The unique and beautiful building of the Monastery of the Assumption Holy Mother of God attracts with its grandeur. At the Novodevichy Convent with the Assumption Church, the appearance has often changed throughout its existence and, nowadays, the architectural state is no longer at all similar to the previous one - the five-domed structure was changed in the 19th century by one rich dome, the temple and the refectory were initially surrounded by an open gallery, then it in the same century it was dismantled and closed extensions with stairs were built at the entrance to the temple.
The view has changed, but the mesmerizing beauty remains. The refectory church was consecrated in 1687, and in 1812 two chapels were created: the southern one was named in the name of the Apostle John the Theologian, the northern one was named in the name of the Apostle James Alpheus, in our time both chapels were completely removed.
It is worth noting interesting fact from the history of the monastery at a time when kings ruled in the monastery, girls were deliberately cut short, and royal relatives of daughters, sisters and everyone who had anything to do with the court were brought to the temple to have their hair cut. Also in the monastery, orphan girls were taught braiding and lace embroidery.
The main altar of the current church was consecrated in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the western limit was consecrated in the name of the blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, and finally, the annex limit was christened in the name of the Apostle John the Theologian.
The non-dormitory convent founded by Vasily III of Moscow displays almost all Russian history, and has been faithfully storing it for decades. The temple is located on the banks of the Moscow River, where the real natural beauty of the area and the temple itself fascinate everyone - according to legend, during the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar yoke, Russian beauties were chosen from the monastery for the Golden Horde, which speaks of the centuries-old history of the monastery as a whole.
Description of the monastery
The Novodevichy Convent itself is a real fortress, which is complemented by all the buildings related to it, the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, if viewed from the Moscow River you can see 
temple with the naked eye.
The main buildings were built at the end of the seventeenth century in an architectural style called "Moscow Baroque." Above the main entrance is the Gate Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and in the center of the monastery itself is the Smolensk Cathedral, built in the likeness of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin itself, where a five-tiered gilded iconostasis has been preserved, and many icons donated by the Russian tsars are kept in the temple to this day. The Assumption Church, together with the refectory chamber, houses the miraculous Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. The white-stone St. Ambrose Church, combined with a refectory, is also adjacent to the temple, the tower above the pond with the Streletsky guardhouses of Princess Sophia suggests a legend - they say that if you touch the tower where Princess Sophia was hidden with your hand and make your deepest wish, then it will certainly come true . They mostly write on the wall of the tower, thinking that this way it will come true faster.
The monastery is the oldest building in Russia
It is worth mentioning the new cemetery, which is located next to the monastery, second in its political prestige only to the Kremlin wall, where the remains and monuments from other cemeteries were transferred. There is 
famous people, famous and talented writers all over the world, cultural figures, politicians, military men - M.A. Bulgakov, N.S. Khrushchev, N.S. Alliluyeva and many others.
The monastery is one of the oldest buildings in Russia and has been transferred to the Moscow Diocese for indefinite and free use since March 22, 2010. Approval from the Moscow Diocese - the museum is not being driven out onto the street, and will continue to function successfully. The ensemble is an important state landmark of the entire southwestern region of the capital, and pleases everyone, without exception, both guests and residents of the country. Along the fortified bank there is an alley that leads to a white stone bridge and a square where Lately travel companies bring you by bus foreign tourists for exciting excursions. There are many foreigners selling souvenirs and views of Moscow - this place is a continuation of the Old Arbat, which is located nearby.
You can see this and much more with your own eyes by visiting all the sights of monasteries, churches, temples and going on an excursion to these wonderful places to admire the truly unique and fascinating sights of Tula.
The Assumption Refectory Church was built in 1685-1687. The architectural appearance was constantly changing: at first the temple and the refectory were surrounded by an open gallery, then at the beginning of the 19th century. it was dismantled and covered extensions with stairs were built at the entrances to the temple and the refectory. The five-domed structure also did not survive; it was replaced in the 19th century. one head. The refectory church was consecrated in 1687. In 1812, two chapels were built: the northern one - in the name of the Apostle James Alfeev, in memory of the deliverance of the monastery from the explosion by French troops; the southern one - in the name of the Apostle John the Theologian, as a reminder of the previously existing temple of the same name in the monastery bell tower. Currently, both chapels have been abolished. The decoration of the southern aisle was transferred to the Church of the Archangel Michael in Troparevo.
After the revolution, a museum was created in the monastery, all churches were closed. The Assumption Church was returned to the church in 1945. Since 1964, the cathedral of the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna has been located in the temple. In 1988, an iconostasis from the destroyed Church of the Assumption on Pokrovka was installed in the church. The main altar of the temple is consecrated in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the western chapel - in the name of the blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow, the side chapel - in the name of the Apostle John the Theologian.
In the territory .
