One of the most ancient Russian monasteries - the Vvedensky Vladychny Convent of the city of Serpukhov - was founded back in 1360 by Metropolitan Alexy, the saint of Moscow and the wonderworker of all Rus'. The monastery chronicle tells that he once heard a voice that came from the icon of the Mother of God. And this voice told him that he should build a monastery.
Moreover, the place was precisely indicated - near the city of Serpukhov, in the middle of a pine forest, on the right picturesque bank of the river flowing there with the name Nara. And even an event from the earthly life of the Mother of God was indicated, in honor of which it was necessary to build and name the monastery: the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin.
How people followed instructions from above
And so Alexy sent there his best cell attendant, whose name was Varlaam, so that he could inspect the place indicated in such a wonderful way. It so happened that Varlaam had to spend the night there, and in a dream he heard a strong ringing. So he realized that this was the place to which the Mother of God pointed.
After some time, Alexy himself arrived there and, having also heard the beautiful ringing, decided to build a monastery right here, in this amazingly beautiful place.
On his instructions, a simple wooden church was built here, and two years later - a stone one. The Monk Varlaam became the first Abbot of the monastery. It was Varlaam who indicated that he would be called by the name of the Lady Mother of God.
History of construction
The appearance of the monastery dates back to 1360. According to legend, the Mother of God herself ordered Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow to build a monastery “within the city of Serpukhov.” The voice of the Mother of God sounded near her icon and, acting according to the will of the Lord and the Virgin Mary, Alexy sent the monk Varlaam to the indicated places. After some time, Alexy himself came to Serpukhov. But it seemed to him that a dense forest at the intersection of two rivers was not the best place to found a monastery.
Vvedensky Vladychny Convent in Serpukhov
That same night the saint heard the voice of the Mother of God again, who told him that it was there that the monastery should appear. After this, Alexy without hesitation appointed Varlaam as a builder and ordered the construction of a wooden church.
Construction of the church
In 1362, through the intercession of Varlaam, a stone church was built, which Alexy of Moscow consecrated in honor of the Entry of the Mother of God into the temple. It was the Monk Varlaam who became the first abbot of the monastery. After his death, he was considered his intercessor in the Kingdom of God.
Temple-fortress, protector of Holy Rus'
In the 15th century, during the times of frequent Tatar raids, in order to protect themselves from enemies, the gentle banks of the river flowing near the temple were strengthened with a fence made of pointed logs - a fort. And of course, the monastery itself took on the appearance of a fortress - it was fenced with a massive wall and embrasures. There were cannons in the courtyard in case of an attack by enemy troops.
Throughout its history, many times the holy church has found itself at the center of hostilities. So in 1598 it became the center of location for Boris Godunov’s soldiers, who were preparing for battle with the Crimean Tatars. The legend says that St. George the Victorious himself appeared to provide his heavenly protection to the monastery and the city.
On a magnificent white horse, he rode out of the monastery gate and approached the enemy troops. Seeing the Saint standing up to defend Serpukhov, the enemy retreated in fear. And Saint George returned to the church again.
In honor of this significant event, a two-tiered stone temple was erected with the money of Boris Godunov. According to ancient legend, a candle spontaneously lit up in front of the icon of the Holy Protector if something threatened the inhabitants of the monastery.
Shrines that perform miracles
In 1377, an icon of amazing power was specially painted for the Vladychny Monastery: “The Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Holy of Holies.” Located in the most honorable place of the cathedral church, it was considered its most important shrine and was revered by believers as healing and miraculous.
In 1599, another church was built above the Holy Gates - the church of the holy martyr Theodotus of Ancyra, who accepted death, but did not renounce his Christian faith. This church was later slightly rebuilt, and Moscow Saint Philaret consecrated it in honor of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
According to legend, the icon of the holy martyr John the Warrior was kept in the monastery building. In 1382, when the enemy managed to end up in the temple, one of them began to saw her with a laugh. Suddenly, blood began to flow from the icon, and the board itself surprisingly quickly came together at the place where it was cut. In surprise, the barbarian recoiled and turned to Jesus in prayer.
