Monastery of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Churches of the Novodevichy Convent Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Novodevichy Convent
The unique and beautiful building of the Monastery of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary attracts with its grandeur. At the Novodevichy Convent with the Assumption Church, the appearance has often changed over the entire period of its existence and, at the present time, the architectural state is completely different from the previous one - the five domes were changed in the 19th century by one rich head, the temple and the refectory at the beginning were surrounded by an open gallery, then it in the same century it was dismantled and closed extensions with stairs were made at the entrance to the temple.
The view has changed, but the bewitching beauty has been preserved. The refectory church was consecrated in 1687, and in 1812 there were two aisles: the southern one was named after the Apostle John the Theologian, the northern one was named after the Apostle Jacob Alfeev, in our time both aisles were completely removed.
It is worth noting interesting fact from the history of the monastery at the time when the kings ruled in the monastery, girls were deliberately cut short, and royal relatives of daughters, sisters and everyone who had anything to do with the court were brought to the temple to have their hair cut. Also in the monastery, orphans-girls were taught braid weaving and lace embroidery.
The main throne of the current church was consecrated in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and western limit consecrated in the name of the Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow, and finally, the side limit was baptized in the name of the Apostle John the Theologian.
The non-cenobitic convent founded by Vasily III of Moscow reflects almost the entire Russian history, and has been faithfully preserving it for decades. The temple is located on the banks of the Moscow River, where the real natural beauty of the sights of the localities and the temple itself fascinate everyone - according to legend, during the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, Russian beauties were chosen from the monastery for the Golden Horde, which speaks of the centuries-old history of the monastery as a whole.
Description of the monastery
The Novodevichy Convent itself is a real fortress, which is complemented by all the buildings related to it, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when viewed from the Moskva River, you can see
temple to the naked eye.
The main buildings were built at the end of the seventeenth century in an architectural style called "Moscow Baroque." Above the main entrance is the Gate Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and in the center of the monastery itself is the Smolensk Cathedral, built in the likeness of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin itself, where a five-tiered gilded iconostasis has been preserved, and many icons donated by Russian tsars are kept in the temple to this day. The Dormition Church, together with the refectory chamber, keeps the miraculous Iberian Icon of the Mother of God. The white-stone St. Ambrose Church, combined with the refectory, is also adjacent to the temple, the pond tower with the Streltsy guards of Princess Sophia suggests a legend - they say if you touch the tower where Princess Sophia was hidden with your hand and make your most cherished wish, and then it will surely come true . They write mainly on the wall of the tower, thinking that this way it will come true faster.
The monastery is the oldest building in Russia
It is worth mentioning the new cemetery, which is located next to the monastery, second in its political prestige only to the Kremlin wall, where the remains and monuments from other cemeteries were transferred. There is
famous people, famous and talented writers all over the world, cultural figures, politicians, military men - M.A. Bulgakov, N.S. Khrushchev, N.S. Alliluyeva and many others.
The monastery is one of the oldest buildings in Russia and has been handed over for an indefinite period and free use Moscow diocese since March 22, 2010. Approval of the Moscow diocese - the museum is not driven out into the street, and will continue to function successfully. The ensemble is an important state dominant of the entire southwestern region of the capital, and pleases everyone, without exception, both guests and residents of the country. An alley has been laid along the fortified shore, which leads to a white-stone bridge and a square where recent times travel companies bring foreign tourists by bus on exciting excursions. Many foreigners selling souvenirs make views of Moscow - this place is a continuation of the Old Arbat, which is located nearby.
You can see this and much more with your own eyes, visiting all the sights of monasteries, churches, temples, going on an excursion to these wonderful places in order to admire the truly unique and fascinating sights of Tula yourself.
Among the sights of Moscow there are many that correspond to the very spirit of the business capital: noisy, bright, crowded, with catchy advertising. But sometimes you want to look at the beloved city without external tinsel, in retrospect, find out how it lived several centuries ago, who decided its fate, and just plunge into the silence of secluded paths that have seen too much in half a millennium to scream about it. If so, then welcome to Novodevichy Convent, a photo of the architectural ensemble of which adorns many postcards and albums!
Novodevichy Convent: address in Moscow
Where is the Novodevichy Convent located? The oldest and, perhaps, the most beautiful monastery of the white-stone capital is nestled in a bend of the Moskva River, on the infamous Maiden's Field in ancient times, at the end of the historic district of Prechistenka.
- Its official address: Moscow, Novodevichy proezd, house 1.
