The Holy Assumption Monastery (Krasnoyarsk): address, photo and history

In 2000, after a long break, the Assumption Monastery (Krasnoyarsk) was revived to monastic life. The testimonies of those who visited it unanimously testify to the joy that was shown by the visible evidence that, despite all the hardships that struck the Orthodox Church in the 20th century, she managed to survive and revive monasticism - the highest form of service to God.

The concern of the Krasnoyarsk ruler

In December 1873, the head of the Krasnoyarsk diocese applied to the City Duma with a request to provide land for the purpose of creating a monastic monastery on it. The reason for this was the increased influence on the inhabitants of the region from the numerous exiles who lived both in Krasnoyarsk and in its environs.

The troublemakers and their pernicious influence

They were also the Old Believers split up by the authorities, referring to it from the middle of the 17th century, and the Decembrists who served their sentences but who were deprived of the right to return to the Central part of Russia, and the Poles who found themselves in Siberia as participants in the 1863 uprising. The latest replenishment consisted of members of the anti-government organization "Land and Freedom".

According to the clergy, they exerted the most pernicious influence on the inhabitants of the region, as a result of which, as Bishop Anthony writes in his address to the city head, unacceptable free treatment of representatives of power, deliberate pride, and incontinence in anger and disobedience has taken root among ordinary people. Vladyka notes that in the inhabitants of the region, everyday life and practicality began to get along with the darkest prejudices, as a result of which umbrella and nihilism are rooted everywhere.

A wise decision

The venerable bishop saw the solution of the problem in the creation of a powerful religious center capable of resisting the spiritual disintegration that was observed among the people. This purpose was to be served, in his opinion, by the Holy Dormition Monastery (Krasnoyarsk), for the creation of which a fairly large tract of land was required, which was discussed in his address to the civil authorities.

The City Duma reacted with sympathy to the initiative of the diocesan lord and, having satisfied his request, allocated a proper plot on the banks of the Yenisei, near the village of Plotbishcha. A Construction Committee was also established, which undertook the work to find funds for carrying out the necessary work. Soon the amount of 21 320 rubles was collected solely at the expense of voluntary donations of citizens.

Beginning of the monastery construction

When this most important stage of the whole enterprise was completed, a road from the city to the place where the Holy Assumption Monastery (Krasnoyarsk) was to be built through the forest area was built. Then, on the bank of the Yenisei, the main building of the monastery with its adjoining church was erected, summer archpastoral chambers and fraternal cells. In addition, they built a number of utility rooms, which housed cellars, barns, haylofts, dryers and stables. Do not forget about the classrooms, which were supposed to be taught by children from poor families.

Since the main building of the monastery was supposed to be built out of stone, and there was not enough money to attract a professional architect to this, they decided to do it on their own, and the work of drafting the future building was excellently executed by his own hieromonk Zosima. Mindful of the Lord, he coped with his task so brilliantly that he deserved the highest evaluation of the commission that arrived after completing the work at the Holy Dormition Monastery (Krasnoyarsk).

Bureaucratic procrastination

But the construction of the main building was only the beginning of the great works on the creation of the monastery, and along this way there were many difficulties, connected mainly with the slowness and red tape of officials. He received help and support, as was always the case, from philanthropists who generously donated funds and used their influence and connections to solve current problems. It is well known that in Holy Russia, for the success of any undertaking, apart from God's blessing, the permission of a high authority is required.

Day of jubilation and celebrations

Finally, the long-awaited day arrived on May 15, 1879, when the highest decree came from St. Petersburg, on the basis of which the Assumption Monastery in Krasnoyarsk was officially granted status. On this occasion, celebrations took place, in which, apart from the diocesan clergy, representatives of all strata of society, including the common people, who had the misfortune to fall under the influence of the exile, took part in the construction of the monastery.

On that day, under the incessant chime of the bells of all city churches, the cross of thousands crossed over the road to the cloister, which had recently been laid through the taiga, to celebrate its birth. In the main church of her - the Assumption Cathedral - a solemn liturgy was held, after which the clergy and higher civil authorities were invited to the abbot's cell for a proper meal. Having finished "what God sent" and thanking the Almighty, they left the Holy Dormition Monastery (Krasnoyarsk) and returned to the city in the same order, that is, the procession with the banners and icons.

Apostasy of the City Duma

But it is known that the enemy of the human race does not miss the opportunity to shred any kind of good deeds done for the glory of God. Here and this time he hardened the hearts of the local intelligentsia, and at the same time, the mayor, sowing in them the tares of the destructive influence of the exiled revolutionaries - atheists and nihilists.

