Knyaginin Assumption Monastery: description, history and interesting facts

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

The Holy Dormition Knyaginin Convent is one of the historical gems of Russia. It is located in Vladimir and has more than 800 years of history. Many events swept over the country. And the temple and the memory of generations of nuns, townspeople, miracles that took place in the monastery have been preserved, and interest in them only increases over the years.

Founders of the monastery

In 1200, there were two balanced principalities in Russia: Kiev and Vladimir. Both are equally powerful. Grand Duke Vsevolod reigned in Vladimir, and his wife was Princess Maria. Both were deeply and sincerely religious people. Their thoughts, aspirations and deeds laid the foundation for the Assumption Monastery near the Lybed River. The initiator of the construction of the convent was the princess. History and chronicles report that the spouses lived in harmony with each other. They loved the people very much. 12 children were born in the prince's family: 8 boys and 4 girls. With the birth of her last son, John, Mary became very ill and for seven years she steadfastly and meekly endured hardships.

During the periodillness, the princess decided to found a monastery. And she turned to her husband with this request. He supported the initiative. In order to build a monastery, the princess bought land for the future monastery with her own money. The first stone in the foundation of the monastery walls was laid by Prince Vsevolod of Vladimir himself in 1200. The disease did not let the woman go. In her thoughts was to become a nun of a newly built monastery, in which she made a vow to the Lord. With zeal she performed the duties of a wife, mother and ruler, but her soul wanted a strict monastic life. Only in 1206 was Mary able to fulfill her vow.

Princess Nun

The Laurentian Chronicle testifies that with sadness and tears the prince accompanied his wife to the monastery walls for tonsure. The Trinity Chronicle describes these events as follows: “In 1206, on March 2, Grand Duchess Maria was tonsured to the monastic rank in the monastery of the Holy Mother of God, and she herself created and called her the name Maria, she was baptized in the same name. And Grand Duke Vsevolod accompanied her with many tears to the monastery of the Holy Mother of God and his son George and his daughters.

The woman did not live long in the schema. She died the same year, April 1st. The townspeople were sad and mourned the princess. She was very kind, helped the poor, protected widows and orphans, "gave many mercy to the people." She was buried under the walls of the monastery. Since that time, the holy haven has received a name - the Assumption Knyaginin Convent in Vladimir.

Further history

In the monasteryThere are two temples: the Assumption Cathedral and the Kazan Temple. The first one became a family princely tomb. The original building of the temple has not been preserved. Literally forty years after the completion of construction, the Assumption Knyaginin Monastery was devastated, like the city of Vladimir, by the Tatar hordes of Batu Khan. For a long time the monastery was so neglected that even the chronicles about it were silent until the sixteenth century.

The rebuilt Assumption Cathedral, which today can be seen on the territory of the monastery, dates back to the sixteenth century. It was then that a new flowering of the life of the monastery began. It was erected on the foundation of an old building. For painting the walls of the temple, the best masters were invited under the guidance of the sovereign icon painter Mark Matveev. The Knyaginin Assumption Monastery reached its peak by the end of the nineteenth century. During this period, a chapel was added to the temple, consecrated in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. In 1900, in connection with the 700th anniversary, the title of "Knyaginin" was returned to the monastery. In the same 19th century, after numerous reconstructions, the Assumption Cathedral was re-consecrated. He is patronized by the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. At the same time, the chapels of the temple are dedicated to John Chrysostom and the Holy Great Martyr Abraham of Bulgaria, whose relics were kept in the monastery.

Newest period

The revolution of 1917 and the atheist campaign did not bypass the Knyaginin Assumption Monastery. January 1918 brought the news of nationalization to the monastery. The premises were transferred tostates. Searches, requisitions, expulsion of nuns were carried out. For some time it was possible to maintain their usual life and hold services, but it was already very difficult. In 1919, the new authorities equipped a playground on the site of the monastery cemetery. The hospital, the cell of the abbess of the monastery and the refectory of the sisters passed to the state. They opened an orphanage and a kindergarten.

