Spaso Yakovlevsky Monastery. Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dmitriev Monastery. The city of Rostov the Great. A photo. After the revolution, life in the monastery changed radically

So picturesque Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery , framed by Lake Nero, we saw from the embankment of Rostov Veliky in the evening on a cloudy day.

We arrived at the monastery the next morning. The sun generously endowed this beautiful architectural ensemble with its rays, making it even more majestic and elegant.

According to the monastery chronicle, a monastery was founded by Saint James around 1390. Its first temple was a wooden church in honor of the Conception of St. Anna, in which the founder was buried in 1392.

The ancient life of the saint has not survived. However, before its loss, the book "Description of the Rostov Spaso-Yakovlevsky-Dimitriev Monastery" was written, published in 1849, and in which information from the life of Jacob was used. It is known that he was born in the Rostov region and accepted monasticism at a young age. Under Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia Pimen (d. 1389) and Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy (1350-1389) becomes Bishop of Rostov. But the events in which Jacob essentially repeated the act of Christ led to his expulsion from this position. A woman accused of adultery and sentenced to death came to him and begged for help. The bishop saved her from death and sent her to repentance. The act was not to the liking of the Rostov citizens and their prince. The good shepherd was excommunicated from the pulpit. Then he came to the lake, put the mantle on the water, crossed himself, got up on it and swam away from the city.

Seeing such a miracle, the people admitted that their decision was wrong, but the saint, forgiving them, refused to return. One and a half versts from Rostov, he went ashore, where he built himself a hut and stayed to live in it. Soon, worshipers began to flock to Jacob. New brothers began to build cells. The Conception Church was erected. In the future, prosperity and prosperity awaited the monastery, primarily thanks to another saint - Demetrius of Rostov, which will be discussed later.

There are quite a few visitors to the Spaso-Yakovlevskaya monastery - pilgrims, tourists, local parishioners. But due to the vast territory, the people do not cluster, but are scattered among the churches, walk among the colorful vegetation, admire the surrounding landscapes from the observation deck, arranged on the monastery fence. The atmosphere here is very pleasant.

Everywhere you can find stands where believers and those who are simply interested are introduced to the history of the monastery, its modern life, as well as personalities who have played a significant role in the development of the monastery.

We go along the central path. On the left we see the combined into a single architectural ensemble cathedral in honor of the Conception of St. Anne , built in 1686-1687, and st. John's Church .

In the semicircular pediments, fragmentary ancient paintings have been preserved. The Trinity is depicted above the entrance to the cathedral. On the right - the image of St. Demetrius, on the left - St. James. The iconostasis, created in 1761-1779, has survived in the interior.

Each of the two churches is crowned with five chapters with gilded crosses. The domes of the Conception Church are more ornate. Four of them are decorated with gold stars on a blue background.

In 1794, in the northeastern part of the Yakovlevskaya monastery, they began to erect cathedral in honor of Dimitri of Rostov , which will become the most magnificent building of the monastery complex and one of the best examples of Russian provincial classicism.

The building is being erected within 5 years with money benefactor and patron of the arts Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetyev (1751-1809), who donated 55 thousand rubles for the construction of the temple and 10 thousand for its decoration. The count was a great connoisseur of architecture. With his participation, the cultural space of Russia was enriched with such outstanding buildings as the theatrical and palace complex in Ostankino, the Fountain House in St. Petersburg, the Church of the Sign of the Virgin in the Novospassky Monastery, the Trinity Church at the Hospice House in Moscow, etc.

The consecration of the new cathedral took place on October 27, 1801, on the day of memory of Dimitri of Rostov. For the 300th anniversary of the death of the saint, parishioners presented the church with a magnificent reliquary for his relics. A real work of art made of gold and silver, decorated with enamel miniatures, was created by masters from Rostov the Great.

In 1804, two side-chapels were set up in the church refectory: the right one - in honor of St. Nicholas, the heavenly patron saint of Count Sheremetyev, and the left - in the name of the great martyr Dimitri of Thessaloniki.

The temple is crowned with five chapters with massive drums, above the central of them there is a belvedere.

Three cathedral facades are decorated with porticoes, white stone details, sculptures and multi-figured bas-reliefs.

The territory of the Spaso-Yakovlevskaya monastery is very well-groomed and brightly blooming.

It literally drowns in lush greenery chapel over the source of St. James ... It was consecrated on December 10, 1996, on the day of memory of the founder of the monastery.

This is how the chapel looks inside.

In a high three-tiered bell tower Spaso-Yakovlevskaya monastery formerly there was a holy gate. A striking clock was located under the dome.

The 15 bells were of various sizes. The oldest of them, weighing 71 poods, was moved in 1765 from the abolished Spassky Monastery on Peski, which stood next door. Another 4-pound bell is noteworthy - it bears an inscription that in 1652 it was donated by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1629-1676).

The towers harmoniously fit into the architectural complex of the Yakovlevskaya monastery, and are its decoration.

Look especially beautiful Water gate monastery fence. The name probably comes from the water surface of Lake Nero that opens behind them.

