Ascension Monastery of the Caves in Nizhny Novgorod

On the steep bank of the Volga, three kilometers from the walls of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, there is the Ascension Monastery of the Caves , as ancient as those legends and tales that over the centuries are singing the mighty become of this great Russian river. Many secrets store the gravestones of the old monastery churchyard, and many of the events of the past are able to tell the chronicles stored in it. Opening them, we step into the wonderful world of the Russian Middle Ages.

Pechersky monks on the banks of the Volga

From the historical documents that have come down to us it is known that in the twenties of the XIV century monks of the Kiev-Pechersky monastery came to these regions, among them there was a young priest Hieromonk Dionysius, who, after his blessed fastness, was ranked as a saint. Choosing a convenient place, located downstream from Nizhny Novgorod, they sprouted caves on the mountainside and, settling in them, dedicated their days to fasting and prayer.

Following the example of the great ascetics of the past, Dionysius founded a monastery on the Volga coast, arranged according to the principle of community life, that is, "common life." This form of the device was called cinematography. It was a kind of monastic community, which provided for the complete refusal of monks from personal property, joint ownership of monastic property and equal participation of all, regardless of status, in economic activities. It is generally believed that the Ascension Monastery of the Caves was founded in 1330.

Childhood and youth of St. Dionysius

About the childhood and adolescence of Dionysius very meager information has been preserved. From the monastery documents it is known only that he was born in 1300 near Kiev and in holy baptism was called David. From a young age the boy got to the Kiev-Pechersky Monastery, where he learned to read and write, after reaching the age of maturity, took tonsure with the name of Dionysius and was ordained priestly. From there, asking for the blessing from the abbot, he went with several monks to the far Volga lands.

Beginning of the monastery construction

The rumor about the asceticism of the monks and their spiritual mentor quickly flew around the neighborhood, and many people inclined to monastic life began to come to the caves on the steep bank of the Volga. They were hospitably received and settled in earthen cells, which in time could no longer accommodate all comers. In addition, life in cramped and damp caves was under the power of only a few ascetics. In order not to refuse again to the petitioners coming on, on one of the ledges the mountains began the erection of wooden cells and other monastic buildings, the first of which was the church in the name of the Ascension of the Lord.

From this first wooden church the name Voznesensky Pechersky Monastery also went. The word "Pechersky" comes from the Old Russian "pecher", that is, "cave". It preserved the memory of caves, fossils of the first monks in dense calcareous rocks of the Volga coast.

The first abbot of the monastery

Dionysius was elected first abbot of the monastery founded by him. By his own example, he tirelessly instilled in the brethren the lofty rules of piety and true monastic asceticism. Two of his pupils - Evfimiy and Makarii - subsequently founded new monasteries and were ranked as saints.

With his high spiritual achievements, Dionysius deserved the love not only of the monastic brethren, but also laymen, among whom were very rich and influential people - boyars and grand dukes. Visiting the Pechersky Ascension Monastery, they made generous contributions, through which he gained strength and expanded.

It is commonly believed that in the life of the Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod lands St. Dionysius played the same role as the Monk Sergei of Radonezh in Moscow. Just like his great brother in Christ, he was an ascetic and an outstanding religious convertor. Thanks to his tireless labors, the Nizhny Novgorod Pechersky Ascension Monastery became the focus of the spiritual life not only of the city, but of the entire vast territory.

At the episcopal chair

In 1374, in the life of Archimandrite Dionysius, a significant event occurred - he was elevated to the rank of bishop of Suzdal by decree of Metropolitan of Moscow Alexis, in which Nizhny Novgorod was subordinate. Since then, his residence was located in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Despite such a high position and extreme employment, the saint did not disregard the established abode. With the blessing of Dionysius and with his direct participation the monastery monk Lavrentii created the most ancient chronicle, which went down in history as the "Laurentian Chronicle" and tells of the struggle against the Horde yoke.

It is known that the prosperous and prosperous Ascension Monastery of the Caves in Nizhny Novgorod was repeatedly subjected to enemy devastation. There is information that in 1378 and 1379 he was looted and burnt by the Tatars. The same fate befell him and in 1550, two years before Ivan the Terrible took Kazan and thereby put an end to their bloody raids.

The circumstances of the death of Bishop Dionysius are very tragic. In 1384 he visited Byzantium, where the Patriarch of Constantinople was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan of All Russia, which put him at the head of the entire Russian Orthodox Church. In those years, the patriarchate in Rus had not yet been established, and for the elevation to this high rank went to Constantinople until its fall in 1453. But the saint did not return back. On the way home he was captured by a Lithuanian prince and, after spending a year in prison, passed away.

The collapse of the mountain

Over the next two centuries, the Pechersky Ascension Monastery continued to multiply its glory and be strengthened by donations from both the Nizhny Novgorod nobility and from the common people, who came to his shrines in a multitude. This calm and measured life was interrupted by a grievous trial, sent down by the monastery in 1597. Late June night, there was a collapse of the mountain, on the ledge of which was located a monastery. A huge mass of earth slid down, destroying almost the entire monastic complex.

