Iversky Monastery. Iversky Monastery. The revolution. Closing the monastery

Address: Selvitsky Island, Valdai District, Novgorod Region, Russia. Coordinates: 57.9892224, 33.30542749999995 ... The phone number of the pilgrimage center: + 7-911-614-66-94. The monastery is open for visits from 7-00 to 21-00. Guided tours of the monastery can be ordered from the main cathedral's church shop or by phone. Accommodation and meals in the monastery are strictly by appointment, preferably a month in advance.

On one of the beautiful islands of Lake Valdai, among virgin forests, the Iversky Monastery is located. It embodied the aspiration of Nikon, the Patriarch of All Russia, to create a monastery similar to the one on Mount Athos and in the same architectural traditions. For many years it became the focus of spirituality in the Russian land. Today, the monastery's architectural ensemble has been completely restored and attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year.

How to get to the holy place

Today anyone can get into the Iversky Monastery - every believer is welcome here. This can be done in different ways:
- The most convenient way to get to Valday by train is from Moscow. To do this, you need to choose a flight to Pskov. It departs from the Leningradsky railway station at 20:23, and you will be on the spot at 2:04. The price of the trip is from 772 rubles.
- It is better to get by bus from St. Petersburg. There is a direct route to Valdai (12:45), as well as a transit route (8:25), following to Demyansk. Travel time will take 5-6 hours. The cost of such a trip is 750-800 rubles.
- It's also easy to get there by car, because Valdai is located on the highway connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg. In time, a car trip from the capital will take about 6 hours, from the Northern capital - 4 hours.
From Valday itself, by taxi or personal transport, you need to move in a southeast direction to the M-10 highway, and then east to the first turn to the left (the Cheryomushki stop). Further, you will also need to turn to the left - the road will lead you through about. Ryabinovy ​​on about. Selvitsky, where the monastery is arranged.

Where to stay in Valday

For pilgrims and tourists visiting the Valdai Monastery, there are a variety of accommodation options. Those wishing to stay in the monastery hotel should contact the pilgrimage center. For large groups as well as for individual pilgrims, a preliminary agreement a month in advance, as well as its confirmation, is required. Only those who live in the hotel eat in the refectory and strictly according to the schedule, having ordered their participation in advance. Check-in should be carried out before the evening service. For accommodation, 1000 rubles per day are donated for one place.
For those who decide to stay in the city, there are comfortable hotels with reasonable prices and magnificent hotel complexes. Mini-hotels are more suitable for families with children, where children up to seven years old are accommodated free of charge. On the picturesque shores of the lake, there are numerous boarding houses and rest houses offering country houses and cozy cottages. The private sector near the monastery is also a convenient budget option. Here you can find comfortable accommodation, the prices for which depend on the area, living conditions and distance to the monastery. Prices generally range from 1,000 to 4,500 thousand rubles.

Variety of catering establishments

In the vicinity of Lake Valdai there is a large selection of cafes and restaurants where you can have a delicious lunch. The most popular are Uyezdnoye and Urartu cafes. The latter offers dishes of Armenian and Russian cuisine, everything is very tasty and of high quality, portions are large, while inexpensive.
In "Uyezdny" you can taste delicious pancakes and other traditional dishes of Russian cuisine, the prices of which are quite low. Inexpensive and cozy cafe "Podvorie" is notable for its cleanliness and reasonable prices. Homemade bread and delicious pastries are baked here.
Wpcafe is a place where you can sit quietly with a glass of beer and have a tasty snack. Cafe-Restaurant Vmeste is a family dining establishment with a cozy atmosphere and attentive service. A wonderful selection of dishes is offered, and the preparation is quick and tasty.
In the Rybnoye Mesto restaurant you can taste delicious trout fish soup and for only 150 rubles, other dishes also have excellent taste - grilled carp, homemade salted mushrooms, there is also a choice for a child. And lunch is so hearty that you don't need to have dinner. The service is very fast, and after your meal you can take a stroll through the picturesque surroundings.

Features of visiting the monastery

When visiting the monastery complex, one must remember that not only in it, but throughout the island, life follows a strict charter. There are signs with signs in the courtyard of the monastery, and on the official website you can get acquainted with the rules for visiting. On the banks, even outside the walls, you cannot sunbathe or swim, much less have picnics or behave noisily and cheekily. This prohibition does not apply to other rivers and lakes, there are campers' tents scattered everywhere. Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the monastery.
Orthodox people are advised to make the sign of the cross and a bow in front of the church, and inside you need to put candles to the saints and slowly pray and only then make the request with which they arrived at this holy place. Loud conversations or phone calls are inappropriate in the church, they must be turned off before entering. Prior arrangement is desirable for meetings with priests and ministers.
Great importance is attached to appearance, as it is an indicator of the internal state. According to the dress code, only clean, tidy clothes that correspond to the gender are allowed on the territory of the monastery. Women should wear dresses with long sleeves and a closed collar. If you do not have the necessary things with you, long skirts will be offered at the entrance. Trousers are not welcome - like men's clothing. It is not recommended to use bright cosmetics and perfumes with a rich aroma. Men should wear trousers; those arriving in shorts will also have to use skirts. Women's hair should be covered with a scarf, while men's long hair should be simply tied with an elastic band so that it does not touch the shrines.
The rules for visitors indicate that photography or video can be taken only after the blessing of the Holy Father, and in order to see him, you must ask the church ministers. Filming permits can also be obtained from the pilgrimage center. There is a large asphalt parking lot right next to the walls of the monastery, opposite the church shop. There is also a second parking lot, a little smaller, about half a kilometer from the point of interest. There are always free spaces on it, even if the first one is completely full.

The history of the emergence of the Iversky monastery

Its foundation is associated with an amazing vision that visited Patriarch Nikon, at that time still the Novgorod Metropolitan, during a trip to Solovki. After a short time, churches were already erected and consecrated - the Cathedral of the Icon of the Mother of God and St. Philip, both wooden. Having visited the grandiose construction site for the first time, the patriarch lowered the Gospel and the cross to the bottom of the lake, calling it Saints, and the word Svyatoozersky was added to the name of the monastery. Soon, the tsar's charter assigned him a lake with islands and settlements, and other monasteries of the Novgorod land. It was settled by brothers of several dozen people who were engaged in book printing and bookbinding. The holy relics of Jacob Borovichsky, which were in a small chapel, next to a healing spring, were also transferred to it.
The local printing house became the second in Russia after the Gosudarev Printing House and the first in the province. Various crafts developed here - woodcarving, icon painting, making colored tiles, the remains of which can still be seen in one of the buildings. By this time, the Cathedral of the Assumption was completed and solemnly, in the presence of numerous representatives of the higher clergy, which impressed with its monumentality. The highest place on the island was chosen for its construction. By this day, the patriarch ordered a huge 35-pound bell, cast at his expense and with his image, and a beautiful copy of the miraculous icon of the Iveron Mother of God was delivered from Moscow. A five-tiered gilded iconostasis was installed in the church, and a wonderful chandelier in the form of a tree, decorated with flowers and birds, brightly illuminated the magnificent decoration.
The monastery, which received first-class status and had multiple privileges, flourished until the 60s. 17th century - until the period of disgrace of Patriarch Nikon. Then all his parishes were closed and transferred to the treasury - as formed not according to the charter. The construction of the Iberian monastery was also suspended. However, the verdict was soon overturned, and she was fully restored to her rights. By the middle of the 18th century, a two-storey building of fraternal cells appeared here, adjacent to the Church of Michael the Archangel. The building - unlike other buildings - is made in the Moscow Baroque style with its characteristic white-stone carved decorations in the decoration of the platbands. It has practically not undergone reconstruction and has been preserved in its original form. One of the oldest is the Vodovzvodnaya Tower, or Horse Tower, built in the 18th century, and later a Corps of Stable Cells was added to it.
The famous secularization reform of Catherine II in the mid-1770s. thoroughly undermined the foundations of the former monastic life. All church estates were transferred to the state, a good half of the parishes were abolished, and the rest had to receive a certain amount for maintenance, depending on their status, or exist by cultivating nearby unpopulated lands. Although the Iversky Monastery received the status of first-class, the financial support was barely enough to survive. It began to decline, buildings were dilapidated, the number of monks decreased, only those who devoted themselves to an ascetic lifestyle and obey a strict charter remained. After the revolutionary events, the monastery was plundered, and within its walls were alternately located a museum, a forest school, and a recreation center.
Only in the 90s. restoration work began - buildings were repaired, the bell tower was renewed, heating was carried out, so that services can be held at any time of the year. The restoration was completed at the beginning of this century. The restoration of the Iberian Cathedral, the former Assumption Cathedral, was also consecrated, where its shrine, the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God, was returned; it was kept in the local church for decades. Wonderful craftsmen from Zlatoust made a precious robe for her. It was decided to cover the domes of the cathedral with gilding. There is also a museum dedicated to the history of the monastery and its founder.

Monastic shrines

The Assumption Cathedral, the main temple of the monastery, is the largest Orthodox object erected in Russia in the 17th century. The majestic snow-white building, adorned with five domes, dazzling with gold, is distinguished by its simplicity of form. It is built in the shape of a square with three naves and is surrounded by a gallery with a porch. The temple vaults are supported by six huge pillars. The walls are painted with stories from the history of the Athos monastery from the lives of the saints. Since the monastery has undergone several reconstructions, the original paintings by local masters have not survived and have been restored according to descriptions. The 19th century frescoes have been restored. Old oak doors with unique carvings and forged grilles have remained unchanged. The new carved iconostasis was reconstructed according to the preserved documents.
The Epiphany Church with a refectory was supposedly built at the very end of the 60s. XVII century. It is a single-domed cube-shaped temple with a strict façade and a two-tiered faceted apse. The complex is connected by arched passages with a huge two-story refectory. The ground floor windows are decorated with small kokoshniks. The refectory itself, together with the kitchen and utility rooms, is located on the second tier, and there are storage facilities below.
Between the buildings - viceroy and abbot, there is a Bell Tower. The first, stone, it was built in the 70-80s. XVII century in the form of a tower, crowned with a tent - it then had 13 bells. Due to deformations caused by the peculiarities of the soil, as well as due to a large fire that happened here earlier, the structure had to be rebuilt. The tent was dismantled, and instead of it, a dome with a spire with 8 sides was installed on the upper tier. Arched spans have been left for the bells. In the 90s, during the period of reconstruction, the upper tier was rebuilt, returning it to its original appearance - with a tent. A set of bells from the city administration of Valdai was handed over to the Valdai Monastery for the Ringing Festival organized here.
The wooden church of Philip the Metropolitan was rebuilt one of the first - as a sign of special respect and recognition of his merits in the foundation of the complex. He was considered the local patron saint. The modern two-story structure of the gate church was built in the 70s. XIX century in the form of a single-headed quadrangle with cut corners, made in the eclectic style. On the second tier, crowned with a dome with a dome, there is a church, and the lower tier is equipped with a passage arch. Opposite the gate there is a small pier for the motor ship, which in summer makes flights between the monastery and the city.
The Gate Church of Michael the Archangel is located at the main entrance and is an important element in the architectural ensemble. The tall building is a quadrangle with one apse, cut in the center by a wide arch, on both sides of which there are false arched decorations. The temple is single-domed, although initially it supposedly had five domes. Facades and gates are decorated with a variety of architectural elements - in contrast to the more austere appearance of other Christian structures. It houses a unique icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, dating back to the 16th or 17th century. On both sides adjoin the buildings of monastic and treasury cells, as well as the Nikon tower from the monastery fence.
Nikonovskaya tower has another name - typographic, as it once housed the monastery printing house, where many unique books were printed. The structure is one of the first buildings of the monastery and still attracts with its beauty and architectural forms. It is adorned with a hexagonal tent that ends with a spire with a gilded eagle.
The Iberian Icon of the Mother of God is the main monastery shrine. Richly decorated, it is an exact copy from the image on Mount Athos and was brought here by two monks. The cost of her jewelry was estimated at almost 45 thousand rubles at that time. A ban was imposed on making copies from it. She became famous for numerous miracles - in the middle of the 19th century, when the cholera epidemic began, the image saved the monks and many surrounding residents from the terrible death. Since that time, a religious procession has been performed with him every year. Hundreds of pilgrims also come to pray to the icon, each with his own misfortune.