In an old photograph, the last Russian emperor Nicholas II with his family and retinue enters the monastery through these gates. The event took place on May 22, 1913.

The Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery enjoyed the constant attention of the monarchs. From the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century, all the emperors came here on pilgrimage, as well as many grand dukes and princesses from the Romanov dynasty. An active visit to the monastery by representatives of the royal family was primarily associated with the canonization and glorification of Demetrius of Rostov.

Regular visits of distinguished guests, which began in the second half of the 18th century, raised the significance of this spiritual place.

From the Water Gate, turn left and walk along the wall, studying the information on the stands installed by the path. They tell about outstanding people who were related to the monastery. The most important of them metropolitan Dimitry of Rostov (1651-1709), who first visited the Spaso-Yakovlevskaya monastery in 1701 and chose it as his burial place. After the death of Vladyka in 1709, he was buried in the southwestern corner of the Church of the Conception. In 1752, the relics of Demetrius were uncovered, and in 1757 they were declared saints. The sufferers were healed at his tomb and the monastery becomes a center of pilgrimage.

Objects of worship were also kept in the monastery sacristy a mitra, extracted from the tomb of the saint during the uncovering of his relics, satin vestments and a towel sent to the Rostov saint from Jerusalem.

Catherine II deeply venerated Saint Demetrius. By decree of the Empress, the Yakovlevsky Monastery receives the highest status - it becomes stavropegic and goes under the authority of the Holy Synod. In the same period, it was joined by the neighboring Spasskaya monastery on the Peski.

The monastery is flourishing. The main source of funding is donations from the devotees of Saint Demetrius, among whom were many of the richest and most influential people in the country. In addition, he is supported by the state and has substantial church income.

In 1834 the monastery obtained a first class degree. And two years later the name of St. Demetrius entered the name of the monastery.

There is a church shop in the corner tower, and tickets for visiting the monastery wall are sold here.

On Southwest Tower an observation deck is arranged.

We go up the stairs.

On the second level, we look into the gazebo of the southwestern tower, which connects the galleries of the monastery walls on both sides.

The loopholes have been pierced in the walls. Previously, they were necessary to defend against the enemy.

Now through them you can look at the serene landscapes.

We rise higher to the observation deck.

A beautiful view of the Church of the Conception and the Cathedral of Demetrius of Rostov opens from the southwestern tower. Closer to us, we see the dome of the chapel over the source of St. James. Left - Water Gate.

For an even better orientation in the surrounding space, let's take a look at the diagram of the monastery territory.

Cathedral of Demetrius of Rostov.

View on cell and abbot buildings erected in aboutsecond half of the 18th century. At the same time, the monastery fence, towers and a bell tower are being rebuilt in stone.

White-stone looks unusually harmonious against the background of a blue sky with gray clouds (exactly the color of the domes) Transfiguration Cathedral the former Spassky monastery on the Sands. The monastery was founded in the years 1230-1240. In 1765 it was abolished and, as mentioned above, was assigned to the Yakovlevsky monastery. Now only this temple has survived from the architectural ensemble. And next to it there are now buildings in which the local brethren manage the economy.

The products made by the monks go to the cafe and shop. These are bread, kvass, milk, cottage cheese and even yoghurts. We were able to try something and make sure of excellent quality. In the photo on the left, you can see a yellow tent with a green roof, where this food is sold.

The Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior is a beautiful, five-domed, two-storey building on the basement. It was erected as a cathedral in the late 16th - early 17th centuries, when stone construction began in the monastery. The building was reconstructed in 1879. The floor and vaults above the basement have been renewed, in which a church was built in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

In 2009, the church is transformed again. The walls were whitewashed and a new floor was laid. The temple has an elegant porch and a staircase leading to the second floor.

Unfortunately, we couldn't see the interior. According to descriptions from 1900, he was modest. Icons without frames, stone iconostasis with alfresco painting of the 17th century. Wall murals depicted scenes of the apocalypse.

From the outside of the monastery wall, the views are no less beautiful.

Lake Nero , according to various versions, from 20 to 60 thousand years. This is an ice age lake. Its beautiful name does not particularly correspond to its meaning "swampy", "muddy".

Lake silt is an excellent fertilizer, which since ancient times helped to get a rich harvest on the Rostov lands. Since the 14th century, local peasants have been growing vegetables for the royal court.

We return to the territory of the monastery. The stairs, by the way, are very steep. You have to go down slowly, with caution.

We are heading to the Holy Gates. Next to them we look into a cafe to refresh ourselves with monastery pies and Ivan tea.

I didn't want to leave the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery, but I had to continue the journey.

After going around the monastery wall, you can come to Lake Nero.

This ended our pleasant stay at the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery. In addition, for those interested, I suggest watching a 50-minute documentary about St. Demetrius and the monastery, created by the efforts of the brethren and posted on their website.

Traveling independently through the cities of the Golden Ring of Russia, we unexpectedly found ourselves on an amazing excursion to the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery in Rostov the Great, Yaroslavl Region.

The men's abode is located near the Rostov Kremlin, on the shores of Lake Nero. This is a very unusual body of water: despite its large size, its average depth is only 1.5 meters. But at the bottom there is a 20-30 cm layer of silt called sapropel.