- Additional information can be obtained by phone: +7 499 246-85-26.
Novodevichy Convent: how to get there
The easiest way to use the services Moscow Metro. How to get to the Novodevichy Convent by metro? Very simple! The nearest metro station is Sportivnaya, however, you still have to walk from it for about 5-7 minutes at a leisurely pace, but this is not a problem even for the most unprepared tourist for hiking.
- From the metro station "Sportivnaya" to the monastery run buses Nos. 64 and 132. If you prefer to move around by trolleybus, Nos. 5 and 15 suit you.
- How to get to the Novodevichy Convent by private transport? If you are traveling by car, then follow the Third transport ring to Luzhnetsky passage, then turn onto it, and after 500 meters you will find yourself on the Novodevichy Monastery Square. It takes a little more than an hour to get to the monastery from the extreme points of Moscow (if the road is not overloaded with traffic jams).
Novodevichy Convent: opening hours for visitors
- You can get to the territory of the Novodevichy Convent daily and absolutely free from 9:00 to 17:00.
- Dormition Church open all year round , Smolensk Cathedral is open from mid-May to the end of September, and services are held there only on patronal feasts.
- Museums on the territory of the Novodevichy Convent open from 10:00 to 16:30 every day, Tuesday is a day off, with the exception of the first Monday of the month (sanitary day). Adult travelers can get into museums for 300 rubles. If you are a schoolboy, student or pensioner, you are more fortunate: the entrance will cost only 100 rubles.
Novodevichy Convent: Service Schedule
The schedule of divine services in the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow is subject to a single schedule.
- Daily at 7:40 Divine Liturgy is held, at 17:00 - Vespers and Matins.
- Holidays and Sundays early and late Liturgy are served - respectively at 6:20 and 8:40.
- Parishioners have the opportunity to visit sacrament of confession: in the morning - daily, in the evening - on Saturday and on the eve of holidays.
- Sacrament of Baptism takes place every day from 11:00, however, it should be pre-registered from 10:00 to 10:40.
Where to Stay in Novodevichy Convent
Unfortunately, there is no pilgrim's house at the monastery, so those who want to stay longer near the monastery shrines will have to find their own lodging for the night.
- Only 300 meters from the monastery are the apartments " Express Comfort on Malaya Pirogovskaya"(street Malaya Pirogovskaya, 27, building 1). True, staying here is quite an expensive pleasure: a room will cost from 3,500 rubles per night.
- Those who want to save at least a little on housing can give preference to one of the Moscow hostels. Penthouse Hostels(1st Frunzenskaya street, 6, apt. 111), "City Hotel on Kievsky"(square of the Kievsky railway station, 1), "Owl"(Second Neopalimovsky lane, d. 3) provide accommodation at an inexpensive price (from 700 rubles per person per night), but you will have to walk a little to the Novodevichy Convent or use public transport: the nearest hostel is 2 km away.
Novodevichy Convent: history of creation
- The history of the Novodevichy Convent begins almost 500 years ago. Maiden's field, on which the first buildings of the monastery were laid, had a bad reputation: it was here that the Mongol-Tatars selected beautiful girls who were destined to go to the Horde. It is possible that the monastery got its name from the name of the Maiden's Field. By the way, the monastery has a "namesake" - Resurrection Novodevichy Convent.
- Monastery at the crossroads important ways, was supposed to become an obstacle in the way of potential enemies. That is why the monastery was surrounded by a high brick wall with towers and loopholes.
- The events unfolding within the walls of the monastery over the 500 years of its existence were often of great importance for the whole country. The monastery stood in the way of Khan Kazy-Girey and Napoleon, representatives of the royal family were tonsured as nuns here and lived last years the first wife of Peter I - Evdokia Lopukhina. Under Soviet rule, the monastery was given the status of a museum, a in 1944 started its activity here Theological Institute, and later - pastoral courses. Since 1994 monastic life resumed on the territory of the monastery. Today, the monastery accepts women who wish to be tonsured into its bosom. Head of the Novodevichy Convent abbess Margarita.
Attractions of the monastery
- Almost all the buildings of the monastery were built in the 17th century in the Moscow baroque style. The main cathedral of the monastery Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God- was erected following the example of the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin. Above the main entrance to the monastery rises the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the southern gate is crowned with the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. The highest building of the monastery is the 72-meter bell tower of the Novodevichy Convent, with its dome reaching high into the sky.
- Architectural ensemble monastery is on the list cultural heritage UNESCO.
