In 1914 there was a special census. Its goal is the active monasteries of Russia, their number, as well as the number of people living in them. At that time, 1025 active monasteries were counted. Under Soviet rule, there were 16 of them. According to 2013 data, there are about 700 monasteries in Russia, but this figure changes as new monasteries are constantly being opened.
Monasteries of Moscow: history
The appearance of the Russian capital is very characteristic of the majestic buildings of cathedrals, temples, monasteries. The oldest of them, Bogoyavlensky and Danilov, were founded in the second half of the 13th century. Large-scale monastery construction began at the end of the 14th century. At this time, Miracles, Andronnikov, Simonov, Sretensky, Rozhdestvensky monasteries appeared on the territory of the city. Most Moscow churches appeared in the XVI-XVII centuries. It should be noted that at this time the cloisters not only appeared, but also closed. For example, in 1626 ceased to existIlyinsky Monastery. Several monasteries were closed during the reign of Peter I.
The first geodetic plan of the city, published in 1739, showed all the monasteries of Moscow (operating). At that time there were 28 of them. Four of them were closed in the same century.
Lost Mansions
After the revolution (1917), all the monasteries of Moscow were abolished. Some of them were completely destroyed, new buildings were built in their place. So the Ascension and Chudov monasteries, as well as the Zlatoust, Strastnoy and Nikitsky monasteries disappeared. Some (a very small part) have become museums. These are the Donskoy and Novodevichy monasteries. Only at the end of the 1990s did the situation of church cloisters begin to improve. Most of the surviving monastic buildings were returned to churches. Many monasteries are still undergoing restoration work. Today there are 22 active monasteries in Moscow. We will introduce you to some of them today.
Operating monasteries in Moscow
First of all, I would like to tell you about St. Danilov, or Danilovsky, as it is often called, the monastery. This is the residence of His Holiness the Patriarch. This is the oldest Moscow monastery, founded in 1282 by the son of Alexander Nevsky, Daniel. After his death, he was buried in this area. Almost four centuries later, his remains were moved to another place, and in the 80s they were returned to the Danilov Monastery.
In 1812 the monastery was destroyed by the French, then rebuilt. During the years of the Bolsheviks it was closed,the graveyard was demolished. The burial places of famous people of Russia - Nikolai Gogol, Nikolai Rubinstein, Nikolai Yazykov were transferred to the Novodevichy Convent. From 1931 to 1983, this territory was a colony for juvenile lawbreakers.
In 1983 the holy monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church and completely restored.
It is located at the address - Danilovsky Val, 22 (metro station "Tulskaya").
Donskoy Monastery for Men
Founded in 1593 by the son of Ivan the Terrible, Fyodor Ioannovich. Previously, in its place, during the battle with the Crimean Khan Girey, there was a camp church. According to the existing legend, the icon of the Don Mother of God helped the Russian army to win. Now she is in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Donskoy Monastery was plundered and destroyed - in the early 1600s and when the French troops left, in 1812.
In 1917 it was closed, and the Museum of Architecture was founded on its territory.
In 1991, the Donskoy Monastery, unfortunately, was transferred to the Moscow Patriarchate very late. This date can be considered the day of his second birth. Since then, the monastery has been re-functioning.
The abode is located at Donskaya Square, 1 (Shabolovskaya metro station).
Novospassky Monastery
It is also called Royal, because from time immemorial, royal persons and representatives of grand ducal families were buried on its territory. It was founded in the 13th century by Prince Daniel. Hismoved several times. The current monastery, the photo of which you see in our article, was rebuilt in 1645.
After the revolution, the monastery, like many others, was closed. An NKVD prison was set up on its territory. The graveyard with the graves of the Zakharyins, Romanovs and other princely families was barbarously destroyed. After the Second World War, there was a sobering-up station here. Since 1968, the Restoration Museum has been located in the monastery. Since that time, restoration work has begun in the surviving buildings here.
In 1990, it was returned to Orthodox believers and again began to exist as a functioning monastery.