Assumption Church with a refectory chamber 1685-1687. This essentially unusual structure was built in 1685-1687. This building is unique for its time: the chambers are pillarless, that is, the vault is not supported by pillars, and the building itself stands on a high basement. This church originally looked a little different than it does now. The temple was decorated with a majestic five-domed dome, which was destroyed in a fire in 1796. Restoration work of the 19th century transformed the upper part of the temple and forced us to say goodbye to the white stone gallery that surrounded the entire structure - it was too dilapidated. The Assumption Church is notable for the chapel located on its second floor in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and the ancient iconostasis stored there.
Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Novodevichy Convent (Novodevichy Proezd, building No. 1).
Built in the refectory monastery in 1684-1687. Immediately after completion of construction, the temple was painted inside and out. At the same time, under the leadership of the master of the Armory, Karp Zolotarev, a carved gilded iconostasis was built and icons were painted for it. The white stone decor of the temple was made by the architect and carver Kondraty Mymrin. Bogdan Dmitriev and Ivan Masyukov worked on the decorative painting of the interior. Adjacent to the temple is an extensive refectory and three smaller chambers, one of which served as a kitchen. All chambers were erected on a single basement.
Initially, the Assumption Church was even slimmer and more elegant, since its main volume was completed with kokoshniks and a five-domed dome (currently it is an octagon, topped with a drum with one onion dome; the open gallery has also been lost, in its place covered extensions with stairs have been erected). Despite later distortions, the building remains one of the significant monuments of that time. The original 17th-century paintings were destroyed in a fire. The inside of the temple was re-painted in 1870 by artist N.F. Fedorov. In 1817, the facades of the refectory were painted to resemble brick.
The temple was closed in 1922. In 1934, the Novodevichy Convent was transferred to the Historical Museum, and it is still its branch. The Assumption Church was consecrated on December 29, 1945. A 17th-century wooden iconostasis from the Moscow Trinity Church in Khokhly was installed in it. In the 1980s it was replaced with the restored iconostasis of the destroyed Assumption Church on Pokrovka. In 1945, in the right part of the refectory, the chapel of St. John the Theologian was restored, for whom a new iconostasis was created in 1956. The painting of the refectory was renewed in 1946. After the destruction in 1964 of the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul on Preobrazhenskaya Square, the department of Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna was transferred to the Assumption Church. In 1982, in the western part of the refectory, a baptismal temple was created in the name of the Holy Blessed Prince Daniel of Moscow. On the top floor of the church there is a chapel in the name of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. In the mid-1990s. restoration of the painting of the refectory vault was carried out. The revered shrines of the temple are the Smolensk and Tikhvin icons of the Mother of God, painted in the 16th century.
Mikhail Vostryshev "Orthodox Moscow. All churches and chapels."
http://rutlib.com/book/21735/p/17
Novodevichy is the oldest and most beautiful active convent in Moscow.
It is located in a bend of the Moscow River on the Devichye Pole - in these places, according to legend, during the Mongol-Tatar yoke, Russian girls were selected for the Golden Horde.
The monastery was founded in 1524 by Grand Duke Vasily the Third after the capture of Smolensk in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria”. Historians also associate the founding of Novodevichy with the dissolution of the marriage of Vasily the Third - it was here that he wanted to exile his wife, Grand Duchess Solomonia.
Subsequently, persons of the royal family often appeared at the monastery, and the royal daughters and sisters took monastic vows. Ivan the Terrible assigned his relatives here - the widow of his younger brother and the widow of his eldest son Ivan. Tsarina Irina Godunova lived here with her brother Boris Godunov. There were many novices from noble princely and boyar families.
Not all women came here of their own free will. By order of Peter the Great, in 1689, his sister Princess Sofya Alekseevna was imprisoned here and forcibly tonsured as a nun after the Streletsky uprising. Opposite the monastery, her supporters were executed, and the heads of the archers were strung on the battlements of the monastery wall.
Another famous nun is the first wife of Peter the Great, Tsarina Evdokia Lopukhina.
The Novodevichy Convent is a real fortress: high impregnable walls, towers with loopholes, built of brick with white stone trim. The main buildings were erected in the second half of the 17th century in the Moscow Baroque style.
Above the main entrance is the elegant Gate Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord:
In the center of the monastery stands the five-domed Smolensk Cathedral, built in 1525 in the likeness of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. The temple preserves a 5-tier carved gilded iconostasis made by masters of the Armory Chamber. Here are icons donated by many Russian tsars, including Ivan the Terrible and Boris Godunov, and the main shrine of the monastery - miraculous icon Smolensk Mother of God.
Not far from the cathedral there is a Bell Tower with white stone lace. At one time, it was the second tallest in Rus' after the bell tower of Ivan the Great and was famous for its unique ringing. The oldest bell in the bell tower was cast under Ivan the Terrible.