Holy springs

The springs with healing water in Valdai have been known for a long time. For many centuries, thousands of pilgrims have come here to test their strength and pray in holy places.
People come to the Tekunok spring, which is near the small village of Uzhin, to pray and wash before any important matter. In the 19th century, the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God was installed near it - this place was popular among newlyweds, after the wedding they took water from the spring, praying for a happy family life. During the war years, the local water eased the suffering of the wounded in hospitals. Later, the spring was filled up several times, but it made its way again. At the beginning of this century, its channel was cleared, a baptismal font and a chapel were built here. Every year, on the day of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, divine services are held near the source. Holy water from here is especially useful for eye diseases, but it also helps with various inflammatory diseases.
The source of Saints Cosmas and Damian is located on the Bogomolnaya mountain. After a centuries-old pilgrimage, at the beginning of the 20th century, it was abandoned for several decades, until one of the local residents again discovered the healing water near the ruins of the chapel. The spring has been restored, it has a noticeable healing effect in diseases of internal organs, perfectly relieves fatigue, increasing the tone of the body.
The Mšenians became famous for their unique sources that emanate from great depths - it is not even possible to measure it. Pure and healing water heals from ailments of the heart, nervous system and many others. Local residents also believe that bathing in the font with this key cures infertility.
The holy spring in Izhitsy is dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. The chapel on this site has not survived. The key was also abandoned and forgotten during the years of Soviet power. Now it has been restored, and a bathhouse has been built nearby. Many people prefer to come here on the day of the annual solemn service, when its next consecration is held. Spring water is especially useful for childhood diseases and infertility.
The village of Bor is famous for its holy spring named after the Great Martyr Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. Here is the source of the Pyatnitskaya river, where the baptismal font is located. The Holy Chapel stands nearby. A spring near the village of Edrovo was also consecrated in her honor. A dirt road leads to the spring with a chapel and an open bath. It is surprising that the water temperature here is constant throughout the year and is +4 degrees.
According to legend, workers - builders of the monastery, said that they saw unclean spirits over the waters of the lake. Then, having consecrated it, Patriarch Nikon named Lake Valdai Holy and served a moleben. Since then, it has been consecrated every year for Epiphany, and the ministers of the temple, along with numerous believers, go to the lake font, which is cut out in the ice. The depth of the reservoir is on average 12 m, but in some places it can reach 60 m. It is fed by springs, thanks to which it has a clean bottom and fresh and cold water. As a rule, it freezes already at the beginning of winter, remaining covered with ice until May.

When is the best time to go to the monastery

The monastery welcomes pilgrims and tourists at any time of the year, but the best period for a trip is late spring and summer - then it looks especially picturesque surrounded by lush forest greenery and clear, clear waters of the lake.
Warm times are convenient for swimming in holy springs and walking along shady forest paths. The summer months are also characterized by a large influx of visitors, so there may be slight inconveniences due to queues. A huge number of pilgrims choose the Easter holiday to visit the monastery, so a large number of people gather on these days.
The climate in Valdai is a bit like the sea, with moderately cold winters and long, warm autumn. At this time, a trip to Valdai attracts by the fact that the flow of people decreases, and nature fascinates with a variety of colors. On the last warm days before cold weather, it is especially pleasant to walk through the forest in search of berries or mushrooms.
The monastery is not empty even on winter days - there are always visitors here. Some of them come specially to plunge into the holy springs, the water in which has a higher temperature than outside. Walking in the frost after the evening service is also pleasant.

Must see

To get acquainted with all the sights of the monastery and its shrines, you need to set aside a few free days. However, you can see a lot of interesting things in a day. The shrine is located in stunningly beautiful locations. Even a quiet walk along its walls and along the well-groomed territory will leave an indelible impression.
You can make an interesting trip to the Museum of Bells, which is located in the building of the Church of the Great Martyr Catherine. Its round snow-white building topped with a dome attracts attention with its unusual architecture. It carries the features of classicism, the author of the project here was the remarkable architect N.A. Lviv. The museum has an amazing collection of various bells, ranging from tiny ones to ship bells. There are also carillons, consisting of many ringing bells. In general, Valdai is famous for the production of bells, and such a museum complex is the only one in the country. There is a popular legend according to which the ringing bells of Valdai appeared as fragments of the famous veche bell of ancient Novgorod, which crashed during transportation. Bells up to two thousand poods in weight could be cast in the city.
Pilgrims arriving at the monastery must visit the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Its stunning beauty and unusual color unwittingly attract attention. The temple had to endure many hardships - from fires and destruction to persecution on faith, but every time it was restored. The current building was built on the site of a wooden church in the middle of the 18th century. At the end of the last century, it was completely restored, and today the functioning cathedral pleases residents and pilgrims with its delicate color and beautiful architecture.
The old two-story mansion houses the Museum of the county town. Initially it was called Nikonovsky, it presented an exposition related to the history of the Iversky monastery and church values. It was displayed in one of his churches. After the closure, the museum values ​​were transferred to various museums in Novgorod, and the remaining exhibits became the basis for the creation of the Museum of Local Lore. Today, in five spacious halls, there are expositions dedicated to the history of the settlement and the monastery that glorified it, the crafts for which the region was famous, as well as famous personalities - the natives of this region.
If you have enough time, you can also get acquainted with the beautiful examples of Russian architecture - old mansions, which are well preserved. The beautiful manor complex of the Mountain belonged to the Duke N.N. Leuchterberg. The central element of the magnificent architectural ensemble was a three-storey stone palace, crowned with a round turret in two tiers. It was surrounded by a wonderful landscaped park with picturesque alleys around graceful ponds and fragrant flower beds. A delightful panorama of the lake and its surroundings opened from the windows. The outbuildings and fragments of the park have survived to this day, but they also make an impression.
In the 18th century, the shores of Lake Uzhin, connected by a canal with Valdai, were built up with rich estates. In Novotroitsy there was a large park ensemble belonging to the Kvashnins-Samarin family with numerous outbuildings. It was distinguished by a beautiful alley of white birches. The church on the estate has also survived.
The magnificent manor complex, which belonged to the Musin-Pushkin family, is made in the tradition of "wooden" classicism. Two wings of the two-story building were equipped with porticoes with columns, and a round turret adorned at the top. The Church of the Holy Trinity on the territory of the estate, built in the same style, is a four-pillar structure with a dome. There is an iconostasis inside, and beautiful wall paintings have survived.
The Tolstoy estate in Nikolskoye once occupied more than 19 hectares. A large fish hatchery was once founded here - several flowing artificial ponds for fish breeding. On the shores of a huge body of water, century-old trees of park species grow - birch, poplar, linden, etc.
A walk along the largest island in Valdai - Ryabinovoy - will be wonderful. The mountain ash was among the Finno-Ugric tribes living in these places, a cult tree. Until now, a hundred-year-old mountain ash forest has been preserved here and a hiking trail has been laid along which you can find mushroom and berry plantations. Recreation areas are also equipped here.

What to bring to memory from the monastery

There is a small church shop at the gates of the monastery, where you can buy a variety of souvenirs and church attributes - small icons, crosses, books, which are then consecrated. Long dark skirts and scarves are also sold here. There is a stall next to the parking lot, where it is easy to buy church pastries very cheaply. Bread and lean cabbage pies have a special flavor. On Easter, extraordinary Easter cakes are sold here.
There is also a church shop on the territory of the monastery, where candles and incense are sold. They are also offered to be bought in the church. Bottled holy water can be purchased at the monastery. Church shops are also located next to healing springs and offer various religious attributes and souvenirs with images of saints, pebbles and icons depicting the Iberian Mother of God are especially popular.
Valdai also has many souvenir shops with a wide selection of magnets, postcards, bells, caskets and much more. Bells of various shapes and sizes, which are especially popular, are one of the remarkable symbols of the city. Local craftsmen make unique items from birch bark - combs, mirrors. The bactericidal properties of birch bark have been known for a long time, so birch bark souvenirs will become not only a beautiful reminder of wonderful places, but also a source of positive energy. The city is also famous for linen products with original embroidery.

The Iversky Monastery is an amazing place filled with powerful, spiritually enlightening energy. Unusual tranquility seems to be poured into the clean, fresh air, filled with the coniferous aromas of pine forests, and the fabulously picturesque nature is a wonderful frame for a majestic monastery!

The Valdai Iversky Bogoroditsky Svyatoozersky Orthodox monastery, located on the Selvitsky (Ryabinovy) island of Valdai Lake, became in the 17th century one of those that were founded after a half-century hiatus caused by the hardships of the Time of Troubles.

View of the Iversky Monastery from the South Gate. 2013

The creation of the monastery was preceded by truly providential events and, undoubtedly, influencing not only the fate of the monastery itself, but also the course of Russian history, the fate of the Russian Orthodox and universal church.

On the example of the monastery, the process of unification of the primordially united Orthodox peoples who lived in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine is most vividly presented. The Iversky Monastery gave unique examples not only of living together, but also of the amazing co-creation of Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian masters, laymen and monks. The monastery was the first (and later two more monasteries created by the patriarch: the New Jerusalem and the Cross monasteries) to show that the Third Rome is not a pure theory, but a concrete act. In the 17th century on the Russian land, it was created by His Holiness Patriarch Nikon, who collected and succeeded the Orthodox power and holiness of Greece, Palestine, Constantinople, concentrating them in specially marked sacred places of Russia. Moreover, the first such point was marked on the most ancient Russian land - Novgorod, on Valdai.

It should be noted that at all times our people clearly understood why on the most powerful tower of the Iverskaya monastery, Nikonovskaya, such a one-headed gilded eagle, which is not a heraldic symbol or a sign of foreign statehood, was built that cannot be found anywhere else in Russia. Nikon's enemies saw in this eagle claims to the sole authority of the church and the patriarch in Russia and reproached the saint, why, they say, this eagle is one-headed, and not two-headed, which has always been in Russia. The two-headed eagle meant the unity of the state and the church, the worldly (sovereign) and spiritual (patriarch) powers. And if in the patriarchal Iversky monastery the eagle was one-headed, it was believed in the Nikon opposition, it means that Nikon excludes one of the branches of power from the essence of Russian life, and apparently excludes the tsarist, autocratic power. Others, who also disagreed with the saint, saw in the one-headed eagle a symbol of the Polish-Lithuanian state and noted this as a sign of high treason, especially since at that time there was a war with Poland. The patriarch blessed the tsar on the Polish campaign, and he himself raised the Polish symbol over his monastery and the Valdai sovereign palace estates. Yes, in addition, he brought captured Poles and “refugees from abroad” to Valdai, whom he made the nucleus of the monastic brethren.

Indeed, “from beyond the Polish border” many came to Valdai, to the Russian patriarch for protection, “coming from under the Poles”, becoming refugees, so as not to “stand up under the uniyats”. These were the most staunch and sincere Orthodox Christians of Belarus and other borderlands. Their appearance on Valdai was very important in the construction of the new monastery, it is important to strengthen it with established, prayed shrines, it is important for the spiritual strengthening of the elders who have great monastic experience. At the same time, the one-headed eagle was a sign of the unification of Orthodoxy into a single force - the Third Rome. It is also noteworthy that the Iberian monastery was founded exactly 200 years after the fall of the Second Rome, Byzantium, continuing its tradition of gathering the Orthodox world around itself, which was emphasized by the top of the Nikon tower. Legends asserted that as long as the Nikon tower holds a one-headed eagle over it, until then Orthodoxy will be strong in the world, the Orthodox states and peoples are strong.

The book of the Iberian print, which tells about the history of the creation of the monastery, is symbolically called “Mental Paradise”. The book includes materials written by His Holiness Patriarch Nikon himself, for whom the theme of earthly paradise was very important. The patriarch directly points to the likeness of this place to paradise. And the point is not only in the God-given beauty to Valdai, but also in the power of grace, which does not let go of itself: “Behold this place that we loved, it is still red and green. If anyone does not believe this, let him tempt the prophetic: I am tempted by the grace of God and I am tempted to give the kindness of places to monastic life, but nowhere is such a red videh; If someone tempted to see that holy place temporarily, I think that no one would want to leave it forever ”1.

Small Synodikon of the Iversky Monastery. XVII – XVIII centuries. Museum of the county town. Valdai

Nikon had seen these places before, when he was Metropolitan of Novgorod. Even then, he realized that Valdai was suitable for monastic life like no other place. Soon, the idea of ​​the need to mark these places with a monastery was strengthened by several circumstances at once.

In 1652, in accordance with the conciliar decision and the will of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, Metropolitan Nikon of Novgorod went to the Solovetsky monastery to transfer to Moscow the relics of St. Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia. The saint suffered during the reign of Ivan the Terrible for exposing the royal iniquities and cruelties. In a special penitential letter, modeled on the letter written to St. John Chrysostom, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (largely according to Nikon's teaching) brought repentance for his "great-grandfather" John Vasilyevich, confessed the tsar's guilt and expressed respect for the saint's martyrdom. Nikon read the royal letter before the grave of Saint Philip and brought repentance on behalf of the king for the iniquity of his ancestor. Metropolitan Nikon with a solemn procession returned with the relics of Saint Philip, which performed many miracles and healing, to Moscow. On the way, in a dreamy vision, the murdered Saint Philip appeared to him and blessed his intention to build a monastery on Valdai, “conducive and strengthening for this good deed” 2.

