Nikitsky Monastery, Pereslavl-Zalessky: history, sights and interesting facts

The picturesque expanses of Nikitskaya Sloboda, which inPereslavl region, adorn the white stone walls of the ancient monastery, which has been on this land for several centuries. From afar resembles an ice palace. He saw a lot, his story is rich. Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky) daily receives now hundreds of pilgrims who come from all corners of our country to worship the shrine. On the shore of Pleshcheeva Lake, far from the bustle of worldly local inhabitants live obedience, work, restore the monastery destroyed in troubled times.

Nikitsky Monastery - Pereslavl-Zalessky. History of Education

Nikitsky Monastery is the oldest abodeRussian land, named in honor of the warrior-martyr Nikita. The date of foundation is the boundary of the 11th-12th centuries. A monastery was established under the administration of the Suzdal prince Boris Vladimirovich, who, after his death with his brother Gleb, became the first saint in Russia, was canonized by the face of the martyr martyr. It was during his reign that the Nikitsky Monastery was a stronghold, where the pagans were converted to the Christian faith.

The Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky) bearsThe name of the great martyr who lived in the IV century. In those days, Christianity spread throughout Europe, Nikita - a wealthy Gothic military commander, who refused paganism and followed the teachings of Christ. Before that, he had seen a young man with a cross in his sleep, and having awakened, he found on his chest an icon with the image of the Virgin with a baby, in whose hands was a cross. Having received baptism, Nikita began preaching the teaching of Christ, for which he was sentenced by the Gentiles to be burned. From the flame of the fire he was protected by an icon on his chest, which he wore under his clothes. Then they left him to be torn to pieces by a wild animal. At night, his body was kidnapped by a friend of Marian, who also buried him. Later, the Christians put the church on the site of the grave, which was named after the Great Martyr. Nikita's relics were able to heal, they became miraculous. Already later the monastery, built on this site, gained fame due to another martyr. He was also called Nikita (Stylites). This is what the monastery calls the name of these saints.

The heyday of the monastery at John the Terrible

In 1528, on the site of the old Nikitsky church, on the orders of Grand Duke Vasily III, a white stone Nikitsky Cathedral was built.

The real heyday of the monastery took place atthe reign of his son Vasily - Tsar Ivan the Terrible. He decided to prepare the monastery as a reserve oprichnaya fortress, in case his reliability as a fortress lost Alexandrovsky Sloboda. John repeatedly made a pilgrimage to the Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky).

In 1560, the king ordered the erection of a new buildingCathedral. It was a five-domed temple. The old construction of his father's time began to refer to the southern limit of Nikita Stylites. John the Terrible personally attended the consecration of the new cathedral. From himself, he presented a bronze chandelier as a gift, and his wife Anastasia presented the image of Nikita Stylites embroidered personally to her. This temple is still preserved today. At that time other buildings were erected on the territory of the monastery, but not all of them were preserved: the refectory church, the gate church of the Archangel Gabriel, towers and walls, which were reconstructed several times throughout history. Founded John and monastic residence, supplied the monastery with ancestral lands.

Participation of the royal family of the Romanovs

Nikitsky Monastery inPereslavl-Zalessky in 1609 adequately withstood the siege of the Poles. But in 1611 the Lithuanians, under the leadership of Pan Sapieha, after the siege, which lasted two weeks, completely burnt the monastery. Many defenders were killed, hegumen Michael, who survived the siege, wandered for a long time.

In the restoration of the monasterythe Romanov family took part. Alexey Mikhailovich, Mikhail Fedorovich, Patriarch Filaret presented valuable gifts to the monastery. Under Aleksei Mikhailovich, in 1645 the towers and walls were restored. At the same time, the Annunciation Church was built, which has survived until now. The church has a two-storey refectory and a tent belfry.

In 1702 the Chernigov chapel was erected, it is considered to be the last example of the ancient Pereslavl architecture.

In Catherine's time, many monasteries surviveddisastrous times. The construction of the monastery continued in the XVIII-XIX centuries. 1768 - the chapel of Nicholas the Wonderworker was attached to the refectory. In the XVIII century. also erected a chapel over the pillar of St. Nikita.