The Assumption Church with a refectory chamber, built at the behest of Princess Sophia. Here is another shrine - the ancient miraculous Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
The monastery complex also includes the white-stone St. Ambrose Church, combined with a refectory, the Filatievsky School, where orphan girls, by order of Peter the Great, were taught weaving Dutch lace, a hospital for veterans of the Russian army, an almshouse and numerous chambers: the chambers of Irina Godunova, Evdokia Lopukhina, Evdokia Miloslavskaya , Treasury and Cellar Chambers.
Singing chambers with cells for nuns:
Mariinsky Chambers, named after the sister of Peter the Great, Maria Alekseevna, who lived here. To the right of the chambers is the Gate Church of the Intercession of the Virgin.
Naprudnaya tower with Streltsy guards and the chambers of Princess Sophia:
It is believed that if you touch the Naprudnaya Tower, where Princess Sophia was imprisoned, and make a wish, it will definitely come true.
To be sure, wishes are written on the wall of the tower. The most common requests are for love, health and wealth.
There are 12 towers in total: four are round, and the rest are square, all with very beautiful openwork “crowns”. There are similar towers in another Moscow monastery - in.
Corner Nikolskaya Tower:
On the territory of the monastery there are a number of burial places: the Volkonsky mausoleum, the graves of Denis Davydov, General A.A. Brusilova, M.I. Muravyov-Apostol, Sergei Trubetskoy. Grand Duchess Sofya Alekseevna and other representatives of the royal and princely families are buried in the Smolensk Cathedral.
Small Chapel-Tomb of the Prokhorovs, owners of the Trekhgornaya Manufactory:
Behind the monastery wall is the Novodevichy cemetery. The most famous people buried at the Novodevichy cemetery: A.P. Chekhov, N.V. Gogol, M.A. Bulgakov, M.N. Ermolova, I. Levitan, N. Rubinstein, A.N. Tolstoy, Andrei Bely, Vladimir Gilyarovsky, Samuil Marshak, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Vasily Shukshin, Svetlana Alliluyeva, Nikita Khrushchev, Boris Yeltsin and Raisa Gorbacheva.
During Soviet times, the monastery did not work; monastic life was resumed here in 1994. Nowadays, it is a functioning Orthodox convent and at the same time a museum. Architectural ensemble - object cultural heritage UNESCO.
There is a picturesque park next to the monastery on the shore of the Bolshoi Novodevichy Pond.
From the paths of the park there are beautiful views of powerful walls and towers:
The park sculpture “Duck with Ducklings” was presented in 1991 to “children Soviet Union from the children of the United States in a spirit of love and friendship." The idea for the sculpture is taken from the famous American fairy tale “Make Way for Ducklings.”
The place is beautiful - it just begs to be painted on canvas.
One of the most beautiful views Moscow.
Objects layout diagram architectural ensemble(clickable):
In Sophia's and Irina's chambers there are museum exhibitions with ancient icons, unique frames and precious church utensils.
Restoration is currently underway, many of the buildings are scaffolded and gridded. The restoration work is planned to be completed in 2023, on the 500th anniversary of the founding of the monastery.
How to get to the Novodevichy Convent
On public transport: metro station Sportivnaya, then about 5-7 minutes on foot. Address: Moscow, Novodevichy proezd, building 1.
Opening hours
You can enter the territory daily from 9-00 to 17-00.
The Smolensk Cathedral is open from May 15 to the end of September, services are held during patronal holidays. The Assumption Church is open all year round.
Museums are open from 10-00 to 16-30, closed on Tuesdays. The first Monday of every month is sanitary day.
Ticket prices
Ticket price for museums: adults - 300 rubles, schoolchildren, students and pensioners - 100 rubles.
This church complex is located on the bend of the Moscow River, on the Devichye Pole. The prefix “Novo” is intended to distinguish this monastery from the Starodevichy (Zachatievsky) monastery, built within the Kremlin walls. The founder of the monastery is considered to be Vasily III, and the idea for the construction was gratitude to the icon of the Most Pure Virgin “Hodegetria” for helping the Russian troops in 1514 near Smolensk.
History of the foundation of the monastery
The architectural ensemble, formed in the first century of the life of this church complex, has undergone virtually no changes to this day. The Novodevichy Convent in Moscow has enormous popularity and fame in the Christian world; a large number of pilgrims flock here.
Theotokos-Smolensky Novodevichy Convent
The church complex was founded by Vasily III, who vowed to build it in honor of the Most Pure Virgin if he was able to return Smolensk to Moscow. The ruler celebrated the victory, and in 1524 he gave the order to lay the first stone of the Novodevichy Convent.
On a note! On August 10, a church date was set praising the return of Smolensk to the borders of Rus'. On this day the icon of the Most Pure Virgin “Smolensk” is also glorified. The celebration is marked by a procession of the cross from the Kremlin walls to the Novodevichy Convent.