Then Nikon made a vow to Saint Philip to fulfill his dreamy vision and build a monastery on the Valdai "predicted island" 3.

In the spring of 1652, when Nikon was on a Solovetsky trip, Patriarch Joseph died. Upon the return of Nikon with the relics of Saint Philip to Moscow, to him, “I have been elevated to the highest and great throne” 4, passed the rank of hierarch 5.

At the beginning of July 1653, on the anniversary of the transfer of the relics of St. Philip, during the all-night vigil, Patriarch Nikon again clearly presented how he received the blessing of the great saint for the construction of the Valdai monastery. And then “we pray with good sense” of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich to help fulfill the promise. The sovereign approved the intention of the "sobny friend" and granted his palace lands in the Valdai region for the construction of the monastery.

Iversky Monastery. Engraving by A. Stepanov after A. Makushev's drawing. 1824. Museum of the county town. Valdai

The Patriarch blesses the Archimandrite of the Novgorod Holy Spirit Monastery Jacob, known to Nikon as a "skilful master" 7, to deal with the affairs of the new monastery of the Novgorod Monastery, and already in August 1653 writes him orders to prepare everything necessary for the future monastery.

At the same time, the patriarch sends the masters to Valdai, who "lead the art of building" in order to choose a place "for the creation of the monastery."

“They walked and walked a lot and looked everywhere: and having found a single island in the midst of others, they were not too big, but they were extremely red and surrounded by fishing: and when they came to announce the holy place, I ordered you to visit the forest on it. transient trees are real and winter is approaching ... ”9 The craftsmen not only chose a place, but also drew up a plan of the island and future buildings on it. In September 1653/54 10, this plan was in the hands of both Patriarch Nikon and Archimandrite Jacob. His Holiness sends a letter to Valdai, in which he blesses the construction of the Iversky Monastery, and sends from Moscow the Iversky Icon and many things necessary for “church needs” 11.

This blessed patriarchal letter emphasizes that “in that place the Most Holy Theotokos and Philip, the creator of miracles, deigned to be a monastery” 12.

According to a legend that has existed in Valdai for many centuries, on one elevated place on Rowan Island, when approaching the present monastery, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to the creators of the monastery and indicated exactly where to build the monastery. This place is revered by pilgrims today and is called the Mother of God Hill.

Icon of St. James of Borovichi and St. Tikhon with the Iberian icon. The beginning of the twentieth century. Museum of the county town. Valdai

In a letter given in 1654 by Patriarch Nikon to Archimandrite Dionysius, it is written that the island is not only extremely beautiful, but also “for the coexistence of monastic life”, as well as “for the monastery building very much needed” 13.

The Iberian construction project begins with the erection of temporary wooden buildings and a request from His Holiness regarding only “not to belittle the monastery” 14.

Arrived in September 1653/54 from Moscow, the journeyman of stone crafts Vasily Naumov 15 plans to place the original wooden buildings in such a way that they do not interfere with future stone construction.

In October 1653/54, the monastery was given a blessed letter from Metropolitan Macarius of Novgorod for the construction of a wooden cathedral church in the name of the Most Pure Theotokos of Iveron and a wooden church with a warm meal (nowadays the word “refectory” is more often used) in the name of Philip the wonderworker, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia sixteen . In mid-October 1653/54, the cold cathedral church was ready. For this, a wooden church 17 that had been there was brought from the village of Edrovo. This was done not only "for the sake of haste", but also proceeding from the established tradition to erect an old church in a new place, transmitting the grace of Orthodoxy.

They hurried with the construction of the temple in order to have time to complete it before the onset of the winter cold. Seeing the picture of construction, the patriarch is worried: "There would be more space for the monastery, so that it would be more spacious for any measure." Nikon makes a "painting measure" for the temple - about 10 yards, determining to build it "on basements with porches", following the model of the Novgorod Kirillov or Solovetsky monasteries 19.

Cathedral in honor of the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God (1655-1656), the bell tower of the monastery (1680s) and the Ritual Court of the 17th century. 2015

In order to speed up the construction, it was ordered to completely prepare the logs for construction right in the forest, collecting them in mansions and transporting the finished cells "along the winter path" to the monastery.

The first monastery church was completed in October 1653/54, and the porches around it were added later, in April 1654 20. For this church in September 1653/54 all the necessary "church use" 21 was delivered from Moscow, in which the Iberian icon of the Mother of God occupied a special place - an exact list of the miraculous image on a cypress board, overlaid with a gold frame with precious stones, sent earlier by the archimandrite of Iverskaya monastery on Mount Athos Pachomius at the request of the then archimandrite of the Novospassky monastery, the future Patriarch Nikon.

The royal basma gates were also delivered, "lined with silver camphor" 22. Already in March 1654, they were replaced by new ones, lined with gilded copper 23. The Basma gates were moved to the refectory church, where they existed at the beginning of the twentieth century, being in the church in the name of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles 24.

The biggest event of the beginning period of construction of the monastery and the Iberian Church was the transportation of holy relics to Valdai.

On February 25, 1654, Patriarch Nikon arrived at the Iversky Monastery. By this time, by his diligence, a silver-gilded cancer was arranged. His Holiness transferred with his own hand from the old dilapidated shrine to the new relics of the holy righteous Jacob Borovichsky, just delivered from Borovichi to the Iversky Monastery. Cancer was installed in a specially designated area of ​​the wooden cathedral church 25. The transfer of the relics of the Monk James, as a shrine highly venerated locally, regionally, as well as particles of the relics of All-Russian saints, primarily the saints of Moscow Peter, Alexy, Jonah, Philip, was undertaken with the aim of glorifying, and most importantly, establishing a new monastery, the Christian power of which is now These holy prayers, who became the heavenly patrons of the Iversky Monastery, were prayerfully preserved. At that time, as the patriarch himself writes, there were 52 inhabitants in the monastery - 26 monks and the same number of novices 26.

The window of the Rector's building (2nd half of the 17th century), decorated with glazed tiles. 2015

His Holiness cares a lot "for the sake of brotherly peace" 27, constantly repeating: "For God's sake, be merciful to the brothers, and to the peasants, and to all who live in the holy monastery of thati" 28, "and for the sake of God, take care of the brothers and rest, as his own children ”29. The names of the first tonsured Iberians are known: Diodorus (in the world Dmitry) and Baruch (in the world Vladimir). They were sent by the patriarch to tonsure at the Iversky Monastery in September 1653/54 30.

In the letter sent by the Novgorod Metropolitan Macarius to the Iversky Monastery in October 1653/54, the rank and sequence of the consecration of the first monastic temples were described. From the moment of the consecration of the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos of Iveron, Vladyka blessed “Vespers and Matins of Petit and Liturgy to serve for six weeks, all days, without translation” 32. It was proposed to consecrate the church of St. Philip with a meal in the same way, but not simultaneously with the cathedral church, but no less than six weeks after the consecration of the first church, so that he “would not be without singing a day” and that services at that time would be held only in it ...

After confirming the Iberian Cathedral Church with Orthodox prayer, after a few months of winter cold they laid the foundation for the refectory church. The antimension was given to him by Metropolitan Macarius back in October 1653/54, at the same time with the antimension for the Church of the Iberian Mother of God.

The refectory church is consecrated by the patriarch in the name of St. Philip, according to a vow made during the Solovetsky trip. The construction was carried out in the spring of 1654: “And you would cut the meal against our previous decree, what is the drawing given to you; and you would tell you to make the ceiling lamellar, instead of the ceiling; but to cut the meal with the church together, and not to cut it down to the old church ”34. The same patriarchal charter determined the need to make the porch near the cathedral church and the transitions from it to the refectory, as well as to build a new large bread bakery 35.

In October 1653/54, the patriarch reported to the monastery: "And the sovereign tsar and empress tsarina favor, they have great faith in the house of the Most Holy Theotokos, and their sovereigns have many mercies, and they promised to keep faith and mercy in the future." And in fact, on December 8, 1653/54, the tsar's letter of refusal was signed to write off several rows to the Iversky Monastery in the region of Novgorod, Borovichi, Vyshny Volochyok, Ostashkov, as well as the Borovichi Yakovlevsky Monastery 37. In March 1654, the sovereign transferred an even larger number of estates to the monastery, including the village of Valdai, which he renamed to Bogoroditsino 38.

Burials behind the main cathedral of the Iversky monastery. Photo from the beginning of the twentieth century. Museum of the county town. Valdai

Materials for the Iberian construction site were procured within the territory of the monastery. Already in the fall of 1653 - in the winter of 1654, materials were being prepared not only for the most urgently constructed wooden buildings necessary for housing and services, but also for the future stone construction 39.

By the spring of 1655, everything was ready for this. Masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, tinkers came to the Selvitsky island of Valdai Lake from all regions of Russia ... But among those who came to the Iberian construction site at this crucial moment there was no master Vasily Naumov.

Many circumstances, including the plague of 1654-1655, made adjustments to Nikon's plans and the course of construction. It was at this time that the name of the journeyman of stone affairs V. Naumov disappeared from the monastery documents (possibly, who died of a "deadly ulcer"), and in May 1655, the journeyman of stone affairs from Kalyazin, Averky Mokeev, appeared at the construction site.

In 1654-1655, in the Kalyazinsky Trinity-Makaryevsky monastery, the patriarch sheltered the royal family from the epidemic. The Emperor was very grateful to him: "more than the previous one ... to repay the beginning with his royal love" 40. At this time, the grateful Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich massively signs letters of gratitude to the Patriarch for the Iversky Monastery 41.

The oak gates of the Iversky Cathedral are a preserved detail of the original decoration (2nd half of the 17th century). 2015

In Kalyazin, Patriarch Nikon met the apprentice stone craftsman Averky Mokeev, taking him to his Valdai construction site. His Holiness demanded from the monastic authorities "to do the stone work according to the old salary" 42. But the subtleties of the originality of the construction project, conceived and embodied in architectural plans and models by another master, Mokeev had to constantly explain. And this was most often done by the patriarch himself.

A huge role in the organization of the construction process was played by the patriarchal police officer, boyar son Artemy Tokmachev. Archimandrites, governors, treasurers and craftsmen changed, but it is important that during the entire patriarchal period a person who knew the history of architectural designs, the course of construction, the subtleties of the craft and knew how to come to an agreement with the Holy One, and the brethren, and “working people” remained at the monastery. The patriarch compiled the so-called "mandated memory" for A. Tokmachev, which he regularly fulfilled, trying to "look after the stone structure" 43.

The main monastery church was built in two construction seasons. The journeyman of stone affairs A. Mokeev, bricklayers and brick-makers left Valdai for the off-season. There remained a few bricklayers "for the sake of the bell business" 44, i.e. assistance in the creation of a brick core and a clay casing of the grand bell, conceived by Patriarch Nikon. The main evangelist of the Iversky Monastery cast in September 1656/57 the sovereign master Alexander Grigoriev 45. In September-October, when the brick-makers had already left the construction site, the carpenters finished the cathedral roof, put wooden domes over the side porches, and the silversmiths prepared the temple crosses 46.

In the report for the season of 1656 A. Tokmachev reports that in addition to the main church, 7 new cells, 12 warm huts were built, work is underway to erect powerful wooden walls with 10 towers and 4 gates. In addition, 730,740 bricks were made during this season, almost all of which were used for the construction of the cathedral, as well as cell stoves and a “stove for the bell case” 47.

On August 15, 1656, the still unfinished cathedral was consecrated with the rite of minor consecration by the Antiochian Patriarch Macarius who arrived at the monastery. Paul of Aleppsky, who was present at this event, describes the rare procedure for laying the thrones of the temple and gives one of the first descriptions of the monastery 48.

Domes of the Iversky Cathedral. 2015

The solemn consecration of the temple took place on December 16, 1656/57 in the presence of His Holiness Patriarch Nikon, who was concelebrated by the Novgorod Metropolitan Macarius, the Krutitsky Metropolitan Pitirim, the Tver Archbishop Lawrence and other archimandrites, abbots, priests.

The Iberian icon of the Mother of God, placed in a cypress icon case, was installed in the cathedral iconostasis on the left side of the royal gates, as the main temple image 49.

Pavel Aleppsky wrote: "The icon is above all surprise, strikes the eyes and mind of the viewer: there is no one like it even in the treasuries of the king, nor in his churches ..." 50

Among the events that preceded the celebrations of the glorification of the Iberian icon and the consecration of the main church of the monastery, the resettlement in 1655 to Valdai from Belarus of inhabitants of the Kuteinsky Orsha Epiphany monastery and members of the Kuteinsky Brotherhood at this monastery was important. Their arrival at the Iversky Monastery largely determined its further development.

Belarusian monks went to Russia under the leadership of the recognized and revered elder Joel, who founded and equipped a number of Orthodox monasteries, which were destined to become a stronghold of Orthodoxy in Belarus and Lithuania. Elder Joel himself departed to another world on the road to Valdai, bequeathed to bury him in the Iberian monastery intended for him for life. He wished “and after his death to preserve extreme obedience to the great archpastor” 51.

