Active monasteries in Moscow. Addresses, list of men's and women's, how to get there

List and addresses of active male and female monasteries in Moscow

Moscow monasteries operating today are an amazing phenomenon of the modern capital. A completely different life takes place there without noise and fuss. The routine of each monastery is subject to certain regulations, and tourists cannot get inside and see at any time.

Alekseevsky Women's Stavropegic Monastery

The Novo-Alekseevsky convent is the successor to the abolished Staro-Alekseevsky convent, which had a centuries-old history and was closed due to the construction of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The monastery was moved to Krasnoye Selo in the first half of the 19th century and dates back to that time. It closed during the Soviet years and was revived in the late 90s as a monastic community. The return of the monastery status occurred in 2013.

The monastery is interesting because of its miraculously preserved building - the All Saints Cathedral, which is now the main church of the monastery. Other buildings were lost during the Soviet years.

Address: 2nd Krasnoselsky lane, 7, building 8.

Opening hours: 07:00 – 20:00.

Novodevichy Convent

The active Novodevichy Convent in Moscow is one of the most beautiful convents for women in the country; it arose in 1524 under Vasily III after the capture of Smolensk. According to legend, he intended to imprison his childless wife Solomiya here.

The architectural monastery complex of the Moscow Baroque style was completely formed by the 17th century, and has remained virtually unchanged since then. The ancient monastery amazes with its preservation. It has been declared a global human heritage.

Currently, it is a UNESCO cultural and historical heritage site, as well as a historical museum of the country and a church museum of the Moscow diocese.

Behind the solid monastery walls with unique towers is the famous Novodevichy cemetery, where the remains of many great artists and historical figures rest:

• Chekhov;
• Gogol;
• Bulgakov;
• Mayakovsky;
• Shukshin.

Since the mid-20th century, this has been the most prestigious burial place of the Soviet elite. Near the monastery there is a pond and an unusually beautiful park with picturesque views of the walls and towers of the monastery. Easily accessible from the Sportivnaya metro station on foot in 5 minutes. The territory of the monastery is available for visiting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission.

Divine services are held daily:

• The Divine Liturgy begins at 7:40 a.m. this week.
• On holidays and Sundays, two services are held: at 6-20 and at 8-40.
• Evening service always starts at 17:00.

The museum complex is open from 10 to 16-30, except Tuesday and the first Monday of the month.

St. Andrew's Monastery

Located in Moscow, not far from Vorobyovy Gory. Founded in 1648. The gate temple, built in 1675, has survived to this day.

St. Andrew's Monastery

Divine services . The schedule of services in the monastery is published every month; for up-to-date information, you should contact the official website of the monastery.

Address: Andreevskaya embankment, 2.

How to get there. From the Leninsky Prospect metro station on the Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya (Orange) line or from the Gagarin Square MCC station, you need to move to the Gagarin monument and, bypassing Leninsky Prospekt, walk towards the river (about 850 meters).

From the Sparrow Hills of the Sokolnicheskaya (Red) Line you need to walk along the Moskva River embankment (about 1000 meters).

St. Daniel's Monastery

The Holy Danilov Monastery owes its appearance to the founder of Moscow, Grand Duke Daniil, who erected a church in honor of his heavenly patron on the right bank of the river in 1282. This ancient monastery becomes the very first monastery in Moscow. Before his death, the founder prince himself took monastic vows here and was buried within its walls.

It is surprising that the Danilov Monastery was one of the first to begin its revival, even under Soviet rule. In 1982, USSR Secretary General Leonid Brezhnev signed a decree returning it to the Patriarchate. By the day of the celebration of the millennium of the Baptism of Rus', restoration work in the monastery was completed. It became the focus of the celebration of these events and the beginning of the revival of the spiritual life of the country.

Not long ago, the monastery miraculously managed to return a historical set of bells, bought from Soviet Russia in the 1930s by an American industrialist, which he donated to the university at Harvard.

Today, the Danilov Monastery is the center of Russian Orthodoxy, not only because of the location of the current synodal residence of the Patriarch, but also because of the active participation of the monastery in the religious and social life of modern society.

You can get there by metro:

• It is easy to walk from Tulskaya station.
• From the Paveletskaya station you will have to take a tram to the stop of the same name at the monastery.

The monastery is available for visiting pilgrims from 6 am to 9 pm. Divine services are held every weekday from 6 am. On Sundays and holidays two liturgies are held: from 6-45 and from 8-45. Evening services always begin at 5 p.m.

Donskoy Monastery

The foundation of the monastery is considered to be 1591, when the first stone church was erected in the name of the Don Icon of the Mother of God. It is believed that this ancient image of the 14th century belongs to a letter from the famous icon painter Theophanes the Greek. It was this icon that gave the blessing of Sergius of Radonezh to Grand Duke Dmitry for the battle with the Crimean Tatars.

In the 17th century, the monastery became a powerful monastic fortress, completing the defensive ring of Moscow. During the 18th century, the construction of the majestic architectural complex of the monastery was completed. By the 19th century it became the richest and most influential monastery in the country. The Committee of Spiritual Censorship is located here, a theological school and a training school for novices are opened.

During the years of Soviet power, the monastery was closed. Patriarch Tikhon, now canonized by the Orthodox Church as a saint, was detained here and later buried. A museum of architecture and sculpture was opened on the territory of the monastery. Valuable historical fragments of many demolished temples and buildings were brought here.

And the unique necropolis of the Russian nobility inexplicably managed to survive the Soviet destruction without serious losses. Since 1990, the moment the monastery complex was returned to the Orthodox Church, until today, construction and restoration work has not stopped at the monastery.

The Liturgy is served daily during the week from 8 a.m., on holidays and Sundays at 7 and 10 a.m. It is convenient to take the metro to the Shabolovka station, walk to the intersection of the street with Donskoy Proyezd and turn right, along the wall to the monastery gate.

Epiphany Abraham Monastery

An ancient Orthodox convent, the foundation of which dates back to the end of the distant 11th century.

In the place where the pagan temple of Veles was previously located, Abraham of Rostov

erected a wooden church and founded a men's parish, and only towards the end of the 17th century all the buildings were built in stone and surrounded by a wall.

For a long time, the holy rod of Abraham was kept here, until Ivan the Terrible took it on his campaign
.

Once upon a time, in a wonderful vision, the holy Apostle John the Theologian

and gave him a rod crowned with a cross, with which the monk crushed the idol. On the site of the idol temple, Saint Avramius founded a monastery in honor of the Epiphany and became its abbot. In memory of the appearance, the monk erected a temple in the name of the Apostle John the Theologian.