For the construction of the church complex, the government granted 3 thousand pieces of silver, rural lands, farmland, as well as special certificates exempting from payment to the state treasury.
- In 1525, the Smolensk image of the Most Pure Virgin was solemnly transferred to the monastery in a procession of the cross from the Kremlin. At the head of the procession was Vasily III himself and the then Metropolitan Daniel.
- The ruler appointed a pious nun from the Suzdal monastery, Elena, who was highly revered for her righteous lifestyle, the strength of her faith, as well as the princely family, as abbess. The choice of such a person in the management of the monastery brings some stability and tolerance to the novices.
- Nun Elena possessed great wisdom and managed the affairs of the monastery until her old age. When blindness and deafness befell her, Eunicea accepted the rank of abbess. The spiritual charter written by the Monk Elena was considered a legislative charter of behavior in the temple of the Lord. This message also contained information about the tonsure of women from noble families. The first abbess left this mortal coil in 1547. Her body was buried on the territory of the monastery. Veneration of the saint began during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich.
- When power belonged to Ivan IV, his relatives officially settled in the Novodevichy complex, so the status of the court was established for the monastery. In 1564, Juliania Paletskaya, the widow of Prince Yuri, took monastic vows. The princess had a separate cell, personal courtiers, cellars and dining rooms. After some time, she moved to another monastery. However, she suffered a terrible fate at the hands of Ivan the Terrible, whose servants drowned the nun in the river.
Initially, the monastery was built for his wife Solomonia, who, during 20 years of marriage, was unable to give birth to an heir to the prince. Vasily III was jealous of his offspring and forbade his brothers to marry until he gave birth to a son. Solomonia was forcibly tonsured a nun, and the Tsar's second wife, Elena Glinskaya, gave birth to John IV.
History of the monastery from the Godunovs to the time of Peter I
In 1598, the widow of Fyodor I Irina Godunova, who was the only legal heir to the Russian throne, moved into the monastery. Despite the abdication, the queen continued to receive official reports and sign state treaties. Boris Godunov, who was proclaimed Tsar within the walls of the Smolensk Monastery in 1598, also settled here together with Irina.
Smolensky Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow
The Novodevichy Convent enjoyed a special position under this ruler: iconostases and interior decoration were updated and decorated, churches were restored, and extensive monastic cells were built. All of Irina’s property went to the monastery after her death.
- Since the 16th century, the monastery became a fortification against Western invaders. However, it was not an effective military stronghold; it held the defense ineptly, so Khan Devlet burned the monastery in 1571. B. Godunov erected stone walls along the perimeter with loopholes and numerous rifle towers, each of which housed up to 350 archer soldiers.
- At the beginning of the 17th century, the monastery was home to 120 nuns, a small part of which belonged to the princely family. The government financed the church complex, covering the costs of household items and salaries for novices.
- The Novodevichy Convent sheltered royalty who suffered during the Time of Troubles, and was also the object of military actions and political decisions. After long and stubborn battles, the monastery came under the control of the militia led by the heroic Prince Pozharsky. The Lithuanian commander J. Chodkiewicz was defeated and retreated from Moscow.
- The monastery was restored and freed from aggravated taxes under M. Romanov. By 1656, the monastery gained fame as the richest in Rus'. Here Tsar Mikhail’s daughter Tatyana, as well as two sisters of Peter the Great, took monastic vows.
Read about other revered icons of the Mother of God:
Three centuries later, the icon served as a divine reason for the confrontation for the originally Russian city (Smolensk). This sacred image was a symbol of continuity and ancestral closeness between Byzantium and Rus'.
St. Ambrose Church at the monastery
History of the monastery from the end of the 17th century
In 1689, Princess Sophia was imprisoned here and forcibly tonsured as a nun, and some time later Peter I placed her sisters in prison. Soon, in front of the princess’s eyes, the participants in the Streltsy riot were hanged.
About other Orthodox monasteries:
- Pereslavl Goritsky Assumption Monastery
- Moscow Sretensky Monastery
Architecture Features
The church complex consists of 14 buildings: 8 temples, 1 cathedral, 4 churches, a bell tower, two small chapels and utility buildings.
Some researchers call the monastery “the Kremlin in miniature.” At the end of the 18th century, the architect S. Rodionov carried out restoration work. He changed the shape of the covering of the Smolensk Cathedral, returned the previous volume to the windows, redid the gallery and porch, and freed the frescoes from old oil.
- In the very center is the grandiose Smolensk Cathedral, which stands out for its interior fresco painting of the 16th century. The paintings tell about the holy elders and Russian princes, as well as the miracles of the main icon. The prototype of this building was the Kremlin Assumption Church. During the reign of Sophia, the Smolensk Cathedral became the center of architectural composition. These works were entrusted to the shoulders of an architect named Peter Potapov.
- The second most important are the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (with a refectory) and the festive-looking Church of the Transfiguration, which is open to free visits by parishioners.
