Ioanno-Predtechensky Women's Monastery (Moscow)

The Ioanno-Predtechensky Women's Monastery (Moscow) is an active monument of federal and even world significance. By its existence and architectural changes, it is possible to trace almost the whole of Moscow's past, with its conquest, fires and restoration. He could just get lost in history and undergo barbarous destruction. But, thanks to the faith and efforts of many Russians, he still pleases our eyes.

St. John the Baptist

This saint is revered almost in the same way as the Virgin Mary herself. It was he who announced the future birth of Christ. And so in his honor was built a huge number of churches and churches, both in Russia and in the world. One of the most famous is the St. John the Baptist's Convent in Moscow.

This extraordinary child was born in the family of the clergy of Zechariah and Elizabeth. He predicted his appearance to the father of the archangel Gabriel. He said that the future child is the Forerunner of the great Messiah. Not believing, Zahariya paid with dumbness.

Up to 30 years, John was in the desert. He led the life of a righteous man, for which he earned the respect and worship of the Jerusalem people. He was often visited by the great sacrament of baptism. According to tradition, Christ himself came to John. There, in the desert, in the Jordan River, he was baptized.

For their sermons and stories about the Messiah, as well as for exposing many of the powers that be to John the Baptist were chopped off. Later, part of his relics were given to various monasteries as a shrine.

Architectural ensemble

St. John the Baptist Convent is practically in the heart of Moscow. It is located on a high picturesque hill, which goes around the ancient path to Ryazan and Vladimir, called "Solyanka".

This territory from ancient times belonged to the Russian Grand Duke's house. Once there was a country residence and extensive gardens. They gave the names to local monasteries and temples - in the "Old Gardens".

The appearance of the monastery and the surrounding territories was greatly affected by fires, ruin and destruction. Therefore, it is impossible to see its original image today.

Originally it was a classical one-domed temple. In the architecture there were three porches. Therefore, from above the temple seemed cross-shaped.

Now we can observe only the restored complex, which was developed in the XIX century by the famous and respected academician Bykovsky.

In the center of the ensemble is its main part - the Cathedral with a huge faceted dome. The territory of the monastery is separated by an ancient stone wall. And near the main Holy Gate, two tower-bell towers were arranged. In the eastern part you can see a special hospital building with a church. In this case, absolutely all buildings are connected by galleries.

In the north-west there is a cell-and-refectory building. Today this part of the complex is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Unfortunately, it is gradually declining.

History of creation

The Ioanno-Predtechensky Monastery is an ancient building. After so many events, there was practically no documentary evidence of its creation. Therefore, in some sources, the data is slightly different.

The first mention of this monastery can be found in the surviving annals of 1415. They described the birth of Prince Basil II of the Dark. Initially, this monastery was male. And only in 1530, after transferring to Kulishki, in honor of the birth of John Vasilyevich, he was ordained as a woman.

The main holiday, the day of which the festive exits of the kings were celebrated, was on August 29. It was dedicated to the truncation of John the Baptist's head. Also, the Moscow princes visited the monastery in Easter. Then alms and colorful Easter eggs were heard.

There was also one more name - Ioanno Predtechensky stauropegial nunnery. Over time, he overgrew with new complexes and lands, donated by the kings and the powers that be. However, it was as often destroyed as it was built. And at all times this holy place had powerful and virtuous protectors.

The history of the monastery in tsarist Russia

Despite the centuries-old past, the greatest recognition of the Ioanno-Predtechenskaya monastery was during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich. They with Queen Evdokia Lukyanovna annually made to the monastery festive exits on the day of the commemoration of John the Baptist. In these times the refectory, the stone bell tower was completed and a new bell was cast.

At the same time, a tradition began to take hold for servants and princely families in a monastery of relatives. Contained the abode of the contributions of these families, as well as deductions from the treasury of the sovereign.

Significant changes in architecture and the general life of the Ioanno-Predtechensky women's monastery underwent during the reign of Peter I. Then the decree was adopted to replace numerous wooden cells with stone ones. Over time, the social composition of monastics has also changed. Now the people from the merchant class and the clergy began to lead the monastery.