During the period of Soviet power, the monastery was transferred to residential premises, and the stone fortress wall was simply dismantled. Since 2004, this Russian monastery has been revived as a women's monastery.

Novospassky Monastery

The Novospassky Monastery arose under Ivan III on the Vasilyevsky camp on the banks of the Moscow River in connection with the resettlement of the brotherhood in 1490. The first Church of the Transfiguration was erected in 1497. Tsar Ivan the Terrible turns the monastery into an impregnable fortress with an earthen rampart and a deep moat. More than once he had to withstand serious siege and take part in defensive battles.

In 1498, the first ancestor of the Romanov dynasty was buried here, and since then the monastery has become their family tomb, enjoying special royal favor. To commemorate the dead, they presented rich estates, precious utensils, donated books, icons and vestments. Royal pilgrimages were regularly held.

After the revolution, the monastery closes. The entire territory with buildings comes under the jurisdiction of the NKVD, the monastery necropolis is practically destroyed, the royal tomb is devastated. There is a concentration camp, a women's prison, and later a correctional colony here.

In the 70s, historical buildings were transferred to the museum and began to be restored. The revival of monastic life began in 1991 and continues to this day. At the same time, the world-famous choir of the Novospassky Monastery was formed.

Now on the territory of the monastery there is a museum with personal belongings of the Romanovs, unique documents, photographs and archaeological excavations of ancient objects. Visiting the museum is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The monastic pilgrimage service conducts walking and bus excursions throughout Moscow and throughout Russia.

You can get to the monastery in one of the following ways:

1. By metro to the station: “Proletarskaya” or “Krestyanskaya Zastava”.
2. By tram no. 35 and 38.
3. By buses No. 156, 184, 901.
4. In summer, river boats operate at the Novospassky Most pier.

Moscow monasteries operating today are open for inspection and attendance at services. In the Novospasskaya monastery, the divine liturgy begins at 8 o'clock in the morning on weekdays, on Sunday there are two services: early - at 7 o'clock, and late - at 9 o'clock. Evening services are held daily at 5 p.m.

Monasteries in Moscow

It so happened that there are more Orthodox men's monasteries on Russian soil than women's. They are more ancient, and therefore their history is richer.

St. Andrew's Stavropegic Monastery

The founding date of this desert is not reliably known, but the first mention of it dates back to the 16th century. The 17th century was the most significant for St. Andrew's Monastery, because it was during this period that the monastery actively expanded and was enriched with shrines. The further fate of the monastery was less joyful - an orphanage, an almshouse, a penitentiary, and later even a cemetery for civilians were organized on its territory.

Today the desert is under the control of the Russian Orthodox Church. A Sunday school and library are opened there. The shrine is located at the address: Moscow, Andreevskaya embankment, 2. You need to go to the Leninsky Prospekt metro station.

St. Andrew's Stavropegic Monastery

Epiphany Monastery

The history of this monastery begins at the end of the 13th century. According to legends, it was founded by the Moscow prince Daniel, and the abbot was the brother of St. Sergius of Radonezh. The first brick church at the monastery was built in the second half of the 14th century. It repeatedly became a victim of fires and wars, but each time it was possible to restore it almost from scratch. Today it is a two-story building in the Baroque style.

You can get to the monastery by metro to the Ploshchad Revolutsii station. Address on the map: Bogoyavlensky Lane, 2.

Epiphany Monastery

Vysoko-Petrovsky stauropegic monastery

Pustyn was founded in the 14th century. Brick church in the name of St. Petra was built only a century later. The Italian architect Aloiso Lamberti de Montignana worked on his project, and the capital's landowners donated funds.

During the Patriotic War, the desert was significantly damaged, but it was rebuilt. After the events of 1917, the monastery was abolished. Restoration work began only in 1959. By the end of the twentieth century, it became the Patriarchal Metochion, and in 2009, monks moved here. The shrine is located at the address: Petrovka, 28, Chekhovskaya metro station.

St. Daniel's Monastery

The St. Danilov Monastery was founded in 1282 by Moscow Prince Daniil. His grave can be found in the monastery graveyard, since before his death he became a monk and served the hermitage for some time.

Like all Orthodox shrines, the Lavra suffered from the Soviet regime, but its restoration began under the USSR. By Brezhnev's decree of 1982, the historical monument was transferred to the Moscow Patriarchate, which began active restoration work.

St. Daniel's Monastery is the very first men's monastery in Moscow.

You can get to the Lavra by metro (Tulskaya station) or by car (Danilovsky Val, 22).

Donskoy Monastery

This shrine dates back to 1591, when the Church of Our Lady of the Don was founded. The architectural complex that we see today was completed towards the end of the 18th century. A school for novices, as well as a religious school, was opened on its territory.

When the Bolsheviks came to power, the monastery was reorganized into a museum, where church relics taken from other churches were kept. Today the monastery is under the control of the Russian Orthodox Church, but restoration work has not yet been completed. To get to the shrine, you should go to the Leninsky Prospekt metro station, from where you can walk a short distance to Donskaya Square.

Donskoy Monastery St. Danilov Monastery

Vysoko-Petrovsky stauropegic monastery

Zaikonospassky stauropegial monastery

The monastery was founded by Tsar B. Godunov and consecrated in the name of the miraculous image of the “All-Merciful Savior”. The name “Zaikonospassky” came from the fact that the wooden church was located next to the church shops where icons were exchanged.

In 1661, construction of the brick temple was completed, and a Greco-Latin school was opened. After the transfer to the Russian Orthodox Church, the shrine, destroyed during the Soviet regime, was restored and opened to visitors. It is located at the address: st. Nikolskaya, 7-9 (metro station “Ploshchad Revolutsii”).

Zaikonospassky stauropegial monastery

Nikolo-Perervinsky Monastery

The hermitage was founded immediately after the Battle of Kulikovo, but its heyday came only at the beginning of the 18th century, when the summer residence of the patriarch moved there. Legends say that a tunnel has been dug under the laurel, which comes out right next to the Kolomna Church of the Kazan Mother of God.

The central building of the monastery is St. Nicholas Cathedral, dating back to 1700. The complex is also decorated with the church in the name of the Mother of God Iverskaya icon, made in the Russian-Byzantine style. The shrine is located on Shosseynaya Street-82 (Pechatniki metro station).

Nikolo-Perervinsky Monastery

Nikolo-Ugreshsky stauropegial monastery

This hermitage was founded by Dmitry Donskoy after the miraculous appearance of St. Nicholas of Myra to him. Throughout its history, the monastery was destroyed many times, but was again restored almost from ruins. Its heyday occurred during the beginning of the reign of the Romanov dynasty.