Carved columns of the gates of the Iberian Cathedral. 2015

Here it is necessary to deviate from the chronology and tell about the Iberian necropolis. Thoughts about its creation in the main church of the Iversky Monastery and near its altar were indicated by Patriarch Nikon at the very beginning of construction.

The idea of ​​death as a new birth for the Kingdom of Heaven, which is very important for the Christian worldview, is emphasized by the very location of the burial places - in the eastern part of the monastery: as in the City of God, there are graves in the east, where the gardens are. On the Valdai Iver, the image of the Garden of Paradise, Vertograd, the Earthly Paradise, arranged behind the main church (east of it), is combined with the place where the Iberian inhabitants and monastic guardians of the laity are forever buried.

The abbots of the monastery were buried inside the church, and this is seen as the continuity of the ancient Christian tradition, reminding that the physical end of a person's life is a transition to another world. And it is the Church that ensures this transition, linking the worlds below and below. The resting places in the church and near it provide the opportunity to render constant prayerful remembrance, thereby invoking the intercession of God for these departed.

The chronological framework of the Iberian necropolis can be traced from 1655 to 2012.

The very first church burial was the burial of the Abbot of the Epiphany Kutein Monastery Joel Trutsevich in the spring of 1655. He created and equipped the stronghold of Orthodoxy in Belarus and Lithuania 52. He managed not only Kuceinsky, but also other monasteries, including the Buinitsky Holy Spirits. Hegumen Joel transfers the inhabitants and members of the brotherhood formed at the Kuteinsky and Buinitsky monasteries to Valdai 53. Note that the temples at the refectory chamber of the Iversky Monastery were consecrated to the main thrones of these monasteries: Epiphany and Holy Spirit churches, in which icons, church utensils, vestments, books brought by Belarusians from their churches to Valdai were gracefully arranged.

The Royal Doors and a fragment of the iconostasis of the Iberian Cathedral. 2015

Abbot Joel had a chance to keep piety in White Russia and, saving him, lead his monks out of the oppression of the Uniates to Russia, to Patriarch Nikon to the monastery.

The hegumen did not reach the Valdai monastery, having departed to the Lord on the road, in the town of Boldino, but bequeathed to rest himself in the Iversky monastery.

In 1656, in his efforts to consecrate the main Iberian church, His Holiness marked with a special point the need to solemnly remove the temple grave of Abbot Joel, who was buried behind a high place in the eastern part of the porch 54. And at the beginning of the twentieth century, a slab with an inscription worn out from time to time at the place of his burial was a special relic of the Iberian monastery 55.

In the monastery sacristy, and then in the Nikonov Museum, an iron paraman with a cross, worn by Abbot Joel 56, was reverently kept.

Soon, next to Abbot Joel in the church porch, his disciples and associates were buried, who in the 17th century became Iberian archimandrites 57. Let's call their names.

Archimandrite Dionysius II - from the governors of the Kuteinsky monastery, the successor of the hegumen Joel. He ruled the Iberian monastery from March 1655 in the rank of hegumen 58, and in August 1655 he was ordained archimandrite 59 by His Holiness Patriarch Nikon. In February 1658, he beat the patriarch with his forehead, asking him to leave him, due to old age and weakness, from the archimandrite. His Holiness blessed him to remain on the archimandrite "until ... God delights in living," with the release of old age from church services and rules 60. On August 26, 1658, Archimandrite Dionysius blessedly reposed 61.

Church of Michael the Archangel (1683-1685) above the inner monastery gates. 2015

Archimandrite Joseph I had a short term as archimandrite; retiring, he died on April 6, 1660 62.

Even during the reign of Archimandrite Dionysius II, Hieromonk Philotheus 63 was the governor of the Iberian monastery. He was consecrated to the archimandrite by His Holiness Patriarch Nikon in 1658/59 64. He died on April 18, 1669 and was buried in the Iberian temple 65.

Painting of the Iversky Cathedral. Restoration of the beginning of the XXI century. 2015

In 1669, the former abbot of the Buinitsky monastery, Theodosius, was promoted to the Iberian archimandrite. The table reading given to him by the Metropolitan of Novgorod Pitirim says: “Befits such a shepherd to be God-loving and loving man, and church fulfillment without laziness, diligent, meek and humble, sober and chaste, shitty, strange-loving and teaching, not drunken, not a scammer, watching, not envious, not a money-lover ... take care of those under him, and drive mental wolves away from the flock with the slings of divine words and prophetic and apostolic and paternal traditions, and all divine and sacred rituals to act ... "66 Archimandrite Theodosius died while , October 18, 1672 67.

Already in May 1672, in the Iversky monastery there was another archimandrite 68, the successor of Father Theodosius, who had been for a long time hegumen of Iversky - Father Eumenius, who died on July 19, 1681 and was buried in the cathedral church 69.

Archimandrite Zosima, from the governors of Iberian, after the death of Father Eumenius, was elected according to the Kutein charter from among the brethren, was not an archimandrite for long. He died in 1682 70.

In the monastery documents for August 1682, the archimandrite mentions Joseph II 71. He died on January 6, 1692 72.

In connection with the death of Archimandrite Joseph II, the brethren turn to Patriarch Adrian with a request to bless the hieromonk Theognostus, tonsured of Iveron, who was elected according to the ancient Kutein rank from among them, to Archimandry 73. Chosen in this way, Archimandrite Theognost died on October 28, 1693 and was laid to rest in Temple 74.

On the bell tower of the Iversky Monastery (2nd half of the 17th century.). 2015

Probably, Archimandrites Benjamin I, Filaret, Seraphim, Avraamy, Trifilliy 75, who ruled the monastery in the first half of the 18th century, are buried in the Iberian temple, but no documentary evidence of this has been found.

Archimandrite Avraamy, transferred to Iver from the Paleostrovsky monastery in 1733, left a special mark in the history of the monastery. He ruled the Iversky Monastery until 1747. Under him, the monastery received complete independence from the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, carried out active construction activities, the arrangement of churches and their shrines, pilgrim buildings, and outbuildings. For his efforts to equip the Iversky Monastery in 1742, Archbishop Ambrose of Novgorod and Velikolutsk awarded Archimandrite Abraham with a gilded silver pectoral cross with particles of holy relics.

The burials of the abbots of the Iversky Monastery of the 19th century are known:

Benjamin II (Zhukov), in the monastery since 1809, from the archimandrites of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery († May 14, 1811) 76; Gerasim (Gaidukova), in the monastery since 1822, from the archimandrites of the Vyazhishchi monastery and the economists of the Novgorod Bishops' house († February 25, 1829) 77; Innocent II (Areshnikov), in the monastery since 1840, from the archimandrites of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery († September 28, 1847) 78; Lawrence (Makarov), in the monastery since 1854, from the abbots of the Kiev-Vydubitsky monastery († July 2, 1876) 79.

A description of the burial place of Archimandrite Lawrence has been preserved. It was located in the western part of the cathedral porch, to the left of the entrance to the temple, and was marked by a marble slab and an icon of the heavenly patron archimandrite depicting the holy archdeacon Lawrence. This image was placed in a marble frame along with a maternal blessing - the icon of the Akhtyrka Mother of God, with which Archimandrite Lawrence never parted. Above his resting place, lovingly furnished by his spiritual children, an unquenchable lamp burned 80. Everyone who entered the church prayerfully remembered Father Lawrence, beloved by everyone and much rejoicing about the monastery.

Unfortunately, the gravestones over the graves of the abbots of the Iversky Monastery in the church porch have not survived. Information about the burials was obtained from written sources.

Silhouette of an Angel with a pipe on the spire of the Skete Tower of the 18th century. Photo by M.V. Nashchokina. 2014

Now a place is being set up for the Iberian necropolis in the monastery garden, behind the cathedral, fragments of the tombstones discovered recently on the territory of the monastery are brought together. During the Soviet years, the necropolis was destroyed. But from the many destroyed burials, two worldly burials, made in the 1860-1870s with the blessing of Archimandrite Lawrence, have miraculously survived: IV Kopylov-Orlov and the Panaev family 81. Since these are the only surviving old burials, we will tell you about them in detail.

Ilya Vasilievich Kopylov-Orlov (1795-1862) 82 was buried in the southeastern part of the Iversky monastery, behind the altar of the main cathedral, in August 1862. In September 1863, at his grave, through the efforts of Archimandrite Lawrence, a monument was erected, ordered by the widow of Kopylov-Orlov, Praskovya Ivanovna. In the summer of 1863, she lived at the invitation of her spiritual mentor, Fr. Lawrence on Iver 83. The monument to the anniversary of the death of Ilya Vasilyevich, which fell on August 20, 1863, was not yet ready.

In a letter to Praskovya Ivanovna dated September 13, 1863, Archimandrite Lavrenty writes: “The monument that lay like a stone in your heart is now magnificently adorned in its place, both day and night is visible from my windows. Your poetic, Christian idea has been fulfilled, for your patience it is completely satisfactory in my opinion ... ”84

The monument was a lectern made of dark granite, covered with a white marble shroud with a gilded fringe. On the analogue lay an open Gospel with the text: "Come to me, all who are toiling and burdened, and I will give you rest." The gilded cross 85 towered above the analogue. During the Soviet years, the gold fringe, the cross and the Gospel were lost. The sketch of the monument was prepared by the actor I.I. Sosnitsky.

On the south side of the lectern is embossed: “Ilya Vasilievich Kopylov-Orlov. Died in 1862 August 20 days in the 70th year. " On the east side there is an epitaph:

Lord, at that hour when the trumpet
Will trumpet the end of the world,
Accept the deceased slave
To Your Blessed Villages 86.

IV Kopylov-Orlov was an actor in the Alexandrinsky (1825–1828) and Maly (1828–1848) theaters, worked in Odessa, Kiev, Kaluga, Serpukhov and other places87. He was a nobleman, which is quite rare in the acting environment, was brought up in the Mountain Corps 88.

In 1835, at the age of 42, he married 19-year-old actress Praskovya Kulikova, a graduate of the Moscow Theater School, who had been playing at the Maly Theater since the age of 15.

Ilya Vasilyevich's imbalance, irascibility, the habit of subordinating everyone to his desires made their marriage impossible in the end 89. Having lived together under the same roof (both home and stage) for 16 years, they parted, officially continuing to be considered spouses.

Archimandrite Lavrenty, calling Praskovya Ivanovna "a bird of heaven", encourages her to leave stage 90 in 1860, and after the death of Ilya Vasilyevich he blesses her second marriage. At the same time, he writes from Iber: “You married the first husband humanly, or according to the flesh, and for the second one you liked, at will, to work hard and be useful not to yourself, but to your neighbors. You saw a cold dawn from the first marriage, for it was in its ordinary forms, and the second in the forms of morally selfless, believe me, it will bring you abundant fruit ”91. PI Orlova-Savina devotes herself to charity, helping churches and monasteries, Christian service 92. Archbishop Filofey of Tver even once told her: "Why did you go only to Moscow or Iver, you should pray to the saint Nil ..." 93

In addition to money, she donated stones to decorate the setting made in 1866 for the Iberian Icon 94, her dependents arranged icons for the main church of the monastery 95. Her attitude to Kopylov-Orlov was also a peculiar act of mercy and Christian love. In 1862, she assigned him for treatment at the Maximilianovskaya hospital in St. Petersburg, visited him, bought medicines and paid for doctors, took care of organizing his travel to Borovichi. Having received the news that Ilya Vasilyevich is in serious condition, she immediately leaves to see him. Praskovya Ivanovna arrived two hours before his death, having had time to say goodbye and pray not only for him, but also for the Lord to forgive both of them, who were unable to arrange their lives and therefore suffer. After her prayer and words of forgiveness, he quietly passed away 96.

Archimandrite Joseph with the priests of the Valdai district near the Rector's building. Photo from the beginning of the twentieth century. Museum of the county town. Valdai

Not wanting to leave the deceased in a strange city, where there would be no one to remember him, she ordered to take him to the Iversky Monastery, where she often visited and where she lived with the blessing of Metropolitan Isidor, a relative of Ilya Vasilyevich - V.A. Teglev, an "old lady-noblewoman" , as Leushin Abbess Taisiya says about her 97. She was the spiritual daughter of Archimandrite Lawrence, "a God-loving widow who did a lot to the elder" and arranged his grave, located in the western part of the gallery of the main temple. “The humble widow,” as her father Lavrenty 99 called her, also took care of the grave of Kopylov-Orlov.