At the beginning of the XIX century. On the site of the old gate church they built a high bell tower.

Destructive XX century

In 1918 The monastic property was nationalized by the Soviets. In 1923, the monastery was formally liquidated, and all valuable objects were handed over to the historical museum. All monks were expelled from the monastery. In buildings and temples in different periods of the Soviet government were all kinds of institutions: the Residential House for Scientists settled there, there was also a school, military units, and living rooms, and even a prison.

In 1933, the oldest iconostasis of the Nikitsky Cathedral was burnt in the most barbarous way. Many ancient architectural structures of historical value were simply destroyed over the years.

In the 1960's and 70's. it was decided to restore the Nikitsky Cathedral. But, either because of the negligent attitude of the builders, or because of the architect's mistakes, the central head of the temple collapsed in 1984. Disappeared and the centuries-old monastery well.

The structures that stood for many centuries were destroyedliterally in a few years. In 1977, the Annunciation Church was almost destroyed in the fire. For many years the church stood just abandoned, overgrown with weeds, the buildings were dilapidated. Many true Christians could not look without tears at the Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky). Trebes, prayers, commemorations, requiems, which the believers needed so much, ceased to be accessible to the people. Only in the hot 90-ies began the revival of the monastery.

Nikitsky Monastery, Pereslavl-Zalessky. Revival

Only in 1993. The Russian Orthodox Church was given the Nikitsky Monastery. Since this year, a large-scale restoration of the monastery began, we can say that it revived and began to revive again for the joy of all Christians. The monastery began to be completely restored, the work was carried out not only from the outside, but also inside, the painting was made by the best masters-icon painters. The newly appointed viceroy, Bishop Anatoly, supervised all the works.

In 1999, Archimandrite Dimitri was appointed governor, who continued work on improvement, revival of the monastery.

Glory to the Lord, miraculously preserved inthe monastery is the most important shrine - the relics of the Great Martyr Nikita Stylites and his beliefs. Thousands of pilgrims come to Pereslavl-Zalessky all year round. Nikitsky Monastery, whose address: Nikitskaya Sloboda, Zaprudnaya, 20, receives all the faithful, tel .: (48535) 2-20-08. He gives everyone the opportunity to kiss the shrines.

Architecture. Temples of the monastery

The monastery is on a hill. Surrounded by a wall of stone, which has towers, loopholes and embrasures. In the very monastery are three churches: the Great Martyr Nikita, the Holy Archangel Gabriel, the refectory church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.

The monastery walls, towers, as well as the Nikitsky Cathedral belong to the XVI century and cause a special architectural interest.

Buildings within the walls of the monastery:

• fortress walls, towers (1560);
• the monastic corps (1876);
• the pillar-chapel of Nikita (1786);
• bell tower (1818);
• the tented belltower (1668);
• Church of the Annunciation, refectory (XVII century);
• Nikitsky Cathedral (1561).

Buildings behind the wall:

• Nikitskaya chapel;
• The Chernigov Chapel (1702).

If you decide to visit Nikitsky Monastery(Pereslavl-Zalessky), the schedule of services, pilgrimage excursions can be found by contacting [email protected] or by calling the phone number indicated above. The novices will definitely contact you and help resolve any issues.

Who is Nikita the Stylite? Sinner?

The life of Nikita the Stylite does not inform us of hisinfant and adolescent years. And begins with a description of his fall. A mature man, he served as a tax collector, was an evil and greedy man. He was married to a patient, obedient woman. Such features of Nikita’s character as avarice, cruelty, and rancor are emphasized in the writing. To the highest ranks was pleasing and flattering. So he lived for many years, getting rich and robbing the people. Indirect stories suggest that the doctrine was not alien to Nikita, he read the Psalter, learned to read, inserted quotations from Holy Scripture into the speech circulation. There was within him that core of vehemence, determination, and some dissatisfaction with a full life. And his life turned over in a jiffy.