A little later, a special frame was made for this icon so that the places where it was cut and the blood that appeared on it could be seen.
In 1607, a new face of Demetrius of Uglich appeared in the monastery. It was written on it that with her Heavenly help a great victory was won over the army of the impostor - False Dmitry.
Particularly revered were the temple icons of the Vladimir Mother of God, the icons of Saints Nicholas the Wonderworker and Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands and the Image of the Ascension of the Lord, as well as the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. But from the end of the 17th century, a time of decline and complete devastation of the monastery began.
Description
The churches of the monastery are not distinguished by the splendor of their decoration. They are characterized by conciseness and simplicity. The Vvedensky Cathedral served as a warehouse during Soviet times. Its restoration began in the early 2000s. Now it is a five-domed building, with white brick cladding.
The Church of St. George the Victorious at the Refectory is a tented church with a belfry. The building has also undergone restoration, and regular services are held there.
The Temple of Theodotus of Ancyra reflects the architectural traditions that existed under Boris Godunov. The church is small, made of stone. This is a unique architectural monument of those times. It is located above the holy gates, which have been quite well preserved to this day. In any case, their lower tier is made of stone.
Church of Theodotus of Ancyra above the Holy Gates in the Vvedensky Monastery
There may have been an upper tier, made of wood. Researchers suggest that the gate was part of the fortification system of the monastery, made of wood. The territory of the monastery is clean and well-groomed, which is taken care of by the nuns. There are a lot of flowers and greenery around.
Revival of the monastery
Heyday in the 19th century
The second life of the Vladychny Monastery began in 1806, when Metropolitan of Moscow Platon (Levshin) received permission from Emperor Alexander 1 to rename it a convent. Its first abbess was nun Dionisia, then the abbess changed, but each did a lot for the prosperity of this holy place.
The temples were renovated and acquired amazing internal and external beauty, new hotels were built for pilgrims, a hospital and a pharmacy were equipped. The monastery now has a small barnyard, land for plowing, vegetable gardens and orchards. They even began to breed bees and collect honey.
The rules of hostel life were introduced into the monastery's Charter, which was of great importance for improving the quality of life of the nuns.
Beating the flesh to strengthen the spirit
Blessed Elder Euphrosyne lived here for 39 years. In the world it was Princess Evdokia Vyazemskaya. She prayed incessantly, slept on bare boards, ate only bread and kvass, walked without shoes even in the cold, and always had a heavy chain around her neck.
Saint Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna, loved the holy old woman very much, and during his stay at the Vladychny Monastery, he communicated with her for a long time. The Lord gave Euphrosyne the gift of clairvoyance, but in her humility she hid it under the guise of foolishness for the sake of Christ.
Local residents and numerous pilgrims to the monastery, seeing the ascetic life of the old woman, came to her for advice and consolation. But due to an unrighteous slander, she had to leave the monastery.
The blessed old woman spent the remaining 10 years of her life in the village of Kolyupanovo, Tula province. After her death, Euphrosyne Kolyupanovskaya was canonized. This happened in 1988, and she was canonized as a Tula saint.
Icon “Inexhaustible Chalice”
In 1878, the miraculous icon “The Inexhaustible Chalice” appeared in the temple to everyone’s joy. But after the revolutionary coup of 1917, the original was lost.
Now in the temple there is a copy of this icon, but it also shows people its healing power, relieving those suffering from various types of addiction: passion for alcohol, tobacco, drugs and various types of computer games.
At the very beginning of the 20th century, in addition to the Mother Superior, 50 nuns and 326 novices already lived in the monastery. The three shrines of the Vladychny Monastery: the tombstone of St. Varlaam, the icons “The Inexhaustible Chalice” and the “Introduction of the Mother of God into the Temple” are constantly illuminated by the unquenchable light of lamps.