In 1870, with the blessing of Archimandrite Lawrence, the Panayevs' family tomb was built in the Iversky Monastery, located in the northeastern part of the monastery, in the garden. It is an elegant chapel, towering on a high plinth, inside which is the actual tomb. There, under three stone sarcophagi, the ashes of members of the Panaev family lie. The entrance to the tomb is through the western lower small door, above which there is a large paneled door leading to the chapel. A two-flight light metal staircase descends from the right and left sides of the entrance to the chapel. All four facades are decorated with triangular pediments. The complex tent shape of the roof ends with a low tent topped with a cross.

The tomb was erected by Valerian Alexandrovich Panaev (1824–1899), a cousin of the famous II Panaev (1812–1862), journalist, writer, co-editor of the Nekrasov magazine Sovremennik. V.A. Panaev, like his brother Ippolit, who also took part in the construction of the tomb, was a railway engineer. The brothers graduated from the Corps of Railway Engineers and decided to serve in the construction of the Nikolaev railway, taking part in the survey, design, operation of the Moscow-Petersburg railway 100.

Panaev was also the author of books on economics and railway construction, a publicist, the creator of the so-called "Panaevsky" musical theater in St. Petersburg. With the money earned by him and his brother Ippolit on the construction of the Kursk-Kiev railway, they decided to build a tomb with a chapel for their mother, Elena Matveevna Panaeva (nee Lalaeva), who was buried in the Iversky Monastery 101.

Soon, quite unexpectedly for V.A. Panaev, another burial place had to be prepared here - for his youngest daughter, Valentina.

Necropolis of the Iversky Monastery. Modern look. 2014

Valentina Valerianovna Schulenburg (1855-1875) died after giving birth. For less than a year and a half she was married to Count Ivan Karlovich Schulenburg (1850–1891), a lieutenant of the Cavalry Regiment, a friend of P.P.Dyagilev, who married another daughter of V.A.Panaev, Elena.

The boy (Sergei Shulenburg) who remained after Valentina's death was raised by his grandmother, Sofya Mikhailovna Panaeva (1830–1912).

Valentina Shulenburg (nee Panaeva) in her early years gave the impression of a serious, silent, rarely laughing person 102. Recalling the last months of her life, E.V. Diaghileva notes that her habitual silence disappeared at the moments when she saw little Seryozha Diaghilev (the future “great impresario” - SP Diaghilev), for whom she had a touching tenderness. Every time, as soon as she came to her sister Elena, she immediately went to the nursery and spent the entire visit in conversations with her nephew Serezha. At these moments, she talked incessantly. And the boy looked at her with his huge black eyes, hugged her by the neck, thoughtfully stroked her cheek and said: "Aunt Lina, why are you so velvet?" 103 And it was impossible to find a more successful definition for Valentina Valerianovna. All her peculiar beauty, and everything that was on her, and the way she spoke, looked - everything seemed exactly velvet.

She named her son, who was born on May 20, 1875, in honor of Seryozha Diaghilev - Sergei, and on June 11 she was no longer 104. In turn, Elena Valerianovna named her soon-born son Valentin in memory of her deceased sister. Valentin Pavlovich Diaghilev (1875-1929) - a graduate of the Academy of the General Staff, professor, master of military history - will be martyred in the Solovetsky camps. In the same year, 1929, the life of S.P. Diaghilev, who was a special light in the life of Valentina, was cut short.

The death of Valentina severely undermined the health of her father, V.A. Panaev 105. Perhaps Ippolit Panaev hinted at this in his dedication to his brother:

... But thinking about everyone, you remembered yours too,
For their good I made many plans
And everybody took care to arrange them -
He arranged for us - but he upset himself ... 106

Arranging the affairs of his loved ones, he also took care of his deceased brother, Iliodor Alexandrovich Panaev (1819–1886), who was buried next to his mother and niece in the Iversky Monastery 107. Iliodor Panaev was an amazingly musical person, dreamed of becoming a great violinist and did everything possible to have his son Achilles Panaev (1862–1919) 108. He gave the name to his son following the example of Paganini, whom he admired all his life and who named his son Achilles.

The ensemble of the Iversky Monastery with the Gate Church of Michael the Archangel (1683-1685) and the Nikonovskaya (Mikhailovskaya) Tower of the 1680s. 2015

The Panaevs, their children and relatives made large donations to the Iversky Monastery for the maintenance of the tomb and commemoration of their relatives. Elena Valerianovna's father-in-law, Pavel Dmitrievich Diaghilev (1808–1883), was also a permanent contributor to the monastery. From distant Perm, he made frequent pilgrimages to Iver. In 1858, he was taking a new silver shrine to the monastery for the relics of the holy righteous Jacob Borovichsky. Cancer, arranged by "the diligence of volunteer donors" and made by the Petersburg master A. Verkhovtsev, weighed 3 poods 29 pounds 5 spool valves. At the most difficult moment of his journey, P.D. Diaghilev had a wonderful vision of the holy righteous Jacob Borovichsky and witnessed his invisible help 110.

The Iberian burials of the Panayevs and I.V. Kopylov-Orlov are associated with the fates of wonderful Russian people, whom the Lord granted the eternal right to be intimately connected with Iver and with the wondrous elder and prayer book Archimandrite Lawrence, who in 1876 found eternal rest in the same monastery.

In the Iversky Monastery, in addition, there is a common mass grave (behind the northern monastery wall) and several personal burials (behind the altar of the main church) of the soldiers of the North-Western Front who were treated in the monastery hospital in 1941-1943. Today, the burials of Semyon Mikhailovich Likharev (1926-1942) and Vasily Yegorovich Yegorov (1895-1943) are marked with grave crosses inside the monastery.

Burial places of today's inhabitants of the monastery are arranged behind the altar of the main church. Those who died in a car accident in December 2002 were buried here: Hieromonk Nil (Mikhailov), 09/25/1968 - 12/09/2002; Hieromonk Sergiy (Biryukov), 12/06/1972 - 12/19/2002; Novice Sergiy (Astrakhantsev), 11/18/1974 - 12/09/2002. In 2006, another burial site appeared. Archpriest Alexy (Bulanushkin), 20.01.1951 - 19.10.2006, uncle of the hieromonk Sergius (Biryukov), who was buried here earlier, was laid to rest next to the perished Iberian brethren.

In 2008, Hierodeacon Alexander (Samuilov) was buried at the monastery churchyard, April 7, 1952 - September 19. 2008. He always strived for solitude, but everyone knew him, first of all, as an amazing toiler, a gardener, who lovingly worked in the monastery greenhouses, which he himself had built.

On June 30, 2009, the monastery said goodbye to its first abbot, on whose shoulders the most difficult work of reviving the Iversky Monastery - Hegumen Stefan (Popkov), 7.07.1946 - 30.06.2009. He came to the monastery with extensive experience in monastic life and pastoral service. But the monastery as such did not yet exist, it should have been created again, after long years of oblivion and spiritual losses ...

Wooden crosses with carved inscriptions "Eternal Memory" mark two monastery burials dating back to 2012. Under one of them rests the ashes of the most gentle and respected by all worker, who for many years carried the obedience of a cattleman and was certainly respectfully named by his first name and patronymic - Mikhail Mikhailovich Shcherba, 09/01/1953 - 07/17/2012. And 11 days later, another burial took place in the monastery. The nun Matrona (Bogorosh), who lived in retirement in the Iverskaya monastery, rested in the Lord, 11/6/1930 - 07/28/2012.

The interior of the monastery museum in the Nikon tower. 2015

Let's go back, however, to the times when Belarusian monks appeared in the Iberian monastery. They brought their holy images and books, vestments and church utensils. They brought the drukarnya to Valdai, where the famous printer Spiridon Sobol worked in Kutein, which served as an impetus for the spread of book business in Russia.

The Belarusians shared the secrets of tsenina (methods of working with glaze), and soon multicolored tiles appeared in many parts of Russia. The Kuteins also introduced the Russians to the techniques of wood and stone carving.

In addition to unique material monuments, Belarusians also brought gifts that are much more valuable for equipping and strengthening the church. They introduced the strict order of the Kutein monastic life. It is no coincidence that since the appearance of Belarusians in Valdai in 1655, the Iberian archimandrites, abbots, and treasurers, as a rule, were Kuteins. On Iver, the Kutein rite of placing in the archimandrite was established from among the worthy monks of only their monastery. In 1692, the Metropolitan of Novgorod Korniliy tried to place an archimandrite from another monastery in the Iberian monastery, but the elders made a reply to Patriarch Adrian with a request not to violate the ancient communal order of Kutein 111. The patriarch did not mind.

The most important Nikon buildings of the Iversky Monastery and the arrangement of internal monastic life fell on the time of the archimandrite of the Kutein elder Dionysius, who, after Joel, first assumed the abbess of Kutein, and then the Iberian. Later, to further strengthen the brethren of the Iversky monastery, the governor Philotheus and brother Severian (both of the Kuteins) were sent to Mogilev, Kutein and Kiev to select the brethren needed in the Iversky monastery 112. Thus, in September 1657/58, the elder of the Kiev-Mezhigorsky monastery, Joachim Savelov, the future patriarch Joachim 113, appears in the Iversky monastery.

In 1689, according to the personal census of the brethren, 178 monks were listed in the Iversky Monastery, among whom the immigrants from Belarus and Ukraine are especially noted 114. True, this was preceded by the exodus of the Belarusians (as well as all other inhabitants of the Iversky Monastery) to other monasteries. This was due to the deprivation of the patriarchal dignity in 1666/67 by Nikon, his lifelong exile and the closure of the monasteries he created 115. Archimandrite Philotheus and the brethren at that time were expelled from the monastery. In 1667, he writes: "We endure encroachment a lot, that they see us unaffected by the former patriarch Nikon" 116. However, on October 26, 1668/69, the tsar's letter of gratitude to the Iversky monastery followed, confirming it among the correctly created and returning it to its former estates 117. At the same time, a letter followed, restoring Archimandrite Philotheus in his position in the Iversky Monastery 118.

The abolished monastery quickly fell into disrepair, and in the 1660s – 1670s they were forced to carry out restoration work on the buildings erected in the Nikon period. In 1671, the work of the water supply system was restored, which Afonka Fomin and his comrades 119 are engaged in. At this time, a stone bakery and a brewery are being built, work is underway on the refectory. The monastery archers Afonka Fomin, Mikhalka Danilov, Danilko Fedorov are involved in the construction.

Lacking the former highest patronage, the Iversky Monastery was not able to rely on construction personnel who arrived at the construction site from other regions, as well as on those material resources that were issued in due time for construction by Patriarch Nikon. But, having significant land holdings, the property rights to which were returned to the monastery in 1668-1669, the monastery gradually collected the necessary funds for the construction of such significant buildings as the Church of the Archangel Michael, the Abbot, Viceroy, Fraternal corps, and the bell tower. Thus, the ensemble of the main square of the monastery was finally formed. The grandiose plans of His Holiness Patriarch Nikon took on a finished look.

Samples of ancient ceramics in the monastery museum. 2015

The active construction of the late 17th century was brought about by a change in the attitude of the secular authorities towards the personality of His Holiness Patriarch Nikon, his return from exile and his restoration to the patriarchal dignity 120.

The monastery, however, faced new challenges. In 1700, a fire destroyed the church of Jacob Borovichsky and the hospital. Only two years later, a new two-story stone church of Jacob Borovichsky with cells and a refectory was built in its place. On May 11, 1704, an even more terrible fire broke out, in which the main temple, refectory church, iconostases, library and other buildings were badly damaged 121. The burnt tiled platbands were knocked down from the facade of the Rector's building, the windows were hewn, the walls were plastered and whitewashed - the building stood in this form for more than 300 years. In 2007, the tiled decoration of the Abbot's cells was restored. The decor was modeled after a 17th century tiled platband, fragmentary preserved on the east wall of the building.

From 1704 to 1710, renovations were carried out in the main church, and upon their completion, the cathedral was consecrated in the name of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. The miraculous Iberian icon, saved from the fire, took a new place in the church - at the right pillar. A shrine with the relics of the holy righteous Jacob Borovichsky was placed near the left pillar. Later, these two main shrines were placed under carved wooden gilded canopies. Particles of holy relics and 4 silver arks with the relics of Moscow saints brought to the Iversky Monastery by His Holiness Patriarch Nikon in 1654 were placed in a niche in the southern wall.

But not only the fires of the early 18th century were a test for the monastery. In 1712, by decree of Tsar Peter I, the Iberian monastery was assigned to the St. Petersburg Alexander Nevsky monastery 122, which was under construction, where the most valuable things from the Iberian sacristy were transported. Land ownership was also written off in favor of St. Petersburg. The Iversky monastery fell into decay and desolation.

In 1730, by the Highest command of the Empress Anna Ioannovna, the Iberian monastery gained independence from the Lavra. The lands were returned, but the things taken to St. Petersburg were never returned 123.

By 1764, the monastery was listed as the second in the Novgorod diocese. The monastery numbered 4275 acres of land, 7113 peasants. However, Catherine's secularization of ecclesiastical and monastic lands brings the monastery into ruin: all land holdings were again torn away. But in 1778, the Highest command was issued in connection with measures to strengthen economic methods for the maintenance of monasteries, according to which the Iversky Monastery again received the right to land use 124.

