How it hurts the heart when you have to see the temple ruins. Or when you read about how monasteries were destroyed in godless times.
Severe events did not bypass the John the Baptist Monastery in Pskov. It once had a rich history. Today, the only surviving church reminds of the majestic and once luxurious monastery.
Origin story
In Pskov, in the Zavelichye region, there was once a handsome monastery. Nuns-nuns ruled divine services, worked and lived by their own, special charter.
The first mention of this place dates back to the XIII century. The wife of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich became the abbess and founder of the monastery. Euphrosyne (that was the name of the princess in the world) was forcibly married off. The marriage turned out to be very tragic. The prince was constantly not at home, and in the end he was seduced by one girl. And for her sake he left his wife.
Euphrosyne suffered the blow steadfastly. She did not despair, she did not lay hands on herself. And she took up the foundation and dispensation of the convent of St. John the Baptist(Pskov).
She also became the first abbess in the monastery. And she was killed in a mean way. The abbess, named Evpraksia in the tonsure, was summoned to the Livonian city of Odempe by her ex-husband. The murder was committed by the stepson of the abbess. Her body was transferred to Pskov and buried in a holy place.
After the death of the abbess
The Ivanovo Monastery was greatly favored by Prince Dovmont and his wife Maria. Martyr Eupraxia was the prince's aunt, and after her death he did not forget about the monastery. Generous donations were regular. After his death, his wife settled in the monastery, taking tonsure. Buried on the territory of the monastery.
XVII century
What happened to the monastery during this period? Formerly rich and favored by the princes, she survived many raids. When the city was attacked by the Polish king Stefan, he did not stop at nothing. Pskov burned in the fires, and the John the Baptist Monastery was no exception.
After the settlement was besieged by the Swedish king Gustav, the holy place was completely looted. The economy went into decline. It was 1615.
In 1623 the monastery was "taken under guardianship" of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. He, together with Patriarch Filaret, presented the abbess of the Pskov monastery with a letter. It confirmed that the monastery had the right to own the lands granted to it by Prince Dovmont. In addition, the monastery was allowed to independently judge its inhabitants for any offenses, except for murder and robbery.
Confirmed these rights in 1646. This was done by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. And 40 years later, the sovereigns Ionn Alekseevich and Peter Alekseevich confirmed this right again.
XVIII century
The new century started out quite well. In 1716, the wife of Peter I visited the John the Baptist Monastery in Pskov. She made a donation of 50 rubles for the iconostasis.
But at the end of the reign of Peter I, the prosperity in the monastery began to wane. Catherine II finally finished her off, depriving her of all the land by her decree. And the convent became second-class.
The Abode quietly smoldered, life continued to flicker in it, despite a significant decline.
19th century
He was the most eventful and the last for the John the Baptist Monastery in Pskov.
It all started with the fact that the number of nuns in the monastery began to gradually increase. At the very beginning of the century, some estates were given to the monastery. In particular, these were lands in the Novo-Usitovskaya, Polonskaya volosts and lakes for fishing. True, the we alth was taken away after 25 years and cash subsidies were put for them.
In 1845, a one-story stone warm church was built on the territory of the monastery.
The empress made a donation to the tomb of the first abbess in 1859. Maria Alexandrovna gave the monastery a carpet.
The economy grew. More and more new buildings included a nunnery. So, in 1864, a bathhouse and a laundry were built. A little later - a barn for grain. A woodshed and a glacier were erected in 1865.
In the 19th century, the monastery had a lot of landland. All of them were recorded in the monastery books. Also, the Talmuds entered data on income received from these lands.
Besides the land that brought a pretty penny to the monastery, there was also a cemetery here. Nuns were buried on it, and for a fee in favor of the monastery and ordinary people.
There were 18 monks in the monastery in 1874.
In 1882 the bell tower was built with a generous donation from benefactors. The amount spent on construction was more than 4,000 rubles. In addition to money, bells were donated for the construction. And two years later, the merchant's widow Ekaterina donated the tower clock. They cost 1000 rubles.
Another 10 years have passed. At the John the Baptist Monastery (Pskov), a hospital and an almshouse began to operate. 5 people lived in it then.
In 1896, repairs were made in the St. Andrew's warm church. Served in it only in winter. And in 1897 they carried out repairs to John the Baptist.
By 1900, work on the construction of a special house was completed. It was intended for the church sacristy, under the prosphora and handicraft rooms.
