The monasteries of Moscow are in force. Operating Monasteries of Russia

In 1914 there was a special census. Its goal is the functioning monasteries of Russia, their number, as well as the number of people living in them. At that time counted 1025 operating monasteries. Under Soviet power, there are 16. According to 2013, there are about 700 monasteries in Russia, but this figure is changing, as new monasteries are constantly being opened.

Monasteries of Moscow: history

For the appearance of the Russian capital is very characteristic of the magnificent buildings of cathedrals, churches, monasteries. The oldest of them - Bogoyavlensky and Danilov, were founded in the second half of the 13th century. Large-scale monastic construction began in the late 14th century. At this time in the city appeared Chudov, Andronnikov, Simonov, Sretensky, Christmas monasteries. Most of Moscow's churches appeared in the 16th-17th centuries. It should be noted that at this time the monasteries not only appeared, but were also closed. For example, in 1626 the Ilyinsky monastery ceased to exist. Several monasteries were closed under the reign of Peter I.

The first geodetic plan of the city, published in 1739, showed all the monasteries of Moscow (acting). At that time there were 28 of them. Four of them were closed in the same century.

Lost monasteries

After the revolution (1917), all the monasteries of Moscow were abolished. Some of them were completely destroyed, new buildings were built in their place. So Voznesensky and Chudov monasteries disappeared , as well as Zlatoust, Strastnaya and Nikitsky. Some (a very small part) have become museums. This is the Don, Novodevichy monasteries. Only in the late 90's the situation of church monasteries began to improve. Most of the surviving monastic buildings returned the church. In many monasteries, restoration work is still underway. Today in Moscow there are 22 functioning monasteries. We will acquaint you with some of them today.

Operating monasteries in Moscow

First of all I would like to tell about St. Danilov, or Danilovsky, as it is often called, a monastery. This is the residence of His Holiness the Patriarch. It is the oldest Moscow monastery, founded in 1282 by the son of Alexander Nevsky, Daniel. After his death, he was buried in this territory. Almost four centuries later, his remains were moved to another place, and in the 80's they returned to the Danilov Convent.

In 1812 the monastery was ruined by the French, then restored. In the years of power, the Bolsheviks closed it and demolished the churchyard. Burial places of the famous people of Russia - Nikolai Gogol, Nikolai Rubinstein, Nikolay Yazykov were transferred to the Novodevichy Convent. From 1931 to 1983 there was a colony for juvenile violators of the law on this territory.

In 1983, the holy monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church and completely restored.

It is located at the address - Danilovsky Val, 22 (metro station "Tula").

Male Donskoi Monastery

It was founded in 1593 by the son of Ivan the Terrible, Fyodor Ioannovich. Before, in its place, during the battle with the Crimean khan Girey, there was a marching church. According to the existing legend, the victory of the Russian army helped to win the icon of the Don Mother of God. Now she is in the Tretyakov Gallery.

The Don monastery was looted and destroyed - in the early 1600s and when the French troops left, in 1812.

In 1917 it was closed, and on its territory the Museum of Architecture was founded.

In 1991, the Donskoi Monastery, unfortunately, was sent to the Moscow Patriarchate with great delay. This date can be considered the day of his second birth. Since then, the monastery has been functioning again.

The abode is located at the address - Don Square, 1 (metro station "Shabolovskaya").

The Novospassky Monastery

It is also called Tsarist, because from time immemorial royal people and representatives of grand dukes were buried in its territory. It was founded in the XIII century by Prince Daniel. He was transferred several times. The current monastery, the photo of which you see in our article, was rebuilt in 1645.

After the revolution, the monastery, like many others, was closed. On its territory, they organized a prison for the NKVD. The pogost with the burials of the Zakharins, Romanovs and other princely families was barbarously destroyed. After the Second World War, a sobering-up place was located here. Since 1968, the Monastery housed the Museum of Restoration. Since that time, restoration work has begun here in the surviving buildings.

In 1990, it was returned to the Orthodox believers and again began to exist as a functioning monastery.