The plight of the monastery was aggravated by the fire of 1825. Gerasim Gaidukov, who was appointed archimandrite at that time, did his best to revive the monastery. Archimandrite Lavrenty Makarov prepared a lot for the prosperity of the Iversky Monastery in the 1850s and 1870s 125. Many inhabitants have acquired the spiritual glory of Iberus. Hieromonk Lawrence, who for a long time served as a cell attendant under Archimandrite Lawrence, was revered as a sagacious and wise elder, with whom the abbots of the monastery held council 126. The famous Iberian silent man and prayer book Pakhomiy Valdai was known for his humility and diligence. He died, like Seraphim of Sarov, in kneeling in prayer 127. Monk Nikon, who received his name from the tonsure in memory of His Holiness Patriarch Nikon, was in the world the Valdai merchant N.A. Dubinin 128. For 30 years he researched the healing properties of the Varnitsa salt springs, discovered by Patriarch Nikon three miles from Valdai 129, spent 130 on their study, and after leaving the world for the Iversky Monastery, he did not leave this work.

In 1906-1907, the spiritual writer S.A. Nilus 131 lived and worked on Iver. In 1908, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the stay of the Iveron Icon on Valdai, he published as a separate book his "Legend of the Miraculous Iveron Icon" 132.

The letters of S.A. Nilus from Optina Hermitage to the abbot of the Iversky Monastery, Archimandrite Joseph 133 have been preserved. In 1912 S. Nilus again came to “the God-rescued and God-beloved Valdai”, settling near the Iversky Monastery 134. In the most difficult times of persecution, he found shelter and peace in the Iberian Monastery.

Archimandrite of the Iversky monastery Joseph (Nikolaevsky). Photo from the beginning of the twentieth century. Museum of the county town. Valdai

Many guests came to the Nilus. E. Kontsevich left her memories of a trip to the Iversky Monastery on October 12, 1913: “We went to the monastery in a roundabout way on horseback and rode 7 versts instead of three if we sailed straight ahead by boat. On this day, the eve of His feast, the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God returns to the monastery for the whole winter, going around several counties over the summer, visiting all the cities, villages and villages along the way.

Upon arrival, towards the end of the day, we went along with the procession to the shore of the lake to the monastery pier to meet the icon. It was a dark autumn evening. They did not wait so long: here, against the background of the blackening water space, colored lights appeared - the lanterns with which the boat with the icon was decorated. The boat approached the shore and moored. The procession accepted the icon, and it was carried to the winter church with candles and singing. On the way, the icon was carried over individual pilgrims, bowed to the ground ”135.

It describes the return of the miraculous icon from the procession on the eve of the feast of the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God. By this day, the icon will certainly return to Iver after long wanderings, which lasted annually from May to October. A participant in the events draws attention to the long-established custom - to carry the icon over the heads of the worshipers. It was an all-Russian tradition, but in connection with the meeting of the Iberian icon, a special ritual was formed. People came out to meet the icon, carried by the procession, with new household towels in their hands. Near the icon, the ends of the towels were sewn together - it turned out to be one common long towel - a white road for the Iverskaya Guide. Then the towels were lifted on their hands over the heads of the people, and from them, thus, a "gate" was created for the Iverskaya Goalkeeper. The Iberian icon was led over the towels; it made a detour over the heads of the worshipers, taking them under its Protection. Then the towels were embroidered, each took his own towel home and stored it on the Bozhnitsa. This is the popular interpretation of the texts of the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of the miraculous icon of Her Iveron: “You, as the one who has an invincible power, cover and protect us, Lady, from all enemies visible and invisible”; “Rejoice, our hope and protection”; “Rejoice, our fence”; “Rejoice, consolation in our journey”; “Rejoice, sudden help to those in need on the way, on land and on the waters”; “Rejoice, opening the entrance to everything gracious”; "Rejoice, good Goalkeeper, opening the doors of heaven to the faithful" 136.

By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Iversky Monastery, in addition to temples and cell, household services in the monastery itself, had a stone church in the name of the Iberian icon at the Lykoshino station of the Nikolaev railway and two chapels: one - a stone one in the name of Jacob Borovichsky in Valdai, the other - a wooden one, erected near the ferry at the entrance to the monastery islands. There was a literacy school at the monastery for 10 orphan boys who lived all year round in the monastery. They received from the monastery a room with heating and lighting, servants, tea, sugar, ready-made clothes, shoes, meals in the monastery refectory.

In 1918, there were 68 inhabitants in the monastery, of which: archimandrite - 1, abbot - 1, hieromonks - 15, hierodeacons - 8, monks - 9, novices - 10, living on probation - 14, orphans of boys - 10. daily worship. The monastery owned 1021 dess. 51 are land. The capital of the monastery was 138,143 rubles. 28 kopecks A blacksmith, locksmith, carpentry, shoemaker's workshops worked at the monastery. There was a library, which consisted of 605 books 137.

Beginning in January 1918, the authorities constantly requisitioned bread, cabbage, and cattle from the monastery. On July 15, 1918, during the requisition of bread, the food detachment launched an armed assault on the monastery. The monks sounded the alarm. A popular uprising began. Archimandrite Joseph was seriously wounded in these events. The counter-revolutionary uprising was suppressed by the troops, a state of emergency was declared in Valdai, arrests and executions began. In connection with these events, a remarkable writer, leading publicist of the Novoye Vremya newspaper Menshikov, who lived on the estate near Valdai, General VA Kosagovsky, and others were shot.

Iversky Monastery from the side of the Western Gate

In 1919 the monastery was transformed into the Iberian agricultural labor artel. The brethren fussed about this for a long time, wishing thereby to preserve the monastery. The artel consisted of 70 people, had 5 hectares of monastery land and 200 hectares of orchards, vegetable gardens, arable land, pastures. The artelniks had at their disposal a tractor, 12 cows, 10 horses, and 139 agricultural implements.

On January 1, 1919, the previously confiscated "all precious and ancient sacristy vessels and things" were returned to the monastery, on the basis of which the Nikon Museum was created, located in the porch of the Church of the Archangel Michael 140.

In 1927, the Iberian labor artel was surveyed by the People's Commissariat of Agriculture. It was noted that the labor community "is too closely associated with the Iberian miraculous icon." This was the reason for the removal of the labor artel from registration, after which it was proposed "to clear the territory of the monastery from the unearned element."

Hieromonk Father Nikita 141, extremely popular among the monastic brethren and parishioners, was elected chairman of the Iberian labor artel. "The kindest father Nikita", as the famous publicist MO Menshikov spoke of him 142, had a chance to manage the monastery's economy in the most difficult years for the monastery. In 1930 he was arrested, there is no information about his further fate, but his special luminosity is still remembered today. M.O. Menshikov asked his children that when they had children of their own, they would definitely have to name one of them Nikita in memory of the Iberian hieromonk. The great-grandson of a publicist was baptized under this name 143.

By 1930, the activity of the monastery and the monastic labor artel was completely stopped, its inhabitants left Iver.

In the 1930s, the "Strochpromartel" for deaf and dumb disabled people was located on the territory of the monastery. From 1941 to 1943 - an evacuation hospital for soldiers and commanders of the North-Western Front, then - a recreation center for disabled war veterans. In the post-war period, a children's sanatorium-forest school was opened here. In the late 1960s, the monastery buildings were occupied by a recreation center of one of the Novgorod enterprises.

In 1991, the Iversky monastery was transferred to the Novgorod diocese.

The arrangement of spiritual, monastic life began with the Divine Liturgy, which took place on the main holiday of the Iversky Monastery, which falls on July 28 (August 10). Several thousand worshipers, together with Vladyka Archbishop Lev of Novgorod and the clergy of the Novgorod diocese, for the first time in many tens of godless years, passed a procession of the cross around the monastery. The icon of the Iberian Mother of God, carried over to this day from the Valdai Church of St. Peter and Paul, was the first icon of the Iberian Mother of God, before all the monastic inhabitants, to come to Iver and remained there forever as the main shrine of the monastery, its patroness and intercessor.

Today, at the beginning of the 21st century, looking over the panorama of the restored Iversky Monastery, one involuntarily recalls the words of the son of Patriarch Macarius of Antioch, Archdeacon Paul of Aleppo, who visited here in 1656 in 1656, who noted the uniqueness of Iber: “We marveled at this blessed place and its pleasant location: in truth, there is no one like him in the world, and in the future it will become an example for all ages ”144.

Notes (edit)

