Active monasteries in Russia. The most famous monasteries of Russia All male monasteries

The monasteries of Moscow, the spiritual centers of our capital, are favorite places for pilgrimage and historical sights, which are often visited by residents of other countries and cities. In Moscow there are both women's and male cloisters containing many ancient Orthodox shrines. Monastic buildings adorn the city, and a Russian Orthodox person would often like to attend a service in a monastery. There are about half a dozen ancient monasteries and relatively new monasteries in Moscow. We will try to introduce you to the monasteries of Moscow, which will be interesting to visit as a pilgrim or tourist.

Perhaps you would like to visit the Novodevichy or Novospassky Monastery, see the Don Icon, or simply learn about the active monasteries of the city. Of course, we must not forget that God hears our prayer not only in the monastery and monasteries of Moscow - this is not a mysterious "place of power" where prayer becomes special, but the opportunity to visit beautiful and prayerful monasteries is a great joy for Orthodox believers. Before you go to the monasteries of Moscow, do not forget to check if they are open to the public. Some monasteries live a closed life and do not always let pilgrims in.

Novodevichy Convent

Novodevichy Convent is not only one of the most beautiful places in Moscow, but also one of the most ancient. Among all the monasteries of Moscow, it is also distinguished by the fact that it belongs to the Historical Museum of the city. The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524, since then it has been closely associated with the history of our country. The monastery played an important and sometimes dramatic role in the lives of famous Russian women.

During the capture by the Lithuanians, the then ruling Ivan III, the father of Ivan the Terrible, made a vow - if Smolensk could be liberated, a large monastery would be founded in Moscow, in gratitude to the Most Holy Theotokos. Smolensk was an important outpost of the state. When Smolensk was liberated, Ivan III kept his promise and began building the Novodevichy Convent. It is believed that the monastery was erected exactly on the spot where they once selected young girls who would leave in full. The monastery immediately fell in love with the Moscow parishioners, because it is no secret that it is located in a picturesque place.

Despite the fact that the monastery belongs to the museum and is the historical heritage of the city, services are held in the temples of this monastery in Moscow.

Monastery address: Moscow, Novodevichy passage, 1

Donskoy Monastery

The Donskoy Monastery has always been surrounded by legends and amazing events. In the summer of 1591, Moscow was alarmed by the impending invasion of the Crimean Khan. A terrible battle went on all day at the ford across the Moskva River. There was also miraculous icon Donskoy Mother of God, which, according to legend, helped the soldiers of the Kuklikovo battle. According to an ancient legend, the Crimean Khan fled thanks to the prayer before the Don Icon and the intercession of the Mother of God.

So, on the site of the Russian camp, the Donskoy Monastery arose. Boris Godunov built the main cathedral of the monastery. The miraculous Donskaya Icon of the Mother of God has since been considered the patroness and intercessor of Moscow. Thanks to the help of the Mother of God, both Tamerlane and other invaders fled from the walls of the city. There is a wonderful quiet life in the monastery, far from the noise of the big city. The monasteries of Moscow are called cloisters of mercy and flower gardens of learning. Donskoy Monastery is a bright representative of the most beautiful monasteries in Moscow.

One of the main Orthodox miracles of the monastery is the amazing discovery of the relics of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

It is always a pleasure to take a walk near the beautiful monastery in the shade of linden trees and an apple orchard and take a break from the hustle and bustle, pray in the beautiful temples of the monastery and admire the wonderful views.

Monastery address: Moscow, pl. Donskaya, 1

Novospassky Monastery

The Novospassky Monastery is called the first monastery in Moscow. It is located on Taganka. Each monastery has its own history and its own saints, but this monastery is truly considered special. Previously, it was called "Savior on the New", and the monastery became the heir to two other ancient monasteries. One of them was founded back in the 13th century by Prince Daniel of Moscow, the son of Prince Alexander Nevsky. The Danilov Monastery is now located on the site of this monastery. Another monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, which was destined to become the first monastic monastery in the city.

Under the great sovereign of Moscow, Ivan III, the Kremlin was transformed. Stone chambers appear to replace the wooden ones. The Spassky Monastery was constrained by new buildings, and Ivan III ordered to move it. In the new position, the monastery began to be called Novospassky.

Many rulers and saints of Russia found protection here, and some even entered the political arena. Even False Dmitry tried to use the authority of the Novospassky Monastery to strengthen his power. This monastery had battle walls and could withstand an attack. The walls of the Novospassky Monastery are real ancient fortress walls, which is why tourists love to visit it so much. In addition, the monastery at one time became the tomb of the ancestors of the Romanovs. It was from this clan that the royal dynasty subsequently arose.

Monastery address: Moscow, pl. Peasant outpost, 10

Andreevsky Monastery

Andreevsky Monastery is located in one of the most beautiful places in Moscow. Previously, the monastery was called "Preobrazhenskaya Hermitage". It is located on the territory of the Vorobyovy Gory nature reserve and the banks of the Moscow River. The monastery was founded in the 16th century, however, these are only assumptions. It was to this time that the first found documentary evidence of the monastery dates back. Historians believe that the monastery belongs to a much earlier period and may have existed since the 13th century.

St. Andrew's Convent suffered greatly during the years of theomachism. With the fall of the USSR, church life was gradually revived in the Andreevsky Monastery. They even organized Patriarchal Compound and synodal library. And in 1992, the bells returned to the belfry. The monastic life also revived here. A general education school has been operating on the territory of the monastery for fifteen years.

Pilgrims and visitors to the monastery can see with their own eyes how the beautiful monastery is gradually being revived. To visit the Andreevsky Monastery actually means to become a witness new history Russian Orthodox Church.

Address: Moscow, Andreevskaya embankment, 2

Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery

Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery was founded in 1315 by the first saint of the capital, Metropolitan Peter. Once he was outside of Moscow, in the village of Vysokoe. The Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery is a masterpiece of Moscow architecture, which was decorated under Peter the Great. The monastery has become a unique monument of the spiritual glory of its founders.

Under Peter I, the monastery was expanded. Many buildings in it were built in memory of the Naryshkins. The Bogolyubsky temple is a visible monument to the burial of the Naryshkins. So closely connected with the history of Russia, the monastery is a favorite place for tourists.

It is here that unique architectural monuments are located. For many, the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery is associated with the history of Russia during the time of Peter I, but architecture lovers will also be interested in visiting the beautiful ancient monastery. The monastery is considered small, but you should definitely visit it. For half a century on the territory of the monastery there has been an amazing eight-leaf temple - the stone cathedral of Metropolitan Peter, built by the famous Italian architect Aleviz Novy. Atypical and unique building.

Address: Moscow, st. m. Trubnaya, st. Petrovka, 28/2

Conception Monastery

As early as the 14th century, the Alekseevskaya Convent arose in Russia. She was named in honor of the Monk Alexei, and this was the first convent in Moscow. Women's monasteries existed even before that, the first was founded by Yaroslav the Wise, but usually they were part of men's monasteries. Therefore, the Alekseevsky Monastery is mistakenly called the first in Russia, it became the first for Moscow. The exact date of its foundation is known - 1360. It is believed that the first nuns of this monastery were Juliana and Evpraksia, the sisters of Metropolitan Alexy. They were known for their mercy and humility.

It is this monastery that in our times is called Zachatievsky. The Zachatievsky monastery adorns the Khamovniki district. It was badly damaged in the years of theomachism, like many other temples and monasteries. Some of the nuns were arrested or suckled. The monastery buildings turned into a prison and a colony for minors. In the 90s of the XX century, the revival of the shrine began. Now the monastery ensemble includes four elevated churches and underground temple Dormition.

The Conception Monastery is known for the fact that the Church of the Savior on the territory of the monastery was the house church of the Rimsky-Korsakov family.

