Monastery of Nikolo-Berlyukovsky: history and photos

In forty-two kilometers to the north-east of Moscow, on the bank of the river Vory is located the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery, which survived together with most of the holy monasteries of Russia and the periods of prosperity, and years of desolation. On his fate, with all visibility reflected both the anger and mercy of the powers that be. And today, when the people came to their senses after decades of atheistic madness, it is once again needed for people as the guardian of their primordial spiritual values.

The first monks on the river Vore

Among historians there is an opinion that the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky monastery originates from the caves excavated here by the first monks who came here in the 12th-13th centuries. Despite the fact that in the Russian lands cave-residence, due to climatic conditions, was the lot of only a relatively small circle of the most ardent ascetics, examples of this monastic feat can be found throughout our history.

It is established that in ancient, pre-Christian times on the bank of the River of Vori there was a pagan temple, and the first inhabitants of the monastery, having settled in these places, erected two churches on the site of the images they had defeated - in the name of St. John the Baptist and St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker of Myra. In this connection, the history of the founding of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra involuntarily comes to mind, where the first buildings were erected on the site of idols dumped in Dnipro waters.

Hieromonk the Pogoretz

The place chosen by the first settlers was not far from the village of Berlin (in subsequent years Avdotino), therefore the monastery founded by them was initially called the St. Nicholas Berlin Desert. Her story is actively developed after the appearance in this region of hieromonk Varlaam, who came here in the early XVII century, when the Russian land was engulfed by the fire of the Time of Troubles. Before, he was a resident of the Stromynsky Assumption Monastery, which was near the village of Fryanovo, but was destroyed by the Poles and burned by them in 1603.

It is interesting to note that it was after his appearance in the historical documents of that era that the monastery begins to be called the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery. The origin of this name among researchers has no definite opinion. People's rumor connects him with the name of a person who traded in these parts and then repented a robber named Berlyuk, which means "wolf", or simply "beast".

Whether this legend is based on real grounds is unknown, especially since the attribution of the foundation of monasteries to former repentant villains has become part of the national tradition. An example of this is the famous Optina Pustyn, also allegedly founded by the robber Opt.

The beginning of the monastic community

How Father Monk Varlaam began his monastic ministry on the banks of Vori, only fragmentary information that had been brought to us by the documents of that era was preserved. However, it is known that soon after the ascetic had fossilized himself with an earth cell and settled in it, he surrendered to fasting and prayer, other monks from ruined monasteries began to come to him, and with them laymen who wanted to devote their lives to the service of God. Gradually the number of inhabitants of the desert began to increase.

It is also known that, once, two venerable old men appeared to Varlaam's father - the abbess Evdokia, who headed the nearby Uspensky Predtechensky Monastery, and her treasurer Juliana. They brought in the gift of the monastery an ancient icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

For this holy image, the elder Varlaam and the brothers set up a wooden chapel, cut from the trunks spread around the pine forest. The inhabitants of the surrounding villages soon learned about the appearance of the shrine and began to come to Nikolo-Berlukovsky Monastery in a multitude. Soon after the prayers miracles began to be performed before the image, and many sufferers received healing.

The first stone building of the monastery

As the number of pilgrims who wished to bow to the miraculous icon and to heed the instructions of the elder of Varlaam increased, and the monastery treasury that had been scarce up to that time was replenished. Several years passed, and on the donations of pilgrims and the contributions of the boyars who visited the monastery on the site of the former chapel was erected a stone church, consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

In 1710, as the monastery (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) had not yet had official status for the decision of the diocesan leadership, the church received the status of a Moscow metochion of the Chudov Monastery, and several monks led by the rector Pohomi arrived to serve in it, as well as general arrangement from the capital. This was a significant step towards the recognition of the monastery by the Moscow Patriarchate.

The patriarchal command to establish a new monastery came seven years later, and, having obtained official status, the desert was removed from the conduct of Chudov Monastery. History preserved the name of the first abbot of the monastery, he was Hieromonk Diodorus, who gave service to God within the walls of the monastery entrusted to him for twenty years.

Hegumen-dissident

In 1731, he was succeeded by Hieromonk Josiah, who enjoyed great prestige among the princesses of Mary and Theodosia, the sisters of the deceased Prince Peter I. The fate of this faithful son of the Russian Orthodox Church was tragic. He had the courage to openly oppose the policy of Empress Anna Ioannovna, who ruled in those years.

As you know, the decade of her reign was characterized by the domination of foreigners in all state structures and the overall pro-Western orientation of politics. Being a patriot of Russia, Father Josiah was not afraid to publicly expose both the empress herself, who trampled on national interests, and her corrupt officialdom. For his dissidence, he was exiled to an eternal settlement on Kamchatka, where he soon died, unable to withstand its harsh climate.

The Crimson Monastery

Many monks also fell into disgrace, according to reports to the Secret Chancery, "favorably treated" their hegumen. True, with regard to the brethren the sentence was not so severe, and the authorities limited themselves only to their deportation to other monasteries. However, since that time the monastery (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) began to gradually decline. In Russia, secular power always took precedence over the ecclesiastical, naturally, that the monastery, which had tarnished itself with political sedition, could not count on the support of the Holy Synod.

