Every citizen of the country must know his story and remember its origins. The modern resident of Russia is gradually discovering the whole depth and power of the heritage of his state, an important part of which is the history of the monasteries. The most interesting in this regard is the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. What to see in the cloister? Icons, temple buildings, places of life and prayers of many famous people. Through the fate of the monastery, one can learn much better how Russia lived and how its history developed.
Base
The creation of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery dates back to the late 14th century. At this time in Russia there was a wave for the creation of monasteries as economic, cultural and spiritual centers. The beginning of this process was laid by Sergius of Radonezh, who created the Trinity-Sergeev Lavra in 1342. The basis of the monastic colonization of Russia was prepared by a document that allowed monasteries to own lands. The first to respond to the example of Radonezh was Dmitry Prilutsky, who opened the Nikolsky Monastery. Then, in 1397, a companion of Sergius Kirill Belozersky founded a new monastery. Kirillo-Belozersky monastery is located on the shore of Lake Siversky in the city of Kirillov, Vologda Region.
At the end of the 14th century, the monk Cyril Belozersky arrives in a settlement on Lake Siversky , digs a cave on the shore and begins to lead a hermit life. Thus began the story of one of the largest monasteries in Russia.
The Life of Rev. Cyril
Little is known about the secular life of Cyril Belozersky. There is a version that he came from a noble family, but early left an orphan and he was sheltered by the boyar Timofey Ilyich Velyaminov, who served at the court of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy. The young man was the treasurer of the boyar, but he was very burdened with social life and wanted to leave for the monastery, although Velyaminov was against this. The intercession of Stefan Makhrishchi, a friend of St. Sergius of Radonezh, helped the young man to leave the service and go to serve in Simon Monastery. Here, the future reverend had the opportunity to meet the reverend Sergius, with whom he had many long conversations.
From the first days of service, Cyril showed great zeal for severe austerities. He wanted to eat only after 2-3 days and load himself with hard work and prayers. But the elder Mikhail Smolensky, who was the confessor of the young man, ordered him to eat food daily with everyone and put him in the service of the bakery. Cyril prayed very hard and worked hard. Sergius distinguished him among the monks and always, when visiting the monastery, talked with him. Monk Cyril, with his religious zeal, earned the respect of his comrades, and in 1390 they elected him the archimandrite of the monastery. The services of Cyril gathered a large number of people (including the nobility) who left significant donations and asked for venerable advice. He received such attention with great displeasure, and he strove for solitary prayer.
Once he had a vision in which the Mother of God pointed to the White Lake, in which he needed to be. Cyril left the monastery and together with the Monk Ferapont went to the lake. Having pulled out the dugout, Cyril began to perform his prayer feat, and Ferapont was afraid of the excessive severity of the place and went to another place, where he also created a monastery. Rev. Cyril for several years alone survived in harsh conditions. A pine tree fell on him, a peasant tried to set fire to his refuge, they tried to rob him, but the Virgin was kept from all the misfortunes of the saint. Gradually, a small fraternity forms around him, and the monastery begins to grow. The monk buys land, creates the charter of the monastery, which was very strict, collects a good monastery library and writes several letters to his brothers in faith. In 1427, Rev. Cyril died, leaving a spiritual testament to Prince Andrei Mozhaisky with a request to preserve the monastery and secure the purchased lands for it. In 1547, Cyril was canonized in the saints of the Orthodox Church.
The history of the monastery
The area in which Rev. Cyril created the monastery was special in the 14th century. There lived a lot of people who conducted trade affairs, because there was a very profitable trade route from the north to Moscow. When the monk appeared, the locals were worried that he would buy up their land and deprive them of earnings. Cyril really had the intention and opportunity to buy land. Gradually, considerable territories passed into the possession of the monastery, and he also hired a brigade to build the temple, which became the Church of the Assumption. Cyril built the monastery on the model of the Simonov Monastery, in which he spent many years.
The history of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery began with the two monks who came, and by the end of the life of the Monk there were already about 50 novices in it. Cyril's authority was very great, and he was able to convince the locals of the disinterestedness of his intentions. Gradually, the fame of the saint spread, and pilgrims with donations reached the monastery, which made it possible for the monastery to expand its possessions. For 2 centuries, the monastery became the largest feudal lord of the region; it united under its authority more than 20 thousand peasants and vast lands. The walls of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery required expansion, as the number of monks and pilgrims only grew.
Heyday
The full force of its influence, the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery comes after 1446, after the tragic events of the overthrow of Vasily the Second, who was blinded and forced to take an oath on the cross that he would not claim the Moscow throne. After that, he was exiled to Vologda, where he was serving his exile in the Ferapontov monastery. During the visit of Vasily to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, the abbot took this oath from him, blessing him to return to power. This gave the stripper strength and courage, and he made a campaign, during which he returned to the throne. After that, Vasily was imbued with even greater respect for the monastery and generously thanked the monks. He allocated them land and gave permission for duty-free trade throughout the Moscow state. This gave the monastery even greater strength, power and authority. At this time, the monastery was expanding its activities, the charter of the monks' life was slightly weakening, many rich people entered it, whose donations significantly increased land holdings and still strengthen the power of the monastery.
