One of the major Russian architectural gems assumed Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.The monastery museum since the XVI century takes place in a bend of the Moskva River in the historic center, called the Maiden field, and never ceases to attract the beauty and long history of an endless stream of tourists and pilgrims.
Secret events and legends fanned Novodevichy Convent.In Moscow, where the ancient monastery, during the Tatar yoke Russian people collected tribute for the Golden Horde.Tribute was paid to the Tatars not only gold coins and furs.It is here that led Russian girls beauties, whose fate has been predetermined by the time of enslavement.Since then, the field was called the Maiden, and the land here, who saw the endless grief remained soaked in tears.It was founded the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, the history of the base of which goes back centuries, to the time of strengthening the power of Russia.
time has come to Moscow association land
Virgin of Smolensk Novodevichy Monastery history started in 1524, and its appearance is obliged landmark event for Russia - to complete the unification of Muscovy.Moscow Grand Prince Vasily III, referred to as "collector of Russian lands", personified, and the inheritance of the Byzantine emperors, and the protection of Orthodoxy infidels.
great land consolidation in Russia ended with the liberation from the domination of Smolensk Lithuania - the city, which had strategic importance for the Russian state.The historical battle took place in 1514, and 10 years later, fulfilling its promise made before going to Smolensk, Prince founded a monastery with a temple, consecrated the Smolensk icon of the Holy Mother ("Putevoditelnitsy").
great way to Smolensk Icon
Icon Smolensk Mother of God reached the Russian land in the XI century, before the advent of Muscovy.According to legend, written in the earthly life of the Virgin Apostle Luke, she has come a long way from ancient Jerusalem in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, and then to the Russian Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich.She was destined to become a kind of sacred Russian princes.And for a long time, the miraculous image of carefully preserved in the church of the Assumption of Our Lady of Smolensk.Since that time, it was known as the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God, and the city is now stored on the ills of the Virgin.In the annals of XIII century especially it described the miracle that icon when she saved the Smolensk from the invasion of the troops of Batu.
Since 1398 the miraculous image was in Muscovy.It brought Vitovtovna Sofya, the wife of the Prince of Moscow Vasily I. During his visit to Smolensk to the father, the Lithuanian prince, Sophia received the blessing of parents and instruction stored at an icon.Place it was defined in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin.
long after from Smolensk request to Vasili III of the return of the icon.But the decision to merge Russian land and the desire to attract residents of Smolensk on the Russian side of the prince has allowed this event to happen.
Before sending the shrine in a long way to Smolensk, at the behest of Prince icons removed from the detailed list, which was left in the Annunciation Cathedral.The Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, where he is now a list of icons, he got in 1525.
in Smolensk shrine accompanied a procession from the Kremlin walls to Savvino monastery.It was only after the great prayer she moved along the Smolensk road.
This momentous event has since been observed annually on holiday services and the procession to the place where now stretches the Novodevichy Convent.Moscow, Russia, all Russian Orthodox praise July 28 Smolensk icon of the Mother of God.At this point, after the victorious battle of Smolensk, it was laid the first wooden church of the new monastery.
How did the name of the monastery to the Virgin's Field
monastery named "Novodevichy" was not accidental.By the beginning of the XVI century Moscow has already had two female monastery - the oldest monastery of the Conception called then Starodevichim, and is located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin's Ascension.The original name of the monastery to the Virgin's Field, mentioned in chronicles in 1598 - the Most Pure Virgin Hodegetria New Maiden Monastery.
There is another version of the appearance of the title.Abbess was devoted to the schema-nun Elena, bayou and ascetic Suzdal Pokrovsky Monastery.Because a new monastery in Suzdal wrote to the abbess and nuns, 18, has served her in all undertakings.The life of the nuns at the monastery was founded on the principles of the old hostels and subject to strict statute.Up to the present time to save a unique handwritten document drawn up by the abbess of the Novodevichy Convent - charter and daily convent beginning of XVI century.
Starica Elena had a reputation for "vseizryadnoy teacher virgin rank" and the congregation had Devochkin nickname because of the special attention to guardianship girls.Love and care exercised by the abbess was so great that it is entrenched in the old Moscow artist shelter for women.
From the history of the Novodevichy Convent is well known that in times of Peter I there was organized a shelter for babies, girls born illegally.Nuns raise and educate them in rigor, instilling in them humility and obedience.It belonged to Peter I thought to teach novices monastery lace on the Dutch manner.Shelter was the first prototype of the future of the Moscow Orphanage for girls high classes.
history of the monastery for women and a shelter for orphaned girls subsequently continued and Resurrection Novodevichy Monastery, founded by order of Empress Elizabeth in 1746.At the time, she decided to transfer the experience of nuns Moscow to St. Petersburg.A particularly popular this monastery began to use during the flourishing of monasticism among women in the XIX century.
One version of the reasons for founding the monastery
historians almost unanimously agree that one of the reasons for establishing a new convent was a personal drama and Vasily III.A parallel is drawn between the construction of the monastery and the divorce of Prince.His chosen Solomon Aloetic 20 years of marriage, was unable to give the prince heir.Fearing his brothers competing for the board, he obtained permission from the church to remarry.Failed in its duty to married wife Solomonia Vasily III were forced to take the veil and banished it to the Christmas monastery.In 1525 it was christened Sophia.
Many historians believe that the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, which is a list of the Smolensk icon, was designed specifically for Solomon.And Vasily III, «pioneer" of the Monarchs in forced away his wife for the walls of the monastery, trying thereby mitigating guilt.
From the Kremlin to Novodevichy Convent was only three miles.But the move to a picturesque place near Moscow Sofia nun and could not, having spent her allotted days in Suzdal, Pokrovsky behind the walls of the convent.His righteous life she deserved reckoning to sacred, and today is venerated by believers as Sofia Suzdal Reverend.