Repentance. Stolpnichestvo

Once Nikita went to a new Transfiguration temple,there he was heard by paroimy - the chosen narratives from the Old Testament, where prophecies and teachings sounded. A loud echo echoed in Nikita’s head words-appeals to cleanse his soul, to become kinder, to atone for his sins, to learn how to bring light and benefit to loved ones. The Lord himself wanted to reach him. All night the dream did not go to him. In the morning he ordered his wife to cook a dinner of meat, he decided to invite the distinguished guests, he would be freed from the “delusion”. The wife began preparations, and then Nikita was shocked by her terrible cry. Running up to her, he saw that she was so scared. Instead of broth, blood boiled in the cauldron and pieces of bodies floated in it. At that moment, the sinner died in Nikita’s consciousness, he realized that the Lord was pointing him to the right path. He rushed out of town.

For a long time on his knees he begged the igumen to accepthim in the Nikitsky Monastery (Pereslavl-Zalessky). He commanded to kneel at the gate to the monastery from everyone who passes to ask for forgiveness. So did Nikita. After that, I decided to punish my flesh and stayed in a swamp for three days, where I was tortured by a cloud of insects to exhaustion. So the monks found him here, brought him to the monastery and took him to the monastery.

Nikita stayed in a vigil in a narrow cell, observedstrict post, but that seemed to him a little. Then, to torture his own flesh, I dug myself a pillar (pit), put on iron chains (chains with crosses), and a stone hat on my head. Day and night he was in a pillar, atoning for his sins, and asked for other sinners. He was content only with water and a piece of prosphora. His spirit was purified by prayers and repentance, he did not notice the pain of his flesh. The Lord accepted his repentance and exiled the gift of healing and insight to him.

Healing of Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich

Everyone who came hundreds of miles inPereslavl-Zalessky, Nikitsky monastery visited to talk with Nikita Stylites. He relieved the suffering of people, healed not only the soul, but also the body. Rumor reached him about Chernigov, where Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich suffered from diseases from an early age. With his boyar neighbor, the prince gathered on a journey to go up to Nikita's pillar, to communicate with the wonderworker. Prince Michael’s faith in healing was very great, but he passed many trials along the way. They got to the walls of the monastery, stopped. Arriving at the monastery, the boyar found Nikita in chains and a stone cap, praying day and night, and told about all his troubles. He listened to his great martyr, gave his staff and ordered the prince to come to him. When Mikhail took the staff from the hands of the boyar, he immediately felt a great power in himself. He himself got to Nikita's pillar, poured out his thanks to him, and the monastery awarded him with generous gifts.

The death of the great martyr Nikita. Finding of the veins

News of miraculous healing and generous giftsPrince quickly dispersed the world. Nikita's relatives hurried to him, because they intended to get some of their wealth. For a long time the righteous man taught them about evil, about the sin of avarice, but they did not heed his words, but only hardened their hearts. They decided that the chains on Nikita were silver, so they glittered in the sun.

Likhodey conceived black matter. In the night, the intruders secretly penetrated into the monastery, crept up to the pillar and began to destroy the boards that covered the pit (from the rains and bad weather). Nikita heard it all, guessed their intentions, but did not raise a fuss and alarm. Silently he took a beating, death from torturers, surrendered to the will of God. So his mortal body doomed peace, and his soul ascended into heaven. The Likhodeas took the chains from him and rushed for the gate. Already in the field, they realized that it was not silver, but ordinary iron, and in despair they threw chains into the Volga.

Having found the body of lifeless Nikita, brotherscarried it to the temple. The rumor about his death quickly spread, and many people were drawn to the tomb of the great martyr. Many at that time received healing before his tomb.

The pious elder Simeon from nearbyin the morning the monastery went out onto the river bank and saw a glowing pillar above the water, he called the archimandrite, the citizens. Having sailed to the middle of the river, they discovered that, like a tree, they floated on the surface of Nikita's chains - chains and crosses. The Nikitinsky monks received this message with joy, equipped the delegation and transferred the chains to their monastery, laid them at the coffin of Nikita the Stylite.

Hundreds of pilgrims are drawn to the monastery to attach themselves to the relics of Nikita, to receive healing, both of the soul and of the body.