Nowadays, a copy of the Miracle-Working Icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice”, painted in 1993, is located in the Vysotsky Monastery, located a few kilometers from the nunnery. And in the Church of the Great Martyr George the Vladychny Convent there is a list made in 1995.
There is confusion, but where is the “real” icon of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” now in Serpukhov: in a monastery or a monastery?
The original of the miraculous image is lost, so there are lists in two monasteries. The earliest of them appeared in the Vysotsky Serpukhov Monastery: in 1993. And after 2 years, their own version appeared in the women’s monastery. Well, the original image of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice” was the first to be revealed in the Vladychny Monastery back in 1878.
The feast of this icon is dedicated to the day of the repose of St. Varlaam of Serpukhov. On this day, May 18 according to the new style, a church-wide celebration of the miraculous image takes place.
But the sisters of the Vvedensky Vladychny Monastery, with the blessing of Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, celebrate an additional day: December 10, according to the new style. After all, it was on this day that the Icon was venerated in the 19th century.
Life of the monastery in the 20th century
After the October Revolution in 1919, the holy monastery was closed, and the sisters had to leave their cells. At first there was a school on the territory of the monastery, then a military school.
The temple premises were used for warehouses and a club. In 1978, the territory of the monastery complex was left without an owner. Buildings were destroyed, bricks were stolen by the local population to build personal garages and dachas.
On May 5, 1995, monastic life in the Holy Vvedenskaya Vladychny monastery was resumed. Nun Alexia (Petrova) was appointed the first abbess.
Territory and temples
Vvedensky Cathedral
This stone church was first erected by the Monk Varlaam of Serpukhov on the territory of the future monastery back in 1362, and then consecrated by Saint Alexy. 2 years before, only the wooden Vvedenskaya Church stood on this very spot.
Since then, it has been updated and rebuilt several times. And now construction work is underway here.
But even the part that has already been restored looks amazing! This austere colossus made of pinkish stone somehow miraculously attracts the eye and fascinates with its subtle elegance of lines.
Previously, on the southern side of the Vvedensky Cathedral, on the site of the former sacristy, a chapel was built, consecrated in honor of the righteous Philaret the Merciful. Its consecration took place in 1867. Today nothing remains of this building.
But on the north side there is a chapel of St. Alexius with its own separate entrance. Today construction work is underway here, so all its beauty is now hidden behind scaffolding.
The founder of the Vladychny Monastery, Venerable Monastery, was buried near the porch of the Vvedensky Church. Varlaam Serpukhovskoy. This is a place of special pilgrimage for believers!
Venerable Varlaam of Serpukhov
For more than six centuries, the resting place of St. Varlaam of Serpukhov, whose relics are still kept under wraps, has been revered by the Orthodox people. Now a wooden chapel has been erected on this site next to the Vvedensky Cathedral.
And today people constantly come here to turn to the monk with their prayers, ask for holy advice in a difficult situation and be healed of serious physical and spiritual illnesses.
They also pray to St. Varlaam of Serpukhov for the healing of those possessed by demons and for diseases of livestock. In just 2 years after the resumption of veneration of the saint in 1996, 20 miraculous healings occurred near his relics, which were documented.
And for more than 20 years, this list of modern wonders continues to grow.
Church of the Great Martyr George
The beautiful cathedral building is a unique monument of Godunov architecture.
Its construction dates back to the end of the 16th century. Later, a staircase was added to the temple and the bell tower was enlarged.
On the ground floor there are 2 chapels: the Ascension of the Lord and St. Nicholas.
The main chapel in honor of the Great Martyr George the Victorious is located under the tent, and on the second floor there is a throne in honor of the blessed Tsarevich Demetrius.
Services are now being held on the 1st floor.
The small church room is very cozy and somehow homey. The iconostasis has been restored and icons hang on the walls. True, there are no paintings on the ceilings yet, but unusual porcelain lamps greatly decorate the room.
Gate Temple
Above the holy gates there is another temple, consecrated in honor of the martyr Theodotus of Ancyra.
The construction of this church dates back to the end of the 16th century. It was carried out by Abbot Vassian in the name of the Hieromartyr Theodotius of Ancyra.
