Nikitsky Monastery, Pereslavl-Zalessky: history, sights and interesting facts

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

The picturesque expanses of Nikitskaya Sloboda, in the Pereslavl Territory, are adorned with the white stone walls of an ancient monastery that has stood on this land for several centuries. From afar, it resembles an ice palace. He has seen a lot, his history is rich. The Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky) now receives hundreds of pilgrims every day, who come from all over our country to bow to the shrine. On the shore of Lake Pleshcheyevo, far from the hustle and bustle of the mundane, local residents are obedient, working, restoring the monastery destroyed in troubled times.

Nikitsky Monastery - Pereslavl-Zalessky. History of education

Nikitsky monastery is the oldest monastery of the Russian land, named after the Great Martyr Nikita. The date of foundation is considered to be the turn of the XI-XII centuries. A monastery was createdunder the rule of the Suzdal prince Boris Vladimirovich, who after his death, together with his brother Gleb, became the first saint in Russia, he was canonized as a martyr-passion-bearer. It was during his reign that the Nikitsky Monastery was a stronghold where pagans were converted to the Christian faith.

Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky) is named after the great martyr who lived in the 4th century. In those days, Christianity was spreading across Europe, Nikita was a we althy Gothic military leader who abandoned paganism and followed the teachings of Christ. Long before that, he saw in a dream a youth with a cross, and when he woke up, he found on his chest an icon depicting a Virgin with a baby, in whose hands was a cross. Having been baptized, Nikita began to preach the teachings of Christ, for which he was sentenced by the pagans to be burned. He was protected from the flames of the fire by the icon on his chest, which he wore under his clothes. Then they threw him to be torn to pieces by wild animals. At night, his body was stolen by a friend of Marian, who buried him. Later, Christians erected a church on the site of the grave, which was named after the great martyr. The relics of Nikita gained the ability to heal, became miraculous. Later, the monastery built on this site became famous thanks to another martyr. His name was also Nikita (Stylite). This is how the monastery is called after these saints.

The heyday of the monastery under Ivan the Terrible

In 1528, on the site of the old Nikitskaya Church, on the orders of Grand Duke Vasily III, a white-stone Nikitsky Cathedral was built.

GenuineThe monastery flourished during the reign of Vasily's son, Tsar Ivan the Terrible. He decided to prepare the monastery as a spare oprichnina fortress, in case the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda lost its reliability as a fortification. John repeatedly made a pilgrimage to the Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky).

In 1560, the king ordered the construction of a new cathedral building. It was a five-domed temple. The old building from the time of his father began to refer to the southern limit of Nikita Stylite. Ivan the Terrible was personally present at the consecration of the new cathedral. On his own behalf, he presented a bronze chandelier as a gift, and his wife Anastasia presented an image of Nikita the Stylite personally embroidered to her. This temple has survived to this day. At that time, other buildings were erected on the territory of the monastery, but not all of them survived: the refectory church, the gate church of the Archangel Gabriel, towers and walls, which were rebuilt several times throughout history. Established John and monastic residence, provided the monastery with estates.

Participation of the Romanov royal family

Nikitsky Monastery in Pereslavl-Zalessky in 1609 withstood the siege of the Poles. But in 1611, the Lithuanians, under the leadership of Pan Sapieha, after a siege that lasted two weeks, completely burned the monastery. Many defenders were killed, Abbot Michael, who escaped the siege, wandered for a long time.

The Romanov family was directly involved in the restoration of the monastery. Alexei Mikhailovich, Mikhail Fedorovich, Patriarch Filaretpresented valuable gifts to the monastery. Under Alexei Mikhailovich in 1645, the towers and walls were restored. At the same time, the Church of the Annunciation was erected, which has survived to this day. The church has a two-storey refectory and a hipped bell tower.

The Chernihiv chapel was built in 1702, and it is still considered the last example of ancient Pereslavl architecture.

In Catherine's time, many monasteries experienced disastrous times. The construction of the monastery continued in the XVIII-XIX centuries. 1768 - the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was attached to the refectory. In the XVIII century. also erected a chapel over the pillar of St. Nikita.

