History of the Vysotsky Serpukhov Monastery
In 1373, the Ryazan principality was brutally attacked by the Tatars. After this, it was decided to strengthen the walls and build a monastery. The monastery was founded by Prince Vladimir the Brave. Blessed by Sergei of Radonezh. At first, all buildings were wooden. Over the years the monastery grew. Radonezh promoted the art of war in the monastery.
Gradually, the warriors of the Serpukhov monastery became the strongest who could not be defeated. During its long historical life, the monastery was destroyed several times and restored again. Monastic peasants were exempted from food tax. Nowadays it can be called trading.
The monastery had a rich sacristy. Among other valuables, there were seven icons, which in our time can be seen in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Russian Museum. Two Athanasius helped in the formation of the monastery. The eldest student and favorite of Radonezh, did a lot for the monastery. He was engaged not only in construction, but also introduced many spiritual rules acquired at the Trinity Lavra.
Then, when the elder Afanasy left for Constantinople, the monastery was entrusted to Afanasy Vysotsky. Vysotsky passed away young, but managed to do a lot for the spiritual life of the monastery, located on the banks of the Nara River. In addition, he became famous in history for working miracles. According to his will, Afanasy Vysotsky was buried under the stairs of the temple. 600 years later, his remains were found. Nowadays, holy relics are kept in the Intercession Church.
At the end of the 18th century, the entire area of the monastery was surrounded by white stone walls and cone-shaped towers. After reconstruction in the 19th century, all buildings acquired classical beauty.
Video: History of the Serpukhov Vysotsky Monastery
Description of the architecture
All the buildings of the monastery are striking examples of architectural traditions from different centuries.
In the center of the monastery courtyard stands the beautiful Conception Cathedral, built in the architectural style of the 14th century. It is surrounded by vaulted galleries. At the end of the gallery there is a small church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
Interior of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the Vysotsky Monastery
Near the cathedral there is another church with a former refectory - Pokrovskaya, which was rebuilt more than once. But her style is recognizable as Moscow Baroque. This temple, at one time, was patronized by the Naryshkins, representatives of the royal nobility.
The temple in honor of the Three Saints stands outside the monastery fence. It contains elements of pseudo-Byzantine and pseudo-Romanesque style. The building is currently being restored. The Temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh is located in the southern part, if we take the Conception Cathedral as a guide. Its decoration has not survived to this day, but it was re-painted and underwent reconstruction.
The miraculous icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice”
In 1991, reconstruction of the temple began. Many icons were returned and restored. The “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon has returned. In 1992, the icon was painted again by icon painter Alexander Sokolov. The icon is also located in the Intercession Church. Miracles of healing with this icon are passed on from mouth to mouth. Every year there are more and more such stories. But the very first and most wonderful one, which marked the beginning of everything, was the story of a soldier.
The soldier, who had become debilitated from drunkenness and completely debilitated, saw someone in a dream. And this unknown person ordered the soldier to go to the Vladychny Convent and take the icon of the Mother of God. But the soldier can no longer walk. Crawl. And a miracle - I crawled. According to the instructions of the elder from the dream, the icon of the Mother of God with a cup was found in the dark corridors. And the soldier began to pray and was completely healed, inspiring those around him with his example.
In the old man who came to him in a dream, the soldier recognized Saint Barlaam the builder. It was then that it became clear to everyone that the soldier was healed by the command of God.
Since then, pilgrims and those wishing to be cured of addiction have flocked. Both then and now, the power of the icon is not in doubt. People who have lost all hope receive healing, like a twig of life.
Video: About the miracles of the Inexhaustible Chalice icon in Serpukhov
Architectural ensemble of the monastery
Visitors to the Vysotsky Monastery at the entrance gate with defensive towers are greeted by the high bell tower of the Gate Church of All Saints. Its 1st level has 3 arched passages (the central one is the Holy Gate), on the 2nd level there is the cruciform Church of the Three Saints, and on the 3rd level there is an octagonal bell tower with impenetrable decorative niches and bell towers.
It is believed that the bell tower above the monastery gate acquired its modern appearance in 1831, when E.G. Malyutin proposed his project for its reconstruction. The building was built in the Empire style. The protruding parts of the church of the second order of the bell tower are decorated with pilasters, pediment and attics. On the third level of the building there is a clock tower, which is visible from all four sides.
The Gate of the Three Saints was consecrated in 1843 by Metropolitan Philaret Drozdov. Before the monastery was closed, there were 14 bells on the upper bell tower.
They say one of them weighed 721 pounds.
In addition, the majestic Cathedral of the Conception with blue domes and gallery arches on huge columns attracts attention. Adjacent to the right of the temple is the Church of St. Radonezh, and to the left is the Church of the Intercession, which has been rebuilt several times since its founding.
The monastery architectural complex also includes:
- Chapel of Athanasius the Younger with a bell tower;
- a pilgrimage building next to the church being restored;
- sector with an ancient necropolis;
- Church of the Intercession;
- Bell tower;
- fraternal body and abbot.
Cost of requirements in the Serpukhov Monastery
Prices for services at the Inexhaustible Chalice monastery are significantly lower than in the capital. You can order the requirement on the official website of the Serpukhov Monastery and pay online. Specific prices at the moment can be found by calling the monastery. Or look at the price list, which is always hanging in a visible place.
