Nikolo-Radovitsky Monastery in the Moscow Region

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Nikolo-Radovitsky Monastery is located near the city of Yegoryevsk, 150 kilometers from Moscow.

Founded in 1584 on the basis of a deed of gift from Ivan the Terrible. The prehistory of this event is interesting.

The history of the creation of the monastery

In 1431, the monk Pachomius, in search of a place for solitude and deed of prayer, came across a forest lake among swampy marshes. In the middle of the lake, he found a small island. The deaf place attracted the monk with its beauty, and he decided to establish a monastic skete here. He called the place of his seclusion Akakieva desert. And the surroundings of the lake - Radovitsami: he was from Thessaly, and that was the name of the area where he lived.

Subsequently, those who sought solitude began to join him. Once the monk Jonah saw in a dream Nicholas the Wonderworker walking around the lake. After that, a carved sculpture of St. Nicholas was created from an apple tree, which became a shrine of the monastery: when praying to the image, miracles began to happen. The news of this spread throughout the district, the skete began to be visited by pilgrims. On an island in the middle of the lakecrowded, it became necessary to move to land and look for a place for the monastery there.

In 1584, according to the royal charter, land was allocated for the construction of the monastery. In the 17th - 18th centuries the monastery owned lands and serfs. In 1764, as a result of the secularization of the monasteries, part of the land was seized from the monastery in favor of the state.

Architectural ensemble

In the 19th century, an architectural ensemble was formed. The male Nikolo-Radovitsky Monastery consisted of four temples, one of which was destroyed in the 30s and has not yet been restored.

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin

The Cathedral was built in 1869 on the site of the former temple, destroyed by fire. Architect - N. M. Chistoserdov.

During the construction of the new cathedral, part of the masonry of the old one was used.

The decor is inspired by mid-seventeenth century architecture.

Cathedral of St. Nicholas

The cathedral was built in 1816 - 1839. Ruska Ivan Frantsevich, an Italian by birth, became the architect.

The temple is three- altar, built in the style of classicism, single-dome, summer. It was destroyed in the 30s of the 20th century

Church of Joachim and Anna

In Christianity, Joachim and Anna are an example of the true love of purity in marriage. The church was built in the 50s of the seventeenth century. In 1728 it was destroyed by fire. During the restoration it was rebuilt, but only slightly. Outwardly, the churchchanged: the yellow walls correspond to the traditions of the time, as does the green color of the roof.

During the restoration, the restorers tried to preserve the design features of the building. Roofing work used modern technology and simple wrought iron.

Peter and Paul Church

The temple was built in 1787 and is a multi-tiered complex of the gate church and the bell tower.

In appearance, the style of classicism, which replaced the Russian baroque, is visible.

Monastery shrines

The main shrine of the Nikolo-Radovitsky Monastery is the image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, carved from wood in the 16th century by the first inhabitants of the monastery.

Pilgrims go to worship the image from everywhere: St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and travelers, is the most revered saint since the advent of Christianity in Russia.

The saint is depicted with a sword and a temple.

Revival of the monastery

On December 26, 2006, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II, the Nikolo-Radovitsky Monastery was opened for monastic life. Today the monastery receives visitors daily from 8 am to 8 pm. There are excursions with a trip to the island of the Holy Lake. The monastery receives pilgrims and laborers. The worker is a candidate for novices.

Visitors enthusiastically share their impressions of how the renovated Nikolo-Radovitsky Monastery looks like. In the reviews, many note a special atmospheresilence and unity with nature. From here you have great views. It is especially good here in summer, when you can wander barefoot on the green grass, sit down by the water and listen to the rustle of leaves over your head and the singing of birds. People are not indifferent to the further fate of the shrine, they are glad that the monastery is gradually being revived.

How to find the monastery

It's easier to get from Moscow by train: from Kazansky railway station to Yegoryevsk, and then take a bus to the village of Radovitsy.

Address of the Nikolo-Radovitsky Monastery: with. Radovitsy Egorevsky district, st. Schukina, 1A.