In the first years of the 19th century, they wanted to close the monastery, and after the revolution of 1917 it was transformed into a labor community for monks. Later, a colony for minors was organized in the desert. Restoration of the monastery began in the 70s of the twentieth century. Today it is open to visitors and is located at the address: Dzerzhinsky city, St. Nicholas Square, 1.

To get to the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Lavra, you need to take the metro to the Lyublino station.

Author's advice

Nikolo-Ugreshsky stauropegial monastery

Novospassky Monastery

This shrine dates back to the end of the 15th century, and Tsar Ivan III is considered to be its founder. The first monastery church was erected in 1497, and under Ivan the Terrible they turned the monastery into a real fortress. For several centuries, members of the Romanov dynasty were buried here.

With the arrival of the Bolsheviks, the Lavra was transferred to the NKVD. The restoration of the historical monument began in the 70s, and the first monks settled here only towards the end of the 20th century. You can get to the monastery by metro (Proletarskaya station) or by car (Krestyanskaya Square-10).

Sretensky stauropegial monastery

The Lavra operating today was founded in 1397 by Prince Vasily I as a sign of victory over Tamerlane. In the second half of the 17th century, Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich ordered the construction of the Sretensky Church, which was built near the abbot’s building.

After the transfer of the shrine to the Moscow Patriarchate, it was restored. Under her, they opened a theological seminary, a publishing house, and a church shop. Today the Patriarchal Cultural Council meets here, as well as the editorial office of a major Orthodox web page. Monastery address: Bolshaya Lubyanka, 19 (Sretensky Boulevard metro station).

Simonov Monastery

One of the oldest Moscow men's monasteries, founded in 1370. It was founded by Saint Theodore (disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh) with the sponsorship of boyar Stepan Vasilyevich Khovrin.

During the Soviet period, the laurel suffered greatly. Its revival began at the end of the twentieth century, but restoration work has not yet been completed. The shrine is located at the address: Vostochnaya Street, building 4.

Simonov Monastery Sretensky Stavropegic Monastery Novospassky Monastery

Nikolo-Perervinsky Monastery

Nikolo-Perervinsky is a former monastery, today it is the Patriarchal Metochion. It was founded after the victory on the Kulikovo Field in a quiet place remote from the capital. The monastery flourished at the end of the 17th century, due to its use as a summer patriarchal residence.

According to legend, from the Nikolo-Perervinsky monastery there is a secret underground passage to the other side of the river to the Kazan Church in Kolomenskoye. It was dug to shelter members of the royal family within the walls of the monastery and protect them from troublemakers or rebels.

St. Nicholas single-domed church was erected in 1700 at the central location of the monastery. Its main decoration was the second largest after Christ the Savior Cathedral of the Russian-Byzantine style of the Iveron Mother of God, built at the beginning of the 20th century by the architect Vinogradov.

Church services can be attended any day of the week from 7-30 in the morning and at 17 in the evening; on Sunday they are shifted in the morning to 6-30 and 9 o'clock. In addition, on Sundays an additional Divine Liturgy for children is celebrated from 8 o’clock. Due to its inconvenient location, the Nikolo-Perervinsky Monastery is not the most visited place in Moscow.

You can get there:

• Take the Kursk Railway train to the Depo station, then walk.
• There are many buses from the Pechatniki or Tekstilshchiki metro stations.
• By personal car.

Sretensky Monastery

The oldest men's monastery in the very heart of the capital has existed since 1397. It arose under Prince Vasily I at the meeting place (candlemas) of the Mother of God icon when it was transferred from Vladimir, on the occasion of deliverance from the invasion of Tamerlane’s army. In honor of this event, at the end of August an annual religious procession was held with the Vladimir Icon from the Assumption Church of the Moscow Kremlin.

Sretensky Cathedral was built by royal decree of Feodor Alekseevich in 1679. It still survives today, along with the 17th-century rectory.

During the Soviet period, Sretensky Monastery lost most of its territory and historical church buildings. The neighboring building of the former school now houses a theological seminary. The monastery operates an Orthodox publishing house, the Patriarchal Council for Culture, the editorial office of the largest Orthodox Internet site, and a church store.

It is very easy to get there on foot from any metro station:

• "Chistye Prudy";
• "Lubyanka";
• "Turgenevskaya";
• "Kuznetsky Most".

Church services are held every evening at 18 o'clock, on weekday mornings at 8 o'clock, on holidays and Sundays at 7 and 10 o'clock.

History of the monastery

Sretensky Monastery was founded in memory of the miraculous salvation of Moscow from the hordes of Tamerlane through the intercession of the Mother of God. The story of the revival of this monastery, destroyed and desecrated by atheists, is also wonderful.

Sretensky Monastery - one of the spiritual centers of Orthodoxy

Sretensky Monastery today includes restored and rebuilt wonderful churches and a bell tower, a monastery wall, comfortable buildings for the brethren, a theological seminary, an Orthodox publishing house and an Internet portal, numerous educational projects, a large hermitage, and most importantly, a prayer life that has gathered around bringing many faithful to Christ.

Here the afflicted receive consolation, the despondent find joy, the lazy are inspired to deeds, the lukewarm are spiritually ignited, the restless discover the will of God, the confused find Meaning, the doubtful are strengthened in faith, those who seek Christ find Christ, the prodigal return to the Father. Sretensky Monastery is now one of the spiritual centers of Orthodoxy.

The history of the founding of the monastery
of Saint Cyprian
The founding of the Sretensky Monastery is a wonderful and amazing story. In 1395, the hordes of Timur (Tamerlane), an invincible and cruel conqueror who captured all of Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Iran, Anatolia, Khorezm, and India, approached Moscow from the south. Moscow did not have the strength to overcome such an invasion. The Primate of the Russian Church, Metropolitan Cyprian, and Grand Duke Vasily I, the eldest son of Dmitry Donskoy, ordered the transfer of the greatest shrine, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, from the city of Vladimir-on-Klyazma.

On September 8 (August 26, Old Style), the procession with the icon arrived in Moscow, where a prayer service was served on Kuchkovo Pole near the wooden church of St. Mary of Egypt (1385). The chronicle reports: “The whole city came out against the icon to meet it.” Muscovites, young and old, cried and asked the Most Holy Theotokos for help.