Monastery address: Moscow, per. 2nd Zachatievsky, 2

Marfo-Mariinsky Convent

The Marfo-Mariinsky Convent is located in the Zamoskvorechye district. The snow-white temple is strikingly different from the architecture of old Moscow. It was located where the path to the Golden Horde once ran - on Bolshaya Ordynka. The austerity of architecture distinguishes the monastery of mercy. The monastery is called the "pearl" of Zamoskvorechye. After the death of her husband, Elizaveta Fedorovna Romanova bought the estate on Bolshaya Ordynka and built a monastery of mercy and labor there.

The granddaughter of the English Queen Victoria was brought up as a Christian from childhood, having married Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, she converted to Orthodoxy and did not do it formally, but made her choice with her soul. After the death of her husband, Elizaveta Feodorovna left secular life and at her own expense created a monastery in which she wanted to revive the ancient institute of deaconesses. The sisters of the monastery could leave the territory of the monastery to help the weak and sick.

The Grand Duchess was tremulous about monasticism, but did not create the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent as a monastery. The closed life of the monastery was contrary to the idea of ​​actively helping the suffering and neighbors so that anyone could turn there. In the monastery of mercy, the sisters freely gave their lives to their neighbor for God.

The sisters living here still work in hospitals and hospitals. An orphanage has been opened in the monastery, here they feed the poor and help the suffering. The temple contains several rare icons of Martha and Mary, the spiritual patrons of the monastery. One of them has been preserved since the time of Elizabeth Feodorovna.

Monastery address: Moscow, st. m. Polyanka, st. Velyka Ordynka, 34

Intercession Monastery

The Intercession Monastery is known not only in Moscow, because it is here that the relics of the blessed Matrona of Moscow are kept. From all over the country, pilgrims come here to the relics of St. Matrona. The ancient Intercession Monastery is always filled with people. This is the most visited monastery in Moscow. On weekends it is visited by up to fifty thousand people. The monastery also houses unique Orthodox shrines.

Blessed Matrona is one of the most revered saints among the people, therefore it is crowded in the monastery even on weekdays.

The Intercession Monastery was founded in 1635 by Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. Then it was called the monastery of "The Cover on Poor Houses." Interestingly, the Pokrovskaya wooden church existed even before the foundation of the monastery on this site. It is believed that the monastery was founded after the death of the father of Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich - Patriarch Filaret, who died on the Feast of the Intercession. And this was the reason why a beautiful monastery appeared in Moscow.

Monastery address: Moscow, st. Taganskaya, 58

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Orthodox monasteries in Russia are not just a list of church buildings, they are a storehouse of shrines of architecture, Orthodox relics, each of which is carefully guarded as a historical monument, as a great heritage for posterity, as the most sacred thing that every Christian has. And what is characteristic, everyone is active, which means that faith lives and will live in the hearts of people forever.

Among the huge list of cloisters, a significant part is occupied by women. At one time, each of them was opened in order to shelter young girls and women in their cloisters to search for the meaning of life, get rid of suffering, provide assistance and support in difficult life situations. After all, as a rule, women went to monasteries who had experienced a lot of suffering in their lives or those for whom this path was a vocation from birth.

In temples of this type there is a single charter, canons and rules. And each novice, crossing the threshold of the monastery, putting on church clothes and taking tonsure, completely renounces everything worldly, devotes herself to serving God and entrusts herself to his reliable hands in order to become closer, to receive the main thing - salvation, peace and eternal grace.

It should also be noted that, despite the severity of this charter, women lead a fairly active lifestyle, devoting themselves to serving the monastery, namely:

• spend a lot of time in prayer;
• participate in worship;
• carry out all the work on the arrangement of the temple;
• gardening, cooking, sewing
• devote themselves to various types of creativity;
• provide charitable assistance to various organizations and individuals.

Quite often, such communities open hospitals, rehabilitation centers, boarding schools, as well as schools and orphanages. Novices work there (many have specialized education), helping the sick and suffering to improve physical health and morale. Such activity is very necessary for those around and useful for the nuns themselves, for the former gain hope for salvation, while the latter devote themselves the right thing- give their help and carry the words of the Lord for everyone who needs them.

Men's communities

Another important role in Orthodox life countries play male monasteries Russia. In their way of life, they are similar to women's, but still have their own distinctive features, including:

• complete renunciation of earthly life and worldly comforts (after all, very often men come to the monastery who in the past had problems with the law or were addicted to alcohol and drugs);
• faithful service for the good of the Lord and the church (strict adherence to all disciplinary rules);
• participation in worship services on various topics;
• unquestioning performance of any type of activity related to everyday life;
• active engagement in carpentry, in particular, participation in the restoration of various types of church buildings.

In communities of this type, woodworking workshops are often created, which become famous all over the world, as they are called to help in the construction of various churches in Russia. And novices often have the recognition of many of the most famous masters around the world.

The common and most important feature of the life of each monastery, whether male or female, is the strict observance by its novices of a single charter and designated rules of life in a team, for this is precisely the right path to oneself and to the blessing of the Lord.

Monasteries of Russia, Orthodox, active, with miraculous icons

There are Orthodox monasteries in Russia that are still active today. But the main thing is that they contain miraculous icons that have been faithfully worshiped by Christians all over the world for centuries. These are the following shrines:

• The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which is located in the church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi;
• Tikhvin - in the temple of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God;
• the icon “Search for the Lost” - the temple of the Ascension of the Word;
• "Merciful" - Zachatievsky convent;
• Iberian Icon of the Mother of God - in the eponymous chapel;
• Ugreshskaya icon of St. Nicholas;
• “Satisfy my sorrows” - the temple of St. Nicholas, Blacksmiths.

All these icons are of great importance and are truly miraculous, because each of them helps to strengthen physical health and cope with moral problems, bestows long-awaited humility, faith and God's grace. They visit them every year Orthodox people from all over the world in order to know the word of the Great Teacher and find their true purpose in life.

Orthodox operating monasteries in Russia are not only the greatest monuments of architecture and the history of Christianity, known both in Russia and around the world, but also a great power over which time has no power, because it contains the main thing - unshakable faith in the Lord, which illuminates a righteous path to the true and real meaning of being - eternal life.

Active monasteries in Russia, list:

1. Adrianov Poshekhonsky Monastery, Yaroslavl region, Poshekhonsky district, village Andrianova Sloboda, date of foundation: 1540
2. Alexander-Afonskaya Zelenchukskaya men's deserts, Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Zelenchuksky district, pos. Nizhny Arkhyz, foundation date: 1889
3. Alexander Nevsky Convent, Moscow region, Taldom district, village Maklakovo, date of foundation: 1906
4. Alekseevskaya Hermitage of the Pereslavl Feodorovsky Monastery, Yaroslavl region, Pereslavsky district, v. Novoalekseevka, date of foundation: late XIX century
5. Amvrosiev Nikolaevsky Dudin Monastery, Nizhny Novgorod region, Bogorodsky district, village Podyablonoye, foundation date: no later than the 2nd half. 14th century
6. Andreevskaya Hermitage of the Solovetsky Monastery, Arkhangelsk Region, Primorsky District, Solovetsky Islands, date of foundation: beg. 18th century
7. Artemiev-Verkolsky Monastery, Arkhangelsk region, Pinezhsky district, pos. New Way, founded: 1649
8. Annunciation convent, Astrakhan, north-west. corner of st. Soviet and st. Kalinina
9. Annunciation Iono-Yashezersky Monastery
10. (Yasheozerskaya desert) Republic of Karelia, Prionezhsky district, ur. Yashezersky monastery, date of foundation: end. 16th century
11. Annunciation Krasnoyarsk Convent, Krasnoyarsk, st. Lenina, 13-15, date of foundation: 1995
12. Annunciation Monastery in Dunilovo Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, with. Dunilovo, date of foundation: no later than the 1st half. 17th century
13. Bogolyubskaya men's kennel of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Moscow region, Sergiev Posad, st. Novoogorodnaya, 40A, date of foundation: 1859
14. Bogoroditse-Milostivsky Kadom Convent, Ryazan region, Kadom district, Kadom, date of foundation: 1868
15. Epiphany Convent, Altai region, Kamen-on-Obi, st. Dekabristov, 19, date of foundation: 1997
16. Borisoglebskaya hermitage in Resurrection, Yaroslavl region, Pereslavl district, p. Housewarming, date of foundation: 1888
17. Brusensky convent, Moscow region, Kolomna, Sovetsky per., 3, date of foundation: no later than the 1st half. 16th century
18. Vazheozersky monastery (Zadne-Nikiforov desert), rep. Karelia, Olonetsky district, pos. Interposelok, date of foundation: ca. 1520
19. Valaam Monastery Republic of Karelia, Sortavalsky district, about. Balaam
20. Valdai Iversky Svyatoozersky Monastery, Novgorod region, Valdai district, Valdai, island, Iversky Monastery, date of foundation: 1653
21. Varlaamo-Khutynsky Spaso-Preobrazhensky convent, Novgorod region, Novgorodsky district, Khutyn village, foundation date: con. 12th century
22. Varsonofievsky Intercession-Selishchensky Convent, Republic of Mordovia, Zubovo-Polyansky district, with. Pokrovskiye Selishchi, founded: 1996
23. Vvedeno-Oyatsky Convent (Vvedensky Ostrovsky Monastery), Leningrad Region, Lodeynopolsky district, v. Oyat, date of foundation: not later. early 15th century
24. Verkhne-Chusovskaya Kazanskaya Trifonova female hermitage, Perm Territory, Chusovskoy district, village Krasnaya Gorka, date of foundation: 1996
25. Vladimir Skete of the Valaam Monastery, Republic of Karelia, Sortavalsky district, about. Valaam, date of foundation: early 2000s
26. Vladychny convent, Moscow region, Serpukhov, st. October, 40, date of foundation: 1360
27. Vorontsovsky Annunciation Monastery, Tver region, Toropetsky district, Vorontsovo village, date of foundation: 1898
28. Resurrection Novodevichy Convent, St. Petersburg, Moskovsky pr., 100, date of foundation: 1740s
29. Resurrection skete of the Pavlo-Obnorsky monastery, Vologda region, Gryazovetsky district, village Yunosheskoye, date of foundation: 1867
30. All Saints Shuisky Edinoverie Convent, Ivanovo Region, Shuya, [corner of st. Soviet and st. 1st Metallistov], date of foundation: 1889
31. Vysokopetrovsky Monastery, Moscow, st. Petrovka, 28, date of foundation: XIV century.
32. Germogenova male hermitage, Moscow region, Sergiev Posad district, ur. Germogenova Pustyn (2 km from the village of Alferevo), founded: 1913
33. Gethsemane male skete of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Moscow region, Sergiev Posad, st. Spring, date of foundation: 1843
34. Gledensky Trinity Monastery, Vologda region, Velikoustyugsky district, Morozovitsy village, foundation date: turn of the 12th - 13th centuries.
35. Golgotha-Crucifixion Skete, Arkhangelsk region, Primorsky district, Solovetsky Islands, about. Anzer, Golgotha-Crucifixion Skete, date of foundation: 1713
36. Tithes Nativity Convent, Veliky Novgorod, Tithes St., foundation date: no later than the 1st third of the 14th century.
37. Divnogorsky Assumption Monastery, Voronezh region, Liskinsky district, hut. Divnogorie, date of foundation: 1653
38. Dmitrievsky Dorogobuzh Convent, Smolensk region, Dorogobuzh district, Dorogobuzh, st. International, 16, date of foundation: 1998
39. Catherine's Convent, Tver, st. Kropotkina, 19/2, date of foundation: 1996
40. Elizabethan women's community, Tver region, Zubtsovsky district, ur. Elizavetino (1 km to the northwest from the village of Starye Gorki), date of foundation: beg. 20th century
41. Convent of All Saints, who shone in the Russian land, Zabaykalsky Krai, Chita district, pos. Atamanovka, date of foundation: 2001
42. Women's skete of the Icon of the Mother of God of Jerusalem, Kaluga region, Lyudinovsky district, ur. Maninskiy Khutor (3 km NE of the village of Kretovka), date of establishment: 1917
43. Zadonsky Bogoroditse-Tikhonovsky Tyuninsky convent, Lipetsk region, Zadonsky district, With. Tyunino, date of foundation: 1867
44. Zaikonospassky Monastery, Moscow, st. Nikolskaya, 7-9, date of foundation: end. XVI - early. 17th century
45. Zaonikievskaya Bogoroditse-Vladimirskaya male hermitage, Vologda region, Vologda district, village Luchnikovo, foundation date: 1588
46. Zolotnikovskaya Uspenskaya hermitage, Ivanovo region, Teikovsky district, with. Zolotnikovskaya Hermitage, date of foundation: 1624
47. Ivanovsky Vladimir Monastery, Ivanovo, st. Lezhnevskaya, 120, date of foundation: 1916
48. Iversky Vyksa convent, Nizhny Novgorod region, Vyksa, st. Krasnoflotskaya, 58, date of foundation: 1887
49. Icons of the Mother of God Joy or Consolation women's community, Moscow region, Domodedovo district, p. Dobrynikh, date of foundation: 1898
50. Innokentievsky male monastery, Irkutsk, st. Academician Obraztsova, 1, date of foundation: 1872
51. John the Theologian Monastery, Ryazan region, Rybnovsky district, with. Poshchupovo, date of foundation: 1st third of the 13th century.
52. Ioanno-Kronstadt Convent, Altai Territory, Pervomaisky District, p. Kislukha, date of foundation: 1996
53. John the Baptist convent, Moscow region, Ramensky district, with. Denezhnikovo, date of foundation: 2000
54. John the Baptist Monastery, Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, st. Baumana, 2, date of foundation: 1564-1568
55. Kinovia of the Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, St. Petersburg, Oktyabrskaya Embankment, 16-20, date of foundation: 1820
56. Krasnogorsk Bogoroditsky Monastery, Arkhangelsk region, Pinezhsky district, Krasnaya Gorka settlement, date of foundation: 1606
57. Krasnoselsky John the Baptist Monastery, Perm Territory, Solikamsk, st. Privokzalnaya, 35, date of foundation: 1890
58. Krasnokholmsky Nikolaevsky Anthony Monastery, Tver region, Krasnokholmsky district, village Sloboda, date of foundation: 1461
59. Krasnoyarsk Znamensky Skete, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Divnogorsk, st. Quay, foundation date: 1888
60. Exaltation of the Cross Monastery, Nizhny Novgorod, Oksky congress, 2a, date of foundation: XIV century.
61. Exaltation of the Cross Skete, Perm Territory, Nytvensky district, with. Govyrino,
62. founding date: ca. 2000
63. Mikhailo-Arkhangelsk Ust-Vymsky Monastery, Komi Republic, Ust-Vymsky district, with. Ust-Vym, st. Zarucheynaya, 36, date of foundation: con. 14th century
64. Mikhailo-Afonsky Monastery (Mikhaylo-Afonskaya Trans-Kuban Hermitage), Rep. Adygea, Maikop district, pos. Victory, date of foundation: 1877
65. Monastery "Work and Prayer" Tver region, Rameshkovsky district, Volkovo village, date of foundation: 1910s
66. Monastery of Gabriel the Archangel in Blagoveshchensk, Amur Region, Blagoveshchensk, st. Gorky, 133, date of foundation: 2003
67. Monastery of Elisaveta Feodorovna Martyr, Kaliningrad, st. Poletsky, 8, date of foundation: 1996
68. Monastery of the Icon of the Mother of God of the All-Tsaritsa, Krasnodar, st. Dimitrova, 148, date of foundation: 2005
69. Monastic women's community of the Icon of the Mother of God Az am with you and no one else is with you, Kaluga region, Meshchovsky district, with. Serebryano, date of foundation: 2006
70. Nikitsky Monastery, Yaroslavl region, Pereslavl district, p. Nikitskaya Sloboda, st. Zaprudnaya, 20, date of foundation: XII century.
71. Nikolo-Modensky Monastery, Vologda region, Ustyuzhensky district, with. Fashionable, date of foundation: first third of the 16th century.
72. Nikolo-Stolpenskaya Hermitage (Nikolo-Stolbenskaya Hermitage), Tver region, Vyshnevolotsky district, with. White Omut
73. Nikolo-Chernoostrovsky Monastery, Kaluga region, Maloyaroslavets, st. Kutuzova, 2, date of foundation: con. 16th century
74. Nikolo-Shartomsky Monastery in Vvedenye, Ivanovo region, Shuisky district, with. Introduction
75. Nikolsky Tikhonov Monastery, Ivanovo region, Lukhsky district, with. Timiryazevo, date of foundation: 1498
76. Nilo-Sorskaya hermitage, Vologda region, Kirillovsky district, metro station Pustyn, date of foundation: 1480s
77. Novodevichy convent, Moscow, Novodevichy pr., 1
78. Olgin Monastery in the Volgoverkhovye, Tver region, Ostashkovsky district, with. Volgoverkhovye, date of foundation: 1649
79. Parfyonovsky Bogoroditsky Monastery in Parfyonovo, Vologda region, Cherepovets district, village of Parfyonovo, date of foundation: 1904
80. Peryn Skete, Novgorod, date of foundation: no later than the beginning. 13th century
81. Pskov Monastery of St. John the Baptist (Ivanovsky Monastery from Zavelichye), Pskov, date of foundation: about 1240
82. Hermitage Paraclita, Moscow region, Sergiev Posad district, pos. Smena, date of foundation: 1858
83. Holy Ascension Skete of the Solovetsky Monastery, on Sekirnaya Hill, Arkhangelsk Region, Primorsky District, Solovetsky Islands, foundation date: mid. 19th century
84. Holy Spirit Alatyrskaya Hermitage, Chuvash Republic, Alatyr, microdistrict Arrow, ur. Oak grove, foundation date: beg. 17th century
85. Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, St. Petersburg, emb. Monastyrki River, 1; sq. Alexander Nevsky, date of foundation: early. 18th century
86. Skete of St. Andrew the First-Called on Agafonov Meadow, Leningrad region, Vsevolozhsk district, Koltushskaya vol., near the village of Korkino, Genetika massif on Agafonov Meadow, foundation date: 1998
87. Skete of All Saints of the Joseph-Volokolamsky Monastery, Moscow Region, Volokolamsky District, p. Teryaevo, date of foundation: 1855
88. Skete of Tryphon Vyatsky in Pyskora (Pyskorsky Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior), Perm Territory, Usolsky district, p. Pyskor, date of foundation: 1570
89. Solotchinsky monastery, Ryazan region, Ryazan region, pos. Solotcha
90. Sofronieva Pustyn, Nizhny Novgorod region, Arzamsky district, Sofronieva Pustyn
91. Spaso-Stone Monastery Vologda region, Ust-Kubinsky district, about. Kamenny, foundation date: ser. 13th century
92. Spaso-Kukotsky monastery, Ivanovo region, Gavrilovo-Posad district, with. Serbilovo, date of foundation: last third of the 17th century.
93. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Mirozhsky Monastery, Pskov, Mirozhskaya Embankment, 2, foundation date: ser. 12th century
94. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Solovetsky Monastery, Arkhangelsk region, Primorsky district, Solovetsky Islands, foundation date: first third of the 15th century.
95. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Ust-Medvedetsky Monastery, Volgograd region, Serafimovich, foundation date: 1652
96. Trinity-Odigitrievsky Zosimova Convent for Women (Trinity-Odigitrievsky Zosimov Convent; Zosimova Pustyn), Moscow Region, Naro-Fominsk District, pos. Zosimova Pustyn, date of foundation: 1856
97. Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Moscow region, Sergiev Posad, Trinity-Sergius Lavra, foundation date: 1340s
98. Trinity Antoniev Siysky Monastery, Arkhangelsk region, Kholmogorsky district, with. Monastery, date of foundation: 1520
99. Uspenskaya Rdeiskaya hermitage, Novgorod region, Kholmsky district, ur. Rdeyskaya Pustyn, date of foundation: no later than the beginning. 17th century
100. Uspensky Pskov-Caves Monastery, Pskov region, Pechorsky district, Pechory, st. International, 5, date of foundation: 1473
101. Ferapontov-Belozersky Mother of God-Nativity Monastery, Vologda region, Kirillovsky district, with. Ferapontovo
102. Florishcheva male hermitage (Assumption monastery), Nizhny Novgorod region, Volodarsky district, pos. Frolishchi, date of foundation: ser. 17th century
103. Nativity of the Iberian Convent, Kirov region, Vyatskiye Polyany, st. Lenina, 212A, date of foundation: 1996
104. Shestakovskaya Resurrection community, Yaroslavl region, Nekouzsky district, with. Sheldomez, date of foundation: 1887
105. Yugskaya Dorofeev desert, Yaroslavl region, ur. Yugskaya Hermitage (the flood zone of the Rybinsk Reservoir), date of foundation: 1620s
106. Yuriev Monastery, Veliky Novgorod, p. Yuryevo, date of foundation: XI century.
107. Yaransky Prophetic Monastery.