- In collection Museum of the Novodevichy Convent ancient Russian icons, antique fabrics, gems, old books, as well as documents from the monastery archive.
- Park of the Novodevichy Convent stretched around a picturesque pond under the monastery walls. This is a favorite place for walking and meeting Muscovites: it is quiet, cozy and calm here, weeping willows are reflected in the water surface, the sunset gilds the surface of the pond, and the powerful walls of the monastery protect those walking from adversity.
- In the XVI century on the territory of the monastery arose necropolis, where statesmen, war heroes, writers and other prominent personalities found their last refuge: hussar and poet Denis Davydov, Decembrist M.I. Muraviev-Apostol, historian Sergei Solovyov, General Alexei Brusilov. The Novodevichy Cemetery adjoins the walls of the monastery: famous politicians, musicians, scientists, actors and other prominent Muscovites are buried there. The cemetery of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow is still considered one of the most prestigious in the capital.
Novodevichy Convent: Shrines
The Novodevichy Convent is famous not only for its rich history, but also for its revered shrines. Indeed, all of Moscow knows the shrines of the Novodevichy Convent. Among them:
- Image of Nicholas the Wonderworker with particles of relics;
- Smolensk icon Mother of God "Hodegetria", to which the monastery is dedicated;
- Iberian Icon of the Mother of God, as well as arks with particles of the relics of various saints.
Novodevichy Convent in the photo
Novodevichy Convent
Walls of the Novodevichy Convent
The architectural ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent from a bird's eye view
Video about Novodevichy Convent
The Novodevichy Convent is that unique place where the past has not sunk into oblivion, but remains close to us, reminding us of where we came from and where we will go in due time. When you wander along its paths, you involuntarily forget about the fuss that has remained somewhere far away, behind the monastery walls.
Come here and feel the amazing peace for yourself, which is worth more than all the attractions in the world!
Undisturbed, like a hero,
as if in a mirror - above the water,
Novodevichy Convent
guards holy peace.Korman Vladimir Mikhailovich, 2010
There is a wonderful place in Moscow where everyone should visit - the Novodevichy Convent.
Novodevichy Convent belongs to the Historical Museum. On the territory of the monastery it is unusually pleasant to just be, walk and see everything.
It was built in 1524 by Grand Duke Vasily III in honor of the capture of Smolensk and its annexation to the Moscow principality. The main shrine of the monastery is the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria", in whose honor the monastery was consecrated.
The foundation of the monastery is also associated with the dissolution of the marriage of Vasily III. It was here that he wanted to exile his wife, Grand Duchess Solomonia.
Why it is called Novodevichy, there is no consensus. There are several versions of where the name Novodevichy came from. According to one version, there used to be a field at this place. Here the most beautiful girls of Moscow were chosen. They were sent as tribute to the Golden Horde. According to another, the monastery began to be called so by the name of the first abbess Devochkin. And the most probable third version - the monastery was intended for girls. Later, the prefix "new" appeared in order to distinguish the monastery from the Starodevichy Voznesensky, located in the Kremlin. This monastery no longer exists.
Noble women entered this richest and most privileged monastery. Not everyone came here of their own free will.
Relatives of Ivan the Terrible, the widow of his younger brother and the widow of his eldest son, were tonsured here. Tsarina Irina Godunova and her brother Boris Godunov lived in a monastery. Princess Sophia, who did not want to give up the throne to her brother Peter I, was imprisoned in a monastery and forcibly tonsured a nun. Evdokia Fedorovna Lopukhina, the first wife of Peter the Great, was transferred here shortly before her death.
I started my walk from the park, located near the walls of the monastery. From the shore of the Bolshoi Novodevichy Pond, a magnificent view of the carved walls of the ancient monastery opens up.
The park is small but very cozy. It has flower beds. There is a playground, good paths and many benches. It's nice to wander along the shady alleys of the park on a hot summer day.
Sculpture of mother duck in the Novodevichy Ponds park based on the fairy tale by American writer Robert McCloskey "Give Way to the Ducklings". This composition was presented by Barbara Bush to Raisa Maksimovna Gorbacheva and installed in the park in 1991. A duck with ducklings is an exact copy of the sculpture installed in Central Boston Park. Sculpted by Nancy Sheen.
Weeping willows on the banks of the pond give it a very beautiful look. It is nice to sit in their cool shade and admire the domes of the monastery reflected in the pond.
Between the Bolshoi and Maly Novodevichy Ponds there is a picturesque bridge, on the forged railing of which lovers hang padlocks for good luck. Great place for a date.
