Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, entered the pages of Russia's history, starting from which refers to the reign of Basil I (son of Dmitry Donskoy, who died in 1382).For 36 years, his wise reign of Muscovy to strengthen and expand, and Moscow itself has never been conquered by anyone.
History of the name of the monastery
Translated from the Greek "Candlemas" means the meeting.Kuchkovo field took its name from the name of nobleman SI piles, hereditary vyatichi, are not subject to Yuri Dolgoruky.Mythical Boyar Stepan bunch was executed and on land he owned, was built by Moscow.It was here, on Kuchkovo field, and in 1395 there was a meeting of Muscovites Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, sent a procession of Vladimir-on-Klyazma.The road, which was the center of the capital, and on which the event occurred, began to call Sretenka, and the monastery was erected here in memory of the legendary event, Sretensky.Legendary because the next day for no apparent reason Timur Tamerlane, bankrupt before this Elec, turned his forces against defenseless walls of the capital.Basil I immortalized the event, built in 1397 on the site of the meeting procession Sretensky Monastery in Moscow.
priceless relic
On account of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God there are two legends get rid of the invaders.One occurred in 1451, when the Horde Prince Mazowsze, the great-grandson of Khan Tokhtamysh, burned all the Moscow townsmen, and on the eve of a decisive assault fled from the walls of the capital after a night sortie citizens with an icon.The second refers to 1480 (disposal of Akhmad, standing on the Ugra river).Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God was written, according to tradition, by the Evangelist and Apostle Luke in the life of Mary on the board table at which to eat for the Holy Family.
Constantinople Patriarch Luke Hrisoverg, whose reign in the early XII century was marked by a large church-legislative activities, sent a list with this icon Yuri Dolgoruky.After the Sretensky Monastery was founded in Moscow in a year on August 26 a procession from the Assumption Cathedral deliver Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, savior of the capital of Tamerlane's conquest of its troops.
monastic buildings, extant
originally erected buildings of the monastery have not survived.From old buildings, all survivors of war and turmoil, to the present day survived the five-domed cathedral, built in 1679 on the money of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, half-brother of Peter I. Fyodor III and his wife Agafia Semyonovna Grushetsky especially took care of Sretensky Monastery in Moscow.After the death of both in 1706 was arranged south aisle - St John the Baptist.The iconostasis of the cathedral of Sretensky Monastery in 1680, the royal married couple were set way their patrons - the saints and martyrs Theodore Agafi.Icons are located equidistant from the royal doors.
role in the country's history
Actually this monastery played in the fate of the Romanov dynasty important role - he actively promoted the coming to power of Mikhail Fedorovich, the first Russian tsar, the carrier of this name.All pilgrimage higher strata of Russian society begins, usually in the monastery.And in the XIX century here was, at least temporarily, the primatial Department.And Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, referring to the shrines of the monastery three times saved Moscow from enemy capture and destruction.
Frescoes monastery
Despite its importance, the Cathedral of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God until 1707 stood unpainted.This year, thanks to donations from SFGriboyedov musketeers colonel appeared in the temple frescoes, well preserved to this day and is one of the last masterpieces of ancient art in the capital.Who painted the walls of the cathedral, known as a fire in 1737 at the monastery burned down all the documentation related to the work of talented artists, the professionalism that says original frescoes thematic construction and perfection of execution.
black pages of history
tragic events came to the monastery in the 20-ies of XX century.The only recognized throughout the territory of Soviet Russia from 1922 to 1926 was a church movement called "renovationism" which, in essence, was an adaptation to the new government in order to survive.It actively fought with Patriarch Tikhon.Once the Sretensky monastery in 1923 moved from Renovationism in patriarchal jurisdiction, the problems began, and in 1925 the monastery was closed.Until the 30th, many monastery buildings were demolished mercilessly.Motivation - an extension of the street, one of the central as Sretensky Monastery, whose address is in Moscow - Bolshaya Lubyanka, 19, was at the heart of the capital.Among the buildings destroyed were the church of St. Mary of Egypt and the Church of St. Nicholas.They are not restored.Relics of the monastery disbanded museums.Only by chance old icon "Exaltation of the Cross", which turned into an anti-religious museum, preserved and stored in the Tretyakov Gallery.The remaining buildings are located hostel NKVD officers.The fact that the Holy Land monastery people were killed, said worship the cross, erected in 1995 in memory of the victims were tortured.
