Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery: history, photo, description, architecture, icons. How to get to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery?

Every citizen of the country should know his history and remember its origins. The modern inhabitant of Russia is gradually discovering for himself the depth and power of the heritage of his state, an important part of which is the history of monasteries. The most interesting in this respect is the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. What to see in the monastery? Icons, temple buildings, places of life and prayers of many famous people. Through the fate of the monastery you can much better know how Russia lived and how its history evolved.

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The creation of the Cyril-Belozersky monastery dates back to the end of the 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 example of Radonezhsky responded Dmitry Prilutsky, who opened the Nikolsky Monastery. Then the associate of Sergiy Cyril Belozersky founded a new monastery in 1397. The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is located on the shore of the Siversky Lake in the city of Kirillov, Vologda region.

At the end of the 14th century a monk Cyril Belozersky arrives at a settlement on the Siversky Lake, digs out a cave on the shore and begins to lead a hermit life. Thus began the history of one of the largest monasteries in Russia.

Life of the Monk Cyril

Little is known about the secular life of Cyril Belozersky. There is a version that he came from a noble family, but he was an orphan early and was sheltered by the boyar Timofei Il'ich Velyaminov, who served at the court of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy. The young man was a treasurer at the boyar, but he was very burdened with secular life and wanted to go to the monastery, although Velyaminov was against it. The intercession of Stephen Makhrischsky, a friend of St. Sergius of Radonezh, helped the youth to leave the service and go to the service in Simonov Monastery. Here the future monk happened to get acquainted with the Monk Sergius, with whom he had often had long conversations.

From the first days of service, Cyril showed great zeal for hard 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 a young man, ordered him to eat food daily with everyone and set him up for service at the bakery. Cyril prayed very hard and worked hard. Sergius singled him out among the monks and always talked with him during his visits to the monastery. Monk Cyril, with his religious zeal earned the respect of his comrades, and in 1390 they elected him archimandrite of the monastery. Cyril's services were collected by a large number of people (including nobility) who left significant donations and asked the Reverend Council. Such attention was perceived by them with great displeasure, and he aspired to a 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. Dismantling the dug-out, 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. Reverend Cyril for several years alone survived in harsh conditions. The pine fell on him, the peasant tried to set fire to his refuge, he was tried to rob, but from all the sorrows the saint kept the Virgin. Gradually, around him formed a small brotherhood, and the monastery begins to grow. The Monk buys land, creates a charter for the monastery, which is very strict, collects a good monastery library and writes several messages to his brothers by faith. In 1427 the Monk Kirill dies, leaving a spiritual testament to Prince Andrei Mozhaisky with a request to preserve the monastery and to secure the purchased lands for it. In 1547 Cyril was canonized in the saints of the Orthodox Church.

History of the monastery

The area in which the Monk Cyril created the monastery was special in the 14th century. There lived a lot of people who conducted trading business, because there was a very profitable trade route from the north to Moscow. When the monk appeared, the locals became worried that he would buy up their lands and deprive them of their earnings. Cyril really had the intention and the opportunity to buy land. Gradually in the possession of the monastery pass considerable territory, and he hires a brigade for the construction of the temple, which became the Church of the Assumption. Cyril built a monastery on the model of the Simonov Monastery, in which he spent many years.

The history of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery began with two monks who came, and by the end of the Reverend's life there were already about 50 novices in it. The authority of Cyril was very large, and he was able to convince the local residents of the disinterestedness of his intentions. Gradually the glory of the saint spread, and pilgrims with donations, which enabled the monastery to expand their possessions, were drawn to the monastery. For 2 centuries the monastery became the largest feudal lord of the region, it united under its authority more than 20 thousand peasants and huge lands. The walls of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery demanded expansion, as the number of monks and pilgrims only grew.

Years of heyday

In full force of its influence the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery enters after 1446, after the tragic events of the overthrow of the throne of Basil II, who was blinded and forced to take an oath on the cross that he would not claim the throne of Moscow. After that, he was exiled to Vologda, where he served a reference in the Ferapontov Monastery. During Vasily's visit to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, the prior took this oath from him, blessing him to return to power. This gave the coup de force and courage, and he made a campaign, during which he returned to the throne. After that, Vasily was imbued with even more respect for the monastery and generously repaid the monks. He allocated land to them and gave permission for duty-free trade throughout the Moscow state. This gave the monastery even more power, authority and authority. At this time the monastery expands its activity, the charter of life of monks is weakened slightly, many rich people enter into it, whose donations allow to considerably increase the land holdings and further strengthen the monastery's power.

