is also practiced here, there is a private apiary. This farm is managed by 500 inhabitants, who also carry out construction work. In addition, about 50 people come by bus from Lipetsk every day, mostly women, who are engaged in agriculture, canning, harvesting mushrooms and berries for free. The Zadonsky monastery is fully self-sufficient, and in addition, arranges free meals for pilgrims. There are no centers for helping drug addicts and alcoholics, but such persons are accepted for obedience.
St. Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery
The monastery is located 7 kilometers north of Zadonsk, on the ruins of a former monastery. In 1865, when Archimandrite Dmitry received permission to build a skete, monks began to live here. Tikhon of Zadonsk loved to visit the monastery and lived for some time. It was here that he wrote his main book - "A Spiritual Treasure Collected from the World", and also dug a well with his own hands on the banks of the Prokhodnya River, where a healing spring is located today. Before the revolution of 1917, about 100 novices lived in the monastery, but after the October events, the monastery suffered the fate of most religious buildings - at first itwas closed, and later looted and destroyed. Only in 1991 the territory was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Now the St. Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery, or as it is also called the Zadonsky Convent, is equipped here.
The main temple of the monastery is Trinity, next to it rise the bell tower and the Transfiguration Church. In memory of the stay of Tikhon of Zadonsk here, a separate cell was arranged in one of the towers, where the icon of the saint, which streamed myrrh in 1998, is located. A particle of his relics is also kept in eternal storage in the monastery. In 2000, on the Day of All Russian Saints, during a prayer in front of the eyes of pilgrims in the Trinity Church, the Crucifixion bled. Particles of blood oozing from the crown of the Savior have been preserved in the temple to this day. Currently, 82 nuns live in the monastery, engaged in subsistence farming, sewing and icon painting. The Zadonsk convent, just like the male one, provides free shelter and meals for pilgrims. In summer, about 80-90 people eat here every day, and in winter - up to 1000.
Zadonsky Mother of God-Tikhonovsky Monastery
Another monastery is located in the village of Tyunino in the vicinity of Zadonsk. It was founded at a time when Tikhon Zadonsky ceased to head the Voronezh diocese and retired. Here, in the settlement of Tyuninka, at the source, the saint liked to retire to prayer. At the beginning of the 19th century, the local landowner A. F. Vikulin, inspired by the thoughts of Vladyka Anthony, who visited these places, laid and built a temple of the Icon of the Mother of God“Life-Giving Spring”, and in 1814, 30 nuns began their hermit life in the buildings attached to the temple. In the 1820s, Vikulin A. F. began to build another church - in honor of Alexander Nevsky. After the death of the philanthropist, his son Vladimir began to oppress the monastery, and soon closed the main temple of the monastery, and turned the Nevsky temple into an almshouse. In 1860, the monastery acquired the status of a monastic cloister, and with it the abbess. She became the nun of the Intercession Monastery Polyxenia, who from the first days began active improvement of the monastery, and in 1889, through her efforts, the Church of the Ascension of the Lord was laid.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery had 86 novices and 45 nuns. With the advent of the Bolsheviks, at first nothing changed in the life of the monastery, but already in 1919, after the death of the abbess, all the lands and property were confiscated. Melitina became the abbess of the empty monastic shelter, thanks to whom the community was able to exist for more than 10 years. In 1930, local authorities decided to transfer the sacred territory for the benefit of the Soviets and evict the nuns. In response, the novices resisted, for which they were convicted and sent into exile, and Melitina was shot in the prison of the city of Yelets. The revival of the monastic monastery, initiated by the inhabitants of the neighboring Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery, began only in 1994.
At the moment, restoration work is being completed. The cathedral church of the monastery is Voznesensky. Next to it is a sister building with a refectory and an adjoining church of Alexander Nevsky. ATIn 2005, the improvement of the holy spring of Tikhon of Zadonsk was completed, pilgrims and tourists aspire to swim in the healing waters of which. Now the monastic way of life has been strengthened here. The community is headed by Mother Superior Arsenia. As it should be in monasteries, novices are busy with household chores, and they constantly pray to God, the Mother of God and St. Tikhon. Five times a week, Divine Liturgy is held here, prayers are performed daily.
Zadonsky Holy Trinity Tikhonovsky Monastery
The Holy Trinity Convent, formerly called Skorbyashchensky, is located 90 km from Zadonsk, in the town of Lebedyan, the regional center of the Lipetsk region. The monastery arose at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries from a monastic community founded by Matrona Popova, who, having just begun a charitable work, died. The embodiment of Matrona's dream was continued by her executor, Archpriest Peter, who built the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God with the funds left by the nun. In 1860, the temple was consecrated by Bishop Joseph of Voronezh, and under him the community of sisters of mercy, named after Tikhon of Zadonsk, began to exist.
In the 1870s, a stone fence was built around the buildings of the community, as well as a bell tower. In 1889, by the decision of the Holy Synod, the community was erected into the Zadonsky Holy Trinity Tikhonovsky Convent, which, successfully developing, lasted until 1917. After the revolution, the buildings of the monastery were gradually taken away, and in 1929 the community ceased to exist. Today, on the territory of the monastery there are office premises of Zadonskgaz and a bakery. From the whole complexonly the Holy Trinity Cathedral was transferred to the disposal of the Church.
Pilgrimage to Zadonsk
Every year, thousands of pilgrims flock to Zadonsk. Most of the visitors come here during the celebration of major Orthodox holidays: Easter, Christmas, Intercession. Most often, the motive for pilgrimage is the desire to confess, pray, touch imperishable relics or a miraculous icon, find grace, receive a blessing, bathe in a sacred spring, and also make donations or even take a vow. Many Orthodox come here to order trebs at the Zadonsky Monastery.
It is believed that such ordinances performed here have great power. Going on such a trip on your own, it should be borne in mind that it is almost impossible to settle in Zadonsk during the holidays, the city is filled with visitors, so they agree on the settlement in advance by ordering housing by phone or via the Internet. There are practically no problems with visiting monasteries. Zadonsky Monastery is a place where no one will be refused, and maybe even fed. Here you can buy goods and environmentally friendly products produced by community members, ranging from kvass and milk to dishes and wood products, not counting souvenirs and religious items.
How to get to the monasteries
Getting to Zadonsk is a simple matter, because it is located near the Rostov highway M-4. Right in the center of the city is the Nativity-Bogoroditsky Zadonsky Monastery. How to get there or walk from Rostovskayatrails, any person, including non-locals, will tell you. From Zadonsk to Tyunino, where the Mother of God-Tikhonovsky Monastery is located, can be reached by bus, minibus or, like a true Orthodox, on foot. The distance between the villages is just over 2 km. A little further, about 7 km from Zadonsk, is the St. Tikhon Monastery, which can be reached by public transport or a taxi. It is more difficult to get to Lebedyan. There is the Holy Trinity Zadonsky Monastery. A road map or auto-navigation will help with this. The most convenient and closest way to get from Lipetsk. Given this location, it is rather problematic to visit all the Zadonsk monasteries in one day.