At the beginning of the 19th century. a high bell tower was built on the site of the ancient gate church.

Destructive XX century

In 1918 the monastic property was nationalized by the Soviets. In 1923, the monastery was formally liquidated, and all valuable items were transferred to the historical museum. All the monks were expelled from the monastery. In buildings and temples in different periods of Soviet power, all kinds of institutions were located: the Rest House for scientists settled here, there was a school, and military units, and living rooms, and even a prison.

In 1933, the ancient iconostasis of the Nikitsky Cathedral was burned in the most barbaric way. Many ancient architectural structures of historical value have simply been destroyed over the years.

In the 1960s and 70s. It was decided to restore the Nikitsky Cathedral. But, either because of the negligent attitude of the builders, or because of the miscalculations of the architect, the central head of the temple collapsed in 1984. Faded and centuries oldmonastery well.

Buildings that stood for many centuries were destroyed literally in a matter of years. In 1977, the Church of the Annunciation was almost destroyed in a fire. For many years the temple was simply abandoned, overgrown with weeds, the buildings were dilapidated. Many true Christians could not look at the Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky) without tears. Requests, prayers, commemorations, memorial services, which the believers so needed, ceased to be available to the people. Only in the hot 90s did the revival of the monastery begin.

Nikitsky Monastery, Pereslavl-Zalessky. Revival

Only in 1993, the Nikitsky Monastery was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. Since this year, a large-scale restoration of the monastery has begun, we can say that it came to life and began to revive again to the joy of all Christians. The monastery began to be completely restored, work was carried out not only outside, but also inside, the painting was carried out by the best icon painters. The newly appointed governor, Bishop Anatoly, supervised all the work.

In 1999, Archimandrite Dimitry was appointed governor, who continued to work on the improvement and revival of the monastery.

Glory to the Lord, miraculously preserved in the monastery the most important shrine - the relics of the Great Martyr Nikita the Stylite and his chains. Thousands of pilgrims come to Pereslavl-Zalessky all year round. Nikitsky Monastery, address: Nikitskaya Sloboda, Zaprudnaya, 20, accepts all believers, tel.: (48535) 2-20-08. He is everythinggives you the opportunity to venerate holy things.

Architecture. Temples of the monastery

The monastery is on a hill. Surrounded by a stone wall with towers, loopholes and embrasures. There are three churches in the monastery itself: the Great Martyr Nikita, the Holy Archangel Gabriel, the refectory Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin.

Monastery walls, towers, and Nikitsky Cathedral date back to the 16th century and are of particular architectural interest.

Buildings within the walls of the monastery:

• fortification walls, towers (1560);
• monastic corps (1876);
• Pillar-chapel of Nikita (1786);
• gate bell tower (1818);
• tented bell tower (1668);
• Church of the Annunciation, refectory (XVII century);
• Nikitsky Cathedral (1561).

Buildings behind the wall:

• Nikitskaya chapel;
• Chernigov Chapel (1702).

If you decide to visit the Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky), the schedule of services, pilgrimage excursions can be found by contacting [email protected] or by calling the phone number listed above. Novices will contact you and help you resolve any issues.

Who is Nikita Stylite? Sinner?

The life of Nikita the Stylite does not tell us about his infancy and youth. It begins with a description of his fall into sin. As a mature man, he served as a tax collector, was an evil and greedy person. Was married topatient, obedient woman. Especially in the scripture, such character traits of Nikita as avarice, cruelty, vindictiveness are emphasized. To the highest ranks he was obsequious and flattering. So he lived for many years, enriching himself and robbing the people. Indirect stories say that Nikita was not alien to teaching, he read the Ps alter, learned to read and write, inserted quotations from the Holy Scriptures into speech. There was that core of ardor, determination and a certain dissatisfaction with a well-fed life inside him. So his life turned upside down in an instant.