- Tsarina Irina Godunova lived and ruled in the Church of St. Ambrose. This building looked like a separate estate with a refectory and rich chambers. The building lost its original appearance after the fire of 1796.
- The Transfiguration Church, distinguished by its own carved iconostasis, is erected above the holy gates, when looking at this architectural monument it feels like she is floating in the air. Adjacent to it are the Lopukhin Chambers, which received their name from Evdokia, the first wife of Peter the Great. The façade features an elegant sundial, and the interior features tiled stoves. The Mariinsky Chambers, built of brick and white stone, are adjacent to the Intercession Church.
- The local bell tower is 72 m high; its structure alternates openwork and simple tiers. The architect of the building was Y. Bukhvostov.
- The monastery is surrounded by a brick wall, modified by 12 rifle towers armed in the 17th century.
- Since its formation, the Novodevichy Convent has become a place of rest for nuns, noble nuns and illustrious people. The necropolis began to be formed in 1771, after a special decree prohibiting burying bodies close to the city limits. In the 20th century, there was practically no burial ground left on the territory of the monastery for the deceased. It was not until 1898 that the government allocated land outside the southern wall of the complex. In 1930, the Necropolis was desecrated by the Bolsheviks, as a result of which only a tenth of the tombstones survived.
The Novodevichy Convent in Moscow is one of the largest monasteries in the Moscow region. The history of the church complex is full of bright turns: from peaceful existence to the fight against enemy forces.
The monastery received many women noble family and was considered the richest. The architecture of the monastery is close to the buildings of the Moscow Kremlin and attracts the attention of researchers and lay parishioners.
Mother of God Smolensk Novodevichy Convent in Moscow
Photo by volod99 / fotki.yandex.ru
The Moscow Novodevichy Mother of God-Smolensky Monastery is rightfully considered the pearl of Russian architecture: majestic white walls, carved red and white tiers of the temple, bell towers and towers are considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Moscow or, as it is also called, Naryshkin Baroque.
The Novodevichy Convent was named because it was considered truly “new” relative to other Moscow monasteries - Zachatievsky convent and the Ascension Monastery of the Moscow Kremlin. However, after time has passed, it will be hard to call the monastery “new” - after all, it was founded under Vasily III, in the first half of the 16th century! The main cathedral of the monastery - Smolensky - is a witness to those distant times. However, first things first.
The most convenient way to get to the monastery is from the Sportivnaya metro station. Coming out of the metro, turn right, and along 10 Letiya Oktyabrya Street you will come straight to the Novodevichy Convent - its majestic red and white walls cannot be confused with anything.
The first attraction meets us immediately at the entrance - this Transfiguration Gate Church. Built in the 1680s, this church is one of those buildings that were built by order of Princess Sophia during her regency. The temple is rightfully considered one of the pearls of the “Naryshkino Baroque” style in general and the monastery ensemble in particular. Graceful windows, columns of the Corinthian order and, of course, the combination of red and white colors give the temple splendor and majesty; the elongated shape creates a feeling of aspiration to heaven, which immediately makes you feel like you are on the threshold of a holy place, God's house. In fact, attributing this temple to the Naryshkin style is not entirely accurate: the layout features of the temple, built at the very beginning of the formation of this style in Russia, do not yet meet the exact architectural requirements for this style. However, for non-specialists it is an organic and undoubtedly beautiful architectural masterpiece.
Transfiguration Gate Church of the Novodevichy Convent.
Walking through the triple arch, you find yourself on the territory of the monastery itself. Outside its walls you will see many interesting objects from different eras, many of which are several centuries older than the monastery itself!
After passing through the gate, turn right along the path. Those on the right hand Lopukhin Chambers date back to 1687-1688. and named after Evdokia Lopukhina. The first wife of Peter I gave him not only the joy of marriage, but also another very generous gift - coming of age. Marriage in those distant times had such a function - the marriage of a “minor” automatically made him an adult and an accomplished citizen. And, as a result, along with coming of age, marrying Evdokia gave Peter the right to ascend the throne, finally replacing his domineering sister Sophia. Brought up in the spirit of Domostroy, Evdokia did not share Peter’s pro-Western interests, and soon after the tsar, who quickly lost interest in his young wife, left for Arkhangelsk, she became close to opponents of the sovereign’s policies. In 1697, after the conspiracy was revealed, the queen's father and brother were sent into exile, and soon she herself was forcibly tonsured as a nun and sent to the Suzdal Ambassador Monastery - the traditional place of exile for the royal wives. In the Lopukhinsky chambers that received her name, the last Russian queen lived only under her grandson, Peter II.
Lopukhin Chambers of the Novodevichy Convent. Photo by ivan65412009 / fotki.yandex.ru
Opposite the Lopukhinsky chambers there are other chambers - Singing. Built in 1718-1726, they are the largest residential building on the territory of the monastery. For a long time, fraternal cells were located in this building, the viceroy also lived here, and only in the 19th century the chambers acquired their modern name - Singing - after the choir nuns were settled here.
