Valdai, the monastery of Iversky: photo, reviews, history. How to get to the Iversky Monastery in Valdai?

Valdai has always attracted tourists with its magnificent nature, unique national park and nature reserve. But the main point of any excursion to these places is the Iver Monastery in Valdai. This main Orthodox landmark is located on the Selvick Island.

The history of the Iberian monastery (Valdai)

This monastery was built by the order of Patriarch Nikon. This happened in the XVII century. The construction of the monastery was approved by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Clergymen said that the patriarch had a vision during a trip to Solovki, which was a fiery pillar marking the place where the monastery was being built. In architectural terms, it was created in the image of the male Iberian monastery, located on Mount Athos in Greece. By 1653, two wooden churches were built, which were consecrated in honor of Philip of Moscow and the icon of the Iberian Mother of God. Later, the stone Uspensky Cathedral and the Church of the Archangel Michael were built and consecrated . In addition, many small buildings for economic purposes have appeared here.
The tsar's charter fixed the surrounding lands for the monastery - Vyshny Volochok, Borovichi, Yazhelbitsy, as well as the Valdai Lake and some nearby monasteries.

In 1655 the brothers of the Kuteinsky Monastery (Byelorussia), together with their church utensils, fully moved into the monastery . They brought with them even typographic machines. From this moment, book printing began to develop here.
Patriarch Nikon (the founder of the monastery) during his visit renamed the Valdai Posad, calling it the village of Bogoroditsky, and he called the local lake the Holy One. From that time the monastery acquired the second name - Svyatoozersky.
In 1656 the construction of the Assumption Cathedral was completed, which was consecrated in the same year.

For a long time Valdai was famous for his measured and calm life. The monastery of Iversky successfully functioned as a temple. So it was before the October Revolution, when it began to decline. The miracle-working icon was taken from the monastery in 1927, and the monastery itself, together with the monastic community (70 people), was transformed into a labor collective. Later there was a historical and archival museum of local lore, a school for sick children with tuberculosis, a home for disabled veterans of the Second World War, a recreation center.

Recovery

The monastery, in an emergency condition, in 1991, returned the Novgorod diocese. His first governor (after the return of the monastery) was Hegumen Stephen.
The President of Russia arrived at the solemn liturgy in Valdai. Iver Monastery (photo you see in this article) was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God of Iversk in 2008 by Patriarch Alexy II. In the same year, it was decided to gild the domes of the Iversky Cathedral.

Restoration

During the years of decline and desolation, the Iver Monastery (Valdai) almost lost the temple painting. There was a time-consuming and painstaking work to restore it. It was conducted almost five years. The remaining areas were neatly cleared and fortified. Painters restorers completed the lost compositions. In addition, the saints and cherubs were written on the altar windows. The frescoes of the upper part of the altar were restored in accordance with old models in 2009.

Some compositions had to be prescribed several times in order to withstand a single style. During the restoration work the masters managed to recreate almost three thousand meters of unique temple painting. The restoration was completed in 2011.

Description of the Iversky Cathedral

All who come to the island of Valdai, the monastery of Iversky visit necessarily. And they begin acquaintance with the monastery from its main cathedral. Iberian Cathedral (formerly Uspensky) is a six-column, five-headed, three-nave structure, built in the form of a square with three apses.

On four sides the temple is surrounded by a gallery, typical of all the buildings of the patriarch Nikon. The gallery has a porch, and from the north and south side there are two two-story tents with crosses. The temple's vaults support six large pillars. Earlier in the altar there were choirs made of wood, but they did not survive until our time. Now the choir in the temple is stone, located above the door at the entrance.
The church is decorated with frescoes of the XIX century, restored by the restoring masters of the enterprise "Kitezh".

At the entrance to the church, you can see a story telling how the Iberian icon came into the holy abode, as well as the phenomenon of the incorrupt relics of St. James.
The throne (XVII century.) Is set on stone pillars, to it also a step of stone adjoins. The throne is decorated with embossing, and above it is a carved canopy.
In the high place is depicted the Savior, who sits on the throne. He is the prophet John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin. On the two sides of this image are the twelve apostles.

