Story
The history of the courtyard of the Valaam Monastery in St. Petersburg began back in 1901. Despite the relatively short period, it is full of important and significant events that left their mark on this place. It was in 1901 that the Assumption Staraya Ladoga Convent acquired a plot of land, where already in 1902 a chapel made of wood was consecrated in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God . Soon they began to think about creating a stone church and a monastery courtyard, and in 1904 the site for construction was consecrated.
The project of the church complex was developed by the architect Vasily Antonovich Kosyakov, and Emperor Nicholas II immediately approved it
At the first stage, construction of the Kazan Church began in 1905, and after 2 years, domes and bells were erected on it. Even before the completion of all construction work, religious services began to be held . First they were in the chapel, then in the refectory. The consecration of the chapels took place in 1910. First, they consecrated the chapel in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, then in honor of Seraphim of Sarov, and then the main chapel in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.
The yard included:
- five-domed church
- belfry
- church shop
- chapel
- cell building
- abbot's corps
Until the revolution, no special changes occurred in the life of the farmstead. But already in 1919, the Kazan church became a parish church, and soon the authorities began to make attempts to take away their premises from the believers. Gradually, valuables began to be stolen, and in 1929 the chapel and church shop were closed . Soon persecution and arrests of believers and clergy began, including clergy of the Kazan Church.
In 1934, a decree was issued to close the Kazan Church, which was carried out in the fall of 1935, despite complaints from parishioners. As a result, it began to be used for production needs: at different times different factories were located here.
Almost nothing remains of the former decoration:
- additional reinforced concrete stairs were erected inside
- new windows and doors appeared
- All decorative elements were removed from the walls
- the arch at the entrance was blocked by removing the original wrought iron gate
The return of the church yard occurred towards the end of the twentieth century . In 1989, not without the participation and petition of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, the complex of buildings was transferred to the ownership of the Leningrad Diocesan Administration. In the autumn of the same year, by decree of Metropolitan Alexy, the Kazan metochion became the metochion of the Valaam Monastery. And after Alexy was appointed His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', the monastery became stauropegial, and the Kazan metochion left the diocese of Leningrad.
Since 1990, the temple began to be restored. Worship services resumed almost immediately. About a year later the courtyard became an architectural monument , and in 2001 it received the status of a cultural heritage site of federal significance.
In 1993, the St. Nicholas Chapel was consecrated with a small rank, in 1994 the Kazan Church was consecrated with a full rank - the ceremony was performed by Alexy II, and in 1995 the chapel of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia was consecrated.
Modern mission of the St. Petersburg metochion of the Valaam Monastery
The modern mission of the courtyard of the Valaam Monastery continues the mission of the farmsteads of ancient Russian monasteries.
Monastic farmsteads began to appear back in the days of Egyptian hermits and ascetics, who used them to sell baskets woven in the desert in cities.
Growing cities demanded the establishment of closer ties between monasteries and them.
Parish life of the courtyard of the Valaam Monastery in St. Petersburg. Photo. 2018
Before the revolution, large cities in Russia had a large number of monastic farmsteads. During Soviet times, almost all of them were closed.
In modern cities, monastic metochions are necessary in order to familiarize city residents with the beauty and completeness of monastic services.
For a monk, serving in a courtyard is a spiritual feat, since here, amid the bustle of the world, he must preserve the purity of his monasticism.
Nowadays, the courtyard of the Valaam Monastery in St. Petersburg is the center of the spiritual life of Valaam pilgrims and monks in the cultural capital of Russia.
Through the courtyard, the economic and economic connection of the monastery with St. Petersburg is ensured. In addition, the monastery’s pilgrimage service operates at its base.
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Schedule of services in 2022
At the courtyard of the Valaam Stavropegial Monastery in St. Petersburg, major church holidays are solemnly celebrated, and the sacraments of baptism and weddings are also held - usually on weekends. There are permanent services that are repeated on a regular basis. At the same time, there is a more detailed additional schedule, which may depend on the day.
Kazan Temple
Monday through Friday:
- 6:00 – Midnight Office, monastic rule with three canons and akathist
- 8:00 - 3rd, 6th hours
- 8:20 – Divine Liturgy
- 17:00 – evening service: 9th hour, vespers, matins and 1st hour
At the same time, depending on the expanded schedule of services for a certain day, Matins may be supplemented.
Liturgy is not celebrated on Mondays
Sunday and holidays:
- 6:40 – hours
- 7:00 – early Divine Liturgy
- 9:00 – hours
- 9:20 – late Divine Liturgy
However, changes are possible, which will be announced on the official website in the Schedule of services section. On Sundays, an additional prayer for health is served.
Chapel of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia
Every week after the end of the Divine Liturgy, the following are served:
- Tuesday and Thursday – prayer service for the new martyrs and confessors of Russia
- Wednesday – prayer service with akaphmst
- Saturday – memorial service
Chapel of the Icon of the Mother of God of All Who Sorrow Joy
On Fridays at 13:00 prayers and memorial services are held.