Remorse. Pillarism

One day Nikita went to the new Church of the Transfiguration, where he listened to proverbs - selected recitations from the Old Testament, where prophecies and instructions were sounded. Words-calls echoed in Nikita's head to cleanse his soul, become kinder, atone for his sins, learn to bring light and benefit to loved ones. The Lord himself wanted to reach him. All night sleep did not come to him. In the morning he ordered his wife to cook a meat dinner, he decided to invite distinguished guests, to be freed from the "obsession". The wife began preparations, and then Nikita was shocked by her terrible cry. Running up to her, he saw what she was so afraid of. In the cauldron, instead of broth, blood boiled and pieces of bodies floated in it. At that moment, the sinner died in the mind of Nikita, he realized that the Lord was showing him the true path. He rushed out of the city.

For a long time, on his knees, he begged the hegumen to take him to the Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky). He commanded to kneel at the gates to the monastery from everyone passing by to ask for forgiveness. So did Nikita. After that, he decided to punish hisflesh and stood for three days in a swamp, where a cloud of insects tortured him to exhaustion. So the monks found him here, brought him to the monastery and accepted him into the monastery.

Nikita stayed vigilant in a narrow cell, observed a strict fast, but this seemed to him not enough. Then, to torture his flesh, he dug a pillar (pit) for himself, put iron chains (chains with crosses) on himself, and a stone cap on his head. Day and night he was in a pillar, atoned for his sins, and asked for other sinners. He was content with only water and a piece of prosphora. His spirit was cleansed by prayers and repentance, he did not notice the pain of his flesh. The Lord accepted his repentance and sent him the gift of healing and insight.

Healing of Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich

Everyone who came hundreds of miles away to Pereslavl-Zalessky, visited the Nikitsky Monastery in order to talk with Nikita Stylite. He eased the suffering of people, healed not only souls, but also bodies. Rumors about him also reached Chernigov, where Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich suffered from illnesses from an early age. With his neighbor boyar, the prince got ready to go to the pillar of Nikita, to talk with the miracle worker. Prince Michael's faith in healing was very great, but he went through many trials along the way. They reached the walls of the monastery, stopped. Arriving at the monastery, the boyar found Nikita in chains and a stone cap, praying day and night, and told about all his troubles. The great martyr listened to him, gave his staff and ordered the prince himself to come to him. When Mikhail took the staff from the hands of the boyar, he immediately felt in himselfgreat strength. He himself reached the pillar of Nikita, poured out his gratitude to him, and the monastery rewarded him with generous gifts.

The death of the Great Martyr Nikita. Finding the chain

The news of the miraculous healing and generous gifts of the prince quickly spread around the world. Nikita's relatives hurried to him, because they intended to get some of the we alth. For a long time the righteous man inspired them about evil, about the sin of the love of money, but they did not heed his words, but only hardened in heart. They decided that Nikita's chains were silver, they shone so brightly in the sun.

They conceived a dirty deed. At night, the intruders secretly entered the monastery, crept up to the pillar and began to destroy the boards with which the pit was covered (from rain and bad weather). Nikita heard all this, guessed their intentions, but did not raise a fuss and alarm. In silence, he accepted the beatings, death from the tormentors, surrendered to the will of God. So his mortal body doomed him to rest, and his soul ascended to heaven. The villains took off his chains and rushed through the gates. Already in the field, they realized that this was not silver, but ordinary iron, and in desperation they threw the chains into the Volga.

Finding the body of the lifeless Nikita, the brothers took him to the temple. The rumor about his death quickly spread, and many people were drawn to the tomb of the great martyr. Many at that time were healed before his tomb.

The pious elder Simeon from the neighboring monastery went out to the river bank in the morning and saw a luminous pillar above the water, he called the archimandrite, the townspeople. When they reached the middle of the river, they discovered that Nikita's chains, chains and crosses, floated on the surface like a tree. We gladly accepted thisthe news The Nikitinsky monks equipped a delegation and transferred the chains to their monastery, laid them at the tomb of Nikita the Stylite.

Hundreds of pilgrims are drawn to the monastery to venerate the relics of Nikita, to find healing, both of soul and body.