St. Danilov Monastery
Danilov Monastery is an active male monastery in Moscow, reporting directly to the patriarch. Although, according to legends, it was founded in the XIII century, the complex of buildings that have survived to this day were erected much later, beginning in the XVI century. Nevertheless, the Danilov Monastery is considered the oldest monastery in the capital. It is also called St. Danilov Monastery or Danilovsky Monastery.
.Today it is one of the most important objects of Orthodox life: in the temples daily services are held, feast days are widely celebrated, monks conduct educational activities, craft workshops and Orthodox shops operate. On the territory of the Danilov Monastery is located the residence of the patriarch and the meeting hall of the Synod.
- History of the Danilov Monastery
- Temples of the Danilov Monastery
Architectural features of the ensemble - Residence of the patriarch
- Shrines of the monastery
Monastery production - Rules of behavior in the monastery
- Shopping in the Danilov Monastery
Services - Resting near the walls of the Danilov Monastery
- How to get there
History of the Danilov Monastery
Archaeological data confirms the existence of wooden churches on the site of Danilov Monastery from about the 14th century, more specific information has not yet been found. Historical sources name the founder of the monastery as Prince Daniel Alexandrovich of Moscow, who received his name in honor of the prominent fifth-century Christian Daniel the Stolpnik. The latter was a fervent follower of Simeon Stolpnik after witnessing the saint’s perennial exploits. On his pillar in the vicinity of Constantinople, Daniel stood for about 30 years, manifesting to the world all sorts of miracles of healing the suffering, after which he died peacefully in deep, for those times, old age at the age of 80. It is with these church figures: the two Daniels and Simeon – are associated with the main objects of worship of the monastery.
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History of the stone ensemble
The construction of the Church of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Councils was completed in 1560, after which it was consecrated a year later in the presence of Ivan the Terrible. In the Time of Troubles, during the years of Bolotnikov’s uprising, the Danilov complex unwittingly found itself in the thick of events – near it there were devastating battles and executions. In the XVIII century, 20-30 members of the brethren felt more calm, the peaceful course of monastic life was not encroached upon by anyone.
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Another problem began in 1812, when the sacristy and other valuables were evacuated to Vologda and the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, and never returned. Otherwise, in the XIX century Danilovsky monastery prospered: although the number of monks remained modest, land holdings grew and properties outside its territory appeared.
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The decline and revival of the monastery in the twentieth century
After the revolution, disgraced bishops who did not support Patriarch Tikhon were gathered in the Danilov Monastery. In 1929, it was closed by decision of the NKVD. The bells were taken to the United States, the necropolis was ruined, the ashes of Gogol, Khomyakov, Yazykov were moved to Novodevichy Cemetery, and the remains of the painter Perov were moved to the Donskoy Monastery. Many manuscripts and books were transferred to the state archive. A special reception center was opened in the former monastery: children of those repressed at the Butovo polygon were taken here. The mortality rate among the children was enormous, and new, already nameless burials appeared near the monastery walls.
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In 1983, under Patriarch Pimen, a decision was made at the state level to return the monastery to the faithful. At first it was about the Donskoy monastery, then, after the death of Brezhnev, the authorities opted for the Danilov monastery. In the 80s the reconstruction of cathedrals and household premises began simultaneously with the construction of the patriarch’s residence. A few years ago the residence was reconstructed, after which the monastery continued to operate in the standard mode: a small part of it is open to parishioners, the rest is under the vigilant guard of Cossacks.
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Temples of the Danilovsky Monastery
The oldest temple of the monastery, the church in the name of the Holy Fathers, in its original form lasted less than 200 years. In 1730 it was dismantled, and a new one with the same name was built on the plinth of the nearby church of the XVII century – Pokrovskaya. The architectural experiments did not end there. In 1806 two side chapels were added to the Cathedral of the Holy Fathers: the southern one was dedicated to Boris and Gleb, the northern one to Daniel of Moscow.
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As a result, instead of one Throne Feast, the Church of the Holy Fathers celebrates several – each in its own department. The main celebration in honor of the Ecumenical Councils takes place on May 31. From the Pokrovskaya Church, from the basement of the Church of the Seven Councils, a procession around the building and the nearby Trinity Cathedral sets off on October 14. The side chapel of the Church of the Intercession is dedicated to the prophet Daniel, whose Throne Feast is celebrated on December 30. The Church of Daniel the Pillar is arranged in the third tier of the Church of the Seven Councils, here they celebrate his feast day on December 24.
.The builders of the monastery could not forget about the teacher of Daniel Stolpnik – Simeon. This saint is dedicated to the gate church of the XVIII century, crowned with a 45-meter bell tower. Solemn service is held here on September 14. The Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in the basement of the Trinity Cathedral and the Church of Seraphim of Sarov on the place of the chapel in the hospital building have been equipped recently, in the 80s of the twentieth century.
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Architectural features of the ensemble
The main distinguishing feature of the architecture of the Danilovsky Monastery is its eclecticism: the complex combines buildings of different styles. Visitors enter the monastery through the ornate Holy Gate of 1681 with the Baroque bell tower of Simeon the Stolpnik – the most striking part of the complex. A strict brick wall with seven towers surrounding the Danilov Monastery appeared earlier than the entrance group – in the early 17th century.