Under Hegumen Tihon begins a large construction, which forms a modern look 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, accepted pilgrims, performed various church services, instructed people on the way, and also traded salt and fish, raised cattle and bread. This was a great economic force, on which the Moscow princes also rested in the struggle for power over the northern territories.

In 1528 Vasily the Third visits the monastery with his wife, they pray for the appearance of an heir, and when they have such an appearance, the authority of the monastery only increases. This baby, who later became famous Ivan the Terrible, all his life favored the monastery, he visited it three times and sacrificed an incredible sum of 28 thousand rubles, following the example of his father. Before his death he took tonsure at the Cyril Belozersky Monastery.

In the 16th century another important destination for the country appeared at the monastery. The fortified walls with watchtowers helped in the Time of Troubles to withstand the siege and several strong attacks by the interventionists from Poland and Lithuania. 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, the monastery becomes a powerful defensive structure.

By the middle of the 17th century a new round of success of the monastery was taking place. Again, the rapid construction is underway thanks to the great donation of Alexei Mikhailovich, who wanted the fortress to protect the trade routes to the White Sea from the Swedes, and also prepared a safe haven in case of distemper. It is here that the tsar conceals his mentor and favorite Boris Morozov and some other boyars disliked by people from the people's anger. But by the end of the 17th century the "golden age" of the monastery is over.

Decline and prison

In the days of his reign, the monastery is visited by Peter the Great. But with him, the monastery began to lose its state significance, as the country has new fortresses on the Baltic shore. For the same reason, the trade routes passing through the land of the monastery lose importance. Reforms of Peter the First have damaged the economic power of the monastery. In addition, the emperor needed working hands, which he removed from the monastic construction. During the 18th and first half of the 19th century, the monastery loses its economic importance and cultural value, many of the buildings are dilapidated or even destroyed. In 1864, Catherine II takes away the land from the monastery, and converts the village where the ministers lived, to the city of Kirillov. The security of the complex is ensured by the fact that it has an additional function.

Even at the end of the 15th century the monastery began to play the role of a place of confinement, here disgraced boyars and clergymen referred to. So, here the shelter was found by the persecuted metropolitan Skripitsyn. For Ivan the Terrible, the fortress of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery is the most reliable place for exile, and he sends them here in large numbers. Some, fearing soon of the punishment of the king, came to Kirillov themselves. Thus, the disgraced metropolitan Sylvester found a refuge here from persecution. Almost the entire male part of the family of the outstanding commander Ivan Vorotynsky also ended his days in the monastery. Continued the tradition and Fedor Ioannovich, who sent to Kirillov, the influential Prince Ivan Shuisky. In the 16th century, the former Patriarch of Moscow Nikon was sent here, who lived here for the last five years of his difficult life.

The Kirillo-Belozersky monastery in winter is a particularly depressing sight, and finding here after the economic and political power was lost became punishment, not good. As a place of detention of high-ranking prisoners, Kirillov was used until the middle of the 19th century. Then the Soviet government revived this tradition.

The Soviet period

After the revolution, persecution of religious servants began, and the rector of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery Varsonofy was shot in 1918. Monks and novices, who were no more than two dozen, are distributed to other monasteries or simply sent to Siberia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In 1924 the monastery was finally closed. The complex of the monastery buildings was turned into a museum of local lore, which in the late 60's was divided into a historical, architectural and art museum-reserve. The monuments of the 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 Fiery began to be used as a prison. This state of affairs remains so far.

Revival

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. Since that moment the museum and the monastery have been safely neighbors on the same territory. In 2009, some of the icons taken from the monastery were returned, but some of the legacy remains in the largest museums in the country. In the monastery, the relics of St. Cyril of Belozersky, which heroically saved the monks on pain of death, are still preserved. Since 2015, the hieromonk of the monastery was Anastasia.

Structure of the monastery

Historically, the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, whose architecture has preserved 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 churches, monks' cells. The second part is the Small Ivanovo Monastery. Here are located temples and buildings for the life and services of the elders and sick monks. Together these two parts constitute the so-called Old Town.