May the Lord keep you!

The monasteries of Russia have always been an unshakable stronghold Orthodox faith on our land. There are a lot of holy places in Russia, where every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come to pray and ask for divine help. And each of the monasteries has its own, most often, very difficult history. Many monastic cloisters are located in hard-to-reach places, they are said to be protected by nature itself and providence. Today we will introduce you to ten Russian monasteries, to which the Orthodox people of our country travel all year round with pilgrimage tours, in an attempt to find the meaning of life and begging for forgiveness for their sins.

St. Yuriev Monastery was built in 1030 by order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise at the source of the Volkhov River from Lake Ilmen. The original building - the Cathedral Church of St. George was wooden, and then, in 1119, by order of Prince Mstislav the Great, a stone St. George's Cathedral was laid. In the seventies of the eighteenth century, the secularization of monastic estates began, and this monastery, having lost most of its possessions, fell into disrepair. Its restoration began with the coming to power in the monastery in 1822 of Archimandrite Photius Spassky, who was not only favored by the Russian Emperor Alexander the First, but also helped by the richest philanthropist, Countess Anna Orlova-Chesmenskaya. At that time, constant restoration and construction work was underway in the monastery, as a result of which the following appeared: the Western building and the Church of All Saints, the beautiful Spassky Cathedral, the Eastern Oryol building and monastic cells, the Northern building and the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Southern building and the hospital Church of the Burning Bush. Later, already in 1841, a bell tower was built here. But this Russian monastery did not flourish for long, since in 1921, the state decided to expropriate the property and its valuables. And if in 1924 there were still six churches in Yuryev, then in 1928 there was only the only functioning Holy Cross Church. In the period from 1932 to 1941, an invalid home named after Yakov Sverdlov was located here. During the Great Patriotic War in the territory former monastery there were German, Spanish military units, military units of the Baltic collaborators, and it was then that the buildings of the monastery were significantly destroyed. At the end of the war and almost until the beginning of the nineties of the twentieth century, there were public institutions here: a post office, a technical school, a technical school, a museum, a shop, an art salon. But on December 25, 1991, the monastic complex of buildings was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Novgorod diocese, and by 1995 a monastic community had gathered here. In 2005, the monastery opened religious school. Today, numerous pilgrims go to this monastery, they rush to bow to the shrines stored here: the relics of St. Theoktist of Novgorod, as well as the relics of the Blessed Princess Theodosia of Vladimir, to pray before the icon of the Mother of God Burning bush”, located in the fraternal building, and the icon of the Great Martyr George the Victorious. You can get to this holy monastery of Russia by bus from the city of Veliky Novgorod, because it is located only five kilometers from it. From Moscow to Veliky Novgorod, many pilgrims travel by car, a distance of five hundred kilometers takes them six to seven hours.

2. Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery in the Vologda region, the city of Kirillov. The history of the emergence of this monastery begins in 1397, when, after a miraculous vision and command Holy Mother of God, archimandrite of the Simonov Monastery - Cyril, a cave was dug on the shore of Lake Siversky, surrounded by impenetrable forests. And his companion, the monk Ferapont, also dug out a dugout, but a little further away. These two dugouts laid the foundation for the famous Kirillo-Belozersky monastery here, the territory of which grew noticeably by the fifteenth century, and the trade of local monks in fish and salt made the monastery a large, at that time, economic center. Over time, several monastic cloisters appeared on the territory of the skete: Ivanovskaya, Goritskaya, Nilo-Sorskaya, Ferapontov Monastery. The monastery became so famous on the territory of Russia that in 1528 Tsar Vasily the Third, with his wife Elena Glinskaya, came to pray for the granting of an heir. And two years later they had a long-awaited son - the future Tsar Ivan the Fourth the Terrible. As a sign of gratitude to God, Tsar Vasily built the Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist and the Church of the Archangel Gabriel on the territory of the monastery, however, they have not retained their original appearance to this day, as they were often modified and completed. This monastery became an important cultural, historical, economic center of the country, without losing its defensive functions: in 1670, the monastery acquired powerful stone walls as a result of the Polish-Lithuanian intervention.

Under Empress Catherine II, part of the monastic lands were removed from church property, and the city of Kirillov was formed in the monastic settlement. Under Soviet rule, in 1924, a museum-reserve was opened here, and only by 1997 the monastery was finally returned to the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, but the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve still continues to function. This museum includes priceless ensembles of architecture of the Kirillo-Belozersky and Ferapontov monasteries, the Church of Elijah the Prophet in the village of Tsypino. Especially valuable are the Assumption Cathedral, built in 1497, the Church of the Presentation, whose refectory was built in 1519, as well as the Holy Gates and the Church of John of the Ladder, buildings of the sixteenth century, the Church of the Transfiguration and the Church of the Archangel Gabriel, also belonging to the sixteenth century and the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Ferapontov Monastery, built in 1490. In addition, on the territory of this museum stands the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, built in 1485, which is the oldest wooden building in Russia. There are ancient icons in the museum-reserve, which are in excellent condition, they can be seen by visitors who get acquainted with the main exposition of the museum. There are the most unique collections of works of ancient Russian painting, examples of sewing, as well as archeological monuments and folk art, in addition, a collection of the rarest handwritten books.

This oldest monastic monastery was founded in Russia by the Holy Prince Passion-bearer Gleb Vladimirovich, who received the city of Murom to reign, but since the city was occupied by pagans at that time, he founded his princely court a little higher along the Oka, on a high river bank, completely overgrown with forests. Here Prince Gleb Muromsky arranged the very first Orthodox church, naming it in the name of the All-Merciful Savior, as well as the monastic monastery. Many pious righteous people visited this holy place in Russia, including the holy noble princes Peter and Fevronia, famous Murom miracle workers and patrons of family and marriage, as well as St. Basil the First of Ryazan and Murom, who arrived here to support the Murom flock after the destruction of the monastery in 1238 by the troops of Batu Khan. In the middle of the sixteenth century, on the orders of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, several churches and the main cathedral of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery were built in Murom. In 1887, a copy of the icon of the Mother of God "Quick Apostle" was brought to this Russian monastery from St. Athos. During the revolution of 1917, it was closed, only the parish church remained active, and even then only until the twenties, when the church became a museum. And in 1929 the monastery was transferred to the disposal of the military and parts of the NKVD. The revival of this famous ancient monastery in Russia began in 1990, and its reconstruction was completed in 2009, and the icon of the Mother of God "Quick Hearer" returned to its rightful place.

4. Monastery of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra in the city of Sergiev Posad, Moscow region. This holy monastery of Russia was founded in 1337 by St. Sergius of Radonezh. For many centuries this large monastery our country was the largest center of spiritual education, social life and Russian culture. Over the years, the Lavra has accumulated a huge and unique library of handwritten and early printed books. When at the beginning of the seventeenth century this monastery with its three thousand inhabitants was besieged by a thirty thousandth Polish-Lithuanian army, the defenders of the holy place showed a courageous example of fighting for their faith and freedom. That time was marked by numerous miraculous phenomena, including the very founder of the monastery - St. Sergius of Radonezh, other saints of God, and this was a confirmation heavenly patronage for the monks of the Lavra, which could not but strengthen their spirit. In the period from the eighteenth to the nineteenth centuries, small monasteries grew up in the vicinity of the Sergius Lavra: the Bethany Monastery, Bogolyubsky, Chernigov-Gefsemane sketes, the Paraclete skete - many wonderful elders labored there, whom the whole world eventually recognized. In 1814, the Moscow Theological Academy was located in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the building of which was damaged during the fires of 1812 in Moscow. Many found their resting place in the Lavra famous people: writer I.S. Aksakov, philosopher, writer and diplomat K.N. Leontiev, religious philosopher V.V. Rozanov, as well as other figures of Russian culture. In 1920, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra was closed, placing the Historical and Art Museum there, and part of the buildings was transferred to private housing. This Russian monastery began to revive in 1946. And today, numerous pilgrims come to this monastery to venerate the relics of one of the most revered saints in Russia - St. Sergius of Radonezh, and also to pray to the miraculous icons located in the Lavra - Our Lady of Tikhvin and Chernigov.

This large male monastery in Russia begins its history with the foundation of its famous caves, which were discovered eighty years before the foundation of the skete itself, which was in 1392. Previously, on the slope of the Holy Mountain, where the monastery now stands, there was an impenetrable forest and a local peasant who cut down trees there saw an entrance to a cave under the roots of one of them, above it there was an inscription: “God built a cave.” According to legend, monks who fled from Kiev-Pechersk Lavra during the next raid of the Crimean Tatars. And the monastery was founded by a married couple: priest John Shestnik with mother Mary. They settled in these desert places to withdraw from the world. Before her death, Maria took the tonsure and the name of Vassa, when she died, her husband, having buried the body, buried the coffin at the entrance to these caves. But when he came to the grave the next day, he saw that the coffin was on the surface. He buried the coffin again, but the miracle happened again, and he realized that it was the will of God, then the priest hollowed out a niche in the wall of the cave and placed the coffin in it. Since that time, the inhabitants of the monastery began to be buried in this way. Miracles near the tomb of nun Vassa happen even today.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, an incident occurred here that shocked the believers: the vandals wanted to open this coffin, but a fire broke out from it, singing the monsters, by the way, traces of that miraculous fire are still visible on the coffin. Father John himself also took monastic tonsure and the name Jonah. By 1473, he completed the first monastery church, at this time, it is the main cathedral of the monastery and is named after the Assumption of the Mother of God. The temple was consecrated on August 15, 1473, this is the official date of the founding of the Pskov-Caves Monastery. The relics of its founders to this day are located near the entrance to the ancient caves. And queues of pilgrims thirsty for help line up to them. You can venerate the relics every day from ten in the morning to six in the evening. And in the caves, over the years of the existence of the monastery, almost ten thousand people were buried, so this is a whole underground city, with its galleries-streets. This monastery became one of the few Russian monasteries that did not stop working during the Soviet era, but during the Great Patriotic War, its buildings were significantly damaged by Nazi artillery strikes. After the war, its reconstruction began, and today the Pskov-Caves Monastery is a popular place of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians from all over the world.