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The building of the Church of the Seven Councils is unique in the number of churches combined in it. The lower floor, the Church of the Intercession, is characterized by the modesty of low vaults without paintings. The upper part, the Church of the Holy Fathers proper, is in the Moscow Baroque style. Trinity Cathedral of 1833-1838. – The Trinity Cathedral of 1833-1838 is a bright representative of the Moscow Empire with a portal decorated with six columns and an 8-window drum topped with a dome. Presumably, its architect was Osip Bove, the author of the Manege, the Alexander Garden, the Bolshoi Theater and many other iconic Moscow buildings. According to other information, Evgraf Tyurin, also a very famous architect, who created Krutitsky Barracks and Elokhovsky Cathedral, took part in the development of the project. Since the XIX century only the outer shell was preserved, after falling into the hands of the NKVD the building was completely rebuilt inside. After the return of the monastery to the church, the interior was restored according to surviving records and illustrations.
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Residence of the patriarch
In the western part of the monastery complex there is a specially protected object – the Synodal Residence of the Patriarch. The two-story building was designed by Yuri Rabayev, one of the authors of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin walls. His efforts resulted in a classic obkom party with elements of church architecture – tent towers and mosaics depicting the Savior. On the second floor of the residence is the house church of All Saints. Here they conduct the naming of bishops before the new Orthodox hierarch is ordained in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. In 2011, the Synodal Residence was completely renovated, attributing this need to the imperfect construction techniques of 25 years ago.
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Shrines of the monastery
The burial place of the founding prince was forgotten, but in 1652 the relics were recovered and buried in the temple of the Ecumenical Councils. In 1932, after the closure of both the monastery and the churches located near it, the remains of Daniel disappeared. In the 90s, the particles of the relics, preserved by the efforts of the surviving hierarchs in the country and abroad, were returned to the Danilov Monastery. The cancer returned to the cathedral under the northern arch, the ark, which came from America, is now kept in the Trinity Cathedral. Two more icons with the relics are on the lectern and between the iconostases. The finding of the relics is celebrated in the side chapel of the Church of the Seven Councils on September 12. Every year on September 17, the day of the saint’s death is remembered.
.The Pokrovskaya Church holds a casket with the relics of St. George, who was exiled to Kazakhstan after the revolution and died in 1932 on his way out of exile. The Trinity Cathedral contains a fragment of the remains of Alexander Nevsky, the Church of Prince Daniel in the Cathedral of the Holy Fathers contains a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Here you can also see the ark of Spiridon of Trimiphunt with his slipper.
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Monastery production
Employees of art and restoration workshops paint churches, create icons, jewelry for the Orthodox Church, kiosks and arks made of wood. The Danilov Monastery has its own bell-making workshop with master classes and training for ringers. It produces new bells, reconstructs old bells, specialists participate in the design of belfries with the calculation of the sound of instruments, conduct expert examinations.
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The history of the original Danilov bells is dramatic: in the 30s, the originals were miraculously exported to the United States and stored at Harvard University. In 2007, they were exchanged for exact copies, with Vekselberg as the delivery sponsor. Thanks to the successful deal, since 2010 the monastery has been hosting a festival of Russian bells on the last Sunday of September.
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Rules of behavior in the monastery
Since the Danilov Monastery is an active monastery, which is also a male monastery, it has its own restrictions on visiting. Women come exclusively in skirts and wear a headscarf when entering the territory, men take off their hats when entering the temple. During the service, women are recommended to stand on the right, men – on the left. Women are not allowed to enter the temple with painted lips: they are supposed to kiss the cross. Monks are the first to receive communion, then children, men, and women at the end.
Throughout the territory walks Cossack guards, watching for order. It is forbidden to take pictures in the monastery, especially of monks, otherwise Cossacks will intervene.
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Shopping at the Danilov Monastery
There are stores on the grounds of the monastery, next to it, on Danilovsky Val, and online. In the tent from 8 to 20 h you can buy reproductions of paintings by Orthodox artists or even originals, such as the ceremonial portrait of Patriarch Kirill. “Monastery Honey” sells products from Greece, honey and bread of its own production, non-alcoholic balsam, cosmetics for skin care, Lenten semi-finished products and spirulina. Other monastery shops sell leather goods with Orthodox symbols: belts, key chains, wallets, bags, key holders, as well as T-shirts with paintings, icons and kiosks.
.Divine services
In St. Danilov Monastery do not baptize, do not crown or funeral, accept only personal orders of prayers for health and repose. Urgent questions can be solved with the priest on duty from 9 to 17 h in the reception room, on Sundays and holidays – from 12 o’clock. Solemn services on feast days are held in the churches of the monastery. Confession begins at 7 a.m. in the Church of the Holy Fathers. At 6, 7 and 17 o’clock on weekdays in the temple of the Holy Fathers is the daily prayer, on Saturdays and on the eve of holidays from 17 o’clock in the Trinity Cathedral begins all-night service. On weekends, a liturgy is served at 8:45 a.m. at Trinity and at 6:45 a.m. at the Church of the Seven Councils. Another service is held on Sundays at 5 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Fathers.
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Vacationing near the walls of the Danilov Monastery
Although on the territory of the monastery there are no conditions for accommodation for pilgrims, outside its walls, on the southern side, the hotel “Danilovskaya”, belonging to the patriarchate, was built. The institution is secular in nature, equipped with a restaurant with a bar, a swimming pool. The cost of living in a double room with breakfast – from 7 thousand rubles per day, three-room apartments with a four-poster bed and whirlpool bath cost from 13000 rubles. The hotel restaurant offers monastery cuisine, the cheapest position in the Lenten menu, buckwheat with mushrooms and onions, costs 250 rubles per portion.
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How to get there
You can get to Danilov Monastery from Paveletskaya metro station by streetcar of any route to the stop of the same name. A more typical route is to walk from the metro station “Tulskaya”, orienting from the last carriage from the center, about 300 m to the northeast along the streetcar tracks. Entrance to the Danilovsky Monastery is free from 6.30 am to 9 pm, and you can have a snack inside at the bakery stand.
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