Monastery today
The revival of the Valaam Monastery on the archipelago in Lake Ladoga began on December 14, 1989 . Since then, this day has been honored by clergy in a special way. It is a division of the Russian Orthodox Church and has various elements under its subordination. The monastery is under the leadership of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', and the monastery is managed by the Igumen - since 1993, Bishop Pankraty of Trinity. The Spiritual Council, consisting of the elder brethren, helps him.
The Valaam Monastery has 4 farmsteads:
- In St. Petersburg
- In Priozersk
- In Moscow
- In Sortavala
The monastery also has its own Pilgrimage Service, which in 1999 was separated into a separate legal entity.
Interior decoration and shrines
In the modern cathedral church, the original interior decoration has been completely restored. The walls and vaults of the temple are covered with original and restored color paintings. Altars and wooden interior items are decorated with openwork wooden carvings and gilding.
Interior of the Church of St. Sergius and Herman of Valaam
In addition to paintings, the walls of the temple are decorated with numerous icons, the most revered of which are the following:
- Mother of God of Valaam;
- Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam;
- Nicholas the Wonderworker;
- Alexander Nevsky;
- Matrona of Moscow;
- Great Martyr Panteleimon.
Interesting: in addition to icons, the cathedral contains the relics of many Orthodox saints and a crucifixion exuding myrrh.
How to get to the monastery
You can get to the Valaam Monastery in different ways:
- As a worker, if you want to live on the territory of the monastery for some time and work for the good. To do this, you need to send a corresponding request. Minimum stay 2 weeks. Workers live in specialized hotels, and food is free for them.
- Military service on Valaam. Young people can send their documents to the monastery. A decision will be made to enroll them as monastery workers with a probationary period of 3 months to 3 years. During their stay, military-patriotic classes are conducted with conscripts.
- Volunteer movement. The monastery regularly organizes three-week volunteer work in spring, summer and autumn. More details at volunteer.valaam.ru and ladoga.valaam.ru
- Independent travel. In this case, you can stay at one of the hotels on the island. You can also contact a travel agency to come with an excursion group one day.
- As a pilgrim. To do this, you need to contact the pilgrimage organization for help or send a request to the Valaam pilgrimage service by email or call 8-921-629-3311.
Visiting the monastery and its operating hours
The monastery is open daily, from five in the morning until late in the evening, but the main influx of pilgrims here is in the summer months, during the period of active navigation on Ladoga. A large number of people want to visit here - both believers and those who are simply interested in the architecture and history of the monastery. To maintain order, the easiest way is to contact the pilgrimage service in advance and book an excursion. rules of behavior must be observed in the monastery :
- It is better to turn off mobile phones or at least switch them to silent mode;
- remember about the dress code: women should wear skirts or dresses, cover their heads and arms, do not bare their legs, and do not wear makeup or strong perfumes; men - not in sportswear, with covered arms and legs, without hats;
- Music, loud conversations or laughter are not allowed on the territory of the monastery;
- You cannot take photographs in churches, especially during services, or photograph the brethren without permission;
- you cannot enter utility rooms or fraternal refectories - there are separate refectories and mini-cafes for pilgrims;
- Since the island on which the monastery is located is a protected area, it is forbidden to pick flowers or berries or make fires here. Also, do not swim or sunbathe.
Where is
Address
Narvsky Prospekt, 29/1
Metro
- Narvskaya
- Baltic
How to get there
- If you are interested in how to get to the courtyard of the Valaam Monastery, then it will be most convenient to do this at the Narvskaya station . The entire journey on foot will take you about 10 minutes. Leaving the metro lobby, turn right, cross Staro-Petergofsky Prospekt and, going around Stachek Square, reach Narvsky Prospekt. Turn right and walk in a straight line all the time. Soon a compound complex will appear on your left.
- From the Narvskaya public transport stop, you can get to the Narvsky Prospekt stop by bus No. 2, 6, 35, 66 or minibus No. 2, 6K, 66, 169, 195 or 306 and walk about 200 meters. From the Stachek Square stop, take tram number 16 to the Narvsky Prospekt stop and walk 180 meters.
- If you arrive at the Baltiyskaya metro station and want to walk to the courtyard, leaving the metro lobby, go straight to the Obvodny Canal embankment, turn left and walk all the way straight to Staro-Petergofsky Prospekt. There, go left again and walk a little more to the courtyard, which will be on your left.
- From the Frunzenskaya metro station about 3 kilometers. You need to go out onto Moskovsky Prospekt, turn left and walk to the Obvodny Canal embankment. Then turn left again and walk along the straight road along the canal to Staro-Peterhofsky Prospekt. There, turn onto the avenue and walk a little more - the courtyard will be on your right. You can also get from the Moskovsky Prospekt stop to Staro-Petergofsky Prospekt by bus No. 65 and walk a little over half a kilometer to the courtyard.
Official site
valaam.spb.ru
Telephone
8-812-902-85-83
8-812-252-77-00
