Verkhoturye, the monastery. Verkhoturye Nikolayev Monastery

The Siberian city Verkhoturye, located on the bank of the Tura River, several centuries ago was perhaps the largest populated area of the Russian kingdom in the Trans-Urals region. At the end of the sixteenth century, Ekaterinburg still existed, Demidov's factories were not built, and Verkhoturye already existed. In the city in those days Verkhotury customs functioned, and it was the center of trade with the peoples inhabiting Eastern Siberia. Today Verkhoturye is the spiritual capital of the Urals, thanks to several religious institutions, which many pilgrims come to visit.

Archbishop went to meet the requests of the old men and women

The convent in Verkhoturye is the first monastery for the fair sex, established behind the Ural ridge. The year of its foundation is 1621, when Archbishop Cyprian of the Siberian Diocese, traveling from Moscow to Tobolsk, stayed in the city for four days and learned that many worldly ladies and old people are in search of monastic life. After the meeting with the city governor, the ruler made a decision to build a church in honor of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary and several cells, which initially began to inhabit about ten women. It was in honor of this church that the name Pokrovsky Monastery was named . Verkhoturye had its own women's abode for quite some time - in 1764 this church institution was abolished and for many decades old buildings stood empty, gradually collapsing until the last decades, when programs for their restoration appeared.

Not all the territory of the monastery is accessible for visiting

Today the nunnery in Verkhoturye is active. This is a small neat building of a snow-white color with silver domes of the Intercession Church, which is accessible for visiting. The rest of the monastery is closed. On the territory of the temple are the relics of Kozma of Verkhoturye, many pilgrims come to worship. This well-known Urals fool was lame from the genus and walked on crutches. From a young age he took the feat of foolishness, went to all church services, including going out to pray from home at night. His death dates back to 1680, when he was buried in the fence of the Verkhoturye Cathedral.

His prayer changed the weight of the precious burden

After death, the blessed one appeared in a dream to a widow asking "to cover the grave from cattle" and the woman arranged a chapel over the burial. In addition, Kozma is credited with participating in the transfer of the relics of Simeon of Verkhoturye, during which the holy fool allegedly asked the saint to interrupt the transfer, as his legs ache and tired, and people were forced to put the burden on the ground, as it became unbearable. After Kozma had rested, the procession continued its movement, and on the spot of the stop they placed the Holy Cosmic Void. How to find a female residence in Verkhoturye? The monastery is located downstream from the city Kremlin and to it, as tourists point out, there are no signs, so it is necessary to check with local residents how to pass. Find the structure will not be difficult, because the city itself is small, it has about 7,5 thousand inhabitants, and all the attractions are within walking distance.

The smallest Kremlin in Russia

Pilgrims also consider it worthwhile and interesting to visit the Verkhotursky Kremlin, the smallest Kremlin in Russia. On its territory is the Trinity Cathedral, dating from the beginning of the 18th century. This building is noteworthy for hours on the bell tower, cast-iron floor, which allows you to keep cool in the rooms even in the heat, and a view of the city suspension bridge across the river. What else is interesting in the city of Verkhoturye? Monastery for men, founded in 1604 by a native of Poshekhonye, hieromonk Ionoy, is known for its large area, which exceeds the Kremlin area in Moscow.

The coffin with the incorrupt body rose from the grave

A hundred years after the founding in Verkhoturye, the St. Nicholas Monastery found the relics of St. Simeon, who is revered as the patron of the Ural lands. This man was born in wealth and nobility, but in Troubled times he left the family and home, which was in the European part of the Russian kingdom, to the Urals, where he settled in the village of Merkushino. Here he concealed his origins and lived as a simple peasant, embodying the Christian feat of "repentance". Simeon visited the local church, retired for prayers, sewed fur coats for the peasants, without charging fees for it, and preached to the local tribes Voguls. Fifty years after his death in 1692, the coffin with the immortal body of Simeon rose from the grave, and many people suffering from skin diseases were healed from the grave by the earth. Two years later, the relics were examined and transferred to the Nicholas Church.

The relics of the saint were not subject to fire

What other miracles happened in Verkhoturye? The monastery, in whose territory the relics of the saint turned out, burned in 1716 in a fire, and the church, where the remains of Simeon were, was completely destroyed, but the cancer was not miraculously affected. In 1838 the temple was restored and the ark with relics was put in its side-chapel. In addition, the place of worship is also the burial place of Simeon Verkhotursky in his native village of Merkushino, where a spring from the grave was built, over which a chapel was built, first wooden, then stone. Righteous Simeon left an indelible impression in the souls of people, therefore at the end of the 19th century, the Brotherhood of St. Simeon appeared in Ekaterinburg, which was engaged in spiritual enlightenment, as well as support for the disadvantaged. Simeon's relics attracted many pilgrims, the number of which was estimated at tens of thousands a year, that is why the monastery underwent significant architectural changes in Verkhoturye to accept all comers.

In this cathedral can pray five thousand people

The main cathedral of the monastery, Krestovozdvizhensky, was laid in early 1905 and accommodates about 5 thousand people. It is one of the largest cathedrals in Russia along with St. Isaac's and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The cult building was erected for 8 years and has a seven-headed decoration combined with four belfries of towers. Before the revolution, the temple was decorated with 64 icons, a faience iconostasis, German tiles on the floor, cast-iron screw elements. In the church there are 137 windows, which is twice as large as in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, and its altar, thirty meters high, leaves an unforgettable impression on visitors. What was the fate of this cult structure during the years of Soviet power in Verkhoturye? Monastery after the 30-ies. Was used for economic needs. On the territory of the temple there was also a cinema hall, a warehouse of building materials, and a branch of a colony for minors. The revival of religious buildings began only in the 90s of the twentieth century.

All the churches of the monastery in Verkhoturye

Verkhoturye, the St. Nicholas Monastery of which has more than one church, demonstrates the diversity of architectural styles that prevailed in religious buildings in Russia in this or that period of time. For example, the Simeonno-Annenskaya church, located above the gate (gate), was laid in the middle of the 18th century and was built in the "Asian" style in the form of a two-story tetrahedron. In the temple there is a two-tier iconostasis, and the decorative decoration is close to the Russian style and classicism. Today the structure is considered to be low-sounding and secondary, therefore, it is rarely used for liturgy and therefore access there is limited.

Those who wish to visit Verkhoturye, the monastery, the photo of which is represented here, can not always give access to the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, built on the site of the once-existing large church. The original structure, erected in 1712, was destroyed in 1936, and in its place in 2000 a new church was built in the name of the same saint, where the liturgies are held periodically. About the time of their holding it is necessary to clarify with the monastery's brethren. But for those who come to worship the Transfiguration of the Lord in Verkhoturye, the monastery provides an opportunity to do this daily in the temple of the same name, built in 1821 and little subjected to any changes. Besides religious institutions, Verkhoturye is interesting with well-preserved examples of ancient architecture, a local history museum, as well as a peaceful and quiet atmosphere, favorable for recreation, which is absent today in major megacities.