On weekdays the monastery is open to visitors from 5-30 to 19-00. On holidays from 7-30 to 20-00. You can have a snack in the refectory. It works from 11-00 to 14-00.
Shrines
- Icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice”
- Icon of St. George the Victorious. 15th century
- Icon of the Mother of God “Seeking the Lost”
- Carved image of St. Nicholas “Nicholas of Mozhaisk” of the 14th century with picturesque stamps of the 17th century
- Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear”
- Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow”
- Reliquaries containing more than 200 pieces of the holy relics of saints of God, glorified from the first centuries of Christianity to the present day: particles of the relics of St. right Anna - mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Forerunner and Baptist John; Apostles Andrew the First-Called, Luke, Matthew, Mark and Thomas; Equal to the Apostles Mary Magdalene, Tsar Constantine, Prince Vladimir; Saints Nicholas the Wonderworker, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom; Great Martyrs George, healer Panteleimon, Nikita, Barbara, Tatiana and Catherine; St. Sergius of Radonezh, Seraphim of Sarov, Ephraim the Syrian, about 50 particles of the relics of the Kiev-Pechersk saints of God; Optina Elders; New Martyrs of Russia: Patriarch Tikhon, Holy Martyr. Thaddeus of Tver, Hilarion of the Trinity, as well as many particles of the relics of other saints of God.
How to get to the monastery
You can get to the monastery either by car or by public transport. By car you need to drive along the Simferopol highway. Then go to Borisovskaya. After the first intersection with a traffic light, turn left onto Tsentralnaya Street, then right onto Progonnaya Street. Drive onto Second Moskovskaya Street and after about 300 m, turn onto Bolshoi Vysotsky Lane. In any case, at the entrance to Serpukhov, there will be a large number of signs. Since the flow of people into the monastery does not dry out.
Those arriving at the Serpukhov station can get to the monastery by minibus. The route ends at the monastery gates.
Rules for visiting the monastery
The Vysotsky Monastery is a spiritual place, entering which you must follow certain laws.
During the visit it is prohibited:
- leave the children alone;
- conducting a conversation and walking around the temple during the service;
- leave and forget cell phones;
- to photograph;
- men enter the temple without hats;
- women go to church in open and short dresses, trousers and bare heads;
- enter the temple inappropriately;
- walking indoors without permission;
- come with dogs;
- eating your own food, drinking alcohol, smoking and swearing;
- be drunk;
- litter, make noise and spoil the order.
Texts of prayers
Troparion, tone 4
Today, let us bring faith/ to the Divine and wonderful image of the Most Holy Mother of God/ who waters the hearts of the faithful/ with the heavenly Inexhaustible Cup of Her mercy/ and miracles for the faithful people showing./ Even though we see and hear spiritually, we celebrate and cry out warmly:/ Merciful Lady,/ heal our ailments and passion/pleading for Thy Son Christ our God// to save our souls.
Translation: Today, believers, let us turn to the Divine and wonderful image of the Most Holy Mother of God, filling the hearts of believers with Her mercy from the heavenly Inexhaustible Chalice and showing miracles to believers, seeing and hearing about which, we spiritually celebrate and fervently exclaim: “Most merciful Lady, heal our illnesses and passion, praying to Thy Son Christ our God to save our souls.”
Kontakion
Thy belly become the holy Table, having the Heavenly Bread, Christ our God, from which every poison does not die, as the saying of all, Mother of God, Nourisher.
Translation: Your womb was the holy Throne, containing the Heavenly Bread (John 6:35), Christ our God, whoever eats Him does not die (John 6:54), as the Nourisher of all, the Mother of God, said.
First prayer
Oh, Most Merciful Lady! We now resort to Your intercession, do not despise our prayers, but graciously hear us: wives, children, mothers and those possessed by a serious illness of drunkenness, and for the sake of our mother - the Church of Christ for the salvation and salvation of those who fall away, heal our brothers and sisters and relatives. Oh, Merciful Mother of God, touch their hearts and quickly raise them from the falls of sin, bring them to saving abstinence. Pray to Your Son, Christ our God, that He may forgive us our sins and not turn His mercy away from His people, but may He strengthen us in sobriety and chastity. Accept, O Most Holy Theotokos, the prayers of mothers who shed tears for their children, wives who weep for their husbands, children, the orphan and the needy, those left astray, and all of us who fall before Your icon . And may this cry of ours, through Your prayers, come to the Throne of the Most High. Cover and keep us from the evil deception and all the snares of the enemy, and in the terrible hour of the exodus of our help, help us to pass through the airy ordeals without stumbling, with your prayers deliver us from eternal condemnation, and protect God's mercy will bless us forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
Our Most Blessed Queen, our hope, the Most Holy Theotokos, friend of the orphaned and strange, the Intercessor of those in need of help and the embittered, protection. See our misfortune, see our sorrow: we are overcome by temptations everywhere, but there is no intercessor. You Yourself, help us as we are weak, nourish us as we are strange, guide us as we are lost, heal and save us as we are hopeless. The Imams have no other help, no other intercession, no consolation, except You, O Mother of all the sorrowful and burdened. Look upon us, sinners and those in bitterness, cover us with Your Honest Omophorion. May we be delivered from the evils that have befallen us, especially drunkenness. May we always praise Your Most Holy Name. Amen.
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