Chudov Monastery. Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin: history

Many of those who were on an excursion in the Kremlin, perhaps, do not suspect that today this historical place could look quite different. The fact is that several magnificent churches and temples were destroyed on this territory, among them Vosnesensky and Chudov Monastery, the Cathedral of the Savior on the Mountains and other historical monuments.

History of the temple

Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin began to build the Metropolitan of Moscow Alexis. For him, the place of the former Khan's court was chosen. At that time, ambassadors lived there. They came to Moscow for a tribute. This place was given in gratitude for the fact that Alexis cured the wife of Khan Janibek -Taydul from complete blindness. Metropolitan personally traveled to the Horde to help an unhappy woman.

At first the church of Archangel Michael was built. It was laid in 1365. This is one of the ancient temples of Moscow.

Miracles monastery later became known as the Great Lavra (in the beginning of the XVII century), under Patriarch Filaret.

In 1771 a spontaneous plague revolt broke out in Moscow, during which the monastery was ruthlessly plundered by the townspeople.

During the Russo-French War of 1812, the Chudov Monastery, the photo of which you see in our article, was occupied by the French. Here was the headquarters of the army of Napoleon. In the altar of the monastery was built a luxurious bedroom for Marshal Davout. In the temple was buried his founder - Metropolitan Alexy. His relics were kept in the cathedral until 1686. Later they were transferred to the Church of St. Metropolitan Alexy.

Restored the church in 1814. A special contribution to this matter was made by the architect M. Bykovsky. Thanks to his efforts, a bronze iconostasis appeared in the cathedral church of the monastery with the large Royal Gates made of silver.

The role of the monastery in the history of Russia

Chudov Monastery in the Kremlin for many years played an important role in the history of Russia. In 1382, the troops of Tokhtamysh were destroyed. In 1441, the Moscow Metropolitan Isidor was deported here, shortly before he returned from the Florence Cathedral. Representatives of the Orthodox Russian Church, headed by Isidore, signed an agreement on the introduction of the union in Russia. In Moscow, with this decision were not agreed. Isidore was deposed and imprisoned in a monastery.

In 1504, in the Chudov Monastery, an outstanding fighter with heresy was imprisoned - Novgorodian metropolitan Gerontius. The same fate overtook the elder Vassian. In 1610, Tsar Vasily IV was overthrown, and in the monastery he was forcibly tonsured into monks. And two years later, Patriarch Hermogenes died of hunger in the monastery's cell . It remains only to guess how much suffering Chudov monastery saw. Prayer to the archangel Michael was often heard under his vaults.

The role of the monastery in education

Miracles monastery has made a huge contribution to the development of enlightenment of. Two of his archimandrite, Adrian and Yokim, were elected patriarchs. Hierodeacon Timothy became the supervisor of all church rituals taking place on the territory of Moscow. This happened during the reign of Peter I. When the Moscow Diocese was restored in 1737, the Chapel of the Moscow Hierarchs revived its activity in the Miracle Church.

Epifaniy Slavinetsky, who came from the Kiev Academy, worked here. In 1658 he translated for the patriarch a "Dohtur book". I must say that in those days medical literature was very rare, as, indeed, medicine itself, which served only the highest person. For his work Epiphanius received a great reward for those times - 10 rubles. In addition, here for a while worked and Arseniy the Greek.

Training in the monastery

According to tradition, in the monasteries of Chudov, boyar children were given up for training and protection from the bad influence of secular society . They lived at the monastery until the age of sixteen, and then returned to their father's house. According to contemporaries, in those days the monastery was more like an educational institution for the aristocracy, rather than a monastery.

Karion Istomin, an enlightener from Little Russia, lived here for a long time. In 1662 he created a primer, which was later presented to Queen Natalia Kirillovna for teaching the reading and writing of her grandson, Tsarevich Alexei.

