Luzhetsky Monastery in Mozhaisk (photo)

There are many ancient monasteries in Russia. One of the most famous is Luzhetsky, located not far from Mozhaisk on the banks of the Moskva River. This most interesting Orthodox complex attracts hundreds of tourists and believers every year, most of whom consider it one of the few places in Russia that preserved the spirit of old pre-revolutionary Orthodox monasteries.

When and by whom was it founded?

About how the Luzhetsky Monastery developed in Mozhaisk (its photo is presented on the page) tells a lot of ancient chronicles. The first stones of this most interesting complex were laid in 1408. The founder of the monastery was the disciple of Sergius of Radonezh Ferapont Belozersky.

At the time of the construction of the Luzhetsky Monastery, the old man turned 70 years old. This monastery was founded at the request of Prince Andrey Mozhaisky.

A brief biography of Ferapont's father

In the light of this Orthodox saint appeared near Volokolamsk in 1337. His parents were of a boyar kind. In the world of the future founder of the Luzhetsky monastery was called Fyodor Poskochin. Inokom the saint decided to become already in adulthood. He took the tonsure at the Moscow Simonov Monastery. The then rector of the monastery, Father Fyodor, who was nephew of Sergius of Radonezh, blessed him. Presumably he was tonsured by the saints in 1385.

In the Simonov Monastery of St. Ferapont became friends with another righteous Reverend Father Cyril. Together they founded a monastery on the bank of Beloozero. According to legend, the birthplace of the new monastery to the father of Cyril was indicated by the Mother of God herself. The Belozersky Monastery was founded by the Reverend in 1398. It was in this abode that Father Ferapont spent the next ten years of his life until he was invited by Prince Andrew to found a new monastery.

The construction of the monastery

Arriving in Mozhaisk, Father Ferapont blessed the place where the construction of the monastery was planned. The complex was raised for the money of Prince Andrew. Many monasteries in Russia were built of wood. For the erection of religious buildings of the Luzhetsky Monastery, a stone was originally chosen. First built the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady. At the same time, cells were built for the future brotherhood.

The first archimandrite of the new monastery was Father Ferapont Belozersky himself. It remained the residence of the Saint Luzhetsky Bogoroditsky Monastery for 18 years. The elder Ferapont died in 1426 at the age of 95. By the name of the saints, the father of Ferapontus was counted in 1547. The elder was buried near the northern wall of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. Later, a temple was built over his grave. At present, only the foundation has remained from this structure.

Brief biography of Prince Andrey

The Russian ruler, under whose decree Ferapontov Luzhetsky Mozhaisky monastery was erected, was the third son of Dmitry Donskoy. Prince of Mozhaisk he became in 1389. These lands were bequeathed to him at the age of seven by a dying father. In addition to Mozhaisk, his city included such cities as Kaluga, Iskona, Galichichi and Beloozero, where Ferapont's father lived for a long time.

The idea of building the monastery came to Prince Andrew for a very simple reason. The fact is that in the vicinity of the main city of its lands there were no large monasteries dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin. After the erection of the monastery, this ruler helped her archimandrite in every possible way. Prince Andrey Mozhaisky died six years after the death of Ferapont's father in 1432.

Creating a new ensemble

Today, the Luzhetsky Monastery complex (Mozhaisk) includes, of course, many more buildings than they were under Feraponta's father. The present ensemble of the monastery began to be created in 1523 on the initiative of the then archimandrite Father Makary Moskovsky. At the request of this priest, the temple of the Theotokos, which stood for about a hundred years, was demolished. In its place was built a large five-domed Cathedral with a gallery. Signed the temple specially invited for this masters of the school of Dionysius. Unfortunately, until now only fragments of those frescos have come down.

In 1692, with the support of Patriarch Joachim, a three-tiered bell tower was built on the territory of the monastery. The main donors of the monastery at that time were representatives of the Saveliev family. Later they were buried in the first tier of this structure. Unfortunately, their gravestones, like the frescoes in the Cathedral, were not preserved.

Of what exactly were the buildings of the Luzhetsky Monastery (the photo of the modern complex presented on the page, its scale is shown clearly) in the past is for certain unknown. But there is a charter, according to which between 1569 and 1574 years, four royal children were sent to the monastery. And this means that at least four churches operated on the territory of the monastery.

Temple of St. Ferapont

This church was built directly above the relics of the founder of the Luzhetsk monastery. When it was held, it is also unknown. Some researchers suggest that the temple could stand on the territory of the monastery during the lifetime of the saint. Others believe that they built it in the early 16th century. The exact same mention of the existence of this monastery is available only in the documents of the late 16th century.