Godunov in Novodevichy Convent
Sad practice reference persons royal families continued Ivan the Terrible.He hid here widow of his brother and his son.The monastery took and Feodor I Ioanovicha widow, Irina Godunov, protects from death and his brother Boris.Her decision to leave the monastery after the death of her husband was then tantamount to abdication.But here is the queen of the nun went on public works, making the abode of the royal residence.It was here three times came to pay homage boyars who asked Boris to the throne.
special attention and patronage of the Novodevichy Convent started to put it Boris Godunov, who took power in 1598.To his sister Irina Fedorovna he built a spacious new cells, a chapel and refectory.Subsequently, they will be named Irininskimi chambers.In addition, funds were allocated for a complete renovation of the Smolensk Cathedral, restored murals and iconostasis, and the miraculous image dressed in new salaries with precious stones.
Captive royal family
unending succession of inhabitants of the monastery was the birth of princes and boyars.Among them were those that found themselves behind strong walls are not of their own accord.
continued imprisonment of relatives and Peter I. In 1689 here hid Princess Sophia Alexeyevna, sister of the monarch and the instigator of the revolt Archer.The fate of her companions was notorious.They were executed in front of the Novodevichy Convent and the heads were strung on stone battlements of the walls of the monastery.This also was exiled first wife of Peter I, Lopuchin Evdokia, according to legend heart cursed his favorite city on the Neva.
«Novodevichy Convent in Moscow, where many persons of a noble family, the richest and designed for particularly high" - testified Patriarch Nikon.As in the old days in Starodevichy, and here came the wife of kings, widows, daughters and sisters of the boyars.
For untold riches obtained abode at the base, were added continuously and valuables future nuns and dedicatory letters in the possession of their lands.
Resident or castle?
By order of Vasily III, the monastery was supposed to be a miniature copy of the Kremlin.Courtiers architects and painters worked not only on the walls of defenses, much of their beauty.Turn to the fortress walls of the monastery decided to Boris Godunov, after starting the ascent to the throne of architectural transformation of the monastery.New stone wall strong with new towers and battlements surrounded the monastery.Their height has been increased to 13 meters, and length - nearly a kilometer.To carry the guard at the monastery housed strelets garrison of 350 cavalry, to the XVII century the monastery became a real fortress guard on the border of Moscow.
engravings of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow and tell us about the times of the Great Troubles, when the fate of the monastic fortress was tragic.Standing at the turn of the city, it has been subjected to numerous raids of foreigners, the rebel troops of musketeers and ordinary robbers.By 1612 the walls of the monastery were virtually destroyed and looted the monastery.It was under the ruined walls of the Novodevichy Convent was a historic battle with the Polish army, after which Prince Pozharsky led the squad to the Kremlin.
New life of the monastery: the restoration and flourishing
Recovery Novodevichy Monastery began with the advent of the reign of the first Romanov.Mikhail Fedorovich, freed the monastery from taxes to 1650 cleared the monastery from the traces of the war, restored and fortified walls.He made the monastery a place for praying mantis royal personages.Since then the Novodevichy Convent was located outside the city, under its walls broken tents, where they remained for the night, "so as not to miss the morning prayer."Thanks to the monastery Moscow street called Prechistenka - the present character of the old city.It is for her parishioners go on holidays.
custom festivities at the Novodevichy Muscovites came to life with the times.Today, thousands of people try to get in the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.How to get to the place where the holiday festivities are held?
Festive celebrations in the historic center
Over time, the place of folk festivals has been transferred from the walls of the monastery on fresh and Virgin's Field.The first festivities were held only on religious holidays.The appearance of the famous street Prechistenka is also associated with the Novodevichy Convent.
The road annually believers went from the Kremlin to the monastery existed before.But the king's command in 1658 it became known as the name of the Blessed Virgin, which was accompanied by a miraculous face of every holiday.
Gradually, this historic site began to celebrate important events and mundane.Until the XVIII century the territory remained the Maiden field is not built.There were blooming gardens and apothecary gardens broke.Country houses of the nobility in this place began to appear towards the end of the century.
Today the territory Maidens field is built up completely, and the main streets of the historic center is considered to be most Pirogovskaya Minor Pirogovskaya and Pogodinskaya.Folk festivals are held in several locations, within walking distance of each other, so a guide to find their venues will serve these streets.
How to get to the Novodevichy Convent
None of the tourist routes of the capital bypasses their attention Novodevichy Convent.Moscow - is the starting point for those wishing to travel around the Golden Ring.
How cloister existed until 1922.He was saved by the Soviet government as an architectural monument until the 30s, when the decision of the People's Commissariat of the building of the monastery complex were given to the State Historical Museum (branch).Even before the war in the territory of the convent began to revive religious schools.And only in 1994 the monastic life in the monastery was revived.
Tourist guides always give information to those who wish to visit the Novodevichy Convent.Address and how to get they indicate in detail the schemes.Getting lost would be difficult.
Since today is the historic center of the capital, and many attractions are separated by a short distance, then from the metro "Sports" better take a 10-minute walk along the street.10th Anniversary of October.
territory of Novodevichy monastery complex is limited embankment. Luzhnetskaya travel and Khamovniki shaft.In addition to the inspection of the architectural complex, tourists and fans of many great people wondering visiting Novodevichy cemetery.It also relates to the special sights of Moscow.Here are buried many outstanding personalities of our country: generals, prominent representatives of science and culture, politics.
legacy of Russian history and the spirituality of faith united in itself a landmark for Russian place - Novodevichy Convent in Moscow.Address: metro "Sports", Novodevichy passage, 1.