“The whole city came out against the icon to meet it”

That same night, Tamerlane saw in a dream how a pillar of light descended from heaven to earth, a majestic Woman appeared in it, surrounded by a countless angelic army, and commanded him to leave the Moscow borders. The advisers explained to the frightened khan: this Woman is the Mother of the Christian God, the Intercessor of the Russians, and Her power is invincible. Tamerlane was so amazed by the vision that he deployed his troops to the south and attacked the Khan of the Golden Horde, Tokhtamysh, to whom Moscow was paying tribute. So the Golden Horde ceased to exist as a single state, which for Rus' became the most important moment in liberation from the yoke.

In 1397, at the meeting place of the icon of the Mother of God, Prince Vasily I ordered the construction of a monastery

The Feast of the Presentation (meeting) of the Vladimir Icon has become the main holiday in Moscow. In the same year, at the site of the miraculous meeting, the wooden Church of the Presentation was built, and in 1397, Prince Vasily I announced the creation of the Sretensky Monastery, which also included the parish church of St. Mary of Egypt.

The miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was placed in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, and every year on the feast of the Presentation it was transferred in a solemn and crowded religious procession to the Sretensky Monastery.

MIRACLE IN RUSSIAN HISTORY

short film

Main historical milestones in the life of the monastery

Gradually the monastery grew and became decorated, becoming the annual center of the main Moscow religious processions. Under Grand Duke John III, wooden churches were rebuilt in stone. Generous donations were made to the monastery treasury by John IV, who visited the monastery after the successful capture of Kazan.

For six centuries, the monastery shared all the joys and troubles with its compatriots. During the Russian-Polish War, the headquarters of the Russian militia Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky were located in the Sretensky Monastery. The monastery provided first aid to the prince after he was seriously wounded in battle.

In 1679, a cathedral was built in honor of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon - and today it is the main cathedral of the monastery

In the 17th century, the Romanov royal family made generous contributions to the Sretensky Monastery. Under Tsars Michael and Theodore Romanov, the cell and abbot's buildings were erected, and in 1679 a new cathedral was built in honor of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which has survived to this day. In 1706, a chapel was added to the Sretensky Cathedral in honor of the Nativity of John the Baptist, and a chapel in honor of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord was added to the Church of St. Mary of Egypt. In the same year, a particle of the relics of St. Mary of Egypt was brought from Constantinople. In 1707, Sretensky Cathedral was painted by order of the steward Semyon Fedorovich Griboyedov, the ancestor of the famous playwright, with unique frescoes - the last masterpiece of ancient Russian art in Moscow.

The monastery also saw times of decline: it suffered during the Great Fire of 1737, and in 1764 Catherine II declared the monastery superfluous and limited the number of brethren to seven people.

On the day of the Battle of Borodino - August 26, 1812, on the feast of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - a nationwide religious procession with miraculous icons set off from the Sretensky Monastery. Later, the monastery housed a hospital for wounded soldiers; many of them were buried in the monastery cemetery.

The French plundered two ancient churches of the monastery, and then lived in them and set up an infirmary there. But the service was not interrupted and took place in the gate church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The Sretensky Monastery survived the Great Moscow Fire of 1812, and here, until the restoration of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, the Vladimir and Iverskaya icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary were located.

In the 19th century, the monastery began to be revived and by the end of the century it became one of the most famous in Moscow, including due to its wonderful bell ringing.

Moscow metropolitans Platon (Levshin; 1737–1812) and Filaret (Drozdov; 1782–1867) took an active part in the improvement of the monastery. The brethren of the monastery numbered 25 people, there was a parochial school and a pilgrimage hotel.

After the revolution of 1917, the Sretensky Monastery was one of the main centers of Orthodoxy in Moscow. His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon often served here. The rector of the monastery from 1920 to 1923 was the Patriarch's associate, Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky), a remarkable theologian and preacher, a fighter against schismatic-renovationists. In November 1925, he was arrested and sent into second and last exile to the Solovetsky special purpose camp, from which he never returned.

Before the monastery was closed, in December 1925, Sergei Izvekov, the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Pimen, was tonsured here as a ryassophore.

Years of desolation and destruction of the ancient shrine

The monastery, which had a history of five and a half centuries behind it, ceased to exist in 1925. Most of the buildings of the monastery were destroyed - as stated in official documents: “to expand street traffic.” One of the oldest churches in Moscow, the Church of St. Mary of Egypt, was demolished. On the former territory of the monastery, dungeons were set up; many people convicted for the faith of Christ were shot here and buried in unmarked graves. A school was built on the site of the monastery cemetery in the 1950s.

All that remained of the beautiful monastery was the ancient Vladimir Cathedral, which was turned into a dormitory for NKVD officers. To do this, the church was divided into several floors, stoves were installed, and the required temperature conditions, of course, were not observed. By tearing down the crosses, the Bolsheviks damaged the lining of the dome, which led to leaks. The unique frescoes were severely damaged and could have been completely destroyed, but, according to the Providence of God, they were preserved due to the fact that the walls of the cathedral were painted and covered with wallpaper. In 1958–1962, the facade of the cathedral was restored, but the condition of the frescoes remained deplorable.

From the 1960s to the early 1990s, the All-Russian Art Scientific and Restoration Center named after I.E. was located here. Grabar.

Revival of the monastery with the blessing of the elder

Could the ancient monastery be revived again? The brothers of past centuries from Heaven probably prayed about this. Is it possible that the revival of the monastery began with the efforts of just one person, even a very smart and talented one? Perhaps, if this person acts according to the will of God and with the blessing of the elder!

Father John said: “Now listen to the will of God... You will return to Moscow and build a courtyard.”

Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov) of Pskov and Porkhov recalls: “Everything related to the revival and establishment of monastic life in our Sretensky Monastery is inextricably linked with Father John (Krestyankin). In the fall of 1993, on the feast of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, I came to Father John... We sat there for quite a long time. The all-night vigil has already begun. Father John, looking at his watch, hurried and sent me to the temple, saying that he himself would soon come up. Together with the young monastery hieromonks, we, already dressed, waited for the akathist in the ancient cave altar of the Assumption Cathedral.

Suddenly Father John approached us. We parted with him half an hour ago, but then he immediately seemed somehow unusual to me - concentrated and stern. Without saying a word, the priest took me by the hand and led me to the center of the altar, to the throne. Here he made three deep bows, reverently venerated the Holy Table and ordered me to do the same. Then, turning to me, he said:

- Now listen to the will of God...

I had never heard such words from Father John before.

“You will return to Moscow and immediately go to His Holiness the Patriarch,” Father John announced to me. - Ask him to bless you to move from Donskoy to the brethren of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery. Ask His Holiness to bless the creation of the courtyard of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery in Moscow, and you will build this courtyard.