Luzhetsky Monastery in the Time of Troubles

During the Lithuanian invasion of 1605-1619. The abode was seriously damaged. All the churches were completely ruined. The disaster happened so seriously that another 7 years after this service were committed only in the Cathedral. From this largest temple of the complex, as well as from all the others, the Lithuanians exported a huge number of salary icons, sacred vessels and other valuable church utensils. Fortunately, the coffin of Ferapont's father was then preserved. The monastery was restored in the following years mainly for donations.

Abode with the French

Another disaster Luzhetsky monastery suffered during the war with Napoleon. Captured Mozhaisk the French placed in the monastery of the Westphalian General Juno. As a result, the monastery was turned into a kind of carpentry.

Like the Lithuanians, the French kidnapped many expensive items of church utensils from the churches and the Cathedral . However, fortunately, this time the invaders did not inflict much damage to the monastery. For example, the church of St. Ferapont was fully ready for consecration a month after returning to the monastery of the brethren.

Head of the Forerunner Icon

In 1871, in the new chapel of the church of St. The iconostasis and the holy altar were arranged. The main temple was chosen icon of the head of the Precursor, miraculously preserved from the front side in 1812 (its rear side was severely chopped off). The chapel was consecrated in honor of this icon in September 1871.

In the years of Soviet power

Like all other monasteries of the country, during the reign of the Communists, the Luzhetsky Monastery experienced far from good times. In 1929 it was closed. Part of the brethren was dispersed, another part was repressed. Before WWII there was a workshop in the monastery for the production of medical equipment. Above the necropolis, the authorities built garages and warehouses with inspection holes. Then the monastery was completely abandoned for a long time.

Restoration of the monastery

Transferred to the church Luzhetsky Monastery was in 1994. The first bishop's service at the newly opened church of Christmas was held on October 23rd. In 1999, in May, at the initiative of Metropolitan of Kolomna and Krutitsy Yuvenaly, the relics of the Monk St. Ferapont. Now they are transferred to the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin.

In April 2015, a new bell was hoisted on the bell tower of the monastery, its weight is 2.5 tons. The opening of this religious building took place on August 9, 2015. Up to this 10 months, the reconstruction of the bell tower continued.

Features of the modern complex

By now, the Luzhetsky Ferapontov Monastery consists of the following buildings:

• Cells with the parish corps;
• Bell tower with the tomb of the Savelov family (1673-1692);
• Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (1524-1547);
• The foundation left by the treasurer's house (late 19th century);
• Church of the introduction of the Blessed Virgin Mary with refectory (XVI century);
• Northern and southern buildings in the eastern part (late XIX and early XX century);
• Gate church of the Transfiguration (1603);
• The foundation of the church of St. Ferapont;
• necropolis.

The gate church of the Transfiguration, among other things, is famous for the fact that when it was consecrated in 1603 Boris Godunov himself was present.

In addition to the above facilities on the territory of the monastery, the eastern entrance gate, erected in 1780, is also preserved. The Luzhetsky Monastery is surrounded by a fence with towers of 1681-1684. On the territory of the complex there are also economic gates, erected in the 90s of the XIX century. Necropolis includes several ancient tombstones with a vilo-shaped cross and pagan symbols.

From the walls of the monastery a magnificent view of the Moskva River opens. Near the monastery, near its walls, a dam was built.

Spring

Another attraction of the monastery is a well with holy water. It is located not in the territory of the monastery, but in the nearby village of Isavitsy. It is believed that this well was dug by the old Ferapont himself.

The area around the spring is landscaped - there are benches and baths. There is also a monument to Father Ferapont. Also in the village there is a chapel and a church shop. To get to the well, you need to stand the line. Those wishing to recruit holy water in the Ferapont spring are many.

Necropolis of the monastery

Some tourists find a cemetery of monks, located on the territory of the monastery, quite unusual. It seems that gravestones do not belong to graves. The fact is that many of them are not engraved Christian symbols: swastikas and kolovraty. The same stones lie in the backyard. Once they were used as material for the construction of the monastery.

Perhaps in ancient times there was a pagan cemetery at this place. And in order not to go far, first-builders simply used strong tombstones to build the cult buildings of the new official religion. Of course, this is nothing more than an assumption. However, from nowhere pagan symbols (and on some stones and inscriptions in the Old Slavonic language), of course, could not be undertaken.

Mozhaysky Luzhetsky Ferapontov Monastery: how to get there?

By public transport from Moscow to the monastery can be reached from the Belorussky railway station. To do this, you need to take the train to Mozhaisk station and then take the bus to the "Moscow River" stop.

On your personal transport, you should follow the Minsk Highway to Mozhaisk. Then you need to turn to the river for signs. In total, the road from Moscow to the monastery takes no more than two hours.