in the heart of Moscow Sretensky Monastery is located.Its gates are open to all Orthodox Christians.Anyone can go to the Sretensky Monastery, his address is easy to remember: it is located on Bolshaya Lubyanka number 19s1.
The history of the monastery
monastery appeared in 1397 thanks to a curious historical events surrounding the divine protection.While Moscow miraculously saved from the invincible army of Tamerlane.This event occurred in 1395.They say the chronicles, Khan Timur the Tartar hordes moved across Russia, sweeping away everything in its path.Ahead was Moscow.Anticipating trouble considerable, Grand Prince Vasily and Metropolitan Cyprian ordered to deliver from Vladimir to Moscow the miraculous icon of the Mother of God (Vladimir).All the ten days, which was an icon of the way, it was accompanied by a tearful prayers of the Russian people, who stood on his knees along the road.In Moscow, he met the image of the Vladimir Mother of God on August 26th.
While Orthodox icon met, Khan Tamerlane was sleeping in his tent rich.He appeared in a dream to him a certain woman, which surrounds the myriad angelic army, menacing look to Him.Once Khan woke up, he gathered his elders and ordered to explain his vision.They, in turn, made it clear that his mother came to the God of the Christians - patroness of the Russian people with its irresistible force.Khan terrified that interpretation.His army, he immediately turned his back, before reaching Moscow.
Muscovites in the memory of this miracle to put in place the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Church.Later here was built Sretensky Monastery.
centuries-old existence
in Moscow in those days there were many church monasteries.Sretensky Monastery was among the most popular.He was not famous spiritual feats loud inhabitants, the decoration of the monastery were very modest.The life of the monks proceeded peacefully, quietly measured.The monastery, however, are often participated in public events of the time.Not the last role was played by the monastery in overcoming the Troubles, which occurred in the capital of 1611-1613 years.Formation of the royal dynasty took place with the support of the monastery.Because of its location the monastery witnessed Salt riots in 1648, which began at the local walls.The joyful events are also found in the fossil record.In 1552, it was here that Muscovites greeted the troops who carried out the victory of Kazan, the monastery became a witness to the event.
Moscow Sretensky Monastery in the era of the Romanovs
first of the Romanov dynasty rather complain Sretensky Monastery.Particular attention is paid to him King Theodore A..Without continued his reign, but during that time the monastery flourished.At this time, and the cathedral was built glorifying the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, to this day, he is survived from all the others.Valuable contributions received in those years Sretensky Monastery, the king's place of worship is also here.
In the XVIII century the monastery began to decline.Facilities it suffered a fire in 1737.Sretensky Monastery has not yet had time to recover from such a serious event as in 1737 Catherine II issued a decree, which read about the secularization of land belonging to the church.Abode became a provincial.Sretensky Monastery could leave only fourteen inhabitants.
only to the end of the century the monastery began gradually to recover, began to be erected some buildings.
Cloister during the War of 1812
war in 1812 greatly affected the status of the Sretensky Monastery.Interesting fact that the battle of Borodino took place on the day when we celebrated the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.Muscovites saw this as a good sign.Further developments - the retreat of the Russian army to Moscow, the French capture of the ancient capital, to some extent shaken hopes of residents, but subsequent events of the war strengthened the belief in Orthodoxy.Sretensky Monastery during the fire of 1812 was hurt."Touched upon" the abode of the French soldiers, they plundered many of the values that belong to the church.It is worth noting that the monks of the Sretensky Monastery staunchly guarded the shrine and worship did not stop even during the war.Then, over the centuries, the monastery was in relative peace.
arrival of Soviet power
At the beginning of the XX century Sretensky Monastery was completely landscaped, although he had a modest size.In 1907 the monastery was fourteen novices, four deacon six hieromonks.In the near future Sretensky Monastery was to survive the ordeal.