1 Nikon, patriarch. The word is blessed about the creation of the monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos of Iversk and the Holy New Confessor and Hieromartyr Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, miracle worker, like on the Holy Ezera, and about carrying the relics of Holy Righteous Jacob, who was formerly named Borovetsky. A type. Iversky Monastery, 1658/59. Pp. 64-64 v.2 Acts of the Iversky Svyatoozersky Monastery (1582-1706), collected by Archimandrite Leonid. No. 40 // Russian Historical Library. T.5. SPb., 1878. Stb. 83.3 Ibid. 4 Ibid. Stb. 84.5 Lobachev S.V. Patriarch Nikon. SPb., 2003. S. 97-112.6 Acts ... No. 40. Stb. 84.7 Leonidas, archimandrite. Historical sketch of the Iverskaya Svyatoozerskaya monastery in its patriarchal period (from 1653 to the end of 1666) // Russian Historical Library. T.5. Stb. 3.8 Acts ... No. 16. Stb. 35-36.9 Nikon, patriarch. The word is beneficial ... S. 53v.-54.10 Here and further: in the 50s of the 17th century. in Russia, the "September style" of the calendar was in effect, i.e. the new year began on September 1st. Therefore, the events that took place at that time from September to the end of December are usually denoted by a fraction: first, the year according to the now adopted "January" style, and then - according to the "September style." 11 Acts ... №18. Stb. 37-38.12 Ibid. Stb. 37.13 Acts ... No. 40. Stb. 83 .; Ambrose, Archimandrite. History of the Russian hierarchy. T.IV. M., 1812. P.270.14 Acts ... No. 18. Stb. 37.15 Ibid. Stb. 38.16 Acts ... No. 20. Stb. 39-41.17 Tikhomirov M.N. Novgorod chronograph of the 17th century // Novgorod historical collection. Issue Vii. Novgorod, 1940. P.86.18 Acts ... No. 21. Stb. 43.19 Ibid. 20 Acts ... No. 18. Stb. 38.21 Acts ... No. 21. Stb. 42-44.22 Acts ... No. 18. Stb. 37-38.23 Acts ... No. 36. Stb. 68.24 Silin P.M. Historical description of the Valdai Iversky Svyatoozersky Bogoroditsky first-class monastery. SPb., 1885. P.41; Slezskinsky A.G. Iversky Monastery (From a summer trip) // Valdai Iversky Svyatoozersky Mother of God Monastery. SPb., 1999.P.47.25 Ambrose, archimandrite. History ... S. 218-219; Leonid, archimandrite. Historical sketch ... Stb. 29-30.26 Leonid, archimandrite. Historical sketch. ... Stb. 6.27 Acts ... No. 39. Stb. 80.28 Acts ... No. 21. Stb. 44.29 Acts ... No. 36. Stb. 69.30 Acts ... No. 18. Stb. 38.31 Acts ... No. 20. Stb. 40-41.32 Ibid. Stb. 41.33 Acts ... No. 40. Stb. 83; Ambrose, Archimandrite. History ... P.270.34 Acts ... №41. Stb. 87.35 Acts ... No. 41. Stb. 88.36 Acts ... No. 21. Stb. 44.37 Acts ... No. 29. Stb. 53-54.38 Acts. No. 44. Stb. 100.39 Acts ... No. 24. Stb. 47-48; No. 35. Stb. 65-66; No. 41. Stb. 87-88; No. 43. Stb. 90.40 Shusherin John. News of the birth and upbringing and life of His Holiness Nikon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. M., 1871. P.32.41 Acts ... No. 51. Stb. 114-121; No. 53. Stb. 121-126; No. 55. Stb. 131-133; No. 56. Stb. 134-135.42 Acts ... No. 62. Stb. 158.43 Acts ... No. 105. Stb. 305-307.44 Acts ... No. 80. Stb. 203.45 Ibid. Stb. 204-207.46 Ibid. Stb. 203.47 Acts ... No. 83. Stb. 217-218.48 Pavel Aleppsky. The Journey of Patriarch Macarius of Antioch to Russia in the Half of the 17th Century Issue IV. M., 1898. P.64.49 Acts ... No. 87. Stb. 226-234.50 Pavel Aleppsky. Travel ... P.57.51 Leonid, archimandrite. Historical sketch ... P.11; Nikon, patriarch. A good word ... P.69.52 Zverinsky V.V. Materials for a historical and topographic study of Orthodox monasteries in the Russian Empire. T.I. SPb, 1892.C.172.53 Nikon, patriarch. The word is beneficial ... P.71.54 Acts ... №98. Stb. 293.55 Leonid, archimandrite. Historical sketch ... Stb. 11.56 General ledger. Sacristy inventory and church inventory of the Valdai Iversky first-class monastery. 1904. S. 414v .; Silin P.M. Historical description of the Valdai Iversky Svyatoozersky Bogoroditsky first-class monastery. P.54; Franz D.D. Catalog of the Nikon Museum in the Iversky Monastery near Valdai. Novgorod, 1920.P.20.57 Silin P.M. Historical description ... С.40.58 Acts ... №57. Stb. 37; Leonid, archimandrite. Historical sketch ... Stb. 11-13.59 Ibid ... Stb. 15-16.60 Acts ... No. 106. Stb. 307.61 Ambrose, Archimandrite. History of the Russian hierarchy. T. IV. M., 1812. P.283.62 Ibid.63 Acts ... No. 117. Stb. 323.64 Leonid, archimandrite. Historical sketch ... Stb. 26.65 Silin P.M. Historical description ... P.62.66 Acts ... No. 435. Stb. 1067.67 Ambrose, Archimandrite. History ... p.283; Silin P.M. Historical description ... P.62.68 Acts ... №316. Stb. 806.69 Acts ... No. 337. Stb. 849; No. 338. Stb. 850.70 Acts ... No. 337. Stb. 849; No. 339. Stb. 851.71 Acts ... No. 341. Stb. 856.72 Ambrose, Archimandrite. History ... p.283; Acts ... No. 383. Stb. 927.73 Acts ... No. 368. Stb. 927.74 Ambrose, Archimandrite. History ... P.284; Peter (Zverev-Bogdanov), archimandrite. Description of the first-class Iversky Mother of God Monastery of the Novgorod Diocese. SPb., 1850. S. 45.75 Ambrose, archimandrite. History ... P.284.76 Ibid. P.287; Peter, archimandrite. Description ... P.48; Silin P.M. Historical description ... P.64.77 Peter (Zverev-Bogdanov), archimandrite. Description ... P.49; Silin P.M. Historical description ... P.65.78 Ibid.79 PM Silin Historical description ... P.65; Biography and letters in Bose of the deceased father of Archimandrite Lawrence, abbot of the Iversky Mother of God Valdai Monastery, Novgorod province / Comp. A.F. Kovalevsky. M., 1887. S. 28-51.80 Biography and letters ... S. 50-51. 81 Yakovleva N.P. Iberian burials // Chelo. 2000. No. 2. Pp. 41-44.82 According to the recollections of the wife of I.V. Kopylov-Orlov, in June 1862 he was 67 years old, i.e. the date of birth can be considered 1795 or 1796. It is written on the grave monument (perhaps this was done erroneously during the execution of the tombstone) that the deceased died at the age of 70, i.e. the date of his birth may be 1792 or 1793 83 Orlova-Savina P.I. Autobiography. M., 1994. P.363.84 Biography and letters ... P.104.85 Orlova-Savina PI. Autobiography. P.357.86 Yakovleva N.P. Grave monument in the monastery // Leninsky way. 1990.20 oct. No. 126 (10209). P.3.87 Theatrical encyclopedia. T.IV. M., 1965.S. 207-208; Orlova-Savina P.I. Autobiography. S. 193-220.88 Orlova-Savina P.I. Autobiography. P. 17, 396.89 Ibid. Pp. 17, 18, 135, 138-139, 217.90 Biography and letters ... pp. 97-98.91 Ibid. P.114.92 Vasiliev A.V. The artist is gifted, smart, conscientious // Valdai. 1995.10 oct. No. 118 (10962). P.3.93 Orlova-Savina P.I. Autobiography. P.352.94 Biography and letters ... P.110.95 Main book ... P. 41-42.96 Orlova-Savina PI. Autobiography. Pp. 356-357.97 Memoirs of Abbess Taisia, abbess of the Leushinsky monastery, about Archimandrite Laurentia (Makarov) // Valdai ascetic. M., 1997. P.151.98 Biography and letters ... P.51.99 Ibid. P.108.100 Memories of Valerian Alexandrovich Panaev // Russian antiquity. 1893.Vol. 80. S. 560-568; 1901. Vol. 107. S. 32, 285-287.101 Diaghileva E.V. A family record about the Diaghilevs. SPb .; Perm: Dmitry Bulanin, 1998.S. 160.102 Ibid. P.77.103 Ibid. P.124.104 Ibid. S. 129-131.105 Ibid. P.133.106 Ibid. P.164.107 Ibid. P.201.108 Ibid. P.257.109 General book ... P.45.110 Diaghileva E.V. Family record ... P.160.111 Acts ... №383. Stb. 927-928.112 Acts ... No. 88. Stb. 240, 242.113 Acts ... No. 93. Stb. 276.114 Acts ... No. 358. Stb. 886-887.115 Acts ... No. 262. Stb. 721-726.116 Acts ... No. 252. Stb. 684-685.117 Acts ... No. 434. Stb. 1048-1066.118 Acts ... No. 435. Stb. 1067-1071.119 Sivak S.I. The journeyman of stone affairs Afanasy Fomin // Architectural heritage and restoration. M., 1984. P.244.120 Acts ... No. 436. Stb. 1071-1074.121 Acts ... No. 412. Stb. 997-999.123 Peter (Zverev-Bogdanov), archimandrite. Description ... S. 20-21.124 Ibid. Pp. 21-22.125 Biography and letters ... pp. 3-51; Kovalevsky A. Biography of Archimandrite Lawrence // Valdai ascetic. M., 1997.S. 3-64.126 Unknown Nilus / Comp. R.Bagdasarov, S.Fomin. M., 1995. T.I. Pp. 30-31.127 Biographies of Russian devotees of piety in the 18th and 19th centuries. August. Kozelsk: Ed. Vvedenskaya Optina Pustyn, 1994. С.590.128 НГМ KP 37795 / 3,7.129 Acts ... No. 41. Stb. 87.130 Dubinin N.A. Medical-mineral mud of the Valdai Upland // Proceedings of the Imperially approved Russian society for the protection of public health. Issue XIII. T.5. SPb., 1890.S. 91-96.131 Strizhev A.N. The rank of nature is defeated // Towards the light. 1993. No. 3-4. P.21.122 Runkevich S.G. Alexander Nevsky Lavra. 1713-1913. SPb., 1997.S. 41, 57.132 Nilus S.A. The legend about the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Her Iversky Appearance and the miraculous icon of Her Iversky, which is in the Theotokos Iversky Valdai Monastery of the Novgorod Diocese. Sergiev Posad, 1908.133 Yakovleva N.P. Valdai letters of S.A. Nilus // Abstracts of reports and messages of the final scientific conference. Novgorod, 1997.S. 29-31.134 Nilus S.A. On the banks of the river of God. Notes of the Orthodox. Sergiev Posad, 1916.Vol. II. Pp. 16-18.135 Unknown Nilus ... pp. 29.136 Yakovleva N.P. Religious procession with the Iberian icon // Orthodox Valdai. 2006. No. 29 (41). C.1. 137 GIANO. Form 481. Op. 1. Unit xp. S. 27-28, 37.138 Yakovleva N.P. Bishop Joseph of Valdai in memoirs, letters, diaries // Chelo. 2000. No. 3. S. 8-12.139 GIANO. Form 481. Op. 1. Unit xp. 427.C.6.140 Ibid. P.7.141 Yakovleva N.P. Human torches. In memory of the hieromonk of the Iversky monastery, Fr. Nikita // Chelo. 2000. No. 3. S. 5-6.142 Menshikov M.O. Materials for the biography // Russian archive. T.IV. M., 1993. S. 162.143 Menshikova O.M. Monk Nikita // Our heritage. 1997. No. 42. P.47.144 Pavel Aleppsky. Travel ... P.61.

Nadezhda Yakovleva, Senior Researcher, Valdai Branch of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve

Patriarch Joseph died a year ago, and Nikon was elected to the patriarchal throne by the unanimous decision of the tsar and the Russian bishops. On July 25, Metropolitan Nikon was ordained to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia by the Bishops' Council.

Foundation of the monastery

Having ascended the primacy throne, Nikon expressed his intention to found a monastery on Lake Valdai to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The Emperor approved the Patriarch's request and allocated huge funds from the state treasury for the early construction of the monastery. In the summer of the year, the chief priest sent to the construction site skilful architects, many people and building materials, and by autumn two wooden churches were built and ready for consecration. The cathedral church was consecrated in honor of the miraculous icon of the Iberian Mother of God, and the warm one - in the name of St. Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow. The Patriarch appoints Archimandrite Dionysius as the first abbot of the monastery - "her husband is skillful and fulfilled with divine scripture, virtuous, gentle and gentle ...".

The patriarch with all his soul strove to look at his creation as quickly as possible. When he first visited the monastery under construction, Nikon renamed the Valdai settlement into the village of Bogoroditsky, and also named Lake Valdai Saints, having previously sanctified it and lowered the Gospel and the cross to the bottom. The monastery itself, in addition to its former name, was named Svyatoozersky.

To glorify the monastery, by order of the Patriarch, the holy relics of Jacob Borovichsky were transferred. The discovery of the holy relics happened in a mysterious and mysterious way. As the Novgorod Chronicle testifies, in the year (according to other sources in the year), "in the village of Borovichi on the Msta River, on the threshold on a bright week on Tuesday, a burnt coffin appeared, and in it the body is incorruptible the essence of the dead. And that living people took that coffin three times down the Msta River, for a field and more. He is also against river rapids. being at that place in the doorstep "... In a dreamy vision, the elders of the village revealed the name of the deceased. The saint called himself Jacob and rebuked people for his rejection. "And then the inhabitants of Borovichi understood their unreasonable attitude to those revealed to them through the arrival of the relics of the youth of God."... A wooden chapel was built at the place where the coffin stopped, and very soon a healing spring began to flow near the chapel. During the time from the appearance of the holy relics to their transfer to the Iberian monastery, twelve written testimonies of miraculous healings of various diseases have been preserved.

With the arrival of the Kutein monks at the Iversky Monastery, new crafts appeared: printers, binders, translators. Skilled craftsmen in woodcarving, wonderful icon painters appeared. The production of colored tiles in Russia began in the monastery. Partially preserved tiles on one of the windows of the abbot building have survived to this day.

Condemnation of Nikon and the temporary closure of the monastery

The Iberian monastery did not last long in a flourishing state. At the Great Church Council in the year, the Primate was condemned and deposed from the patriarchal see. During Nikon's disgrace, all of his monasteries: Iversky Valdai, Krestny Onega and Resurrection New Jerusalem were closed. These monasteries were recognized as created "not according to the statutes of the Holy Fathers," as a result of which the estates were taken into the treasury, and their construction was stopped. The Iberian brethren, together with the abbot, were housed in different monasteries of other monasteries. However, already in the year the harsh sentence was canceled, and Archimandrite Philotheus with the brethren returned to the Iberian monastery, and all previously selected privileges and lands were returned.

Assumption Cathedral

The main building of the Iversky Monastery is the Assumption Cathedral, which has not lost its grandeur to this day. This is one of the largest 17th century buildings in Russia. The cathedral is distinguished by its simplicity and monumentality of architectural forms. The dedication of the cathedral in honor of the Mother of God and the presence of the miraculous icon in it initially determined the theme of the wall paintings inside the temple. Along with the traditional image from the New Testament, on the walls of the temple there are numerous scenes from the lives of the saints of God associated with the grace-filled help of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The wall painting tells about the boundless mercy of the Mother of God to the human race and the miraculous power of her holy icons. An important place in the painting is given to events from the history of the Iversky Monastery on Mount Athos: the capture of Mount Athos under the special protection of the Mother of God, the appearance of the Iveron Icon at the Holy Mountain and the monk Gabriel's procession along the waters to it. The story of the advent of the list from the miraculous image to the Valdai Monastery is depicted. The columns bear numerous images of the most revered saints of God.

The ancient painting of the Assumption Cathedral has not survived to this day. It was knocked down during renovations in the 18th - 19th centuries. The original painting was done - gg. monastic masters Matvey Karpov "with comrades". In the year, the interior of the Cathedral was damaged in the "great exorbitant fire", and was restored by the same master. In the middle of the 18th century, the cathedral was painted again, but a significant part of it was lost during new renovations in the 30s of the 19th century. The new oil painting was performed by the Ostashkov masters Ivan and Andrey Mitin. In the second half of the 19th century, the painting of the Assumption Cathedral was renewed twice. The interior view of the cathedral was perfectly complemented by a magnificent six-tier carved iconostasis in the Baroque style with icons by Matvey Karpov and Vasily Potapov. To this day, forged door grilles and carved oak doors of the 17th century have been preserved from the original decoration of the cathedral.