This male monastery in Russia was built in the fourteenth century, with the blessing of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the hero of the Battle of Kulikovo and the closest associate of Prince Dmitry Donskoy - Dmitry Mikhailovich Bobrok-Volynets. Prince Dmitry Donskoy, after defeating Mamai in September 1380, made a vow that he would build a holy monastery in the name of the Nativity of the Virgin, which was done a year later, in 1381. It fell to the share of this monastic skete to survive both the fierce reign of Ivan the Terrible, and the tense period of the reign of Boris Godunov, the Great Troubles, the reforms of Catherine the Great, and after the revolution of 1917, the monastery was completely closed, arranging on its territory warehouses, garages for agricultural machinery. And only in 1991, the Bobrenev Monastery began to be restored so that it could carry out its primary functions. The main shrine of the monastery is the miraculous Feodorovskaya icon, this ancient image is decorated with a silver riza adorned with precious stones and pearls. This icon of the Mother of God is the patroness of brides, the protector of family happiness, the birth of children in childless couples, an assistant in difficult childbirth.

7. Holy Trinity Belopesotsky convent in the city of Stupino, Moscow region. This monastery was founded at the end of the fifteenth century by the Monk Vladimir, fifty kilometers from the city of Serpukhov on White Sands, on the left bank of the Oka River. Over time, hegumen Vladimir began to be revered as a local saint. In official sources, the monastery, then still a male monastery, is mentioned for the first time in 1498, when it was granted forests and lands by Moscow Prince Ivan the Third the Great. The authorities of the country were very interested in strengthening this Russian frontier, so already in the second half of the sixteenth century, almost all of its buildings were made of stone. During the Time of Troubles, the holy Russian monastery was devastated, but again flourished and rebuilt, and by the nineteenth century it had become completely independent. But ahead, a difficult test awaited her brethren: in 1918, the monks, having been taken outside the monastery fence, were shot. Here they arranged a hostel for workers and prisoners, and during the war they placed the guards corps of General Belov, when the war ended, they made warehouses. The restoration of the monastery began only at the end of the eighties of the twentieth century, and by 1993 monastic life began here again. Thousands of suffering, sick, needy pilgrims are drawn to the Tikhvin Church of the Holy Trinity Belopesotsky Monastery to pray to the miraculous icon of the Mother of God - "Assuage my sorrows." Prayers really help her. And they began to venerate the icon as miraculous in the seventeenth century, when a dying patient had a dream and she was told that if she prayed to the icon brought from the church of St. Nicholas for healing, she would be cured. And she sincerely prayed for her faith and was miraculously healed. Since then, there have been a lot of miracles that happened after prayer in front of the icon.

8. Vysotsky monastery in the city of Serpukhov, Moscow region. This monastery was built on the left bank of the Nara River, with the blessing of St. Sergius of Radonezh, in 1374, the Serpukhov prince Vladimir Andreevich the Brave, who was an associate and cousin of Grand Duke Dimitry Ioannovich Donskoy. The beloved disciple of Sergius of Radonezh - Athanasius was appointed the first rector of the Serpukhov monastery. The monastery had an important strategic position, because the city of Serpukhov was one of the defensive borders of the Moscow principality from the south, and there was not a very calm situation here: strangers and robbers often attacked. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the monastery became one of the most comfortable in Russia, and in Soviet times a regiment of Latvian riflemen was stationed here, after which the prison, when the Great Patriotic War ended, was given over to private housing and warehouses. The revival of the monastery in this holy place in Russia began in 1991.

The main value of the Vysotsky Monastery is the miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Inexhaustible Chalice", which heals those suffering from drunkenness and drug addiction. This icon began to show miracles after one heavily drinking peasant had a dream in which a gray-haired elder ordered him to offer prayers to the Inexhaustible Chalice icon in the Vysotsky Monastery, but the poor man said that he had no money for the road and his legs hurt so that get to this temple. The elder constantly appeared to him in a dream, insisting on a pilgrimage to the icon of the Mother of God. Once a pious woman took pity on the drunkard, she rubbed his legs with a healing ointment so that he could set off. Having reached the monastery, the pilgrim began to ask the monks about this miraculous icon, and they said that there was no such icon in their monastery. Then the peasant tried to describe it, and then the novices realized that it was not even about an icon, but about a picturesque image inscribed in one of the aisles of the monastery, which was practically ignored. The peasant prayed to the Mother of God for healing from a drunken disease, and she granted him a full recovery. The icon was called miraculous, and since that time, the people's path to it has not been overgrown by the patients with drug addiction and drunkenness, as well as their suffering relatives and friends.

9. Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery in the village of Diveevo, Nizhny Novgorod Region. Serafimo-Diveevsky convent has special place among the holy Russian monasteries. It was founded in 1780, having sold all her property, nun Alexandra, known to the world as Agafia Semyonovna Melgunova. She dreamed in a dream of the Virgin Mary, who indicated the place where it was necessary to build two large temple: one - in honor of the icon of the Mother of God " Life-Giving Source", and the other - in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After the death of schema-nun Alexandra, in 1789, the elders of Sarov introduced a new confessor to the sisters - Hierodeacon of the Sarov Monastery Father Seraphim. He instructed spiritual children to go and pray at the grave of the founder of the monastery, who was buried near the walls of the Kazan Church, miracles often occurred there and miraculous healings which continue to this day. In 1825, Seraphim of Sarov had a miraculous vision of the Mother of God, who commanded to found another monastery in the village of Diveevo for girls. Here, with the blessing of the Mother of God, a source healing water, which was later called the "Source of Father Seraphim." The Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery experienced its spiritual flowering with the advent of Mother Superior Mary, under whom the number of sisters of the monastery increased, the beautiful Trinity Cathedral was erected, majestic temples: Alexander Nevsky and Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene. At the Almshouse, a church was also opened in honor of the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow." In 1905, they began to build a new large cathedral here, but the revolution of 1917 and the change of power prevented it. In 1927, this holy monastery was closed, the domes of several churches were knocked down, the stone fence was destroyed, and the cemetery was destroyed. And only in 1991 the Diveevsky monastery started working again. To date, one hundred and forty sisters labor here and work: the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the Church in honor of the Nativity of Christ, the Church in the name of the Nativity of the Virgin. Until now, other destroyed temples are being restored and the territory of the monastery is being restored. The Trinity Cathedral of this monastery is especially revered by pilgrims, because there are relics Reverend Seraphim Sarovsky, as well as clothes and things that once belonged to him: a cassock, bast shoes, chains and a bowler hat. The monastery has several springs famous for their healing power. To the shrine with the relics of Seraphim of Sarov, everyone who longs for his grace-filled help and healing comes.

10. Nativity of the Theotokos Sanaksar Monastery in the city of Temnikov, Mordovia. This monastery was founded in 1659 on the outskirts of the city of Temnikov, on the banks of the Moksha River, among centuries-old pine forests and water meadows. The monastery got its name because of the nearby small lake Sanaksar. But a hundred years after its foundation, the monastery felt a lack of funds, so it was assigned to the prosperous Sarov desert. And the monastery began to actively develop and build, especially when the elder Feodor Ushakov became its rector in 1764. Today, the ensemble of the Sanaksar Monastery is the largest and well-preserved town-planning monument in Russia, from the period of the second half of the eighteenth - early nineteenth century, in the Baroque style. The main especially revered shrines of this monastery are the relics of the saints: St. Theodore, the righteous warrior Theodore, St. Alexander the Confessor, as well as two miraculous icons of the Mother of God. At the monastery you can stay in a hotel. Pilgrims who have visited Sanaksary bring home oil taken from the miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, which heals various diseases, in the monastery you will learn about cases of miraculous recovery, even from cancer. All those who have healed must return back to the monastery to bring their grateful gift to the icon of the Mother of God: a ring, a chain, and just something valuable. You can see that this icon is completely hung with gifts. There is also another miraculous icon of the Mother of God Feodorovskaya, which also works many miracles.