The heyday of the temple

It is believed that the monastery reached its highest peak in the Miracles by the beginning of the 17th century. Then it was called the Great Lavra. At this time, with the support of Patriarch Filaret, the Greco-Latin school began to receive its first listeners. The monastery's vestry contained the most valuable contributions of Russian tsars, great boyars and princes. Here was a huge library, with priceless specimens of ancient books. It was one of the most important book depositories in Russia.

The monastery had four churches. At the very beginning of the XVI century (1501), the cathedral of the Archangel Michael was erected on the site of the ancient but already dismantled church. The stone Alekseevskaya church appeared at the end of the XV century. It burned several times, after that it was repeatedly rebuilt. But in spite of this, for centuries, the tsar's children were baptized in it. Here the children of Ivan the Terrible were baptized, Alexei Mikhailovich - the future tsar, Peter I, and also the emperor Alexander II. The trophy weapons of the Russian army adorned the walls of the church, captured in the battles of the Russo-Persian war of 1816.

The Temple of the Annunciation adjoined the Alekseevsky Church. It was erected in 1501, and in 1826 it was rebuilt. In this church there was an icon of Nicholas the Miracle-Worker, revered by thousands of parishioners.

The smallest church was built in honor of the Apostle Andrew Primordial.

Temple in the Soviet era

In 1917, the temple was badly damaged. The government of the Soviet Republic moved from Petrograd to the Kremlin. For a while the monks continued to live in the monastery, but this neighborhood irritated the new authorities.

In 1919 the church was closed. Initially, the cooperative "Kommunist" was placed here and arranged a hut-reading room. Later he was transferred to the jurisdiction of Lechsanupra, which was responsible for the health of members of the Soviet government and other dignitaries. In 1929 Chudov and the Ascension Monastery were destroyed. This place was needed to build the building of the School of Command Staff for the Red Army. The project of the building was designed by the architect Rerberg.

The relics of St. Alexis were transferred to the Archangel Cathedral. In 1947, at the request of Alexis I, they were transferred to Elokhov Cathedral, where they still rest today. The most valuable icons were transported to the Armory Chamber of the Kremlin, as well as to the Tretyakov Gallery.

The churches and temples of the Kremlin, destroyed in the XX century

Unfortunately, in the 20th century, 17 churches were destroyed on the Kremlin's territory, which were unique historical monuments. The ancient Kremlin map in Moscow and infographics make it possible to see that in this territory there were, apart from the Ascension and Chudov Monasteries, the Church of Constantine on the hem, the Annunciation Church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, the stunning monument to Alexander II and others.

Restore Miracles Monastery ... Is it possible?

It became known recently that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the restoration of the Ascension and Chudov Monasteries.

Construction works will begin after preliminary excavations. Today the view of the Ivanovskaya (formerly Tsar's) square seems quite familiar. It seems incredible that she once looked different. Only photographs of the XIX century and the map of the Kremlin in Moscow give an idea of how everything here was luxurious and majestic. On the site of the former monastery is now an unremarkable building of the 14th service building, which, moreover, has been repaired for many years.

A map of the Kremlin in Moscow, if it is imposed on it the scheme of the destroyed monasteries (Chudova and Voznesensky), clearly shows the space occupied by the destroyed temples. In addition to the territory on which the 14th Corps now is located, they occupied more than half of the Ivanovskaya Square (almost to the Tsar Cannon).

Large-Scale Project

Experts and historians are inspired by the prospect of the forthcoming work. In the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery there are only seven frescos from the Chudov Monastery, several more are in other museums. There were no detailed drawings of these buildings. Folders with unique, miraculously preserved draft drawings widowed by one scientist gave to the Museum of Architecture. Her husband tried most to sketch and measure the details of the monasteries. According to the staff of the Museum of Architecture, according to these drawings and drawings it is possible to restore, if not the entire ensemble of monasteries, then their main buildings for sure.

In the Kremlin today the ancient halls of the Kremlin Palace have already been restored , the legendary Red Porch was recreated. But the scientists and historians could not even dream of returning the biggest loss of the 20th century.

On the creation of the project, excavations, construction can take more than a dozen years. But this is not the main thing. It is important that, as a result, the face of the Kremlin will be restored.