Pre-revolutionary state of the monastery

Despite the poor material side, the monastery was distinguished by a high pious and spiritual life of the brethren. The silent Pachomius, who came to the monastery in the middle of the 19th century, is known for his exploits. He gladly performed the most difficult obediences and died on kneeling prayer in his cell. The abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Lavrenty, became especially famous. With his spirituality, kindness and meek disposition, he won universal respect. He was a spiritual mentor not only for the brethren of the monastery, but also for many residents of Valdai and the surrounding area.

Archimandrite Lawrence made a lot of efforts to revive the spiritual and economic life of the monastery. In the year, a new shrine was made for the holy relics of Jacob Borovichsky. The miraculous Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was adorned with a new golden robe and precious stones. In the year, the iconostasis of the Assumption Cathedral was gilded and renewed. Under his leadership, all the monastery churches and residential buildings were repaired, and many valuable utensils were purchased for the monastery. He also organized a "hospitable home", where he received numerous pilgrims and wanderers. The Iberian monastery fed thousands of people, and its reserves were not depleted. The abbot received everyone, consoled them as best he could, arranged them for the night, made sure that the pilgrims who arrived at the monastery were well fed and satisfied. "This is our duty to the Queen of Heaven," Father Lavrenty said to the brethren.

The help of God and the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos were constantly manifested in various miraculous phenomena. In the year when the cholera epidemic raged almost throughout Russia, claiming numerous lives. Then the inhabitants of Valdai, seized by the horror of death, not relying on medical supplies, resorted to the prayerful intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Taking the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God, all the people, with a solemn procession of the cross and with prayerful hope, encircled it around the city. Prayers for deliverance from cholera were heard, and through the intercession of the Queen of Heaven, the disease began to weaken, and then completely stopped. In memory of this event, next year, the Holy Government Synod approved an annual religious procession from the Iversky Monastery around the city of Valdai with prayer singing. Processions of the cross were also performed on patronal holidays: the Dormition of the Mother of God, the Epiphany of the Lord, on the feast day of St. James Borovichsky. Not only residents of neighboring towns and villages, but also numerous pilgrims from distant villages took part in the processions of the cross. On such days, the number of pilgrims to the holy monastery reached 10-15 thousand people.

The internal monastic life was distinguished by strict rules. There was a strict selection of those wishing to devote their lives to God in the monastery, but not all of them withstood monastic obedience.

The last abbot of the Iversky monastery before the revolution was Archimandrite Joseph (Nikolaevsky). In the year, Archimandrite Joseph was ordained bishop of the city of Valdai.

The revolution. Closing the monastery

After the events of the year, the situation of the monastery changed for the worse. Since January, the Soviet government has constantly requisitioned bread, cattle, fish, as well as vegetables and fruits from the monastery. On June 15, a special detachment, by order of the district executive committee, arrived at the monastery to requisition "surplus bread." The monks sounded the alarm and the inhabitants of Valdai, who loved and revered the holy monastery, raised an uprising against such insolence. The entire population of the city, as one, went out into the streets, seized the armory and dismantled the weapons. Arriving on the island, an armed detachment watched with alarm the growth of the people on the opposite bank. Archimandrite Joseph was asked to go with a detachment and calm the assembled Valdai people. The abbot agreed. As they approached the shore, the boats were fired upon, and an accidental bullet wounded the archimandrite. The injured abbot received medical assistance, and the requisition was urgently canceled. The next day, martial law was declared in Valdai and armed forces were used to restore order.

In the fall of the year, the Soviet government made a new attempt to storm the Iberian monastery. At this time, the following were taken away from the monastery: a golden robe from the miraculous Iberian icon, all ancient and precious things of liturgical use. However, soon, by order of the Commissar of the People's Commissariat for Education, all things were returned, the campaign to confiscate church valuables will begin in a few years and, of course, during that period the Iversky Monastery will be completely plundered. At the same time, the keys to the monastery storerooms and barns were confiscated from the monks. A Working Committee was formed in the monastery, which demanded from the abbot his complete subordination in monastic affairs.

Major construction milestones: the Russian prototype of the Greek Iveron

The idea of ​​building an Orthodox monastery, which would be a kind of copy of the Iberian monastery on Mount Athos, came to Nikon's head immediately after ascending the patriarchal throne. According to the patriarch, during a trip to Solovki, a divine vision appeared to him, which pointed to Lake Valdai as the future location of the monastery.

Funds for the construction were allocated from the state treasury, and in the summer of 1653, the foundation stone of the future monastery was laid on Lake Valdai. By the fall, two wooden churches had grown on Selvitsky Island, and a year later the patriarch himself visited the construction site. According to legend, here for the second time a divine vision appeared to Nikon, which was a pillar of fire. After this event, the patriarch decided to consecrate Lake Valdai, placing the Gospel and the cross on its bottom.

In 1655, the monastery was settled by the brethren of the Orsha Monastery, bringing with them the traditions of printing and bookbinding. And almost 12 months later, the last building of the Valdai Iversky Monastery was erected - the main temple of the monastery, the Assumption Cathedral.

History of the Valdai Iversky Monastery: from the 18th century to the present day

Since the beginning of the 18th century, the Iversky Monastery in Valdai gradually lost its own significance, and already in 1712 the monastery was united with the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra, which was just beginning to be built.

In 1764, in order to increase the flow of revenues to the state treasury, Catherine II signed the Secularization Manifesto. According to this document, the land plots of Orthodox churches and monasteries were seized, and 20 monasteries, including Iversky, were completely removed from state support. However, despite the official abolition, life in the Valdai monastery was still glowing.

Real trials awaited the monastery after the Great October Revolution. With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the local inhabitants had to share the already meager reserves with endless food detachments. In 1919 the monastery was declared a labor artel. About 200 hectares of the monastery's land were cultivated by monks and novices, who were listed in official documents as workers of the artel. In 1927, a commission from the Commissariat of Agriculture decided that the monastery workers were paying too much attention to divine services, as a result of which the artel was completely liquidated. Under the noise and confusion, the commissars took out from the monastery the image of the Iberian Mother of God - the main shrine of the monastery church. Now its place is taken by a copy of the sacred image, made in the middle of the 19th century.

Until 1991, the premises of the Valdai Iversky Monastery were occupied by organizations of a very different profile. Local history museums and workshops were located here. At one time, a home for the disabled operated on the territory of the monastery, which was replaced by a special school for children with tuberculosis, and then a tourist center.

In the 90s, the Valdai Iversky Monastery was again returned to the Novgorod diocese. By that time, almost all of its buildings had come to a frankly deplorable state, so a grandiose restoration was ahead of the monastery. During the last stage of reconstruction and restoration work, the Assumption Cathedral acquired gilded domes, and its walls were again covered with elegant fresco painting.

Today, among the restored buildings of the Valdai Iversky Monastery, the most original and interesting from a historical point of view are:

• Assumption Cathedral;
• gate church of Philip Metropolitan of Moscow
• gate church of the Archangel of God Michael;
• Epiphany Church with a refectory;
• Church of Jacob Borovichsky;
• Governor's building;
• Hipped bell tower;
• Treasury building;
• Fraternal Corps;
• Seating, Strannopriimny and Stables buildings;
• stone fence;
• Nikolaev tower;
• chapel.

Iversky Mother of God Monastery in Valdai: how to get there and what to be ready for

You can visit the Valdai Iversky Monastery both as part of pilgrim groups and independently, for example, by joining one of the tourist groups. To get to the territory of the monastery as a pilgrim, you will first have to get a blessing for the trip from the abbot of your church, or to the diocese to which your church belongs. It is better to plan your trip in advance, as places in the monastery hotel are booked at least a month before arrival.

Being within the walls of the monastery, it is very important to understand the specifics of this place, as well as, if possible, try not to violate the strict internal order. If you have decided to stay at a hotel on the territory of the monastery, then get ready to observe the monastic regime and do not discredit yourself with all kinds of delays (for a meal or church service).

Choose your wardrobe carefully. Eliminate jeans, miniskirts, shorts, as well as blouses with a revealing neckline and other immodest things from it. Women and girls should take headscarves or headscarves with them to cover their hair, since the monastery's inhabitants (monks, novices) usually conduct excursions in the monastery. Well, those who nevertheless forgot to take proper clothes with them will be rescued by the monastery shop, where you can buy modest scarves and skirts.

What to see and visit during the excursion

On the territory of the Valdai Iversky Monastery there are several active churches, the main of which is the Assumption Cathedral. The structure was the first stone building of the monastery, erected in 1656 on the highest part of the island. They usually visit the church because of the unique fresco painting of the 19th century, partly preserved, and partly restored already in the early 2000s. The cathedral has five gilded chapters (in total, about 3000 gold plates were used to cover the domes) and is a striking representative of the temple architecture characteristic of the Nikonian period of construction.

The first stone building built after the Assumption Cathedral was the Epiphany Church, connected to the refectory. The architect Averky Mokeev worked on the drawings of the construction, who had already managed to build the Assumption Cathedral. Located on a high foundation, the spacious and light refectory hall was skillfully "poured" into the wall of the Epiphany Church, forming an original architectural complex. By the way, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the first services were held in the Epiphany Church.

Another active monastery church is the Church of the Archangel of God Michael. The structure differs in a relatively laconic form: a single-domed pillarless structure is surrounded by galleries on three sides. During the Great Patriotic War, a military hospital was organized in it, as a result, most of the interior decoration and painting disappeared without a trace, and the premises themselves were badly dilapidated. The 2007 restoration improved the building's condition somewhat, making it, if not ideal, then relatively satisfactory.

Against the background of the rest of the temples of the Valdai Iversky Monastery, the architectural appearance of the Church of Jacob Borovichsky stands out noticeably. The unusual appearance is explained by the fact that the original temple was destroyed in a fire in 1700, and only a couple of years later a new stone structure grew on the site of the fire. A small square building with a round apse contained not only the temple, but also the refectory, as well as hospital wards. Over time, the building has grown somewhat and acquired a second floor.

In the western wing of the monastery wall there is a gate church of Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow. This temple is the first to meet pilgrims, since it is located directly above the main gate of the monastery.

The Iversky Monastery also has its own museum, the first floor of which is occupied by a monastery shop and a dressing room. Here everyone can buy spiritual literature, icons and some items created by the hands of the monastery inhabitants. Climbing the stairs leading to the second and third floors of the building, you can get to know the life of the main reformer of the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Nikon, see household items of the monastic brethren, reproductions of icons and photographic documents.

Those who came to the monastery in order to strengthen their faith can attend daily services, perform the sacrament of baptism or wedding, order an extramural funeral service or requiem. As well as excursions, they can be ordered at the church shop or by mail along with a monetary donation (requests for commemoration are not accepted via the Internet).

Services in the monastery churches are held daily from 7:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 20:00. On Saturday-Sunday, as well as on public holidays - from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00.

Visitors are also given the opportunity to venerate the holy relics. By the way, in the Iberian monastery there are 103 fragments of sacred relics, including particles of stone from the Holy Sepulcher, as well as a piece of the Tree of the Life-giving Cross.

How to get there

The Iversky Monastery is located 10 km from the city of Valdai, which in turn is located on the 386th kilometer of the M10 highway, Moscow - St. Petersburg. You can get here by bus or by train Pskov - Moscow. You can get to the monastery from the city by water: the motor ship "Zarya-211" runs daily between the Valdai pier and the Selvitsky island. The second, no less convenient option is a local taxi, which will take you across the road bridge to Ryabinovy ​​Island, and from there, across another bridge, to Selvitsky Island.

Iversky monastery (Russia) - description, history, location. Exact address and website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.

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The main Orthodox landmark of Valdai, the Iversky Monastery, is located on the Selvitsky Island of Valdai Lake. The monastery was founded in the middle of the 17th century in the likeness of a male monastery on Mount Athos.

Today, on the territory of the Valdai Iversky Monastery, there are the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Epiphany Church, several Gateway churches, a chapel with a burial vault, a Pilgrimage Center, as well as economic and administrative buildings.

The Iversky Monastery is open for visits from 6:00 to 21:00. The staff of the monastery conducts daily excursions for tourists and pilgrims. True, you need to pre-register by phone and indicate the number of people in your tour group. In the Iversky Monastery, accommodation is provided for tourists in the guest building (with overnight stay and meals), but these issues should also be coordinated with the Pilgrimage Center.

You can get to the island, where the Iversky Monastery is located, by boat. It runs daily: on weekdays, the motor ship "Zarya-211" departs from the Valdai pier at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, on Saturday and Sunday at 9:00. A boat ticket costs 100 RUB.

After visiting the Iversky Monastery, you can go for a walk along Valdai Lake on the same boat.

The ride lasts about an hour (departure from the island is at 17:00) and costs only 250 RUB.

Prices on the page are for November 2019.