Naprudnaya or Sofya Tower - the place of imprisonment of the elder sister of Peter I.
They say that if you touch the wall of the Sofia Tower and make a wish, it will certainly come true. You can leave a note with wishes in the crack of the wall, as in the “Wailing Wall” in Jerusalem, but many, to be sure, write their wishes directly on the wall.
Having made a pleasant walk around the Novodevichy Pond, I enter the territory of the monastery through the main entrance. Above it, the Perobrazhenskaya Gate Church (1687-1688) goes high into the sky with its towers.
To the right of the main gate are the Lopukhin Chambers, built in 1687-1688 for the daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, Princess Ekaterina Alekseevna. Later named after Evdokia Lopukhina, the first wife of Peter I. She lived here in 1727-1731.
Streltsy guard at the Naprudnaya tower
Singing chambers. Early 18th century.
Savvinskaya tower
Assumption Church with a refectory. 1685-1687
I go around the Assumption Church on the right and head towards the Volkonsky mausoleum. I will return to church.
Mausoleum of the Volkonskys. First half of the 19th century.
Setun archery guardhouse XVII century. Round Setun tower.
Intercession Gate Church 1687-1688
Walking around the Church of the Assumption, I saw an ajar door. Curious - what's behind it?
Flowers are everywhere. Very beautiful.
I went out to the Smolensk Cathedral, and behind it, in the distance, the Prokhorovs' chapel.
Smolensk Cathedral 1524-1525
Near the Smolensk Cathedral there is a bell tower
Belfry 1689-1690
To the left of the bell tower, the Filatiev School, 19th century
To the right of the bell tower Hospital chambers XVII century
Chapel-tomb of the Prokhorovs, early 20th century against the backdrop of the Smolensk Cathedral
Against the background of the bell tower
X frame of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a dining room. He seemed to be entangled in the branches of trees. I walked around it and, of course, went into the temple.
Good angle: Assumption Church, Smolensky Cathedral and the bell tower.
Opposite the Assumption Church, I observed a curious picture. A crow sat on a stone, apparently tame. Visitors treated her to something, gave her some water to drink, and talked to her. A crowd gathered around. The crow was not afraid of anyone and did not fly away, proudly sat on a stone and accepted gifts.
This was the end of my journey through the Novodevichy Convent. I went out again through the Transfiguration Gate Church. The road to the subway Sportivnaya. Square - Tsaritsyna tower. Round - Nikolskaya tower.
How to get to the Novodevichy Convent
On the public transport: m. Sportivnaya, then about 5-7 minutes on foot.
Address: Moscow, Novodevichy proezd, building 1.
Opening hours
You can enter the territory daily from 9-00 to 17-00.
Smolensk Cathedral is open from May 15 to the end of September, services are held during patronal feasts. Assumption Church is open all year round.
Museums are open from 10-00 to 16-30, Tuesday is a day off. The first Monday of every month is a sanitary day.
Ticket price
Tickets to museums: adults - 300 rubles, schoolchildren, students and pensioners - 100 rubles.
Novodevichy Convent on the map
Assumption refectory church was built in 1685-1687. The architectural appearance was constantly changing: at first the temple and the refectory were surrounded by an open gallery, then at the beginning of the 19th century. it was dismantled and at the entrances to the temple and to the refectory, covered extensions with stairs were made. The five domes also did not survive, it was replaced in the 19th century. one chapter. The refectory church was consecrated in 1687. In 1812, two chapels were built: the northern one - in the name of the Apostle Jacob Alfeev, in memory of the deliverance of the monastery from an explosion by French troops; southern - in the name of the Apostle John the Theologian, as a reminder of the previously existing church of the same name in the monastery bell tower. Both have now been abolished. The decoration of the southern aisle was transferred to the Church of the Archangel Michael in Troparevo.
After the revolution, a museum was created in the monastery, all churches were closed. The Church of the Dormition was returned to the church in 1945. Since 1964, the church has housed the chair of the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna. In 1988, an iconostasis from the destroyed Church of the Assumption on Pokrovka was installed in the church. The main throne of the temple was consecrated in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, the western aisle - in the name of the right-believing Prince Daniel of Moscow, the side aisle - in the name of the Apostle John the Theologian.
Within the territory of .
