Anosin-Borisoglebsky monastery and its history

In seven kilometers from the city of Dedovsk the Moscow region is the Borisoglebsky Anosin stauropegial nunnery, a photo of which is presented in this article. Its history dates back to the beginning of the XIX century. Once the sisters of the monastery with their spiritual feats gained such fame that their abode began to be called female Optina's desert. In its name, the monastery combines the names of saints, in memory of which was consecrated, and the name of the small village near Moscow where it was built.

Concerns of a pious landowner

The Anosin-Borisoglebsky Monastery was founded by Princess Evdokia Nikolaevna Meshcherskaya. Two years before the invasion of the French, this pious landowner built in Anosino village a church in the name of the Holy Trinity, whose congregation consisted almost entirely of its own serfs. Soon the church was established almshouse, converted in 1823 into a female hostel for the elderly, sick and deprived.

But Evdokia Nikolaevna's plans extended much further. She filed a petition in the name of Emperor Alexander I about giving the hostel status she created to the monastery. At the same time, she prepared a detailed plan for the future monastery, indicating the buildings that are being built at their own expense.

The first abbess of the monastery

Having received the highest permission and wishing not to part with his future abode until the end of his life, Evdokia Nikolaevna took a vow in a nun, taking the name of Eugene, and was blessed by the Father Superior. At the most difficult stage, the invaluable help was rendered to her by the Metropolitan of Moscow Filaret (Drozdov). His advice, she was guided in the construction issues, and in a new for her mentoring activities. Eugene's mother led the monastery founded by her until until in 1837 the Lord called her in His Heavenly Chambers.

The ascetic life of the sisters of the monastery

Despite the fact that the Anosin-Borisoglebsky monastery was in a very small and modest village (in 1858 there were only twenty-six households), the glory of the charitable life of its inhabitants quickly spread through Russia. As a set of rules regulating all aspects of the life of the monastery, a charter was drawn up, composed by the Byzantine monk of the 8th century, the Monk Theodore Studit.

Guided by its provisions, the sisters led a strict ascetic life. For their spiritual nourishment and confession, the monks were invited to the monastery from the nearby Zosima desert, from which the Anosin-Borisoglebsky monastery had a constant spiritual communication. Many diocesan bishops often attended the holiday, for which a special house was built in the monastery garden.

The material welfare of the Borisoglebskiy-Anosin convent was achieved not only thanks to the large number of pilgrims who came here from all over Russia, but also to their own monastic economy, put by diligent sisters at a high level. Their experience in agriculture and animal husbandry tried to adopt many Russian monasteries.

Years of total God-fighting

In the first decade after the Bolsheviks came to power, the Anosin-Borisoglebsky monastery continued its activities, and in 1923 even celebrated the centennial anniversary of its founding. But in four years the monastery was closed, and an agricultural commune was formed on its territory. This neoplasm did not last long. The Communards did not want to work, and, having procured all the food supplies stored in the monastery's barns, fled.

The Bolsheviks, who agree that "a holy place is not empty", placed a machine and tractor station in the abode of their abode. Now the church of Demetrius of Rostov that was at the Holy Gates was filled with a diesel stench, not the aromatic smoke of the censers. Soon another museum building was opened in the local history museum, where they clearly demonstrated the successes to the tourists in the fight against religion. During the years of Soviet power, economic and cultural and educational activities in the monastery were conducted in such a way that by the end of the 20th century only the walls and ruins of the main church remained from it.

Revival of ancient walls

The revival of the monastery is connected with the democratic transformations that began in Russia in the nineties. In 1992, the Moscow Patriarchate was returned to the entire monastic territory and about a hundred hectares of adjoining land. From the same time in the hastily built up building was placed Patriarchal Compound, transformed in 1999 in Borisoglebsky (Anosin) stauropegial nunnery. Given to him the status of stavropigia means that the monastery is subordinate not to the local diocesan bishop, but directly to the Patriarch.

Gradually, the economic and religious life of the monastery is normal. Concerns of the residents of the monastery and the workers have already managed to restore the Trinity Cathedral and the very church of Dimitry of Rostov, where for many decades the tractors were repaired. Partially restored and subsidiary farm, which includes a woodworking workshop and a dairy farm.

Until the day when the Anosin-Borisoglebsky monastery revived from the ruins, only one of the former sisters, Schemonahina Anna, who had seen the prerevolutionary life of the monastery, survived. Most of her contemporaries were shot or ended their lives in Stalin's camps. Some of them are now ranked among the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.

The monastery is waiting for its guests

Again, as in previous years, the monastery becomes the center where pilgrims from all over the country flock. For them, the Boris and Gleb Monastery (Anosino) opens its doors widely. The schedule of the daily services held in it is somewhat different from that adopted in ordinary parish churches. Here on weekdays the morning prayers begin at 6:00, and at 8:00 the Divine Liturgy is served. Evening services begin at 5 pm. On Sundays and holidays, the early liturgy begins at 6:30, and the late one at 8:45.