Singing chambers of the Novodevichy Convent. Photo by ivan65412009 / fotki.yandex.ru
Everyone knows that monasteries in ancient times performed not only the functions of God’s temple. They were centers of learning, economic and military strongholds of cities. The same can be said about the Novodevichy Convent. Since the 16th century, the monastery was one of the main defensive lines of Moscow. However, at that time its walls were not yet as monumental and strong as we see them now. In 1571, the army of Khan Devlet I Geray completely burned the monastery. Boris Godunov, who did a lot to preserve and maintain the Novodevichy Convent (under him, it experienced real prosperity), finally built powerful walls around the holy place. Their height reached 13 meters, and their width - 3 meters - try to grab them! It was then that the towers of the fortress walls shot up, and with them appeared premises for archers, the so-called Streltsy guards.
Streletsky guards of the Novodevichy Convent. Photo by ivan65412009 / fotki.yandex.ru
There are four of them in total, they are located near corner towers monastery Each of them could accommodate up to 350 archers. You will see one of these guardhouses opposite the Singing Chambers - the next building on your right hand after the Lopukhinsky Chambers. This Streltsy guard is located at one of the most famous towers of the Novodevichy Convent - the legendary Naprudnaya Tower.
Nadprudnaya tower of the Novodevichy Convent. Photo by volod99 / fotki.yandex.ru
It was here that the insidious intriguer Sophia was imprisoned by Peter I after the Streltsy rebellion she organized. On the canvas I.E. Repin can see what a powerful and strong-willed woman she was - fire in her eyes, disheveled hair, powerful in appearance - well, just a demoness in the flesh. The Novodevichy Convent became a fateful place for Sophia. During her regency, and in fact her reign, Sophia launched large-scale construction here. It was thanks to her that the monastery acquired that splendor, beauty, brightness and grace for which Moscow Baroque is famous. Almost the entire monastery, except for the chambers of Irina Godunova, the monastery walls and the old Smolensk Cathedral, has undergone reconstruction and renovation. In the years 1680-90, mighty wall towers, an elegant bell tower, gate churches of the Transfiguration and Intercession, the Church of the Assumption, etc. were built.
In 1689, Peter, in order to protect his power-hungry relative from temptation, took her to the Novodevichy Convent, which by that time had completely accepted the role of a “court” monastery. Here Sophia was tonsured a nun, and already under the name of Susanna, from the windows of the Streltsy guard she watched the execution of her companions - the Streltsy. What an irony of fate: it was thanks to Sophia that the Novodevichy Convent acquired the luxurious appearance we know and at the same time became her prison. A very interesting popular belief is associated with the Naprudnaya Tower of the monastery, in which the princess languished. If you approach the tower from the outside of the walls, you can see that it is all covered with wishes left by those who are not alien to superstition. Indeed, many believe that the princess who lived here helps those who came to visit her in prison. Who knows, maybe this is really so... However, spoiling the appearance historical monument after all, it’s not necessary: according to legend, you just need to touch the tower and think about what you want most, and your wish will definitely come true.
Passing the Singing Chambers, you will see Assumption Church with refectory chambers. This essentially unusual structure was built in 1685-1687. This building is unique for its time: the chambers are pillarless, that is, the roof is not supported by pillars, and the building itself stands on a high basement. This church originally looked a little different than it does now. The temple was decorated with a majestic five-domed dome, which was destroyed in a fire in 1796. Restoration work of the 19th century transformed the upper part of the temple and forced us to say goodbye to the white stone gallery that surrounded the entire structure - it was too dilapidated. The Assumption Church is notable for the chapel located on its second floor in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and the ancient iconostasis stored there.
Assumption Church of the Novodevichy Convent with refectory chambers. Photo by ivan65412009 / fotki.yandex.ru
To the right of the Assumption Church there is a small neat building in the Empire style, the creation of which is attributed to Domenico Gilardi himself, the most famous Moscow architect of Italian origin, who gained fame as one of the main Empire masters of the Mother See. And the building itself is Mausoleum of Princes Volkonsky, where the officers, princes Dmitry Mikhailovich (1770-1835) and Sergei Alexandrovich (1786-1838) Volkonsky, are buried. Oddly enough, for many years the mausoleum was lost behind the greatness of its brilliant neighbors - other monuments of the monastery, and no one paid much attention to its study. All that is known about its history is that the architectural masterpiece was erected in the 1830s over the grave of Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich, and both relatives were heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812.
