Vysotsky monastery in Serpukhov. Serpukhov Visotsky monastery: reviews

Almost a hundred kilometers from Moscow, on the banks of the Nara, at the point of its confluence into the Oka, is the ancient abode that made Serpukhov famous. The man Vysotsky monastery with the blessing of Sergius of Radonezh in 1374 was founded by Prince Vladimir Brave, a relative and associate of Dimitry Donskoy. The monastery rises on a hill surrounded by high and dense forests.

Serpukhov

Vysotsky Monastery is not the only thing that is famous for this small town. The first mention of him can be found in a spiritual literacy from Ivan Kalita, dating back to 1339. Built on the Oka borders as a fortress during a long confrontation with the Mongol-Tatar conquerors, and later - a barrier to the Polish invaders, this settlement was for a long time considered an outpost of the principality of Moscow.

Serpukhov is famous for its history: Ivan Ivanov and Boris Godunov, Ivan Vasily Shuisky and the peasant leader Ivan Bolotnikov were assembled here.

Today there are a male Orthodox monastery and the Vladychny convent, as well as a cathedral in honor of St. Nicholas the White and many temples. Here is also the only miracle-working "Inexhaustible Chalice" on the territory of our country. Serpukhov annually receives thousands of pilgrims and just people who come to the icon to heal them from many ailments and "sorrows", including from addiction to alcohol.

History of foundation

The beginning of the monastery's construction coincided with the radical transformations that began in Ancient Rus after the Kulikovo battle. It was this period that was marked by the time of the service of St. Sergius. Vysotsky monastery in Serpukhov was founded in 1374, when, as the chroniclers testify, Prince Vladimir began to equip this settlement. Fencing him off with oak walls, Vladimir appointed in it his deputy. At the same time the prince turned to the Monk Radonezhsky with a request to give a blessing to the decoration of the capital city by a holy building. Sergius at that time lived here, in Serpukhov.

About when and by whom the Vysotsky monastery was founded in Serpukhov, the inscription that was written on the outside of the church erected in honor of St. Sergius and Athanasius of Athos and existed in the ensemble until 1967 was narrated in detail. The holy elder read the prayer, which is still being daily raised here during the service.

Athanasius became the first abbot of the holy monastery. He, his beloved disciple, was appointed by the Reverend. The name of his monastery was from the place where it was built. It was founded on a beautiful high hill, which was popularly called "High".

First rector

While still at the Holy Trinity Monastery, the disciple of St. Sergius acquired the fame of a book-writer and scholarly husband who worked hard to revive the spiritual traditions lost by Rus during the years of the Tatar captivity. Thanks to this, under his leadership, Vysotsky Monastery in Serpukhov acquired fame as the center of Byzantium.

In 1374 Nikon of Radonezh became the first priest in this holy monastery. Over time, Prince Vladimir A. built in the monastery a cathedral, a warm church, a refectory, which at that time was a rarity.

Historical meaning

One of the features of the Vysotsky Monastery is its border position: it was on the southern borders of the Moscow principality. Until the 17th century, the Oka, as a border, shared the Russian lands with the Steppe. Along it, defensive lines were created that protected the state from frequent attempts at ruinous raids by troubled neighbors from the south.

Vysotsky monastery in Serpukhov was often used as a fortress, so it was constantly under threat of destruction.

Chronicle

In 1382, the Khan of the Golden Horde Tokhtamysh, having attacked Rus, tried to force her to pay tribute again. During the war, along with Dmitrov, Rostov and other cities, Serpukhov was also destroyed, and Vysotsky monastery was devastated.

Semi-peace-the paramilitary position of this holy monastery could not but affect her life. Here for a long time the very active inner life was quiet. From the point of view of its external splendor, the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century did not become a time of its prosperity: powerful support for the support of the kriters declined with the death of Prince Andrey.

Hard times

In the era of Ivan the Terrible, the economic life of the monastery was again established. The first king visited the Vysotsky monastery three times in Serpukhov. His prayers were accompanied not only by rich contributions, but also by the provision of benefits. By the fifties of the 16th century, the monastery on the High had four graveyards, almost 90 villages and boron.

Boris Godunov was no less grateful to her. However, the king's graces were taken to the background before the threat of invasion by foreigners. Especially difficult for the monastery was the end of the XVI - the beginning of the XVII century. It was at this time that not only the monastery, but the entire Serpukhov district, were devastated and burnt.

Revival

This period for the monastery began in 1991, when the Holy Synod decided to obligatory restore the monastic life in it. On April 10, the first settlers were tonsured by Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna .

Architecture

The main building of the monastery is a summer cathedral church erected in the name of the Conception of the Theotokos. Existing and now, according to architectural traditions, it refers to the style of the middle of the XVI century.

The cathedral is built in the form of a regular square. Its double-light quadrilateral is placed on a high podklet, in the clutch of which there is a base of the predecessor church that was burned during the next invasion of the Golden Horde. The altar ledge adjoins the eastern part. This apse has a unique faceted appearance, adorned with narrow slit-like windows. On three sides around the cathedral there is a covered stone porch in two tiers in the type of a bypass gallery. The gallery's various arches are supported by square massive pillars.

Initially, the entrance was arranged using stone stairs. However, by the beginning of the 20th century, only one of them remained - located on the south-western facade of the cathedral. The lower part of the cathedral was once used as a burial vault. At the end of the XVII - beginning of the XVIII centuries, the Naryshkins reconstructed the upper part of the cathedral by changing the vaults and adjusting the four-pitched roof.

Recovery

Until the end of the XX century Vysotsky monastery in Serpukhov was in desolation. And only since 1995, it began to carry out full-scale reconstruction work. In September 2001, on the day of the memory of St. Athanasius, the procedure of the great consecration of the cathedral was held. Chin was made by the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna Juvenal in the service of several bishops. This is what everyone sees him who comes to see Serpukhov.

Vysotsky monastery - how to get there

Pilgrims and tourists come here by buses №3, №8 and №20, departing from the city railway station square. From the bus stop to the cathedral two minutes walk. By car to Serpukhov can be reached first by Simferopol, and then along the Borisov highway. At the first roundabout from the traffic lights, turn left onto Central Street, then right onto Progonnaya Street, then onto Second Moscow Street. From it to the first big turn on the Big Vysotsky lane is only three hundred meters.

Miracle-working icon

The monastery is known for the fact that it is here that the "Inexhaustible Chalice" is located. Serpukhov annually receives thousands of pilgrims who come here in the hope that it will help get rid of alcoholism and tobacco smoking, drug addiction and many ailments. Initially, this icon was installed in the local Vladychny convent, but was later lost. There is a version that it, along with other images of the saints, was burned on the banks of Nara in the years of hard times.

In the 90 years of the last century, two copies of the list of this icon were written. One of them is now in the Vladychny convent, and the second - in the man's Vysotsky. In this case it is considered that they are equivalent, since the icons do not have copies at all, they all have the same power.

Impression

Vysotsky monastery in Serpukhov, reviews of which visit indicate that it is in excellent condition, not only well restored, but also looks perfect. This is how many visitors and pilgrims consider it. On the territory of the monastery there is always an irreproachable order. There are not always many people here, so you can safely walk around, thinking about something personal, sit in silence in the temple, pray to God.

Pilgrims of a male can stay in the monastery for three days. For each day of stay you need to donate from 280 rubles, and for this you can get not only an overnight stay, but also lunch and dinner. Those who want to extend the time of staying in this holy abode, it will be necessary to turn to the dean and receive his blessing. After that, the pilgrim will become a laborer who does not donate money, but must work in the monastery.