The third part is the New City, in which various farm buildings, surrounded by thick fortified walls, are located on vast territories. Between the Old and New City was once located Ostrog, which has not survived until our time. Today the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, whose photo is adorned with all the guidebooks around Russia, is the largest in Europe. On its territory there are 11 temples, 11 watchtowers, ancient fortress walls and many residential and household buildings.

Architecture of major structures

An example of the temple architecture of Russian Orthodox culture of several eras is the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. The architecture of the monastery developed gradually, in several stages. The very first building of the monastery - the wooden Assumption Cathedral, which was erected by the carpenter's team in 1397, was not preserved. The second temple was also wooden and disappeared in the fire in the late 15th century. In 1497 the artel of Rostov architects erected 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 several times and restored, but the overall majestic appearance and design is preserved. The cathedral is a cubic, one-headed, four-pillared 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 entrance to the shore of the Siversky Lake. The church has a peculiar three-headed composition and a unique internal structure. The belltower to the cathedral was added later, in 1759. It is sustained in the style of the 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 Vasily 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. In its architecture is clearly read the influence of Italian architecture. The building has 2 chapters, an original three-part cornice, and a profiled profile throughout the facade also gives the construction of unusual. Above the cornice there is a tier of tinkling from a multitude of kokoshniks - this 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 built at the behest of Vasily the Third, is the Church of the Beheading of the head of John the Baptist in the Ivanovo Monastery. John the Baptist is the patron angel of the heir. This small temple structure has two chapters and a four-pillar structure with three apses. In the construction there is a distant influence of the order architecture.

In the 17th century, the walls of the New Town and the watchtowers began to be erected. The first was built Vologda Tower, which in its architecture resembles the defensive fortifications of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. The octagonal, five-tiered structure rose to 30 meters and was the main sentinel point. The remaining towers are made in a more concise and severe style. Together with the walls, high buildings created a reliable fortification line. The walls of the Assumption Monastery are not inferior to the New City for reliability, their height is about five meters, they have two levels, in the upper there is a string of loopholes. The fortress of the Assumption Monastery also has several towers: Faceted with a clock, Mered, Melnichnaya (now not preserved), Cookery.

Also elements of the monastery complex are numerous buildings for different purposes. In general, the architecture of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery is a complex ensemble embodying the bright features of the ancient Russian architecture. His stern beauty and grandeur still make people die of admiration.

Museum of the Kirill-Belozersky Monastery

From 1924 to the present day the museum works in the monastery. And today in the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery excursions from Vologda are regular, especially in the summer, when nature has for walks and contemplation. In addition to the architectural complex itself, the Museum houses the Church of the Deposition from the village of Borodava (a sample of wooden architecture of the late 15th century). This is one of the oldest surviving wooden structures. Also included here is the Museum of Frescoes of the Ferapont Monastery, a wooden windmill brought from the village of Gorka, and the church complex of Tsaplino.

How to get there

The main question that arises in everyone who wants to see the Cyril and Belozersky Monastery: "How to get there?" The easiest way to get here is from Vologda. From the local bus station there are regular buses to the city of Kirillov. Also in Vologda numerous bureaus offer organized tours and tours to the monastery and 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 suggest a trip by car. Vologda and Kirillov are connected by the P-5 route, which is only 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 amazes with its harsh beauty and power, offers not only numerous temple constructions, but also a rich collection of local artists, a collection of folk fabrics and ethnographic material. Various interesting exhibitions are held regularly here. But the main asset is the icons of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. Here is an excellent collection of icon painting of Ancient Rus.

Where to stay

So, you decided to go to the "Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery". Contacts for visitors: the Vologda region, the city of Kirillov, the territory of the museum-reserve. Telephone for booking excursions: + 7- 81757-3-14-79. The cost of a general ticket for an adult is 500 rubles, for children and disabled people there are benefits.

Do you want to see the Cyril and Belozersky monastery? Where to stay until you decide? We can say that with the placement in Kirillov everything is fine. There are several hotels and guest houses here. For pilgrims accommodation is offered in the premises of the monastery, for those who wish to combine useful with pleasant accommodation in tourist bases, surrounded by the beautiful nature of the North.