Valdai, the monastery of Iversky: The Epiphany Church with a refectory

Presumably, this grandiose structure with a refectory was built in 1669. Its modest decoration is favorably shaded by a strict temple facade. The lower windows are framed by thin columns and small simplified kokoshniki.

The refectory building consists of two floors. On the first (semi-basement) floor there were storages, and on the second there was a spacious refectory, utility rooms and kitchen.

The refectory is a one-pillar chamber, which is covered by a vault with decks above windows and doorways. Arched passages connect it with the church of the Epiphany. It is on the east side of the refectory. It is a double-lighted cubic one-domed temple with a two-tier faceted apse.

Bell tower

Along the southern wall of the monastery stretches a picturesque complex of buildings, which consists of two buildings - the local and the abbot. Between them is a monastery bell tower.

This tent structure was built in the XVII century. Significantly later, buildings were added to it. After the terrible fire of 1825 the appearance of the bell tower changed: the tent was dismantled, and instead a dome with a spire appeared. After the recent restoration, the bell tower acquired its original appearance.

Church of Philip the Metropolitan

This gate church, which was erected in 1874 on the site of an ancient temple. The church is a quadrilateral with beveled corners and symmetrical chapels, facades with gabled ends and a large head mounted on a faceted drum.

In the composition of this temple and its decorative design, the features of the pseudo-Russian style and eclecticism are seen.

Icon of the Mother of God

Hundreds of pilgrims come to Iversky Monastery annually (Valdai). The icon of the Iberian Mother of God is the main shrine of the monastery. The Holy Face is an exact copy of the Iberian Icon, which is located in Athos monastery, in Greece. He was no different from the original. She was taken to the monastery by the monks Cornelius and Nicephorus. The icon struck with its luxurious decoration. The cost of jewelry in those days was estimated at 44 thousand rubles in silver. The Holy Patriarch Nikon imposed a ban on icon painters to create copies and lists from it.

The novices of the monastery say that they have repeatedly witnessed the miracles that this icon (healing from illnesses, prevention of catastrophes) showed. During the terrible epidemic of cholera (1848), the icon protected the inhabitants of the monastery from the deadly disease. Since then, on the 28th of July, a religious procession takes place. The Mother of God pray for consolation in grief, for solving problems, for a rich harvest, for healing. Everyone can turn to her, not only visiting Valdai, but also at home. The Valdai Mother of God will help everyone who lives with God in his heart and believes in his great power.

Iversky Monastery in our days

Every year more and more pilgrims, as, indeed, ordinary tourists visit the Valdai (the monastery of Iversky). Guests are delighted by the beautifully manicured area. At the entrance for guests there is a parking lot, which on weekends can hardly accommodate all those wishing to visit the holy abode.

For visits the monastery is open daily, from 6.00 to 21.00. For tourists (and pilgrims), staff conduct sightseeing tours. In the monastery they are housed in the living room (with meals and overnight stays), however, these issues should be coordinated with the Pilgrim Center in advance.

How to get there?

Many tourists would like to visit the Iversky Monastery (Valdai) today. How to get there? This we will discuss below.

The monastery is located on the Selvitsky Island, which can be reached by the regular boat "Zarya" or by a special excursion boat.
In addition, the island can be reached by car, moving across the bridge, located near the village of Borovichi.

Guest Reviews

Many of our compatriots, as well as guests from near abroad, have already visited the Iversky Monastery (Valdai). The testimonies indicate that the impressions of the trip remain unforgettable. The monastery is the embodiment of tranquility and peace. The nature here is magnificent.

Many guests were delighted with the friendly attitude of clergymen to numerous guests. Everyone points out that this is a special world, completely devoid of anger, despair, intolerance.

And of course, many enthusiastic words are addressed to the staff of the monastery, who conduct excursions to the monastery. They tell a lot of interesting things about the history of the monastery, its founder, the present inhabitants and the wonderful icon.