Assumption Church with refectory 1685-1687 This essentially unusual building was built in 1685-1687. This building is unique for its time: the premises of the chambers are pillarless, that is, the vault is not supported by pillars, and the building itself stands on a high basement. This church originally looked a little different than it does now. The temple was decorated with majestic five domes, which perished in a fire in 1796. The restoration work of the 19th century transformed the upper part of the temple and forced to say goodbye to the white-stone gallery that surrounded the entire building - it was too dilapidated. The Church of the Dormition is notable for the chapel in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, located on its second floor, and the ancient iconostasis kept there.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in the Novodevichy Convent (Novodevichy proezd, house number 1).
It was built in the refectory monastery in 1684-1687. Immediately after the completion of construction, the temple was painted outside and inside. At the same time, under the guidance of the master of the Armory, Karp Zolotarev, a carved gilded iconostasis was built and icons were painted for him. The white-stone decor of the temple was made by the architect and carver Kondraty Mymrin. Bogdan Dmitriev and Ivan Masyukov worked on the decorative painting of the interior. Adjacent to the temple is a vast refectory and three smaller chambers, one of which served as a kitchen. All chambers were erected on a single basement.
Initially, the Assumption Church was even slimmer and more elegant, since its main volume was completed with kokoshniks and five domes (at present it is an octagon topped with a drum with one onion dome; the open gallery has also been lost, instead of which covered extensions with stairs have been erected). Despite later distortions, the building remains one of the significant monuments of that time. The original murals of the 17th century perished in a fire. The inside of the temple was repainted in 1870 by the artist N.F. Fedorov. In 1817, the facades of the refectory were painted "brick-like".
The temple was closed in 1922. In 1934, the Novodevichy Convent was transferred to the Historical Museum, and it is still its branch. The Assumption Church was consecrated on December 29, 1945. A wooden iconostasis of the 17th century from the Moscow Trinity Church in Khokhly was installed in it. In the 1980s it was replaced by a restored iconostasis of the destroyed Assumption Church on Pokrovka. In the right part of the refectory, in 1945, the chapel of St. John the Theologian was restored, for which in 1956 a new iconostasis was created. The painting of the refectory was renewed in 1946. After the destruction in 1964 of the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul on Preobrazhenskaya Square, the pulpit of the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna was transferred to the Assumption Church. In 1982, in the western part of the refectory, a baptismal church was created in the name of the holy noble prince Daniel of Moscow. In the upper floor of the church there is a chapel in the name of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. In the mid 1990s. the painting of the refectory vault was restored. The revered shrines of the temple are the Smolensk and Tikhvin icons of the Mother of God, painted in the 16th century.
Mikhail Vostryshev "Orthodox Moscow. All churches and chapels".
http://rutlib.com/book/21735/p/17
On January 24, 2009, the ancient Iberian Icon of the Mother of God was delivered from the storerooms of the State Historical Museum to the Dormition Church of Moscow's Novodevichy Convent. The great Orthodox shrine was met by Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Archbishop Gregory of Mozhaisk with a cathedral of clergy, sisters of the monastery and many pilgrims, the press service of the Moscow diocese reports.
“Your Eminence, dear Vladyka Gregory, all-honorable fathers, all-honorable mother abbess Margarita with the sisters of the holy monastery, beloved and dear brothers and sisters!
We were now witnesses and participants in a holy event for this ancient monastery. The Iberian Icon of the Mother of God has been returned to the temple for veneration. This is the first image that was painted for Russia and delivered to Moscow. Since then, a celebration has been established in honor of the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God.
We know many lists from this icon, which are located both in Moscow and in all the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is very valuable for us that this icon only once in history left the monastery in order to be able to bow to it in the Miracle Monastery. She was always in the Novodevichy Convent.
For the last decades, it has been stored in the State Historical Museum. And today, according to the agreement adopted by the State Historical Museum, this icon was delivered to us for prayer worship.
I am very happy to see you, long before the start of the service, who arrived here to meet this miraculous image, our national Russian shrine.
Between the morning and evening services, daily prayers will be performed in this holy temple with an akathist in front of the image of the Mother of God of Iveron, for which clergy, monastics and parishioners will arrive from our deaneries. Anyone who wishes to make a pilgrimage here will have such an opportunity.
We must thank the Lord for the mercy that the Most Holy Lady of the Theotokos shows us. By her appearance of this icon in front of us, she reminds us that, like the Mother, she takes care of all of us, helps us in life, in work, in service, in correction, in order to prepare us for the Kingdom of Heaven.
May the blessing Holy Lady Our Mother of God dwells over all of you, over our holy monastery, over our city of Moscow, over our great Russia. Amen".