Today we talked about the interesting and famous holy monasteries of our Russia, which are incredibly popular among pilgrims seeking spiritual and physical healing, purification and guidance on the path of true faith.

The Solovetsky Monastery is an independent monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is located in the White Sea on the Solovetsky Islands. The foundation of the monastery falls on the 40s of the XV century, when the Monk Zosima and his friend chose the Big Solovetsky Island as a place of residence. He made such a choice not by chance - the reverend dreamed of a church of unprecedented beauty.

Recognizing his dream as a sign from above, Zosima set about building a wooden temple with a side chapel and a refectory. By erecting it, he honored the Transfiguration of the Lord. After a short period of time, Zosima and Herman built a church. With the advent of these two buildings, which later became the main ones, the arrangement of the monastery territory began. Subsequently archbishop Novgorod monastery a document was issued confirming her eternal ownership of the Solovetsky Islands.

Svyato-Vvedenskaya Optina Pustyn is stauropegial monastery, whose servants are male monks. Its creator was the robber Opta, or Optia, who at the end of the XIV century. repented of his deeds and accepted monasticism. As a clergyman, he was known under the name Macarius. In 1821, a skete was built at the monastery. The so-called hermits settled in it - these are people who have spent many years in complete solitude. The mentor of the monastery was an "elder". Over time, Optina Pustyn has become one of the leading spiritual centers. Thanks to numerous donations, its territory was replenished with new stone buildings, a mill and land. Today the monastery is considered a historical monument and has a different name - "Museum of the Optina Hermitage". In 1987, he entered the list of objects of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Novodevichy Convent, built in the 16th century, was at that time located on Samson's Meadow. Now this area is called Maiden's Field. The cathedral church at the monastery was built in the likeness of the Assumption Cathedral - the "neighbor" of the Moscow Kremlin. The monastery walls and towers were built in the 16th-17th centuries. In general, the architecture of the monastery conveys the Moscow Baroque style. The monastery owes its fame to the Godunov family. Before being elected king, Boris Godunov lived here with his sister Irina. Irina Godunova took the tonsure with the name of Alexander and lived in separate chambers with a wooden tower. At the end of the XVI century. the territory of the monastery was replenished with stone walls and a dozen towers. By their appearance, they resembled the Kremlin buildings (there were square towers in the walls, and round ones in the corners). Their upper parts were trimmed with teeth. Today the Novodevichy Convent combines both a museum and a monastery.

Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is located on the shore of Lake Siversky. It owes its appearance to the Monk Cyril, who founded it in 1397. Construction began with the arrangement of a cell-cave and the installation of a wooden cross above it. In the same year, the consecration of the first shrine took place - it was a wooden church rebuilt in the name of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. By 1427 there were about 50 monks in the monastery. In the first half of the XVI century. a new life begins at the monastery - all Moscow nobles and tsars began to regularly gather in it on a pilgrimage. Due to their rich donations, the monks quickly built up the monastery with stone buildings. Its main attraction is the Assumption Cathedral. Appeared in 1497, it became the first stone building in the North. The monastery complex underwent various architectural changes until 1761.

The Valaam Monastery is a stauropegial institution of the Russian Orthodox Church, which occupied the islands of the Valaam archipelago (Karelia). The first mention of it is found in the chronicles of the XIV century. So, the “Legend of the Valaam Monastery” informs about the date of its foundation - this is 1407. After a couple of centuries, 600 souls of monks lived in the monastery, however, due to repeated invasions by Swedish troops, the island began to decline. After another 100 years, the territory of the monastery began to be filled with cell buildings and auxiliary premises. But the main buildings of the monastery courtyard were the Assumption Church and the Transfiguration Cathedral. Wanting to create from your own abode New Jerusalem, the Valaam ascetics used the names of the New Testament period when arranging its plots. Over the years of its existence, the monastery has undergone many changes, and to this day it remains one of the attractive historical monuments of Russia.

The Alexander Nevsky Lavra was founded in 1710 at the junction of the Monastyrka River with the Neva. The decision to build it was made by Peter I himself, who wished to perpetuate the victory over the Swedes in 1240 and 1704 in this area. In the XIII century. Alexander Nevsky fought with hordes of Swedes, so he was later canonized for good deeds before the Fatherland. The monastery built in his honor was popularly called the Alexander Church, and the expansion of the territory of the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Monastery, or Lavra, began with its construction. It is noteworthy that the monastic buildings were located "in peace", i.e. in the shape of the letter "P" and decorated with churches in the corners. The landscaping of the yard was a garden with a flower garden. September 12 is recognized as the main holiday of the Lavra - it was on this date in the distant 1724 that the holy relics of Alexander Nevsky were transferred.

Trinity Sergius Lavra

Trinity-Sergius Lavra was founded in the first half of the XIV century. Reverend Sergius Radonezhsky, the son of an impoverished nobleman. According to the plan of the clergyman, the monastery courtyard was arranged in the form of a quadrangle, in the center of which the wooden Trinity Cathedral rose above the cells. A wooden fence served as a fence for the monastery. Above the gates was a small church dedicated to St. Dmitry Solunsky. Later, such an architectural plan was adopted by all other monasteries, which confirmed the opinion that Sergius was "the head and teacher of all monasteries in Russia." Over time, the Holy Spirit Church appeared near the Trinity Cathedral, the building of which combined a temple and a bell tower (“like under the bells”). Since 1744, the majestic monastery was renamed Lavra.

The Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery is a monastic monastery in Murom, founded by the Passion-Bearer Prince Gleb. Having received the city as an inheritance, he did not want to settle among the pagans, so he decided to equip the princely court upstream of the Oka. By choosing appropriate place, Gleb Muromsky built his first temple on it - this is how he immortalized the name of the All-Merciful Savior. Later, he supplemented it with a monastic cloister (the premises were used to educate the Murom people). According to the chronicle, the “Monastery of the Savior on the Bor” appeared in 1096. Since then, many clergymen and miracle workers have visited its walls. Over time, the Spassky Cathedral appeared on the territory of the monastery - through its construction, Ivan the Terrible immortalized the date of the capture of Kazan. To arrange the premises of the new temple, the king allocated icons, church utensils and literature, clothes for ministers. The Church of the Intercession with chambers, a bakery, a mucoseine and a cookhouse was built in the second half of the 17th century.

Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery is a convent founded in the 2nd half of the 18th century. The foundation of the Kazan Church was first laid at Mother Alexandra's own expense. Pakhomiy, a master famous for the construction of the Sarov Desert, was engaged in its consecration as the construction was completed. The church premises were equipped with 2 chapels - in the name of Archdeacon Stephen and St. Nicholas. Then Troitsky and Cathedral of the Transfiguration. The latter was built on solid donations, because reinforced concrete was used in its construction for the first time (previously such material was not used in the construction of shrines). But the main temple here is the Trinity Cathedral, in which the relics of Seraphim of Sarov are buried. Everyone who wants to receive grace-filled help and healing specially gathers at the shrine with the relics of the saint.

Trinity Sergius Lavra

Probably, today in Russia there are no such people who have never heard the name - the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Perhaps the monastery, founded 676 years ago by St. Sergius of Radonezh, today is the most famous in Russia. Inextricably linked with it highlights history of Russia. The monastery took part in the struggle against the Tatar-Mongol yoke, opposed the supporters of the government of Leged Dmitry II in the Time of Troubles.