His address - Peasant Square, 10 (metro station "Proletarskaya", "Peasant").

Monasteries of Moscow (operating) women

Pre-revolutionary Moscow was rightfully proud of its church buildings. Temples and cathedrals delighted the overseas guests. Below you can see the women's monasteries of the capital.

Alekseevsky Monastery

The oldest female abode, founded in 1360 by Metropolitan Alexis in Chertolia, on a hill above the Moska River, was at that time called by his name. The stone cathedral church was built by decree of Ivan the Terrible, who prayed for the birth of the heir, in 1514. The monastery burned several times, but it was restored. In 1547, he burned to the ground. In 1584, Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of the Alekseevsky Monastery in a new place where the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is now located. Some novices did not want to leave the ashes of the burned-out monastery, and on this site the temple was restored and named Zachatievsky. Until now, thousands of believers have been praying diligently about the long-awaited conception.

In Soviet times many of the premises of the monastery were blown up, part destroyed. On the territory there was a children's colony and a prison.

In the 90 years the monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church. By 2010, it was completely restored and again acquired the status of a functioning monastery. You can see the photo in our article, and its address is the 2-nd Zachatyevsky lane, 2 (metro stations Park Kultury, Kropotkinskaya).

Novodevichy Convent

He was elevated by Prince Vasily III regarding the return of the ancient city of Smolensk to the Moscow Principality, in 1524.

In the old days it was the most privileged and very rich monastery of the country. He was visited by women of noble births and before the tonsure they sacrificed their jewels, gold, pearls, silver.

By the beginning of the 17th century a magnificent ensemble was created, created in the style of the Moscow Baroque. The openwork crowns adorned the towers, the second highest bell tower in Moscow was built, as well as the Assumption Church and the refectory.

The history of the Novodevichy monastery keeps the secrets of the novices, who got into it not by their own will. Here, the first wife of Peter I, Evdokia Lopukhin, Boyarynya Morozova, Princess Sophia were languishing in captivity.

By a lucky coincidence, the monastery survived in 1812. However, after 1917, he did not escape the fate that awaited all the monasteries of Moscow. Acting in those days, the new authorities closed it in 1922. Here the Museum of Emancipation of the Woman began, which later was transformed into an art museum. You can find it at: Novodevichy Proyezd, house 1 (metro station Sportivnaya).

Theotokos-Christmas residence

All the monasteries of Moscow - operating and already lost - are very different. Not only in its "age", but also in its architectural style.

In 1386, the mother of the hero of the battle on the Kulikovo field, Vladimir the Brave, Princess Mary Serpukhova founded the Mother of God-Christmas monastery. It was erected in honor of the victory on Kulikovo Field.

The first sisters of the monastery were orphans and widows of warriors who died on the battlefield. It must be said that since ancient times the Baptisms of Rus, the Orthodox have reverenced the Queen of Heaven with special reverence. Her earthly life was dedicated to the temples and monasteries of Moscow. The now existing monasteries, to a greater or lesser extent, keep a bright memory of the Mother of God. In memory of her, temples were built in the pre-Mongol period. One of the first became the Mother of God-Christmas monastery.

Over time, it grew. In 1505 the stone cathedral of the Holy Virgin appeared, in the following years it was repeatedly rebuilt. In 1687 the church of St. John Chrysostom appeared on the territory of the monastery . In 1836 the bell tower and the church of Eugene Khersonski were built. In 1906, according to the project of the architect P. Vinogradov, the Kazan Mother of God Church was built.

In 1922, the monastery was closed, and until the 70's all the premises of the monastery were occupied by communal apartments. In the late 80-ies the monastery was returned to the Moscow Patriarchate. Divine services began in 1989, and the first monks appeared here in 1993. Since then, the monastery began to live a regular measured life. His address is Rozhdestvenka Street, house 20.

We have presented to you only some monasteries of Moscow (acting). We have indicated the addresses of the monastery here for your convenience. If you want to see them with your own eyes - come, you will always be welcome.