I didn’t know what to say!.. On the one hand, it was clearly clear that now, at this very moment, my life was changing. And at the same time, I understood with my mind that it was completely unrealistic to implement what the priest said... A little explanation is needed here. By that time, 360 monasteries had already been revived in the Russian Church, and their number increased every month. Quite a few of these provincial monasteries wanted to have their own metochions in the capital and pestered the Patriarch so much that His Holiness, at one of the meetings of the clergy, very firmly warned that such requests would not be made to him in the future... I explained all this to Father John. But he didn’t even raise an eyebrow.

- Do not be afraid of anything! - he said. - Go to His Holiness and tell me what I told you. His Holiness will bless everything...

Father John never threw out great and terrible words, such as “I will tell you the will of God.” Neither before nor later have I heard such words from him. Therefore, I took what was said to me more than seriously and, overcoming fear, decided to do everything exactly as the elder said.

I soon had an opportunity to meet with the Patriarch, and with a sinking heart I conveyed word for word to His Holiness what the priest had ordered me: both about transferring me to the brethren of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery, and about the creation of a monastic metochion in Moscow... To my surprise, His Holiness unexpectedly I found the idea of ​​the Pskov-Pechersk courtyard very timely and correct.”

In days of joys and trials

Bishop Tikhon (Shevkunov) also recalls: “From the day the metochion was opened... we were always supported - in days of joy and trials - by prayer, blessing, and sometimes by the strict discipline of Father John (Krestyankin). He gave us many of his icons, including his favorite one, the Vladimir icon. Father John blessed the creation of the monastery publishing house, seminary, and subsidiary farm. In general, especially in the first, most difficult years, the priest followed literally every step in the reviving monastery. And after the alarm about the closure of Pechora for pilgrims subsided, it was Father John who gave his blessing to ask His Holiness to transform the monastery into the Sretensky Monastery.

“Always – in days of joy and trials – we were supported by the prayer of Father John (Krestyankin)”

The brethren of the Sretensky Monastery honor Father John as an elder who blessed the creation of our monastery, as their prayer book, spiritual mentor and benefactor.
Every day we offer prayers for the repose of his soul. His sermons, letters and instructions are reference books for the brethren of the monastery, seminary students and many of our parishioners.” First service
Z.M.
Chavchavadze Zurab Mikhailovich Chavchavadze, general director of the St. Basil the Great Charitable Foundation, director of the Orthodox gymnasium of the same name, spiritual child of Bishop Tikhon, recalls: “When Father Tikhon came to the Sretensky Monastery, the monastery had nothing, not even a fence that would enclose the temple from the roadway Bolshaya Lubyanka Street. Before him, a community of so-called “neo-renovationists” settled here, who established their own rules here: there were no icons or candlesticks in the temple, and instead of the royal doors there was some kind of double-leaf “gate”.

Father Tikhon served the first all-night vigil at the locked doors of the church right in the open air

Patriarch Alexy II blessed Father Tikhon to serve the first service here on the eve of the Presentation of the Lord. Father Tikhon and I arrived at the beginning of the all-night vigil and found a huge lock on the church door. It turned out that the former rector of the temple went to serve in a neighboring church. When asked to give us the keys to the castle, he responded with a categorical refusal. That February evening turned out to be unusually frosty, and, nevertheless, Father Tikhon decided to serve the all-night vigil in the open air right next to the closed doors of the church. I remember that during the anointing of oil we touched his hand as if it were a piece of ice. The next morning, the former rector opened the church and told Father Tikhon to serve the Liturgy with him. People received communion from two bowls. The former rector gave communion to his flock, and Father Tikhon - to ours.”

The beginning of the revival of the monastery
Nun Ambrosia (Gorbunova) Nun Ambrosia (Gorbunova) also recalls: “In the first years, the Sretensky Church was very neglected, there was even some kind of black one standing there.
I remember we brought a ladder and started removing the cobwebs. All the frescoes were black. When Father Tikhon began serving, in February, at Trinity, our church began to brighten up. I still remember very well when many icons were brought to us from Pechory. This is Nicholas the Pleasant, and the Mother of God, then the Holy Trinity - they are all now hanging on columns. And they also brought the martyr Cornelius from Pechory - such a long icon, in full height...” Architect-restorer Alexei Kotov testifies: “In general, the territory of the monastery at that time looked simply terrible: people lived in the surviving buildings on its historical territory, and apartments were often heated potbelly stoves - and this was in 1994! In dilapidated houses, which were scary to enter, there were many small organizations; Some of the premises were completely collapsed and simply were not used in any way - due to their emergency condition. A school was built and operated on the monastery territory.”

First Easter
N.N.
Shabalina Natalya Nikolaevna Shabalina, architect, parishioner and employee of the Sretensky Monastery, spiritual child of Bishop Tikhon (Shevkunov), says: “It was an extraordinary joy. In the two and a half months that have passed since we entered the monastery, we have already accomplished a lot. The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery helped prepare for the first Easter, because there were almost no brethren in the monastery yet. From Pechory they brought ancient banners, a lantern, which we use to this day, and small royal doors. For Easter we hung the bell ourselves. A lot of parishioners came to the service. But we all fit in the church, so the Easter cakes were blessed right in the cathedral. But they broke their fast on the street. We prepared salads for the parishioners in our modest eight-meter rooms and brought the food downstairs. Everyone was treated to cocoa. Now at Easter we distribute ready-made kits. And cocoa has become a tradition...

A year after our first Easter, in 1995, the courtyard was transformed into the Sretensky stauropegic monastery. The priest has many friends and acquaintances, they all went to his service, the priest himself confessed for a long time - about ten years. And then parishioners became unthinkable, and the brethren grew, many fathers appeared - young hieromonks.”

The first brethren
M. Rodionov
Mikhail Rodionov, the spiritual child of Bishop Tikhon (Shevkunov), remembers the first brethren: “The first brethren of our monastery: Hieromonk Theodosius from Pochaev, Father Nikita - from the parish, Father Anastasy, monk Mikhail, monk Alexy - from the Pechora Monastery. The brethren still came later. Gosha Troshin is a monk. Hieromonks came from Pechory to serve: Father Joasaph, Father Methodius, Father Kirill. Alexander Genishta, the future Father Mitrofan († 07/21/1999), was probably the first who came to work at our monastery in 1993. He can probably be called our first monk - the one who was the first to be tonsured in our monastery.”