The monastery flourished. The 19th century was the brightest in its history after the founding of the monastery.
XX century (before the revolution)
The bloody 20th century brought complete ruin to the monastery. But first things first.
The beginning of the century was calm and joyful. Almost 80 people lived in the monastery, of which 22 were monastics, along with the abbess. Novices - 21. The rest belonged to whites and those living beyond the state.
BIn 1903 the monastery was surrounded by a high wall. The territory was very extensive by the standards of that time - 80 fathoms.
Three years in a row, from 1910 to 1912, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna visited the monastery.
In 1915, due to martial law, the monastery housed an infirmary. More than 20 people could be there. The sisters nursed the sick and wounded.
XX century (1917-1925)
The revolution did not spare the monastery. The new government did not intend to put up with the existence of the John the Baptist Monastery (in Pskov). The inhabitants are left with only two small houses. The remaining territories are occupied by red troops.
The nuns were taken everything they could. Food, kerosene, property. Everything prepared with great difficulty was now consumed by the troops. And the monastery was left no means of subsistence, in fact, putting it on the verge of starvation and death. Even the petition of the Pskov Spiritual Consistory did not help.
In 1919, an orphanage was placed in the monastery. And three years later, the monastery was faced with a fact: you need to give all the jewelry in favor of the starving. Robe from icons, silver lamps, censers, spoons, saucers, bowls. In general, all valuables were confiscated.
In 1923 the monastery was closed. In 1925 the cemetery was razed to the ground. Now in the former monastery there was a village, a playground and a club.
XX century (recent history)
The monastery was completely destroyed. During the war, the surviving buildings were buried by fire. They were not subject to restoration.
And yet, at the endIn the 70s, the restoration of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist was carried out. During the research and restoration of the monastery, a treasure with coins and icons was discovered.
In 1991, the cathedral was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. And on July 7, the first service was celebrated in the renovated church.
Patronal feasts
The current cathedral is not one of the individual monasteries of the Pskov region. He was handed over to the Krypetsky Monastery.
The patronal feasts are solemnly celebrated in the temple: July 7 in honor of the Nativity of John the Baptist, September 11 - in honor of the beheading of John the Baptist, October 6 - the conception of John the Baptist.
How to get there?
What is the address of John the Baptist Monastery in Pskov? More precisely, the former monastery. It is located on Gorky Street, house 1.
In order to clarify how the cathedral works, you can call.
Rules for visiting the monastery
How it is supposed to enter the temple of the saint, knowing or not that once there was a convent here:
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Women should wear skirts and headscarves. Trousers are not allowed. The longer the robe, the better. You will have to forget about the mini-skirt when going to the temple. Any scarf, to the taste of the wearer.
woman in the temple - Makeup on the face is not welcome. Especially lipstick. With painted lips you can not apply to the icons. And if a woman is going to take communion, then approaching the Chalice with lipstick on her lips is an absolutely wrong decision.
- As for men, their dress code is trousers and a shirt (sweater) with long sleeves. There should be no T-shirts or shorts.
- They come to the service in advance, 10-15 minutes before the start. You will have time to write notes, put candles, venerate the icons.
- On the territory of the cathedral you can not talk loudly, laugh out loud, smoke and drink alcohol.
- It is strictly forbidden to spit on the ground, peel seeds.
- Check with parishioners or church ministers in advance what time the service starts.
- Remember that this is the courtyard of a monastery. And you need to behave accordingly.
This is interesting
Once in the Cathedral of John the Baptist (Pskov) there was an icon of the All-Merciful Savior. Above the tomb of Eupraxia - the first abbess of the monastery - she was located. And the shrine is known for its myrrh-streaming. According to legend, fragrant myrrh flowed from the icon for 12 days.
For those who want to see the shrine with their own eyes, venerate it, we inform you: the icon is in the Pskov Trinity Cathedral.
Conclusion
Excursions in Pskov can be absolutely amazing. If you are going to one, be sure to visit the former nunnery. This is an ancient shrine, which, unfortunately, has not been completely preserved to our times.
The monastery, founded by Princess Euphrosyne, is still lucky. From it there was a cathedral, which became the courtyard of the monastery. Other shrines are luckyfar less. All that remains of them is a mention in the archives of a particular locality.
Many holy places suffered from the hands of atheists. How much destruction and misfortune the 20th century brought to temples and monasteries cannot be counted. The Pskov convent, as we can see, could not withstand the onslaught. The centuries-old monastery was almost completely destroyed.