The Knyaginin Assumption Monastery was finally closed in 1923. Five years later, the Assumption Church became the repository of the State Archives of the Vladimir Region. A museum of atheism was opened on the territory of the monastery in 1986. Monastic life returned here only in 1998. Periods of decline gave way to a revival in the history of both the country and the monastery, inextricably linked by the threads of fate with the land, people, and faith. The walls of the monastery, based on great love and faith, cannot be destroyed by evil intent or human will. This is evidenced by the entire history of the monastery. The Holy Dormition Women's Skete has revived again and carries out its service.

Monastic shrines: healing relics

The first shrines in the monastery appeared almost immediately after its construction. Thirty years after the laying of the first stone of the monastery, the son of the founder of the monastery, Princess Mary of Vladimir, George, personally brought the relics of the holy martyr Abraham of Bulgaria to the temple. According to historical chronicles, he came from a we althy family of Volga Bulgarians who converted to Orthodoxy. He preached the Christian faith among his fellow Mohammedans. Chronicles of thoseyears, they note that with the placement of relics in the walls of the monastery, many miracles and healings happened.

The shrine rested in the monastery until 1919. When it was requisitioned, a small fraction of the relics were saved. The shrine with the decay of St. Abraham of Bulgaria, the patron saint of the monastery, returned to the cathedral in 1991. Since then, the chronicle of miracles has been constantly updated with evidence of healings from illnesses and everyday hardships. The icon of the great martyr healer Panteleimon is revered within the walls of the temple. It was painted in the icon-painting workshop of the skete of the righteous Anna, which is located on the holy Mount Athos. Transferred to the Knyaginin Assumption Monastery in 1999. Attached to the icon is a particle of the relics of the holy healer Panteleimon.

Miraculous icon

Also within the Assumption Cathedral of the Knyaginin Monastery is the most ancient miraculous Bogolyubskaya icon of the Mother of God. It was written according to the vision of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1157. She has established herself in the monastery since 1992, when she was returned to the temple from the museum. The Uspensky Knyaginin Monastery became a new home for her. The description of the appearance of the icon can be found in the chronicles and heard from the guides when visiting the monastery. She repeatedly saved the people of Vladimir from epidemics, droughts, overshadowed her with her protection during the war years, protected from hunger and despair. The icon is revered by the people and glorified by many miracles. There are numerous chronicle confirmations of this, as well as testimonies of parishioners about healings that have already taken place in our time.

Architectural value

Spiritual traditions, material heritage are part of the culture and history of the country as a whole. A significant contribution to it was made by the Assumption Knyaginin Monastery in Vladimir. The description of the temple in a poetic, enthusiastic form was given by His Beatitude Anastassy, Archbishop of Albania: “A beautiful temple! It is white and clean, with its light forms directed to the sky, and when you go inside - there are frescoes, icons, lampadas in the twilight, the altar of God the Former: this should be the soul of a person - it is directed to the sky from the outside, and in the depths to hide the altar and God Himself "".

If we consider the temple, even today the building impresses with its power and beauty. The Assumption Church is the decoration of the entire monastery. Aiming upwards with white walls, it is crowned with three tiers of keeled kokoshniks. Above them rises a magnificent powerful light drum with a traditional onion roof. Numerous archaeological excavations carried out at different times on the territory of the monastery, each time opened up new facets of the history of the monastery. So it was found out that in the first years after the construction of the temple, it was surrounded by a narrow covered gallery, lined with expensive majolica tiles. And this is not all the secrets that the Knyaginin Monastery keeps. Study work continues.

Monastic Life

Church services are held daily in the revived monastery and an intense spiritual life is led. Ancient crafts are being revived. Sisters with their own hands sew vestments forclergy and for other needs of the temple. Actively participate in restoration and construction works. An icon-painting workshop has been opened in the monastery. Here, the art of church embroidery, for which he was famous since 1606, is being revived.

Through the efforts of the abbess of the monastery, a parochial school for children was opened. The diocesan women's school also operates at the monastery. Sunday school teachers, psalmists, church choir directors are trained here. The Holy Dormition Knyaginin Convent is a pearl of the spiritual life of Russia. Everyone should visit the monastery to touch the miracle on their own, to feel the connection of times and generations.