According to the prayers of the elder

Architect-restorer Alexey Kotov shares: “On September 8, 1995, the 600th anniversary of the transfer of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God from Vladimir to Moscow was to be solemnly celebrated. But the cathedral did not have an iconostasis, and the walls and floors were in a deplorable state, the frescoes were smoked and peeling. Before work on the iconostasis began, our names were communicated to Archimandrite John (Krestyankin). He promised to remember all of us and pray for the successful completion of this matter.

By August 1, the scaffolding had been assembled for us, and work began to boil. There were no workers to install the iconostasis; we were given one experienced craftsman, a carpenter; his name was Vladimir. And so we had to assemble our brainchild ourselves. Father Tikhon also provided us with three assistants, one of them was the resident of the monastery, Hieromonk Simeon; and Hieromonk Vladimir, who, as it turned out, possessed remarkable physical strength, also helped us in lifting heavy elements.

For several days before the feast of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, we literally spent days and nights in the monastery. In the middle of the day on September 7, the planned main volume of work on the iconostasis was completed - at that time it was one of the largest new iconostases. The wonderful bright interior of the cathedral with a rare two-column ceiling system is perceived with the iconostasis as a single whole. Together with the wonderful choir, this makes the service in the monastery church exceptional in its impact on people. I have heard confirmation of this more than once.”

“It was a huge, incredible event!”

Natalya Nikolaevna Shabalina recalls: “In 1995, Father Tikhon decided to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. There was a religious procession, and in addition we fasted. There were still few brothers then. And we began to think, develop a plan on how we could take the miraculous Vladimir icon from the Tretyakov Gallery, which was on display, and they never wanted to give it to us. And the Tretyakov Gallery helped, and Rodionov, the director of the Tretyakov Gallery, and art historians... The chief specialist in ancient Russian painting, Nadezhda Gennadievna Bekeneva, an Orthodox person, concluded that it was possible to bring a unique icon to our temple. And then Hieromonk Nikodim (Bekenev) came to our monastery, and it turned out that this was his mother.

In order to bring the Vladimir Icon to our monastery, it was necessary, firstly, to organize its protection, and secondly, to make a sealed capsule for the icon with strict adherence to the temperature regime. They brought in some kind of factory, they did everything with an electronic alarm system, with electronic sensors. We expected that there would be a lot of people, and there really were a lot of people - in terms of the scope of the organization, it was a grandiose event.

For the all-night vigil, the miraculous Vladimir icon was brought and installed. In the evening there was a religious procession from the Kremlin, which carried her list. There was some incredible rainfall. Such an event...

They brought the Vladimir Icon to the temple - they kissed it with reverence and sang: “Let us not perish who trust in You.”

Father knows how to organize everything - he is a very talented organizer. He had foreseen everything... The temple was full - simply jam-packed. People reverently venerated the icon. They sang: “Let us who trust in You not perish...”

The icon was to be taken away overnight and returned to the temple in the morning. And when the icon was about to be taken away, many people standing outside the gates did not have time to venerate it. And then the priest and one of the hieromonks came out with oil from the lamp that was burning near the Vladimir Icon, and walked along the street along Lubyanka and anointed everyone - the whole line. He anointed everyone until two or three o'clock in the morning. It was a grandiose, incredible event! Both from a spiritual point of view, and from the point of view of organizing this entire celebration...

The next morning, September 8, Vladimirskaya was brought in again. I remember that there were miracles, extraordinary healings associated with the icon. The people could not forget this event for a long time.”

MEETING THE VLADIMIR ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD, 1995

video chronicle

The path of faith - “walking on the waters”

O. Nikolaeva with her husband Archpriest Vladimir Vigilyansky Olesya Nikolaeva, a famous poet, prose writer, essayist, professor at the Gorky Literary Institute, testifies: “Many events have happened in the life of the Sretensky Monastery over the past years. I repent, because how many times, when I heard from Father Tikhon about what exactly he was going to do for the greater glory of God, I was overcome by doubt and the plans of the Father Viceroy seemed to me an impossible dream, a blissful good-heartedness. And each time I was put to shame, because they were fulfilled in abundance, in excess of what was planned.

Now, when some task that I must accomplish seems overwhelming to me, or even completely impossible, I remember Father Tikhon, for whom this very impossibility became the path on which he courageously entered and along which the Lord directed him. After all, “what is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27) - this is the path of faith, “walking on the waters.” Nowadays even the publishing house of the Sretensky Monastery is the largest in the Orthodox world. There is something symbolic in the fact that the book by Archimandrite Tikhon, now Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov, sold out in a fantastic circulation for the current Internet times. This is further proof that the stamp of abundance lies on everything that comes out of the walls of the Sretensky Monastery.”

Our beloved Sretensky Monastery

Natalya Nikolaevna Shabalina says: “And now, as a result of many years of work, we have a huge square and a new huge temple. I walk and every time I think: where did such a huge area come from?! Was it possible to imagine all this in 1993, on that snowy evening near Candlemas, when the all-night vigil was served in the snowdrifts? Was it possible then to imagine this wonderful seminary, this wonderful huge temple, this blooming garden and everything else that our beloved Sretensky Monastery is now?

Conception Monastery

The Conception (Alekseevsky) Monastery traces its history back to 1360 with the first wooden church built by Metropolitan Alexei in honor of the Conception of Righteous Anna. The first nuns of the women's monastery were his sisters.

Two hundred years later, a terrible fire completely destroyed all the buildings, and the Alekseevsky Monastery was moved closer to the Kremlin. And the small part of the sisters who remained in the fire to restore the monastery gave rise to the Conception Monastery.

In popular rumor it is famous for its help in childbearing. Here they also always prayed for the gift of offspring. The childless, pious royal couple Fyodor Ioannovich and Irina Godunova visited the monastery and begged for a daughter. The monastery is within walking distance from the Kropotkinskaya and Park Kultury metro stations.

The territory of the monastery is open to visitors from 7 am to 20 pm in the evening. The Divine Liturgy begins every day at 8 am. Evening service is at 17:00.

Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery

This ancient monastery was founded in the village of Vysokoye in connection with the transfer of the department of Metropolitan Peter to Moscow from Kyiv in the 14th century. All the buildings of the monastery were originally wooden. The stone church in honor of St. Patriarch Peter of Moscow was erected by the Italian Aleviz Fryazin Novy in 1514.

The modern architectural complex was built with generous donations from boyar Naryshkin in the 17th-18th centuries. In the Church of the Bogolyubskaya Icon of the Mother of God there is a tomb of 18 relatives of Emperor Pera the Great, who actively participated in the construction and strengthening of the monastery, which contributed to its prosperity.