During the abbess Tikhon, a large construction begins, which forms the modern appearance of the monastery. The description of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery of those times tells that it was a well-established enterprise. The monks worked hard, received pilgrims, performed various church services, guided people along the way, and also traded in salt and fish, raised cattle and bread. It was a great economic force, on which the Moscow princes relied in the struggle for power over the northern territories.
In 1528, the monastery was visited by Vasily the Third with his wife, they pray for the appearance of the heir, and when they have one, the authority of the monastery only increases. This baby, who later became famous Ivan the Terrible, favored the monastery all his life, he visited it three times and donated an incredible amount of 28 thousand rubles, following the example of his father. Before his death, he received a tonsure at the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery.
In the 16th century, the monastery appeared another important destination for the country. The erected fortified walls with watchtowers helped withstand the siege and several strong attacks of the interventionists from Poland and Lithuania during the Time of Troubles. After this, the king, realizing the importance of the monastery as a fortress, orders to build several more towers and strengthen the wall. As a result of this, the monastery becomes a powerful defensive structure.
By the middle of the 17th century, a new round of monastery success was taking place. Rapid construction is underway again thanks to a large donation from Alexei Mikhailovich, who wanted the fortress to protect the trade routes to the White Sea from the Swedes, and also prepared a reliable refuge here in case of trouble. It is here that the tsar harbors from the wrath of the people his mentor and favorite, Boris Morozov, and some other boyars who are objectionable to people. But by the end of the 17th century, the "golden age" of the monastery ends.
Decline and Prison
During his reign, Peter the Great visited the monastery. But under him, the monastery began to lose its national importance, as the country has new fortresses on the Baltic coast. For the same reason, trade routes passing through the land of the monastery lose their significance. The reforms of Peter the Great caused damage to the economic power of the monastery. In addition, the emperor needed working hands, which he removes from the monastery building. During the 18th and first half of the 19th century, the monastery lost its economic significance and cultural value, many structures decay or even are destroyed. In 1864, Catherine II took the land from the monastery, and she turned the settlement where the servants lived, into the city of Kirillov. The safety of the complex is ensured by the fact that it has an additional function.
At the end of the 15th century, the monastery began to play the role of a place of imprisonment, disgraced boyars and clergy referred here. So, here the persecuted Metropolitan Skripitsin found shelter. For Ivan the Terrible, the fortress of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is the most reliable place for the enemies to exile, and he sends them here in large numbers. Some, fearing the king would soon be killed, came to Kirillov themselves. So, the disgraced Metropolitan Sylvester found refuge here from persecution. Almost the entire male part of the family of the outstanding commander Ivan Vorotynsky also ended their days in the monastery. Fyodor Ioannovich continued the tradition and sent the influential Prince Ivan Shuisky to Kirillov. In the 16th century, ex-Patriarch of Moscow Nikon was exiled here, who lived here the last five years of his difficult life.
The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery in winter is a particularly depressing sight, and being here after the economic and political power was lost became a punishment, not a blessing. As a place of detention for high-ranking prisoners, Kirillov was used until the mid-19th century. Then the Soviet government revived this tradition.
Soviet period
After the revolution, persecution of religious ministers began, and the rector of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery Barsanuphius was shot in 1918. Monks and novices, of whom no more than two dozen remained, are distributed among other cloisters or simply exiled to Siberia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In 1924, the monastery was finally closed. The complex of buildings of the monastery was turned into a museum of local lore, which at the end of the 60s was divided into a historical, architectural and art museum-reserve. Monuments of wooden architecture of the region were brought here, a good collection of icons and church utensils was collected . Part of the buildings on the island of Fire began to be used as a prison. This state of affairs still persists.
Rebirth
In 1997, the complex of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery was included in the list of specially protected cultural objects of the country. And in 1998, the monastery was transferred to the eternal use of the Orthodox Church. From this moment, the museum and the monastery safely coexist in the same territory. In 2009, part of the icons exported from the monastery was returned, but part of the heritage remains in the largest museums in the country. The relics of St. Cyril of Belozersky continue to be kept in the monastery, which the monks heroically saved under pain of death. Since 2015, Anastasius became the hieromonk of the monastery.
Monastery structure
Historically, the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, whose architecture has retained its features since the 16th century, included several structural parts. The main component is the Great Assumption Monastery. Here are all the main services of the monastery, several temples, cells of monks. The second part is the Small Ivanovo Monastery. It housed churches and buildings for the life and service of the elders and sick monks. Together, these two parts make up the so-called Old Town.