Soviet government immediately start to establish their own rules, immediately took up the minister of the church.Decree 1918, issued by the CPC, was that the Church is separated from the state, and with it loses the status of a legal entity.All property owned by the Church, began to belong to the people.All buildings intended for worship, began to be withdrawn in favor of the company, came here and outbuildings, all in camera body.Sretensky Monastery did not escape this fate.In 1922, he was captured Renovationists.Government agencies at the same time have withdrawn from the entire monastery church utensils having any value: liturgical vessels, altar crosses, icon frames and books in precious bindings.
sad fate of the monastery
to expand traffic, in 1927-30 years destroyed many of the buildings of the monastery.This number includes the Church of Mary of Egypt, who was considered the oldest in Moscow.The remaining monastic utensils distributed in various cultural institutions and museums.Ancient icon "Exaltation of the Cross" was handed over to the anti-religious museum, and then she came to the Tretyakov Gallery, where she kept still.
The monastery buildings that have survived from the destruction of the NKVD placed hostel.In the years of terror in the former monastery were shot many people.The unmarked graves, and here, and they were buried.In 1995, the Sretensky Monastery was set worship the cross in memory of the martyred in this place, made it holy Patriarch Alexy.
The only surviving church in the years 1958-1962 after the restoration of sound scientific-restoration center.
Renaissance cloister
At the end of the XX century, when Russia finally began to revive the tradition of the church, the Cathedral of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God gave the church, it happened in 1991.In 1994, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch on the territory of Sretensky monastery began to revive monastic life.First inhabitants had to do the hard work to restore the monastery.
In 2008, a plan was developed for which must be reconstructed once existed on the territory of the monastery monuments, erected a new church premises.The plan provides for the structure of the gate of the church with a baptistery, an Orthodox youth center and a conference hall.Nearby buildings cast monastery under developing are privately body, infirmary and refectory.From the Big Lubyanka expand the area under the training seminars for housing for seminarians.
monks cherish, protect Sretensky Monastery.Address known to many of his parishioners, and visit everyone can admire the beauty of the revived temple to worship the holy icon.
Life in the monastery
course, for the monks the main act is prayer.Daily liturgy (early, late, Midnight).Any local novice monk proud of the fact that their place of abode is the Sretensky Monastery.Service to God is here the basic meaning of life.All are here for a special obedience, everyone has their own thing: someone is working in the garden, someone in the publishing house, others carry chores.If you compare the state of the monastery in the 90s and now, we can see how much incredible work, effort invested in the improvement of the monastery.Seminarians are also involved in the life of the monastery, are obedient, attend services.
male choir of the Sretensky Monastery
male choir in the monastery there for many centuries, with the date of the foundation (1397).A break in activity occurred only during the persecutions in the period of Soviet power.Most recently, the choir began to acquire modern features.In 2005, the Sretensky Choir was led by the regent, whose name Nikon Stepanovich lived.He is a graduate Gnesinka from childhood sang in the choir of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
basis chorus make seminarians of Sretensky Seminary, as well as graduates of the Theological Academy of Moscow.An important part of the composition are the singers of the Moscow Conservatory, the Moscow Academy of Choral Art, Gnesin Academy.The choir includes thirty people, which include first-class soloists, have their own arrangers and composers.
Sretensky Choir holds regular service at the monastery.On the important solemn liturgy sings in the Moscow Kremlin.Choir members often travel to missionary tour under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church.The repertoire included not only sacred music, performed songs, songs of wartime, traditional Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian songs.All the songs the choir performs only original processing a cappela.
Soothe monastery
Sretensky Monastery modestly situated in the heart of Moscow, with the white walls, which are laid out tiles.The doors of the monastery are open to everyone eager to peace and tranquility.People go to a place not only during the service, many come just in the midst of the busy day.Venerating the holy Vladimir Icon or the relics of St. Hilarion, for a while you forget about the worldly turmoil.A curious fact: Although the walls of constantly buzzing Bolshaya Lubyanka, in the territory of the monastery remains a complete peace and quiet (maybe because it seems visitors).The life of the monks is not easy, all day they are obedience, but their cases are always humble, not fussy, helpful.