Mausoleum of the Volkonsky princes in the Novodevichy Convent. Photo by Ananda / fotki.yandex.ru
Along the path that smoothly goes around the Assumption Church and the refectory, we get to chambers of Irina Godunova and adjacent to them Ambrose Church. This is one of the few buildings of the monastery that Sophia did not have a hand in: the structure dates back to the 16th-17th centuries. Irina Godunova, the sister of Boris Godunov, voluntarily went to the monastery on the ninth day after the death of her husband, Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, and became a nun under the name of nun Alexandra. Her calculation was simple: in fact, power in the state belonged to her, but her position was not as strong as that of her brother Boris. Irina carried out large-scale work, “campaigning” the boyars, clergy, and ordinary people to ask Boris to accept the kingdom. It was here that a crowd of petitioners came, and it was here that Boris Godunov officially accepted the invitation to the kingdom. Nun Alexandra lived here until her death in 1603.
Ambrose Church and the adjacent chambers of Irina Godunova in the Novodevichy Convent.
Church of St. Ambrose of Milan, adjacent to the chambers of Irina Godunova, is a small, pillarless, single-domed temple with a complicated history. The church was either functioning, then closed, or rebuilt. The temple was even used as a State repository historical museum. Since 1994, the temple has been owned by the Russian Orthodox Church, and every year on December 7, services are held in it in honor of St. Ambrose of Milan. Sadly, this building was not preserved in its original form - the fire of 1796 did not spare it either.
Having passed the temple and chambers, we find ourselves at the main shrine of the Novodevichy Convent - Smolensk Cathedral. This is the oldest stone building on the territory of the monastery, dating back to 1524-1525. Built on the model of the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, the Smolensk Cathedral is a true pearl of Russian stone architecture that has survived to this day. This is a six-pillar scar on a high basement, surrounded by covered galleries. During the reconstruction of the monastery by Princess Sophia, the temple became the main semantic node of the entire architectural ensemble. The interiors of the monastery have preserved authentic frescoes and an iconostasis from the 16th century. The sisters of Peter I are buried here - Evdokia, Catherine and, of course, Sophia, whose fate is so closely intertwined with the history of the monastery.
Smolensky Cathedral of the Novodevichy Convent.
To admire the temple, you can walk around it, and along the way see several other interesting sights. One of them - Gate Church of the Intercession 1687-88 the buildings. This is the second gate church of the monastery, which is located on the same line with the gate church of the Transfiguration. It is not so magnificent and elegant, but is not inferior in grace to other monuments of the Moscow Baroque. The church is three-domed, its side chapters are intended to house bells. It is clear that Sophia made sure that when entering the monastery, people immediately felt that they were entering a holy place - otherwise how to explain the fact that both passages to the monastery are crowned with gate churches. If this is indeed the case, then we can say with confidence that the desired effect has been achieved!
Gate Church of the Intercession and Mariinsky Chambers of the Novodevichy Convent. Photo by volod99 / fotki.yandex.ru
Closely adjacent to the gateway Church of the Intercession Mariinsky Chambers, named after their noble inhabitant - the sister of Peter I, Maria. This incredibly beautiful building was built in 1683-1688. and for the elegance of its external decoration it was called the “Russian Tower”. The chambers were built specifically for Princess Maria, who, unlike her violent sister Sophia, did not participate in court intrigues. But because of her good relationship with her rebel sister and with Peter’s first wife Evdokia (the one who would later live in the Lopukhinsky Chambers), Princess Maria probably did not enjoy her brother’s special favor.
Near the corner Chebotarny tower is located interesting building Hospital wards. The building was used as a hospital for soldiers and officers, and an apothecary garden was laid out around it.
Hospital wards of the Novodevichy Convent.
Immediately behind the Smolensk Cathedral there is a real pearl of the architectural ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent - a magnificent Baroque Bell tower. Construction of the bell tower began during large-scale reconstructions of Sophia in 1683 and was suspended in 1690. It is believed that the bell tower was supposed to consist of six tiers, but was never completed - to this day there are only five tiers. For a long time, this elegant structure was the second tallest building in Moscow after the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great. Based on its structure, it would be even more correct to call the bell tower a temple “like bells,” in which the belfry tier is located directly above the temple premises. There are two churches in the bell tower - the Church of Saints Barlaam and Joseph in the first tier and the Church of St. John the Evangelist in the second. The bells are placed on the third and fifth tiers. There are many symbolic moments associated with this building. For example, the belfry is located on the east side of the Smolensk Cathedral - like the Pillar of John the Great relative to the Assumption Church in the Kremlin. The shape of both bell towers is based on an octagon, which in Orthodoxy is considered a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven. In combination with the main purpose of these buildings - the place where church bells ring - the image of the messengers of the Kingdom of God is born (after all, the ringing of bells in Orthodoxy is considered the personification of the good news). Church symbolism is quite complex and multifaceted, and it can be studied truly endlessly. But even without being an expert in the history of religion and architecture, one can without a doubt rank the bell tower of the Novodevichy Convent on the list of the main architectural masterpieces of Russian architecture.
