Monasteries are an integral part of the culture and history of Russia. In any ancient Russian city you can climb a high hill, where you will see a stunning picture - the dome of Orthodox churches, cathedrals and monasteries. Now it will even be difficult to count how many monasteries there are in Russia. According to the data for the past year only 804 monasteries belong to the Russian Orthodox Church.
How did the monasteries appear?
The Greek word for "mono" (monk, monastery) means one. In order that no one interfered with meditating on the eternal and living by the laws of God, the ascetics spent a lot of time alone. Such people often met like-minded people and found students. Later, some communities emerged with common ideas, interests and a way of life. They settled down, began to lead a common farm. So the first Orthodox monasteries appeared on Russian soil.
The Ancient Monasteries of Russia
In the ancient Russian city of Novgorod, which played an important role in the formation and development of our state, the Yuriev Monastery is located. This most ancient monastery of Russia is on the left bank of the Volkhov River. Yuryev monastery was founded by Yaroslav the Wise. They built a wooden church, after which the history of the famous monastery began.
In Russia, the monastery often served as a fortress. The enemy had to lay siege to his walls for a long time. Often the monasteries were the first to take the blow, as they were located behind the walls of the cities. For a long time in Russia they were also the center of enlightenment. Within the walls of the monastery were organized small schools, libraries and artisan workshops. In difficult times, food was distributed to the needy, people who needed and sick people found shelter in these walls.
At the beginning of the 20th century, as a result of the revolution, the Russian Empire collapsed, and in its place a new USSR country was formed, in which there was no place for religion. Monasteries ruthlessly went bankrupt and closed. In former monasteries, warehouses or clubs were often located. In the early 90-ies of XX century, when communism fell, Russian Orthodox monasteries began to resume their activities. In Russia there are still new monasteries.
Famous monasteries of Russia
The Novospassky Monastery. One of the old Moscow male monasteries, which snugly settled on the Peasant Square just behind the Taganka. The monastery was founded in the distant 1490 during the reign of Grand Duke Ivan III. To date, it has a completely different appearance.
The monastery of Boris and Gleb. The Borisoglebsky monastery was founded during the reign of Prince Dmitry Donskoy. It is located in a quiet place on the banks of the river Ustye, surrounded by forest. Helped Dmitry Donskoy in the spiritual and moral revival of Russia Sergius of Radonezh.
The Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. This is perhaps the largest monastery in Russia. The history of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra is also connected with the name of the remarkable Russian ascetic Sergius of Radonezh. He made a great contribution to the development of Orthodoxy in the Russian state. There is a laurel in the city of Sergiev Posad in the Moscow region.
Another of the major operating monasteries in Russia is the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. It was established in 1473. The monastery is surrounded by strong walls with towers and loopholes. From the name you can understand that this monastery is located in the city of Pechory. Optina is a desert. A large and famous monastery in Russia. It is located in the Kaluga region, near the city of Kozelsk.
Suzdal monasteries are an ornament of this small city of Vladimir region. Many of them have a very ancient history - the Rizopolozhensky nunnery was founded in 1207.