The Novospassky Monastery is considered one of the largest functioning monasteries in the capital of Russia. Thousands of believers come here every day looking for spiritual help and support. The monastery is visited by many tourists interested in Orthodox culture.
From the history of the Novospassky monastery
The monastery in honor of the All-Merciful Savior in the XIII century was founded near the Serpukhov outpost by Prince Daniel of Moscow. Ivan Kalita subsequently moved the monastery to Borovitsky Hill. When the stone construction in the Kremlin began under Ivan III, the monastery was moved to its current location, Krutitsky Hill. From that time on, it began to be called the Novospassky Monastery. The Transfiguration Cathedral, also known as the Savior on Bor, remained in its former place, within the Kremlin.
According to her will, the nun Dosithea, a Moscow eldress, was reburied in the monastery. In the world she was known as Princess Augusta, daughter of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. In the burial vault, the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, who was killed by a terrorist in 1905, is also buried. He became the last representative of the Romanov family to find peace within the monastery.
A memorial cross has been erected on the territory belonging to the monastery. It was recreated according to the project of V. M. Vasnetsov and exactly repeats the cross that was installed in the Kremlin at the place of the death of the prince (in the XX century, the original cross was destroyed).
On the territory of the Novospassky monastery lies the ashes of Elder Filaret, who had labored in this monastery for about half a century.
The abbey building of the monastery was built by Patriarch Filaret in the first quarter of the 17th century. The stone walls and towers of the monastery were built in the same century.
Becoming Archimandrite of Novospassky, Patriarch Nikon, by royal decree, transferred to the Novospassky Monastery the miraculous icon of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands. For several centuries, the icon was the main shrine of this monastery.
In 1918, the Novospassky monastery was closed, and the necropolis was destroyed. A forced labor camp was located within the walls of the monastery, and a women's prison was set up in the tomb of the Romanov family. After the temples were closed, warehouses and prison barracks were created in their place.
Until 1926, the monastic community existed at the church of St. Nicholas. The main shrine of the monastery was also moved there. After the church was closed, the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands was lost.
In 1935, the monastery complex became part of the structures that were under the jurisdiction of the economic management of the NKVD. An archive was placed in one of the temples, in the other - a vegetable store and a confiscated warehouse. For some time, a medical sobering-up station was located in one of the buildings of the monastery. Most of the premises were converted into housing.
Since the end of the 60s of the last century, the All-Russian Research Institute of Restoration has been located in the Novospassky Monastery. Later, a furniture factory was immediately equipped.
The monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in December 1990. In March 1991, the first liturgy was celebrated in the reconstructed monastery.
Novospassky monastery: help
The architectural complex of the Novospassky Monastery includes:
- Transfiguration Cathedral;
- a temple in honor of the Monk Roman the Sweet Songwriter;
- Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos;
- church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker;
- temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Many shrines are kept within the walls of the monastery. The family burials of the Romanov imperial house are also located here. There are five churches on the territory of the Novospasskaya monastery. There is a publishing house, a Sunday school. One of the activities of the community is education in the field of religion.
Photo and video filming is allowed on the territory of the monastery.
The monastery has several farmsteads located in the Moscow and Kaluga regions.
The morning service begins every weekday at 8 o'clock, the evening service at 17 o'clock. Liturgy is held here on Sundays and holidays.
The address of the monastery: 115172, Moscow, Krestyanskaya sq., 10.
Novospassky monastery: the oldest Orthodox community
The monastery is the most ancient monastic abode of the capital of Russia. The Novospassky Monastery received its name after it was moved from Borovitsky Hill to its present location.
After the election of Mikhail Romanov to the throne in 1613 and after the transfer of the capital of Russia to St. Petersburg, the imperial house continued the old traditions: the emperors began to be buried in the Peter and Paul Cathedral, and the relatives of the tsars - in the family tomb of the Novospassky monastery. All these graves were destroyed after the October Revolution. The tomb was restored only in the 90s of the last century. Now there is a small museum that tells about the history of the monastery.
The architectural ensemble of the monastery took shape over the years. The stone walls were built in the 17th century. At that time, they were not of artistic but of strategic importance. The monastery was one of the fortresses capable of defending Moscow against an enemy attack.
To get to the territory of the monastery, you need to pass the gate. Above them is a bell tower built in the 18th century. Its height is 78 meters. The Transfiguration Cathedral is located on one axis with the bell tower. This is the main monastery church, founded in the 17th century. The interior of the temple is decorated with murals symbolizing the genealogy of the Romanov dynasty. On the porch of the cathedral, visitors can see images of famous philosophers of antiquity: a unique case for an Orthodox cathedral. The peculiarity of this fresco is that it expresses a deep thought: Christian wisdom is always higher than any pagan wisdom, no matter what heights it reaches.
The Transfiguration Cathedral contains many images of saints-martyrs, prophets, reverends and righteous ones. The temple is also known for its pictures on the walls. Most of them date back to the 17th century. In the central part of the church there is a seven-tiered iconostasis, where the saints, the Savior and the Mother of God are depicted.
The Transfiguration Cathedral was built in the image of the Assumption Cathedral by the future Patriarch Nikon. All the rulers of Russia, without exception, made their "royal exits" to the monastery here, starting with Mikhail Romanov. The royalty considered it their duty to bow to the paternal tombs.
Shrines of the Novospassky monastery
Many shrines are kept within the walls of the Novospassky monastery. Among them there are priceless relics:
- a particle of the Savior's robe;
- a particle of the Virgin Mary's robe;
- a sliver from the cross on which Jesus was crucified;
- particles of the relics of many saints.
A special ark is provided for storing the shrines. The second reliquary contains the relics of the saints of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. Among the shrines of the monastery is the belt of St. John of Kronstadt. The shrines belonging to the monastery attract thousands of pilgrims. Visitors to the Orthodox monastery can venerate the holy relics here.
On the territory of the monastery there is a copy of the cross located within the Kremlin. This shrine is dedicated to Prince Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov, the former governor of Moscow, who was killed by a terrorist. He died as a result of the explosion of a bomb thrown by the Socialist-Revolutionary. The prince's wife, possessing a deep faith in the power of confession, came to the terrorist in prison and began to persuade him to repent of his deed. She gave her word that she would petition for his forgiveness. But the terrorist did not accept the conditions and went to execution.
There are also especially revered icons in the monastery. Among them is the "Tsaritsa" icon. This is an exact copy of the Athos image. She became famous for the numerous healings of those who prayed for help with sincere faith.
Features of the monastery
Many are interested in why the Novospassky monastery is called stavropegic. This name is given to Orthodox monasteries, the cross in the altar of which was erected by the Patriarch himself. Such monasteries fall under the tutelage of the canonical administration of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The patriarch appoints governors in these monasteries: an archimandrite or abbess.
Stavropegic monasteries have a number of privileges. For example, they are given the right to self-government and to obtain a certain independence. Out of several hundred Orthodox complexes in Russia, only 25 are considered stavropegic. One of the monasteries with this special status is the Novospassky Monastery.
The Novospassky Monastery has an atmosphere of holiness and a unique microclimate. Here apricot trees bear fruit, and flowers of incredible beauty grow in the garden. Believers believe that God's mercy has descended on this Orthodox complex. The prayer for salvation performed in the monastery takes on a special resonance. Serving the Fatherland is perceived here as a continuation of the age-old traditions of their ancestors. Many of those who have visited the temples of the monastery say that they have experienced the inexplicable joy of prayer.