The first abolition of the monastery

The situation of the monastery did not change for the better in the subsequent reigns. Moreover, in 1770, under Catherine II, which, as you know, carried out a policy of secularization, that is, the weaning of church lands, the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky monastery was completely abolished, and the Nikolsky church on its territory was given the status of a parish church.

Only after nine years, thanks to numerous appeals of local residents and representatives of the clergy, the monastery (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) regained its rights by the decree of the Moscow Spiritual Consistory. However, the former free-thinking of his brothers was not in vain - the monastery received the status of a supernumerary desert, that is, it lost all material support from the church authorities and had to exist exclusively at the expense of its own resources. In that year there were eight such monasteries in the Moscow diocese.

Under the auspices of Metropolitan Plato

Hieromonk Joasaph was appointed rector of the restored monastery, a man who was not only deeply religious, but also possessed an extraordinary economic and business grasp. He was able to gain the confidence of the outstanding church figure of the time, Metropolitan Platon (Levshin), who enjoyed great influence at the court, and, thanks to his support, receive a blessing and, importantly, funds for the construction of a new church in honor of the Holy Trinity. When the construction was completed, Metropolitan Platon personally consecrated him, and from himself made a significant contribution to liturgical books and various utensils.

The age of active construction of the monastery

After the death of Hegumen Joasaph, in 1794, the monastery continued to expand. Throughout the XIX century on its territory were built various buildings for both liturgical and economic purposes. In 1835, the foundation of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was laid, which later became the architectural center of the monastery complex.

In addition, the most notable buildings are: the gate stone church built in 1840 in honor of Basil the Great, as well as the bell tower erected in 1851, on which a bell weighing more than a thousand poods was raised. In addition, two years later the brethren solemnly consecrated a new stone church, built on the donations of merchant FF Nabilkin.

The unique monastery bell tower

The end of the XIX century was marked by the construction of the most grandiose building, which the whole of Russia became famous for the Nikolo-Berlyukovskaya desert. The monastery was able to find means and opportunities for the construction of one of the highest bell towers in Russia. This building, built according to the project of the Moscow architect Alexander Stepanovich Kaminsky, is unique both as an architectural monument and as a bold engineering project.

Its height is eighty-eight meters, and on top it was crowned with a cross cast by master Shuvalov of red copper and weighing more than six hundred kilograms. All construction was carried out on voluntary donations of the capital merchants Samoilov and the Lyapin brothers.

The second abolition of the monastery

In 1920, the anti-religious campaign, undertaken by the new authorities, reached Avdotino. The Nikolo-Berliukovsky Monastery was closed, most of its buildings were used for various household needs, and the main temple was converted into a parish church. A year later, by strengthening atheistic activity, the authorities banned the processions, and in 1922 they seized valuables.

Requested all the silverware, including vessels, salaries of icons and liturgical books, as well as pectoral and altar crosses. The last time the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in February 1930. The whole further period, until the beginning of the nineties, the construction of the monastery was used for purely economic purposes.

Revival of the monastery

The beginning of the revival of the monastery should be considered the fall of 1992, when the church of Christ the Savior was created and registered a religious community. However, the restoration work in it took considerable time, and the first Liturgy was served only in 2004. This event marked the beginning of a new historical period, in which Nikolo Berlyukovsky Monastery entered. The schedule of services that appeared on its doors after a long break was the first sign of the upcoming spiritual renewal. At the same time, the church, the bell tower and part of the monastery were officially transferred to the newly formed community.

An important stage in the revival of the monastery was the decision of the Holy Synod adopted by him at the January 2006 meeting. According to his decree, the temple, which used to function as a parish, was once again transformed into the Nikolo-Berluks monastery. Photos of the monastery returned to believers after sixty years of mockery are presented in the article. They speak for themselves.

Works started in the monastery

Ahead is still a long work to restore everything that was so mercilessly destroyed, and it has already begun. Shortly after the official status was given to the monastery on the top of the belltower, a fifteen-meter high head was raised, crowned with a gilded cross. Again, the symbol of the redeeming Christ's sacrifice shone over the abode.

In 2011, the monastery brethren began to implement a unique project - the creation of the Romanov Alley of Glory. According to the authors, it should be installed monuments to the representatives of the dynasty, who ruled in Russia for three hundred years. Today, in this memorial, created as a tribute to the memory of the Romanovs, the first four monuments were erected.

In full, the church services were restored, attracting thousands of pilgrims to the Nikolo-Berlukovsky Monastery in previous years. The schedule of the services of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior as a whole corresponds to the schedule established for most churches. On weekdays the night owl, matins and hours begin at 6:00, the Divine Liturgy at 8:00, vespers at 5:30. On holidays, the schedule may change, but you can find out about it on the monastery's website.

Nikolo-Berlukovsky Monastery - how to get there?

Despite the fact that the builders and restorers of the monastery still have a lot of work to do, it is already possible to see a significant number of pilgrims who come here not only from Moscow and nearby cities, but from all over the country. We would like to inform you of those who wish to visit the Nicholas-Berlukovsky Monastery, address: Moscow region, Noginsk district, Avdotino village. You can get to it by bus number 321 from the metro station "Schelkovskaya" to the stop of Avdotino village. Another option: an electric train from the Yaroslavl station to the station Chkalovskaya, and then by the same bus number 321.