While alive generation learned in Soviet schools, Smolny Convent, or simply "Smolny" will be associated with Lenin.Even after decades in the history of the architectural ensemble of pages related to the years 1917-1918, will be the brightest.And the days following these events, the most tragic.Without them, the Smolny Convent by Rastrelli was not just one of the many great works of the brilliant architect.
name as an address
very history of the name of the monastery is quite interesting, as well as almost every object in St. Petersburg.Before the emergence of the Northern capital, this area was a border zone.The village Spasovschina immediately as soon as the Swedes built a fortress on the opposite bank Nienschanz, this place was built Fort Sabina.Admiralty Shipyard - one of the first buildings of the nascent city-fortress.It is for her needs and built the Tar yard.For place an appropriate name stuck.Smolny monastery arose here later, as well as the vast number of objects in its name contains the address of the location of their own ... and a piece of history.
desire of the Empress - the law
idea origin of the monastery belongs to the Empress Elizabeth, who advance worry about their age.She wanted peace and quiet, and everything is firmly guaranteed monastery prioress which has become the queen.But the harsh austerity of the monastic lifestyle was not included in the concept of a happy old age, and the Smolny monastery was provided rather as a boarding school for girls of noble birth.Naturally, the comfort of your stay guaranteed by any of the 120 pupils.For each having a separate apartment with all the necessary services - a kind of separate, comfortable apartment.At the same abbess was to be a separate house.
chief architect of St. Petersburg
choice of location - a tribute to the young years spent in the Smolny Palace (the second name Maiden), in a kind of prison, at the behest of Anna Ivanovna.
Francesco Rastrelli, the son of the famous Charles Rastrelli, at that time held the post of chief architect of St. Petersburg.He was commissioned to build the Resurrection Novodevichy Convent.In 1744 the brilliant architect has designed a completely new version of the ritual object, which, together with the surrounding buildings has become a new phenomenon in church architecture.
original approach
most important distinguishing feature was the complete lack of a stone fence.This was an allusion to the fact that the institution will not be closed monastery, implying total renunciation of secular life, and will be, rather, a higher education institution for the highborn ladies.In 1748 the first stone was laid.The ceremony was attended by the Empress.Rastrelli's Smolny Convent has become one of the most important buildings of the country.
Olden be present
But women wishes changing.And the more wishes of the Empress.And now, in 1849, an initial draft of redesigns.Firstly, it is reduced to the modest size of the local bell tower, which Rastrelli height of 140 meters and exceeds the belfry of Peter and Paul.In the new project there are features of old Russian monasteries.In particular, it provides for domes: the central - large and massive - surrounded by four smaller ones.
Construction century
on new ensemble Smolny Convent, a large amount of money and work.In 1754 the object came Elizabeth.What he saw shocked her so much that she immediately caught gigantomania and ordered for their offspring to cast a bell, which eclipsed to Tsar Bell - its size had to make 6.5 meters wide, and he weighed 000 pounds 20.But the Empress die before they reach the solemn consecration.Smolny Convent forgotten.
Forgotten undertakings
Five years is not carried out any work.Without the domes and bell towers, plastered complex overgrown with dark legends.War ravaged treasury, Catherine II removes Rastrelli of affairs.For ten years, from 1785 to 1795 years, the work is conducted, then it froze.And if it had not arisen with the arrival of the new Empress Educational Society for girls from noble families, who had to live somewhere, Smolny Convent in St. Petersburg would have remained unclaimed - lived there only 20 nuns.
With the arrival of Paul "Noble Maidens" (or, as they were called, "smolyanok") was evicted, he settled on a vacant place of widows.Obviously, there are such buildings, where, despite their beauty, one can not afford to heat the place.
Came host
completely finished with the construction of Nicholas I. It lasted unprecedentedly long time - 87 years.Architect VP Stasov, winning the competition three years restored and restored the cathedral, and only in 1835, the complex was consecrated.He became known as the Cathedral of all educational institutions.Inspired by the beauty of the outside, which is a Smolny Convent (photo to the witness), Russian masters have tried to make the interior worthy of the great Rastrelli.The hall is decorated with marble ball, crystal railing and altarpiece work Vasnetsov made Smolny Convent unique treasure of Russian culture.The only thing that never was completed, the bell tower, which, in principle, have no impact on the external appearance of the cathedral.It was beautiful.
Nowadays, everything falls into place
But to remain in this status until today the monastery did not let the revolution, after which the pearl was used even as a warehouse.Poor closed, passed from hand to hand;In 1990 the building was used as a concert and exhibition hall.
first after so many times of prayer held here in 2009 alone.Since 2010, the Smolny Cathedral is used for its intended purpose - it is open for worship.In 2011, almost one hundred years in the Smolny Cathedral were held Christmas worship.
