Novospassky Stavropigial Monastery
Novospassky Monastery is one of the oldest Orthodox monasteries in Moscow. The active male monastery is located in the center of the city, on the left bank of the Moscow River, above the Novospassky Bridge. It is known as the burial place of members of the House of Romanov and prominent boyar families of Russia.
Video: Novospassky Monastery
Contents- Highlights
- History of the monastery in the 13th to 19th centuries
- Trials of the 20th century
What can be seen on the monastery grounds today - Tips when visiting the monastery
- How to get there
Highlights
Among the monastery temples, the Transfiguration Cathedral, which appeared in the Novospassky Monastery in the second half of the 17th century, stands out for its huge size. Inside this majestic temple, frescoes painted by the famous Russian isographer Guriy Nikitin have been preserved.
.
The territory of the Novospassky Monastery is small, but very well-groomed. In the warm season here you can see beautiful flowerbeds, fruit-bearing apricots and covered with ripe berries grape vines. Between the monastery and the Krasnokholmskaya embankment there is an elongated Novospassky pond. The monastery ensemble looks especially beautiful from it and from the bank of the river – from the side of the Krasnokholmskaya embankment.
.
History of the monastery in the XIII-XIX centuries
The Novospassky Stavropigial Monastery was founded in the XIII century by Prince Daniel Alexandrovich, son of Prince Alexander Nevsky, who ruled in Muscovy. The new monastery was located where the Danilov Monastery stands nowadays. A few decades later the monastery moved. This decision was made by Daniel’s son – Grand Duke Ivan I Danilovich, nicknamed Kalita. He wanted the monastery to be located near the princely chambers in the Kremlin, and a new place was chosen for the monastery – Borovitsky Hill. According to it the monastery was named Spas na Boru. Here the prince himself and members of his family prayed, as well as church bishops who came to the city to solve the affairs of local dioceses stopped here.
.
In the 1640s, the monastery began to build walls of stone. They rose to a height of 7.5 meters and reached a thickness of up to 2 meters. And in 1647, in the presence of the sovereign, the solemn consecration of the Transfiguration Cathedral took place. Thanks to the tsar’s gifts, the Novospassky Monastery became considered one of the richest Moscow monasteries. It owned many villages and landed estates.
.Serious trials fell to the share of the Novospassky Monastery during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. In 1812 it was looted and set on fire. It is known that before the retreat from Moscow the French troops dug pits under the Transfiguration Cathedral and intended to blow up the temple, however, for some reason this did not happen. Until the 1840s the ancient monastery was healing the wounds inflicted by the Patriotic War.
.
Trials of the 20th century
At the beginning of the last century, the Novospassky Monastery served as a center of religious education. Under it operated Societies of singing and sobriety, and illiterate people learned to read and count at special classes. In 1913, when the whole country celebrated the 300th anniversary of the Romanov reign, the Russian Emperor Nicholas II came to the monastery.
.
Then in the life of the monastery, as in the whole of Russia, there was a sharp turn. In 1918, the monastery was closed, and on the territory freed from the monks organized a concentration camp. First there was a prison for women, and then a correctional labor institution, where criminals and political prisoners were kept. Torture and shootings took place in the ancient temples.
In the 1930s, occupying most of the monastery huge necropolis by decision of the authorities demolished, and the former monastery buildings were transferred to the NKVD. They began to store archives and confiscated furniture. Some of the buildings were converted into housing, and in St. Nicholas Church a potato storehouse was created. Over time, the old buildings were decaying, and the new owners wanted to simply destroy the Novospassky monastery, but these plans were prevented from being realized by the Great Patriotic War.
.
In the late 1960s, a museum dedicated to restoration work appeared at the monastery. At the same time, the monastery began to carry out large-scale restoration work, which lasted for two decades.
.
In the early 1990s, the Novospassky Monastery was finally returned to the church. The revived brotherhood then consisted of the abbot and two hieromonks. Since then, the monastery has been undergoing restoration. Today, most of the monastery has been restored, but the restoration work has not yet been completed.
.What can be seen on the monastery grounds these days
The central place in the monastery is occupied by the large Transfiguration Cathedral, inside which is located the family tomb of the Romanovs. The church contains ancient icons and its floor is made of cast iron slabs. Near the entrance to a cathedral it is possible to see the image of a family tree of Rurikovich. All tsars on it are drawn in full height. Church services are held here only in summer.
.
The tallest building of the Novospassky Monastery is the four-tiered bell tower with the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh. It was built in the 50-80s of the XVIII century according to the project of the famous Russian architect Ivan Zherebtsov. The bells occupy the fourth tier of the building, and at the top you can see a clock with a strike, the melodious sound of which is heard every half an hour. Formerly the monastery was entered through the bell tower itself, but nowadays the entrance to the monastery is located to the right of it.
.
Of the buildings of the XVII century in the Novospasskaya monastery have survived the Intercession Church, powerful stone fortress walls and towers, as well as buildings for the abbot and brethren. Since the XVIII century the Nikolskaya Church, the Znamensky Church with the tomb of Princes Sheremetevs and an icon shop have stood here. In later times were erected chapel (the burial place of Princess Tarakanova), memorial cross-monument, candle workshop and farmyard.
.
In 2011, the monastery got its own museum, which was created for the 20th anniversary of its revival. Museum exhibits tell about the history of the fraternal community of the Novospassky Monastery, its architectural monuments, as well as the life of Grand Duke S. A. Romanov.
In 2012, the Italian courtyard was revived in the monastery. This is a memorable place where in the 1920s were held shootings of prisoners.
.
A Sunday school and a singing school for boys were opened at the monastery.
.
Tips when visiting the monastery
Tourists wishing to tour the Novospassky Monastery should keep in mind that it is an active male Orthodox monastery living by its own statutes and rules. The territory of the monastery is open daily from morning to evening. Divine services in the temples are held every day at 8.00 and 17.00, but some of the premises and buildings are closed to visitors.
.Visitors to the monastery should take care to wear appropriate, modest clothing. Women are advised to be on the monastery grounds with their heads covered. Photography is allowed inside the monastery, but it is asked not to take pictures of monks and novices.
The Museum at the Novospassky Monastery welcomes visitors daily from 10.00 to 17.00, and admission is free. In addition, the pilgrimage service offers interesting thematic excursions around the territory of the monastery for all comers.
.How to get there
The Novospassky Monastery can be reached on foot from the Moscow metro stations “Proletarskaya” or “Krestyanskaya Zastava” (600 m). It is also interesting to sail to the monastery along the river on a pleasure boat. You need to get off at the Novospassky Bridge pier.