Taking it into account, the City Duma refused to finance further construction, as a result of which the Holy Assumption Monastery (Krasnoyarsk) was left without funds. The situation was saved only by simple peasants, about whose moral fall Bishop Anthony was so sorrowful. It was on their voluntary donations that they succeeded in completing the construction of God's abode.

The last decade of the fertile XIX century

Since then, and up to the turning point in Russian history, which occurred in 1917, the Holy Dormition Monastery (Krasnoyarsk), whose photo of those years is mentioned in the article, was in enviable well-being. The data on his condition for 1895 are preserved. According to them, forty-four people lived in the monastery, including the governor, monks and novices.

They owned twenty heads of cattle, as well as land, once received from the city and leased now for farming and horticulture. In addition, it is known that on the territory of the monastery there were sewing and shoemaking shops, a bakery, an iconographic school and a school for the poor.

Contrary to popular belief, monks, especially those who came from the common people, were not afraid of hard work. An example of this is the misfortune that the Lord sent in 1888. Then, as a result of the strongest flood, there was a flood that destroyed part of the monastic buildings, as well as the only road leading to the city and connecting bridges with it. After being cut off from the world, the brethren did not lose heart, and after thoroughly praying, they paved their way through the forest thicket.

On the eve of the impending disaster

In recent years, preceding the October Revolution, a number of important transformations have been made in the monastery. On the basis of the blessings received from the Holy Synod on the right bank of the Yenisei, a monastery was founded, in which several monks moved to live. In addition, at the monastery opened a pilgrimage school, designed for fifty people, as well as a shelter for the poor and crippled. Major repairs were also made to most of the structures, including the Assumption Cathedral.

Under the power of the God-fighters

In October 1917, that same demon, which once confused the minds of the Krasnoyarsk intelligentsia, finally waited for his hour - the Bolsheviks who came to power immediately began to confiscate the monastic lands. True, immediately they did not have time to do this in full, since they were pushed back by White Guard troops, as a result of which the power of the Provisional Siberian Government was established. However, in 1920, when the godless dictatorship was finally established, the enemy of the human race made up for lost time.

During the nationalization of church values, all monastic property was taken from its owners. Most of the monks who lived then in the monastery were taken to the forest and shot there. On the spot where they were honored to be martyred, now memorial prayers are performed every year and memorial services are served.

In the following years, a number of medical and educational institutions, undoubtedly necessary, but created by the price of scolding and destroying God's relics, were placed on the territory of the former monastery, as well as the skete belonging to it. This sin in its entirety had to be redeemed by those who ruined the monastery, and many subsequent generations of Russians.

The New Times

The process of transferring the monastery to believers, or rather, what was left of it, began in 1992, on the wave of universal insight, repentance and a hasty return to spiritual sources. The initiator of this good deed was the head of the Krasnodar diocese Bishop Anthony (Cheremisov), warmly supported by the local Cossacks and their ataman VP Mastyanov.

They sent a letter to the Head of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Administration with a request to transfer to the diocese the site where the Holy Assumption Monastery (Krasnoyarsk) once housed: Forest, 55a. At the same time, the Cossacks undertook to restore the old buildings and create a military sports camp on the basis of the monastery.

However, in spite of the fact that most of the officials had already "believed" by this time, and the church services stood out with lean clothes, they did not hurry with the transfer of the monastery. The case dragged on, and only the intervention of Governor-General AI Lebed, a resolute and uncompromising man, helped move him from the dead end. The act of transfer was signed in 2000, and on its basis the eparchy received the land and building that once belonged to it, miraculously preserved on it, but which at that time had 87% wear.

Assumption Monastery (Krasnoyarsk): how to get to and working hours

In 2012, on the territory of the monastery, a stone church was built and consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Vsetsaritsa". Regular services are held there, as in the past, attracting believers to the Assumption Monastery (Krasnoyarsk). The address and opening hours of the temple can be found in the article: we inform you that all days of the week it is open from 8:00 to 18:30. It is located, as was mentioned above, at the address: Krasnoyarsk, ul. Forest, 55a. You can get to it by bus No. 12 from the stop "Predmostnaya Ploshchad".

We also inform those who would like to receive any clarification before visiting the Assumption Monastery (Krasnoyarsk), phone: 7 (391) 299-14-12.