His address is 10 Krestyanskaya Square (Proletarskaya and Krestyanskaya metro stations).
Monasteries of Moscow (active) women's
Pre-revolutionary Moscow was rightfully proud of its church buildings. Temples and cathedrals delighted overseas guests. Below are the nunneries of the capital.
Alexeevsky Monastery
The oldest nunnery, founded in 1360 by Metropolitan Alexy in Chertolye, on a hill above the Moska River, was named after him in those days. The stone cathedral church was built by decree of Father Ivan the Terrible, who was praying for the birth of an heir, in 1514. The monastery burned several times, but it was restored. In 1547 it burned to the ground. In 1584, Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of the Alekseevsky Monastery in a new place where the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is now located. Some novices did not want to leave the ashesburned monastery, and on this site the temple was restored and named Zachatievsky. Until now, thousands of believers are fervently praying here for the long-awaited conception.
In Soviet times, many of the premises of the monastery were blown up, some were destroyed. A children's colony and a prison were located on the territory.
In the 90s the monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church. By 2010, it was completely restored and again acquired the status of an active monastery. You can see the photo in our article, and its address is 2nd Zachatievsky Lane, 2 (Park Kultury and Kropotkinskaya metro stations).
Novodevichy Convent
It was erected by Prince Vasily III on the occasion of the return of the ancient city of Smolensk to the Moscow Principality, in 1524.
In the old days it was the most privileged and very rich monastery in the country. Women of noble families came to it and donated their jewelry, gold, pearls, silver before taking the vows.
By the beginning of the 17th century, a magnificent ensemble was already formed, created in the Moscow baroque style. Openwork crowns adorned the towers, the second tallest bell tower in Moscow was built, as well as the Assumption Church and the refectory.
The history of the Novodevichy Convent keeps the secrets of novices who got into it against their will. Here, the first wife of Peter I, Evdokia Lopukhina, the noblewoman Morozova, and Princess Sophia languished in captivity.
By a happy coincidence, the monastery survived in 1812. However, after 1917 he did not escape the fate that awaited all the monasteries of Moscow. The new authorities operating at that time closed it in 1922. The Museum of the Emancipation of Women began its work here, which was later transformed into an art museum. You can find it at the address - Novodevichy proezd, building 1 (Sportivnaya metro station).
Our Lady of the Nativity Convent
All the monasteries of Moscow - active and already lost - are very different. Not only by its "age", but also by its architectural style.
In 1386, the mother of the hero of the Battle of Kulikovo, Vladimir the Brave, Princess Maria Serpukhova founded the Mother of God-Nativity Monastery. It was erected in honor of the victory at the Kulikovo field.
The first sisters of the monastery were orphans and widows of soldiers who died on the battlefield. It must be said that for a long time since the Baptism of Russia, the Orthodox have revered the Queen of Heaven with special reverence. Temples and monasteries of Moscow were dedicated to her earthly life. The monasteries that are currently operating, to one degree or another, keep the bright memory of the Mother of God. In memory of her, temples were built back in the pre-Mongolian period. One of the first was the Theotokos-Nativity Monastery.
Over time, it has grown. In 1505, the stone Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God appeared, in subsequent years it was rebuilt several times. In 1687, the church of St. John Chrysostom appeared on the territory of the monastery. In 1836, the bell tower and the church of Eugene Khersonsky were built. According to the project of the architect P. Vinogradov, in 1906 the Church of Our Lady of Kazan was built.
In 1922 the monastery was closed, and until the 70s all the premisesmonasteries were occupied by communal apartments. At the very end of the 80s, the monastery was returned to the Moscow Patriarchate. Divine services began in 1989, and the first monks appeared here in 1993. Since then, the monastery began to live an ordinary measured life. His address is Rozhdestvenka street, 20.
We have presented to you only some of the monasteries of Moscow (operating). We have listed the addresses of the monasteries here for your convenience. If you want to see them with your own eyes - come, you will always be welcome.