The monastery quickly became a cultural and religious center Russian state. Manuscripts were copied here, icons and annals were written. Outstanding icon painters Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny took part in the painting of the temple itself. Andrei Rublev's famous Trinity was painted for the iconostasis of the cathedral. The Lavra has always been a favorite place for pilgrims since the tsarist times. Ivan the Terrible was baptized in the monastery, and for Princess Sofya Alekseevna, Tsarevich Ivan and Peter was a refuge. Even Peter I took refuge here when he fled from Moscow.

Today, people come to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra not only to pray, but also on excursions. Here you can see the Trinity Cathedral built in the 15th century, the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on Cathedral Square, near the northern wall of which the relics of the Monk Maxim the Greek are buried, the Assumption Cathedral, where the relics of Sts. 88.5 meters. It was from her that the Tsar Bell was thrown down and broken in the 1920s. There are tours of the monastery for children and adults, they are held in different languages.

You can also visit the Sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and see icons, old handwritten books, sewing, gold and silver items. In addition, there are several healing springs where you can draw water.

At the end of Nevsky Prospekt in St. Petersburg is the Alexander Nevsky Lavra - the current monastery, as well as an oasis of Russian spiritual life on Monastyrsky Island. The decision to build a monastery on this site is attributed to Peter I. It is believed that in this place, where the Monastyrka river flows into the Neva, in 1240 there was a battle of the squad of Prince Alexander Nevsky over the Swedes. In memory of those events, as well as in honor of the victory over the Swedes in 1704, the monastery was given the name - Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Monastery.

It was founded in 1710. Later, the Church of the Annunciation and the chapel were built here, the construction of the monastery settlement, the Metropolitan House began. In 1797, the monastery acquired the highest status - the status of a Lavra. The Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra is the main one in the ensemble of the monastery. On the territory of the monastery there is the Lazarevskoye and Novo-Lazarevskoye cemetery, where D.I. Fonvizin, M.V. Lomonosov, N.M. Karamzin, I.A. Krylov, V.A. Zhukovsky, F.M. Dostoevsky and other famous figures of the country.

The Alexander Nevsky Lavra is one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles of St. Petersburg. Tourists come to look at the beauty and austerity of the monastic buildings and to bow their heads before the outstanding figures of Russia, who rest here. Pilgrims arrive at the monastery to venerate the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky, which are located in the Trinity Cathedral of the Lavra.

One of the most beautiful monasteries is Valaamlocated on the island of Lake Ladoga in Karelia. The active male monastery is surrounded on all sides by water and seems to have been created for a quiet monastic life. Here is an unusually beautiful nature, which even more attracts pilgrims and tourists here. This place is called Northern Athos. The beginning of the creation of the monastery here is associated with the activities of Sergius and Herman the Wonderworkers of Valaam.

During its history, the monastery was repeatedly attacked and devastated due to its proximity to the border with Sweden. But the monks themselves never took up arms, preferring to die. At the beginning of the 17th century, the monastery was even completely destroyed, but then the monastery of the monks was restored. At one time, Emperors Alexander I and Alexander II, other members of the imperial family, painters Shishkin, Vasiliev, Kuindzhi, writers and poets Leskov, Tyutchev, Shmelev, Zaitsev, composers Tchaikovsky and Glazunov, scientists Miklukho-Maklay, Mendeleev and others visited Valaam.

Today, pilgrims can visit Valaam only through a special pilgrimage service. Guests are received here in a hotel, equipped in the cells of the monastery. Here you can simply relax in silence from the bustle of the world, take part in divine services, visit monastic exhibitions, and even learn various types of arts and crafts yourself.

Novodevichy Convent

The monastery was founded in the 16th century in the suburbs of Moscow on Devichye Pole. The cathedral church of the monastery was built on the model of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. The walls and towers of the monastery were built in the XVI-XVII, and most of the buildings are made in the style of "Moscow Baroque".

Representatives of royal and princely families are buried here, including grand duchess Sofia Alekseevna. Also, guests of the monastery can visit the graves of the poet Davydov, the writer Chekhov, Gogol, Bulgakov and many figures of Russian culture are buried in the new cemetery of the monastery.

Today, part of the buildings and cathedrals are under the jurisdiction of the museum, while others belong to the monastery. The revered Smolensk and Tikhvin (XVI century) icons of the Mother of God are kept in the Novodevichy Convent.

In the Vologda region, on the shores of Lake Siverskoye, there is the Kirillo-Belozersky (also Kirillov) Orthodox monastery. It was founded in 1397 by the monks Cyril Belozersky - a follower of Sergius of Radonezh and Ferapont Belozersky. At that time, the monastery was a kind of outpost of the Moscow state in enemy lands. Novgorod Republic. There is an interesting historical detail - in 1528 Grand Duke Vasily III went to the St. Cyril Monastery with Princess Elena Glinskaya to pray for the gift of an heir. And he was born - the future Tsar Ivan the Terrible, who all his life considered himself indebted to the monastery for his birth and before his death became a tonsure. In 1722, Peter I came to the monastery. Now part of the buildings of the monastery belongs to the Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve.

Pilgrims can visit temples and museums of the monastery. in the temple Saint Cyril Belozersky rest his relics. A copy of the first wooden cell of St. Cyril and a cross erected by the monks during the settlement have been preserved. Not far from the monastery, on Mount Maura, a wooden chapel was built and a worship cross was erected.

Optina Pustyn is one of the oldest Russian monasteries. Orthodox monastery located near the city of Kozelsk in the Kaluga region. The exact time of its foundation is unknown, however, according to legend, the Hermitage existed even before the Mongol-Tatars invaded Russia.

It is believed that the founder of the Desert was a repentant robber named Optin. At first, the monastery consisted of only one wooden church and about a dozen monks who lived in simple cells. After some time, it was destroyed and revived only at the end of the 18th century. New churches were built, residential buildings for the brethren, a refectory, a library, a mill, and even tile and brick factories appeared.

At one time, Gogol and Dostoevsky were here. Today, guests of the monastery can even see the houses where great writers stayed. The impression of Dostoevsky's trip is described in the novel The Brothers Karamazov. And the prototype of the elder Zosima was the elder of the Optina Skete Ambrose. In general, the Optina Hermitage is famous for its inhabitants. Legends continue to circulate about the amazing elders and miracle workers of the Desert even today. Some of them - healers of the soul and body - canonized as saints. Outside of Russia, Optina Pustyn is also known. The story of the murder of three monks on Easter in 1993 shocked many.

And today pilgrims come here in the first place in the hope of receiving healing. The monastery includes the main temple - the Vvedensky Cathedral, the Church of Mary of Egypt, the Kazan Church, Vladimirskaya, behind the monastery grove there is a skete in which round-the-clock services take place.

Solovki

The Solovetsky Monastery is located on the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, between the Arkhangelsk region and Karelia. Solovki are well known both in Russia and abroad. The first monks settled here in the 17th century. The monastery created here was supported by Veliky Novgorod and Moscow. It soon became one of the largest in the country. Suffered the attack of the Swedes, was ruined by the royal troops

After the change political system prisoners began to be exiled to Solovki. Alexander Solzhenitsyn dedicated entire chapters to the Solovki in his novel The Gulag Archipelago. Only in the 60s of the last century began to restore the monastery here.

Today, tourists and pilgrims can visit the unique museum of history, the local Kremlin, the Ascension Church, the Botanical Garden, Filippov Islands, the labyrinths of the Big Zayatsky Island - one of them is the largest in the world, the Muksalm Dam, a man-made system of canals and lakes. Also built here is the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called, founded by Peter I.

These are just a few of the sights located on Solovki. Three days is not enough to see everything. But the most important thing that attracts tourists here is the unique nature. The purest water lakes, magnificent view from the islands.