The third part is the New City, which in various territories housed various outbuildings surrounded by thick fortified walls. Between the Old and the New City, Ostrog was once located, which has not survived to our time. Today the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, the photo of which is decorated with all the guides in Russia, is the largest in Europe. On its territory there are 11 temples, 11 watch towers, ancient fortress walls and many residential and farm buildings.
The architecture of the main buildings
An example of the temple architecture of Russian Orthodox culture of several eras is the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. The architecture of the monastery evolved gradually, in several stages. The very first monastery building - the wooden Assumption Cathedral, which erected a carpenters' artel in 1397, has not been preserved. The second temple was also wooden and disappeared in a fire in the late 15th century. In 1497 the artel of Rostov architects erects a stone cathedral, which embodied the best features of the Rostov architectural school.
To date, there are only two monuments of this school. Subsequently, the temple was rebuilt and restored several times, but the overall majestic appearance and design has been preserved. The cathedral is a cubic, single-headed, four-pillar assembly ensemble. Its architecture continues the traditions of medieval Moscow architecture. A separate artistic value is the water gate with a small summer gate church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. They were built in 1595 to open the shore of Lake Siversky. The church has a peculiar three-headed composition and a unique internal structure. The bell tower was added to the cathedral later, in 1759. It is designed in the style of North Russian Baroque, looks a bit heavy, but harmoniously complements the ensemble of the cathedral.
On the occasion of the birthday of John the Fourth on the donation of his father Basil the Third, who had previously prayed for the heir in the monastery, a second stone church is being built - the Church of the Archangel Gabriel. Its architecture clearly reads the influence of Italian architecture. The building has 2 chapters, an original three-part cornice, and a profiled profile along the entire facade also makes the building unusual. Above the cornice there was a tier of ringing from many kokoshniks - it was a bright and atypical solution for Russian builders. Later, this top was destroyed, as well as the southern portal.
The second temple, which is being built at the behest of St. Basil the Third, is the Church of the Beheading of John the Baptist in the Ivanovo Monastery. John the Baptist is the patron angel of the heir. This small temple building has two chapters and a four-pillar structure with three apses. In the building, the distant influence of order architecture is felt.
In the 17th century, the walls of the New City and watchtowers began to be erected. The first was the Vologda Tower, which in its architecture resembles the defensive fortifications of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. The octahedral, five-tiered structure rose 30 meters and was the main sentinel point. The remaining towers are made in a more concise and austere style. Together with the walls, tall buildings created a reliable fortification line. The walls of the Assumption Monastery are not inferior to the New City in terms of reliability, their height is about five meters, they have two tiers, in the upper there is a series of loopholes. The fortress of the Assumption Monastery also has several towers: Faceted with a clock, Merezhennaya, Melnichnaya (nowadays not preserved), Povarennaya.
Also, elements of the monastery complex are numerous buildings for various purposes. In general, the architecture of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery is a complex ensemble, embodying the vivid features of ancient Russian architecture. Its harsh beauty and majesty still make people freeze with admiration.
Museum of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery
From 1924 to the present, a museum has been operating in the monastery.And today, excursions from Vologda to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery are regular, especially in the summer, when nature offers to walks and contemplation. In addition to the architectural complex itself, the museum houses the Church of the Deposition of the Robe from the village of Borodava (an example of wooden architecture from the late 15th century). This is one of the oldest preserved wooden structures. This also includes the Museum of Frescoes of the Ferapontov Monastery, a wooden windmill brought from the village of Gorka, and the Tsaplino church complex.
How to get there
The main question that arises for everyone who wants to see the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery is: "How to get there?" The easiest way to get here is from Vologda. There are regular buses to the city of Kirillov from the local bus station. Also in Vologda, numerous bureaus offer organized excursions and tours to the monastery and the museum-reserve. It should be noted a large number of people eager to see the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. How to get to this holy place? You can offer a trip by car. Vologda and Kirillov are connected by the R-5 highway, which takes 130 km to the destination.
There are pilgrimage tours to the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery, within the framework of which delivery is carried out (most often from Moscow), accommodation on the territory and some program of stay are provided.
What to see
Today the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, whose photo is striking in its stern beauty and power, offers not only numerous temple buildings, but also a rich collection of paintings by local artists, a collection of folk fabrics and ethnographic material. Various interesting exhibitions are regularly held here. But the main asset is the icons of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. Here is an excellent collection of icon paintings of Ancient Russia.
Where to stay
So, you decided to go to the "Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery." Contacts for visitors: Vologda region, the city of Kirillov, the territory of the museum-reserve. Phone for booking excursions: + 7- 81757-3-14-79. The cost of a common ticket for an adult is 500 rubles, benefits are provided for children and disabled people.
Do you want to see the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery? Where to stay until you decide? We can say that with accommodation in Kirillov everything is fine. There are several hotels and guest houses. For pilgrims, accommodation is offered on the premises of the monastery, for those wishing to combine the useful with the pleasant, accommodation is provided at tourist centers surrounded by the beautiful nature of the North.