After the burning of Moscow and the abolition of many monasteries, the Ioanno-Predtechensky Monastery was able to recover and even be renewed. This was due to St. Philaret and Maria Mazurina.

Period of the USSR

With the advent of the "people's" power, Christianity and any other religion and its ministers were cruelly persecuted. The inhabitants of the Predtechensky Monastery were also persecuted. The new government decided to arrange special concentration camps in the monastery.

It was he who was first closed to the parishioners. The authorities arrested all bank accounts, confiscated movable and even immovable property, and closed the acting infirmary. Nuns and novices were subjected to persecution and all kinds of infringements due to denunciations.

And already in 1931 all of its remaining inhabitants were arrested on unreasonable and very widespread charges of anti-Soviet agitation. Many of the nuns were exiled to Kazakhstan.

By the 1980s, almost the whole territory of the monastery was given for municipal and administrative needs. Most belonged to and belongs to the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the departmental pool and the bathhouse. On the territory there was also a shooting gallery, a printing house and a repository of a special state archive.

Only after the collapse of the USSR, the Ioanno-Predtechensky Monastery began to be gradually restored. Gradually, parishioners and ministers returned to it, and the previously occupied premises began to be vacated.

Famous inhabitants of the monastery

At different times, a lot of people from different estates and different ages have visited here. And, of course, they each had their own reasons. Here people came believing, with a difficult fate or for the atonement of sins.

In the years of tsarism, the Ioanno-Predtechensky women's monastery was almost completely supported by the money of the Grand Dukes. All the rich estate made certain contributions, participated in the life of the monastery. By the end of life, members of noble families were leaving here. Here they buried their dead relatives. And the monastery became an ancestral home for those in power.

But not only did the volunteers take tonsure. According to the tsar's decree, disliked and dangerous to the authorities were referred to the monastery. One of the most famous inhabitants at the turn of the vague XVIII-XIX centuries was the famous princess August Tarakanova. She, like the direct heiress of the throne, daughter from the secret marriage of Elizaveta Petrovna and Razumovsky, was forcibly tonsured and deprived of the opportunity to live freely.

Here, too, was the well-known torturer of the peasants, Saltychikha. On her conscience are more than 140 souls killed. Daria Saltykova spent 11 years in the crypt. Then she was forced to live in a special open cage, in front of all the parishioners.

There were also their holy fools, who were revered as saints. For example, the story tells about the schema of Martha. It was esteemed by the wife of Mikhail Fedorovich, as an assistant during childbirth. And even after Martha's death, the custom remained to serve on her grave for a successful pregnancy resolution.

Shrines of the Ioanno-Predtechensky Monastery

Faith brings many wonderful things. Of course, the place of erection of the monastery was chosen by ordinary people, and not by signs, as Leushinsky Ioanno-Predtechensky women's monastery. But for so many years, thanks to faith and worship, the Moscow cloister deserved the glory miraculous.

For centuries of history, this place has accumulated enough objects for worship. In addition to the miraculous icons, there are pieces of holy relics in the monastery:

• St. John the Baptist.
• Reverend Alexy.
• The Apostle Matthew.
• St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
• Healer of the Great Martyr Panteleimon and many others.

Ioanno-Predtechensky Women's Monastery (Vyazma)

In the name of the great prophet, many churches and temples are built. In Russia, in addition to the Moscow monastery of the same name, there is also the Ioanno-Predtechensky women's monastery (Vyazma). It was founded in the Smolensk region, according to various sources, in 1536 or 1542.

At the beginning of the history of the monastery he visited the Russian sovereigns Boris Godunov and Ivan the Terrible. The period of Troubles and Wars, he experienced almost as well as other monasteries. He was robbed and destroyed many times, and it's impossible to see his original appearance.

In the 18th century a special seminary was organized here, and then the Spiritual College. During the Soviet period, most of the complex was destroyed, and reconstruction works are still ongoing.