Great damage was caused to the monastery by soldiers of Napoleonic army. But after restoration, the monastery began to significantly influence the life of the capital. It opened a theological school and a rich diocesan library.

During the Soviet years, the monastery was closed, partially rebuilt and almost destroyed. But in 1959, the architectural ensemble became a historical monument, and restoration work began. In 1992, the monastery was given the status of a Patriarchal metochion, an Orthodox institute was opened here, and in 2009 monastic life was revived.

Moscow monasteries operating today always welcome pilgrims and tourists. And the Vysoko-Petrovskaya monastery is no exception. Divine services are held here every weekday from 8 a.m., and on Sundays from 9 a.m. The evening service begins at five o'clock in the evening.

From any of the metro stations: “Chekhovskaya”, “Pushkinskaya”, “Trubnaya”, “Tverskaya” or “Tsvetnoy Boulevard” the monastery is a 10-minute walk, between Petrovka, Petrovsky Boulevard and Krapivensky Lane.

Marfo-Mariinskaya Convent

The monastery was founded in 1909 by the now glorified holy martyr Princess Elizabeth Romanova, after the terrible murder of her husband, Grand Duke Sergius. Using her own money, Elizaveta Fedorovna purchased a two-story estate surrounded by a large garden to build a monastery. A hospital and a house church were opened here in honor of the righteous evangelical sisters Mary and Martha.

The Marfo-Mariinsky Monastery (monastery) in Moscow is an entire organization that helps people in need, has its own school and home for orphans

Only widows and girls of the Orthodox faith were accepted into the monastery to provide free medical care to all the needy and disadvantaged. But the monastery of mercy was not an ordinary monastery. After time, the sisters could leave her and start a family.

The Marfo-Mariinskaya Convent continued to be active under Soviet rule, after the arrest and death of the Grand Duchess. It was closed only in 1926. Today's monastery is a functioning convent, preserving the special way of life of its founder, continuing the works of mercy of the Great Holy Princess Elizabeth.

There are daily excursions for pilgrims at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. There is a museum. Church services are held in the morning at 8 o'clock, and at 18 o'clock in the evening. It is easy to walk from the Tretyakovskaya and Polyanka metro stations.

Women's monasteries in Moscow

The role of women's monasteries in the Orthodox world is no less significant than men's. Of course, there are fewer of them, but they all impress with their beauty.

Alekseevsky Convent

The hermitage was founded in 1358 and changed its location three times. Today it is located in Krasnoe Selo, where it was transported less than two centuries ago. Here it began to actively expand, simultaneously opening a hospital and a pedagogical school.

Today the monastery complex includes four churches, residential buildings for nuns, and auxiliary premises. The Lavra also operates a secondary school where the Old Church Slavonic language and vocal training are taught. Address of the Alekseevskaya Convent: 2nd Krasnoselsky Lane, 5, Krasnoselskaya metro station.

Alekseevsky Convent

Mother of God Nativity Stauropegic Monastery

The founder of the desert is considered to be Princess Maria of Serpukhov, who founded it in 1386. Initially, only widows or close relatives of those killed during the Battle of Kulikovo were accepted as nuns. The famous Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was built in 1505.

Before the advent of Soviet power, the Lavra was active in spiritual and social activities. An orphanage was opened under her, and a Sunday school also functioned. Today the restoration work is completely completed. You can get here by metro (Trubnaya station) or by car (Rozhdestvenskaya Street, 20).

Mother of God Nativity Stauropegic Monastery

Zachatievskaya stauropegial convent

The hermitage was founded in 1360, when Metropolitan Alexy founded a wooden church in the name of the Conception of Rights. Anna of the Virgin Mary. However, the monastery did not last long - two centuries later it was destroyed by fire. The sisters, left homeless, soon founded the Conception Lavra, which today anyone can visit.

Among believers, the monastery is famous for the fact that those who visit it soon become parents. According to legend, after praying to the local shrines, the Godunov couple gave birth to a long-awaited daughter.

You can find the monastery at the address: Zachatievsky Lane, 2 (Kropotkinskaya metro station).

John the Baptist Convent

The hermitage dates back to the 15th century and was founded in honor of the birth of the future Tsar Ivan IV, baptized after St. John the Baptist. While the famous dynasty was in power, the monastery expanded and flourished. State criminals were also sent here. Thus, the famous “prisoner” of the monastery is the famous Princess Tarakanova.

After the revolution, the Lavra was closed and the nuns were kicked out. Its revival began only at the end of the twentieth century, when it was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. Today you can admire the shrine at the address: Maly Ivanovsky Lane, 2 (Kitay-Gorod metro station).

Marfo-Mariinskaya Convent of Mercy

The “youngest” monastery, dating back to 1909. Its founder was Princess Elizaveta Romanova, who bought a small estate with her own funds. Later, an infirmary and a house church were built here. The main activity of the Lavra was free medical care for the poor.

The monastery functioned until 1926. Today it has retained its former charter, and the nuns, as before, can easily go back into the world. You can get to the shrine by metro, reaching the Tretyakovskaya station (address: Bolshaya Ordynka, 34).

Marfo-Mariinskaya Convent of Mercy St. John the Baptist Convent

Zachatievskaya stauropegial convent

Pokrovsky Convent

Initially, it was a men’s hermitage, founded by Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in memory of his father, who died on the Intercession. The monastery complex that we see today was finally formed in the first years of the 19th century. The laurel was repurposed by the end of the twentieth century, when the Soviet regime fell.

May 1998 was marked by the fact that the holy remains of Matrona of Moscow were brought here, and in 2005 the font was opened. The monastery is located at the address: Taganskaya street, building 58 (Krestyanskaya Zastava metro station).

Pokrovsky Convent

Theotokos-Smolensky Novodevichy Convent

This desert dates back to 1524 and was founded by Tsar Vasily III in honor of the capture of Smolensk. The monastery complex, built according to the canons of the Moscow Baroque, was finally formed by the beginning of the 17th century.

Today the monastery is known for its Novodevichy cemetery, where famous personalities are buried, as well as a gorgeous lake and park. You can get to the shrine by metro, getting off at Sportivnaya station.

Theotokos-Smolensky Novodevichy Convent

The history of Russian Orthodox monasteries is full of sad dates. Many of the monasteries fell, but those that survived are the heritage of our homeland. We hope that thanks to our article you can easily find the shrine that interests you.

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St. Andrew's Monastery

The holy martyr Andrei Stratelates gave the name to the men's monastery, which was previously called the Preobrazhenskaya Heath in Captives. Historians argue about the exact year the monastery was founded; the first mentions of it are found in the 16th century, when it was already called St. Andrew's.