Only God's intercession did not kill any of the brethren and received injuries, but the people went on a rumor that the disaster happened is an omen of new future troubles. In many ways, these predictions were justified in the years that followed the death of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich, the last representative of the Rurik dynasty, and who received the name of the Time of Troubles in history.

Restoration of the monastery in a new place

The monks had to rebuild again. But since the slope of the mountain still contained the danger of a collapse, it was decided to move the buildings to a new location, a few kilometers upstream of the Volga. In the same place where the first caves were the founders of the monastery, in memory of this the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord was established. It is known that one of the donors for the construction of the new monastery was the father of the future leader of the Russian militia, Kuzma Minin.

In the new place, it was decided to erect stone structures, if possible, but there was not enough donations for their construction. It was necessary to the abbot of the monastery Archimandrite Raphael to go to Moscow and there to ask for help from the sovereign. The work on erecting a stone ensemble took a long time and was completely completed only by the middle of the 17th century. In its completed form, the Ascension Pechersky Monastery (Nizhny Novgorod) has survived to the present day.

The newly built monastery

The complex of the monastery, included in the number of masterpieces of Russian temple architecture, amazes the eye with its greatness and at the same time with extraordinary harmony. It is designed to be viewed from the side of the Volga, and from the side of the mountain. From whatever point they look at it, it is a picturesque composition, the center of which is the building of the five-domed Ascension Cathedral.

Like many monasteries in Russia, the Ascension Monastery of Pechersk had its own special shrine, the glory of which attracted thousands of pilgrims to it. It was an image of the Pechersk Mother of God, which was an exact list from the icon, which had appeared in the Assumption Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra in ancient times. Once it was brought to the banks of the Volga by the founder of the monastery, Saint Hierarch Dionysius.

Residents of the region turned to this miraculous icon in cases of both personal and public griefs. There are many facts known, when the Mother of God, through prayers, faithfully offered to Her in an honest way, sent relief to the suffering. The Grace and Grace of God flowed from her generously.

The role of the monastery in public life

The Nizhny Novgorod Ascension Monastery of the Caves was a rich abode. His wealth, he used not only to help the poor and poor, but also generously shared them with the state, when there was a need. The documents showing that in 1619 from the monastery treasury significant sums for the needs of the army were transferred, and during the war with Sweden at the expense of the monastery a warship was built. Often during a hard time, the monks, having changed their cassocks to military ammunition, rose up in the ranks of the defenders of the Fatherland. For example, in 1646 the detachment, wholly formed from the monastic brethren, was sent to Smolensk to protect the city from the invasion of the Crimean Tatars.

More than once the Voznesensky Pechersky Monastery, by the will of the authorities, became the place of detention of important church and state criminals. The rebellious musketeers who rebelled against King Peter I were exiled there. They spent a year behind strong stone walls, after which they were sent back to Moscow to lay their heads there. Here, in the young years, the future patriarch Nikon, the author of the famous church reform, initiated the church schism, obedience.

It is known that the Ascension Monastery of the Caves from time immemorial was famous for its sacristy, which became an invaluable collection of works of church art. The splendor of services and rituals required not only richly decorated church books, icons, all kinds of ceremonial utensils, but also expensive vestments. By the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery housed unique examples of holy Gospels created in the past centuries, altar crosses, staffs and many other worship services.

End of former well-being

During the reign of Empress Catherine II, the Pechersky Ascension Monastery (Nizhny Novgorod), as well as all Russian monasteries, suffered from her secularization (seizure) of the monastic lands. This put an end to his material well-being. Instead of the huge revenues that came to his treasury, he began to be satisfied with only a small amount paid by the state. As a result, the monastery buildings, the maintenance of which lacked funds, was decrepit, and the number of brethren was decreasing. Only by the middle of the XIX century it was with great difficulty that the monastic buildings were restored to their original appearance and the number of monks increased.

Years of darkness and desolation

With the coming to power of the God-seeking government, the Pechersky Ascension Monastery (Nizhny Novgorod) shared the fate of all other monasteries: it was closed, and monks were partly dispersed, and partly sent into exile. The abbot of the monastery Bishop Lavrenti (Knyazev) was shot. The values stored in the monastery were looted, and the buildings were used as a housing stock and utility premises. With the consent of the Gubmuzey administration, which was administered monastery property, they sent to the remelting of unique temple bells, wrought crosses and lattices. Where the spiritual life was in full swing, darkness and desolation reigned for many years.

Revival and modern life of the monastery

Only with the onset of democratic changes and the change in state policy towards the Church of the Ascension Monastery of the Caves (Nizhny Novgorod), whose photo is presented in the article, was able to resume its activities. In it, large restoration and restoration work was carried out, carried out both with the funds of the Russian Orthodox Church, and with numerous private donations. Do not stay aside and leading public organizations, considered it their duty to contribute to the restoration of religious and cultural heritage of Russia.

Today, as in previous years, it opened its doors to all pilgrims and tourists just like the Ascension Monastery of the Caves. The schedule of services held in his temples is not very different from those that take place in other monasteries. At 7.00 - midnight; In 7.45 - liturgy and other services of this day; At 17.00 - the Great Compline and Matins. On holidays there may be changes, which are reported in advance on the monastery's website.