Smolensky Cathedral and the bell tower of the Novodevichy Convent.
There is a building next to the bell tower Filatievsky School, built in 1871-1878. In fact, it was an orphanage built for orphan girls from different classes by N.P. Filatieva, the widow of Privy Councilor Senator V.I. Filatiev. The orphanage building was located here previously: by decree of PeterIn 1725, a shelter for orphan girls was opened in the Novodevichy Convent, where they were taught how to weave Dutch lace, but this first building has not survived to this day. In 1899, a parochial school was opened in the building of the Filatievsky School, but with the advent of Soviet power, the school, the orphanage, and the school were closed. Now the secretariat of the Novodevichy Convent of the Russian Orthodox Church is located in the building of the Filatievsky School.
Filatievsky School in the Novodevichy Convent.
Perhaps one of the most unusual objects of the Novodevichy Convent can be considered Prokhorov chapel, built in neo-Russian style by architect V.A. Pokrovsky inXIX century. It is located on the territory of the necropolis near the walls of the Smolensk Cathedral. This tombstone chapel was installed over the burial place of the owner of the famous Tryokhgornaya manufactory I.Ya. Prokhorov and his family. At first glance, it seems strange that the burial of an ordinary, albeit famous, industrialist is located in such a significant place. And there is a reason for this, of course. The fact is that throughout his life Ivan Yakovlevich devoted a lot of effort, time and money to the successful functioning of the Novodevichy Convent. In addition, the industrialist’s sister lived here as a nun for many years.
Chapel of the Prokhorovs in the Novodevichy Convent. Photo by volod99 / fotki.yandex.ru
Treasury chambers - the next building on our way. Building The 17th century was intended to store the treasury (after all, everyone remembers that monasteries were important economic centers?), and the elders of the monastery also lived in it. Immediately behind the Treasury Chambers there is a rest area and a detailed model of the monastery, where you can take a break and once again examine the objects that you have already seen in person.
Treasury chambers of the Novodevichy Convent.
When visiting the Novodevichy Convent, one must not forget that very close to it is located, perhaps, one of the most famous necropolises in Moscow - Novodevichy Cemetery.
Novodevichy Cemetery.
Not everyone likes to visit places of peace and the last human refuge; however, the necropolis of the Novodevichy Convent can be considered more of a museum than a cemetery. Here are the burial places of famous writers, politicians, scientists and artists who left a noticeable mark on the history of Russia: M. Bulgakov, S. Bondarchuk, R. Bykov, A. Vertinsky, V. Gilyarovsky, N. Gogol, L. Gurchenko, B. Yeltsin , M. Ermolova, L. Zykina, Z. Kosmodemyanskaya, L. Landau, I. Levitan, A. Maresyev, Yu. Nikulin, N. Ostrovsky, M. Rostropovich, K. Stanislavsky, A. Tvardovsky... The list can be continued very much for a long time. Here you can always honor the memory of great people of the past; and you shouldn’t be afraid of such places - Novodevichy Cemetery can hardly be called scary or sacred place. It is, rather, a bright island of quiet sadness and greatness of our common past, a past that must be honored and carefully preserved in memory, passed on from generation to generation. The most convenient way to get to the cemetery is through the southern gate of the monastery (the same one that is crowned with the gate Church of the Intercession).
Having left the walls of the monastery and deeply imbued with the spirit of its history, you can continue your walk in the romantic and quiet park near Novodevichy Ponds. From here you have a stunning view of the monastery walls, especially at sunset. The ponds here were formed quite a long time ago from the oxbow lake of the Moscow River. Then their banks were strengthened, vegetation was planted, paths were laid, and a white stone stone was thrown over the ponds themselves.the bridge, which today is already decorated with a couple of dozen wedding locks.
Square near Novodevichy Ponds.
A funny monument was erected in the park near the Novodevichy Convent in 1991. "Make way for the ducklings." The gift from the wife of American President Barbara Bush, Raisa Gorbacheva, immediately fell in love with Muscovites, even too much: the baby ducklings twice became victims of vandals, and once even their mother was kidnapped! In 2000, thank God, all the ducklings were returned to their place, and the composition was completely restored. The ducklings and their mother have become a kind of symbol of good relations between Russia and the United States, as well as an object of delight for all children and adults who have ever seen them. Indeed, the monument simply charges with kindness and positivity.
Monument "Make way for ducklings" in the park near the Novodevichy Convent.
Summarizing all of the above, I would only like to say that the Novodevichy Convent and the picturesque territories adjacent to it have played a very important role in it throughout the centuries-old history of Moscow. These walls held back the attacks of the Mongols and the French, imprisoned the royal wives and sisters inside, and were in charge of earthly and divine affairs. This place is truly iconic for Moscow and Muscovites, a stronghold of beauty and spirituality that truly deserves a visit.
Enjoy your walks along it!