The first stone gate church, decorated with tiles, was erected in 1675. It has survived to this day practically unchanged, with the exception of some elements of decoration.

The dawn of the monastery came in the 17th century, thanks to the generous donations of local boyars and residents. In the 18th century it was closed several times, alternately organizing a shelter for orphans, a workhouse, and an almshouse within its walls. A necropolis is being built on the territory of the former monastery, which was practically destroyed in the 20th century.

Today the monastery is under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. The Synodal library and school are located here.

Divine services are held daily:

• During the week, the liturgy is served from 7-30, after the fraternal prayer service and midnight office.
• On Sundays and holidays, the Divine Liturgy begins at 8 am.
• Evening worship takes place every day from 5 p.m.

You can get there on foot from the Vorobyovy Gory or Leninsky Prospekt metro stations.

Nicholas Arzamas Convent

At the end of the 16th century, on the central square of the city of Arzamas, founded by Ivan the Terrible, a temple named after Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Merlik, was erected.

Very soon, under him, it was decided to form a women’s community, for which Abbot Sergius even donated a large carved icon of the Saint, which was famous for its healing properties, to this temple. The temple burned down twice, and only in 1738 was it rebuilt in stone.

Before the advent of Soviet power, the monastery was famous for its needlewomen, whose orders for knitted shoes came from all over Russia. From 1928 to 1994, the cells and churches stood in disrepair, after which they returned to the Church and were restored.

Pokrovsky Monastery

The monastery was originally founded by Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in memory of his father, Patriarch Filaret, who died on the Day of the Intercession. The modern architectural complex finally took shape at the beginning of the 19th century.

In post-Soviet times, the monastery was restored, but as a convent of the Intercession for women. And in May 1998, the relics of Blessed Matrona were brought here, to which since then the flow of pilgrims from all over the country has not diminished.

In 2005, Patriarch Alexy II consecrated the recreated source, where today any visitor can wash and drink holy water. The active Moscow monastery opens to the public at 7 a.m., and on Sundays an hour earlier. The gates of the Intercession Monastery close in the evening at 20 o'clock.

To get to the monastery, you need to take the metro:

• station "Marksistskaya", to Taganskaya street, and then by any transport to Bolshaya Andronevskaya;
• “Peasant Outpost” or “Proletarskaya”.

Church services are held every day at 7-30 am and at 16-45. On Sunday there are two liturgies: early at 6:15 and late at 9:00.

Nikolaevsky Klobukov Convent

This Orthodox monastery was originally founded as a male monastery, and acquired its female status only after its revival at the end of the 20th century.

Information about its existence was found in sources dating back to the 14th century, and from 1420 Macarius of Kalyazinsky labored there, over whose cell he built with his own hands a brick chapel was built at the beginning of the 20th century.

Today, this convent of Russia houses such shrines as the relics and frame
of St. Anna of Kashin , a copy of the icon of Andrei Rublev Hodegetria , the relics of Macarius of Kalyazin and more than 200 other saints, as well as ancient icons from different years.

Zaikonospassky Monastery

In 1600, Tsar Boris Godunov erected the Church of the Most Merciful Savior on a nearby street with rows of church shops where icons were exchanged, which gave rise to its name “Savior Cathedral behind the icon row.” The modest wooden monastery was transformed with the generous donations of Voivode Volkonsky.

In 1661, a large stone cathedral was consecrated. The monastery became a teacher's monastery, and a little later a Greek-Latin Academy was opened here, which existed until it was transferred to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, where it still exists today as the famous Moscow Theological Academy.

The Zaikonospassky Monastery holds daily services at 7:30 and 17:00. There are also educational tours of the monastery and the sights of the historical city center.

It is easy to reach the monastery from the Teatralnaya or Ploshchad Revolyutsii metro stations.

Mother of God Nativity Monastery

The monastery owes its foundation in 1386 to Princess Maria of Serpukhov, monastically Marfa. Its first inhabitants were widows, mothers and sisters of the fallen soldiers of the Kulikovo battle. Sergius of Radonezh was the first confessor of the monastery. Here the Venerable Sophia of Suzdal and the Holy New Martyr Tatiana the Besfamilnaya labored.

Before the revolution, the monastery flourished. An orphanage and a parish school were opened here. The beautiful Nativity Cathedral was built in 1505, and is still a decoration of the capital.

Nearest metro stations:

• "Kuznetsky Most";
• "Tsvetnoy Boulevard";
• "Chistye Prudy";
• "Pipe".

Church services are held at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

John the Baptist Monastery

The emergence of this ancient women's monastery of the 15th century is associated with the birth of the royal heir, the future Tsar Ivan the Terrible, named in honor of the holy Forerunner of the Baptist of the Lord.

The proximity to the royal house left a certain imprint on the entire history of the monastery. Festive services and solemn religious processions with representatives of the ruling dynasty attracted generous alms from the state treasury and from famous boyar families, which made it possible to build new and rich churches.

State criminals were also detained here and royal persons were imprisoned: the landowner “Saltychikha”, Princess Tarakanova. The monastery is located in the very center of the capital, a few minutes walk from the Kitay-Gorod station.

Divine services are held every day: evening services are held daily from 17:00, the Divine Liturgy is served on weekdays from 7:30, on Sundays and holidays they begin an hour later.

Alekseevsky Monastery

Of the existing monasteries in Moscow, the Alekseevskaya Convent is the oldest. The monastery had to change its location three times since its founding in 1358. It is called the Old Maiden's Church, although it has been in its real place, in Krasnoye Selo, for less than two hundred years.

During the last move in 1837, all the shrines of the Old Alekseevsky Monastery were very solemnly carried in a religious procession throughout the city with an extraordinary crowd of people.

In the new location, the monastery grew and was quickly rebuilt: four churches, new cell buildings and a refectory, an almshouse and a hospital appeared. A pedagogical school for girls from Serbia and Bulgaria was opened at the monastery. Today, a general education private school has been opened at the monastery with the study of the ancient Slavic language and church choral singing.

Since 2012, there has been a museum at the monastery.

Daily services are held in the Church of All Saints twice a day: at 7 and 18 o'clock during the week, on Sundays at 9 and 17 o'clock.

Entrance from Gavrikov Street - from the Third Transport Ring. It is easy to walk from the Krasnoselskaya metro station. All operating monasteries in Moscow are actively visited by pilgrims and foreign tourists. Most of the most ancient monasteries are included in excursion routes to study the cultural and historical heritage of Ancient Rus'.

Article design: Mila Friedan