return to the bosom of the church
Up to 90 th in the building of the cathedral was the All-Union Scientific and artistic restoration center it.Grabar.In 1991 the monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church, and then began its revival - restored old buildings, construction of new housing, and bell tower.On the monastery grounds are large publishing house.In catechetical courses trained 400 people.40 monks and novices live in the monastery.It should be noted that on 4 December 1925, just before the complete closure in Sretensky Monastery was tonsured in rassophore named Plato future Patriarch Pimen (in the world Sergey Izvekov), who died in 1990.
strict beauty of the monastery
All buildings are located in the center of the capital, which in recent years changed remarkably, consistent with its new look, including the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow.Photos posted below, he speaks eloquently about his current austere beauty.Naturally, one of the oldest monasteries, which played a significant role in the fate of Russia, located in the city center, is given a lot of attention from the leadership of the Orthodox Church.In addition, since stauropegic Monastery, the Patriarch of Moscow is its ruling bishop and mentor.The term "stauropegic" means disobeying monastery local diocesan authorities.These monasteries and Laura are the responsibility of the patriarch.Until 1918, the monastery, located in the heart of the capital, on Bolshaya Lubyanka (formerly Sretenka), had the status of supernumerary monastery, existing without state support.Today Sretensky Monastery in Moscow refers to stauropegic.
reason of pride
All the monastery meets its high rank.Many people can be proud of Sretensky Monastery in Moscow.The choir of the monastery (not singing, and the chorus) is its peers, and is known not only worshipers and lovers of sacred music.Already in the XVII century, the Sretensky choir and choristers were recognized as citywide celebrations were accompanied by religious processions.Having gone through hard times, along with the monastery revived the team began to acquire new traits, corresponding to the time, and finally formed by 2005.It is headed by a graduate of the Russian Academy of Music Nikon Stepanovich lived.From childhood he was a chorister of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.Along with the services of soloists of the choir are concerts and recorded albums.Each of the 30 soloists excellent musical education - or "Gnesinka" or Moscow Theological Seminary and Sretinskaya.There are students of the capital Academy of Choral Art and the Moscow Conservatory.According to fans and connoisseurs, the talented director of "harmony of voices turns into a living body."In the choir there are soloists from around the world - Dmitry Beloselsky, and others.
Revered icons and relics of saints
Shrine Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, represented primarily the relics of the Holy Martyr Ilarion (Troitsky) - bishop and theologian of the Russian Orthodox Church, the icon with the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov.In addition, it houses the remains of St. Mary of Egypt, St. John Chrysostom, Basil the Great and Nicholas.To the shrine is negative (the face on the Shroud) and positive (pictured), an exact copy of the Shroud of Turin, made a life-size, which is located in the crypt of the cathedral.It was consecrated Patriarch of Moscow Alexis II as an image of the Holy Face of the Savior.Revered list of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God completes the list of shrines Sretensky Monastery.
Selflessness the glory of God
people who selflessly and voluntarily work for the glory of God in the Orthodox monasteries are located, but they are not novices - the so-called staff.Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, as well as other church institutions are in need.Employees differ from the pilgrims, and by novices.Basically these are people just being prepared to devote themselves to the church completely.There is provision for employees, where they are subject to specific requirements, and to break them is not recommended.Typically, employees come to the monastery for some time, and they, of course, need a place to stay.Hotel Sretensky Monastery in Moscow titled "Podushkin" and was intended for this.But, unfortunately, in 2012, in the fall, she found herself at the center of a scandal because of the fact that the list of services, according to law enforcement officials, and were intimate.Vicar Sretensky Monastery information called slander.