Later, in 1834, this church was consecrated in honor of the Savior Not Made by Hands.
Central square and source
In the very center, on the square, there is a source consecrated in honor of the image of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice”, where everyone can drink holy water and take it with them into their bottles.
And there is beauty all around! There are beautiful flowers in numerous flower beds,
over which fluffy bumblebees buzz.
And, of course, there are amazing roses all around!
Saints and devotees of piety, honored dates
The monastery treats with great respect and love everyone who was associated with the monastery and was canonized, not excluding other saints. On certain days their memory is honored with prayers. These dates include:
- May 6, November 16, November 23, December 9 - Great Martyr George the Victorious is venerated;
- May 22, August 11, December 19 - the memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is venerated;
- February 25, June 2 are the days of memory of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow;
- May 31, June 20, November 20 are the days of remembrance of the martyr Theodotus of Ancyra;
- December 14 is the day of the righteous Philaret the Merciful;
- October 10 - Venerable Rachel of Spaso-Borodinskaya is venerated;
- May 18 – Venerable Varlaam of Serpukhov;
- May 28, June 16 are the days of remembrance of the holy noble Tsarevich Demetrius of Uglich;
- December 2 - the memory of the Hieromartyr Jacob the Diamond is venerated.
The monastery also remembers Blessed Euphrosyne of Alexinskaya, Abbess Valentina, the elder of the monastery, nun Eliconida, and Gideon of Serpukhov.
Holidays
The nuns of the Vvedensky Vladychny Monastery reverence with special reverence such holidays as:
- June 6 - Ascension of the Lord;
- October 18 is the day of remembrance of Saints Peter, Alexy, Jonah, Macarius, Job, Philip, Peter, Tikhon, Hermogenes, Innocent, Macarius and Philaret, wonderworkers of Moscow and all Russia;
- May 18 is the day of the icon of the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice”;
- June 2 - discovery of the relics of St. Alexis.
Attention! The patronal feast of the Vvedensky Women's Monastery is December 4 - the Entry into the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Shrines and holy springs
Over the long history of its existence, the monastery acquired many religious relics. During Soviet times, the originals of ancient icons were lost, but their copies turned out to be no less miraculous and continue to awe believers to this day.
Among the shrines, first of all, are the icons of the Mother of God “The All-Tsarina” and the “Inexhaustible Chalice”. Also kept here are the icons of the Great Martyr George the Victorious and John the Warrior, which stream myrrh. The myrrh-streaming Cross-Golgotha is located here. Many pilgrims come to the Vvedenskaya monastery to venerate the relics of St. Varlaam.
Monument to St. Varlaam of Serpukhov in front of the entrance to the monastery
Separately, it is worth mentioning the miraculous icons of Tsarevich Demetrius of Uglich and the “Entry of the Virgin Mary into the Holy of Holies.”
Important! The holy spring “Inexhaustible Chalice” helps true believers get rid of troubling ailments.
For pilgrims and tourists
Orthodox gymnasium
For more than 10 years, the Orthodox classical gymnasium in the name of St. Varlaam of Serpukhov has been operating in the city of Serpukhov. Its building is located next to the holy gates of the Vladychny Monastery.
The training is based on traditional educational programs. But together with them, the children study the basics of the Orthodox faith, the Church Slavonic language, church singing, and the history of the Russian Orthodox Church.
And besides basic training, there are many additional skills that students can acquire: choreography and painting, journalism and photography, chess and choral singing.
Peacock peacock?
For guests, and especially children who come to the monastery, there is a spacious aviary with peacocks. We arrived at the monastery on a very hot day, the temperature was more than +30 degrees. Therefore, we saw birds worn out by the heat and unwilling to move.
What can I say... we were like them ourselves: the heat was very tiring.
But we were lucky to photograph one beautiful peacock very close. The worker carried the wrapped bird somewhere deep into the territory of the monastery, closed from tourists,
which delighted not only children, but also adults.
