The history of Sergiev Posad (briefly). Sergiev Posad: the history of the city for children

Schoolchildren are often interested in the past of ancient Russian cities. Not an exception is the story of Sergiev Posad. Briefly, it is not easy to transfer, because this settlement exists for almost 7 centuries, during which many interesting events took place on its lands. The past of Sergiev Posad is inextricably linked with the Trinity-Sergius Lavra located on its lands - the largest Russian Orthodox monastery, to look at which tourists and believers from many countries come to. Located within the Golden Ring, the city attracts visitors with picturesque nature, unique monuments of ancient architecture, interesting museums and hospitality of residents.

Foundation of the monastery

The history of Sergiev Posad began in the distant 1347. It was then that in the Radonezh forest on the forest hill Makovets near the river Konchury the brothers Bartholomew and Stefan built a monastic cell and a small church in the name of the Trinity. The only purpose of their lives was that the ascetics considered service to God, and the uninhabited region of Moscow suburbs was the best for this. But soon Stefan was fed up with deaf forests and constant monastic deprivation. Leaving his brother, he moved to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery. Bartholomew was also a monk under the name of Sergius and began to live in a cell as a hermit. So he existed alone for several years.

In time, monks from nearby lands began to come to Sergius. They founded around the church built Trinity Monastery, which in its appearance looked like a small fenced-off wooden fence. Sergius of Radonezh forbade the novices to accept alms from outsiders and ordered them to earn their living by their own labor. So the monastery gradually turned into a rich center of handicraft production. Around him began to build their dwellings peasants and craftsmen. Sloboda gradually formed from these settlements. Also the clergy were patronized by the Russian nobility, granting him various privileges and feudal privileges.

The role of the monastery in the victory on the Kulikovo field

The history of Sergiev Posad is closely connected with the name of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy, who saved Russian lands from the Mongol-Tatar yoke. If you believe the chronicles, in 1380, on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo Field, the ruler of the Russian lands, together with his druzhina, arrived at the monastery for the blessing from Sergius.

Reverend Father not only spiritually supported the soldiers, but also gave them to help his two monks (Alexander Peresvet and Rodion Oslaby), who were very good at handling weapons. After receiving support from Sergiy, Dmitry Donskoy and his team went to the Kulikovo field to fight the troops of the Golden Horde. According to ancient legends, the brave monks Oslabya and Peresvet fought desperately with the enemy and died in battle. But as a result, the squad of Dmitry Donskoy managed to smash the Mongol-Tatars and this victory laid the foundation for the liberation of Russia from the long-standing yoke.

Death of the founder of the city

The Monk died in 1392 and was buried in the territory of the monastery founded by him. The history of Sergiev Posad is saturated. For children, the narrative of the life of the city will look magical if you tell them why the name of the great monk, his founder, was known far beyond his residence. Among people, he became famous as a great miracle worker and righteous man, to whom at the most difficult moment not only ordinary peasants, but also noble people addressed themselves. Thirty years after his death, Sergius was ranked as a saint. In honor of this event, above the place of his burial was laid the stone Trinity Cathedral, built with the money of his son Dmitry Donskoy Prince Yuri.

Destruction of the monastery

The history of Sergiev Posad has its own tragic pages. Despite the fact that as a result of the Kulikovo battle the troops of the Golden Horde suffered a crushing defeat, they still attacked the Russian lands from time to time. In 1408, the Tatars launched an offensive against Moscow. When they had a magnificent Trinity-Sergius monastery on their way, Khan Yedigei ordered his army to scorch it. Wooden religious buildings broke out and burnt to the ground.

Revival and Prosperity

Despite the devastating foray of the Tatars, the monastery did not cease to exist, in the place of which Sergiev Posad subsequently formed. The history of the city for children can be told without mentioning these facts, but they should also know about these, albeit unpleasant, events.

Three years after the tragedy, new religious constructions appeared on these lands, for the erection of which stone was used. The restored monastery was firmly on its feet and, thanks to the support of the princes, began to develop even faster and better. He owned far beyond his arable land, meadows, peasant households with farms, places for fishing, etc.

Tsar Ivan the Terrible always listened to the opinion of the high Trinitarian clergy. In 1561, he received from the monastic clergymen the approval of his policy, which went down in history as "oprichnina." Support of the sovereign brought the monks new land ownership and replenishment of the treasury at the expense of public men.

In the middle of the XVI century, Ivan the Terrible ordered to erect a stone wall with eleven towers around the lands belonging to the monastery, after which it turned into an impregnable fortress. A brief history of Sergiev Posad for children contains colorful examples of how the citadel in 1608-1610 with dignity sustained almost a year and a half siege of the Polish-Lithuanian conquerors. When the Streletsky revolt broke out in Russia in 1682, the stone walls of the monastery covered the pride of the disgruntled soldiers with princess Sofya Nikolaevna and Tsarevich Ivan and Peter. After 7 years, the latter had already hid independently here during his battle for the royal throne. Having ascended to the throne, Peter I strongly supported the monastic lands. Such a policy of the sovereign contributed to their further prosperity.

Renaming the monastery into a laurel

With the support of the rulers and the nobility, the story of Sergiev Posad continued. For children it will be interesting to learn that in 1744 the monastery was renamed into a laurel. Such an honorary title gave him new opportunities and strengthened his status among other Orthodox religious institutions in Russia. In 1782 numerous settlements around the monastery were united in a settlement called "Sergiev Posad".

The educated city received a coat of arms, almshouses, shopping benches, monastery hotels began to be built on its territory, factories, factories, a printing plant were opened. Gradually, he turned into a major center for the production of toys, his symbol was the Russian doll. In 1865, railroad tracks were laid between Sergiev Posad and Moscow. This attracted a large number of pilgrims and pilgrims to the laurels.

Bolshevik policy

Prosperity of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and its lands ended with the coming to power of Bolsheviks in Russia. All the religious institutions in the city were closed. On the territory of the Lavra in 1919, the museum was founded. Monks were persecuted and repressed. The name "Sergiev Posad" disappeared from the maps. The history of the city for children shows that in 1919 he was named Sergiev, and in 1930 - Zagorsky. This name was given in honor of the revolutionary Vladimir Zagorsky.

Sergiev Posad in times of Soviet power

During the existence of the USSR, the appearance of the city has changed significantly. New factories and factories were built on its territory. In 1932, the unique Research Institute of Toys was opened here. The war with the Germans made adjustments to the measured life of the city. Many of its residents went to fight at the front, 14 of them after the end of hostilities were awarded the title Hero of the USSR. Since 1946 the religious life in Sergiev Posad has gradually been revived. From this time on, monks began to return to the monastery.

In 1976, a monument to Zagorsky was opened in the city. Since 1980, the toy museum has started functioning here. In honor of the 1000th anniversary of the baptism of Kievan Rus in 1988, a monument to its founder Sergei Radonezhsky was solemnly unveiled in the vicinity of the village, near the Transfiguration Church. The former name was returned to Sergiev Posad after a local referendum in 1991.

Modern city

Sergiev Posad today is a major religious, cultural, historical and administrative center of the Moscow region. Its main attraction is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Since 1993, it is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. To visit it come not only believers, but also all those who are interested in the short history of the city of Sergiev Posad.