It is an excellent fertilizer for gardens and vegetable gardens. But swimming because of him in Lake Nero is difficult: there are no sandy beaches.

Even Peter-1 refused to build his amusing flotilla on Nero, although he originally planned this place. Having written with his own hand a dissonant response: "And Rostov Lake is a dirty puddle," he left for Pereslavl, where he had already founded his flotilla on Lake Pleshcheyevo.

This ancient monastery was founded in the 14th century by Bishop Jacob (Jacob), who was expelled from the city by the decision of the prince and the townspeople for saving from the execution of a criminal. Then the saint went outside the city, came to the shore of the lake, took off his mantle, baptized it and put it on the water. And he stood on her, and she swam under him like a boat.

This miracle was created by Saint James in order to show people that both the salvation of the criminal, and the choice of a place for the holy monastery, and all his actions were performed not by the will of man, but by the will of God, with the help of Divine instructions.

At the designated place, Yakov built a wooden church in honor of the Conception of the Righteous Anna the Most Holy Theotokos and set up his cell nearby. This happened at the end of the 14th century.

It so happened that next to the built Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery there was already a monastery built in the 13th century, 150 years earlier than the Spaso-Pesotsky monastery. It was also called "Spa on the Sands".

In 1271 it was founded by the princess of Rostov - Maria. After the death of her husband in the battle with the invaders-Tatars, she herself ruled the Rostov principality. Scientists believe that she was the only woman who wrote chronicles in Russia.

So two monasteries stood side by side for almost 400 years. But then, by decree of Catherine-2, they merged into one. From the name of one they took "Spaso", from the other - "Yakovlevsky" and also added "Dimitriev" - the name of the saint who glorified this temple. At the same time, Svyato-Pesotsky, although he was the richest and older, was assigned to the Yakovlev monastery.

Today, only the Holy Transfiguration Church has survived from this ancient monastery, which is located a little apart next to the Yakovlevskaya monastery.

It is reliably known that the royal persons did not ignore the Rostov Monastery. For example, in addition to numerous certificates for the ownership of lands, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich made a valuable gift to the monastery in 1652: a 60-kilogram bell, kept in the temple until the 20th century.

History of the canonization of Metropolitan Demetrius

Thus, by the end of the 17th century, a stone Trinity Church stood on the territory of the monastery, a little later renamed Zachatievsky. He had a bell tower, a stone refectory and wooden cells. Around this time, Metropolitan Dimitri was buried here, according to his will, but contrary to the custom, according to which such a high rank as a metropolitan should be buried in the city's cathedral.

This event was of great importance for the further fate of the Rostov monastery, as it changed its status in the eyes of the mighty of this world. The reigning persons greatly revered Demetrius of Rostov, and after his burial the monastery generally became untouchable. After 50 years, the relics of the saint were found incorrupt. And it happened like this.

When, during the repair work in the temple, the coffin of Demetrius was opened, they saw his incorruptible relics. Immediately, miraculous healings began to take place, the rumor of which spread throughout Russia. The fact is that before Demetrius there were no cases of canonization in Russia for more than 100 years. Therefore, this amazing fact reached right up to the queen herself!

And she, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, presented a silver shrine and a garment of gold brocade for the relics of St. Demetrius. The Rostov Museum contains a real book, which describes more than 300 amazing, proven by doctors, facts of healing people from the imperishable relics of St. Metropolitan Dmitry.

After the 1917 revolution, the reliquary with the relics was transferred to the museum of the Rostov Kremlin. And in 1991, the holy remains were returned with a procession to the Yakovlevsky monastery. But so far they are not in the Conception Church, where they were found, but in Dmitrievsky.

Great, holy Russia!

The news of the new saint quickly spread throughout the Orthodox world. Russian people firmly believe in miracles. The inhabitants of the Temernitskaya fortress in honor of the new saint decided to rename their settlement-fortress and name it in honor of St. Demetrius of Rostov.

The settlement around this fortress began to be called Rostov. And later, the city of Rostov arose there. And so that there was no confusion with the names of cities, they began to add “on the Don” to its name. This is how Rostov-on-Don came into being. And in the center of the city there is a monument to St. Dmitry.

This is how two cities with the same name appeared in Russia. And what is interesting, more than 1 million people now live in the second city, which is located on the Don. While in the more ancient Rostov the Great - just over 30 thousand.

And on the territory of the monastery, stone construction and arrangement of its lands continued. At the beginning of the 20th century, 22 bells created the delightful bell ringing of the Yakovlevsky monastery. The largest of them weighed about 13 tons, and was considered one of the three heaviest bells of Rostov the Great.

A magnificent garden with fruit trees was also laid out here. A gardener was hired to take care of the plants, who received 10 rubles a year! Then it was a lot of money ...

After the revolution, life in the monastery changed radically

After the revolution, the Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery lost its special position, its inviolability. Living rooms for workers and warehouses were arranged in the cells for the monks. The Children's Home was also located here. There was an infirmary in which doctors and employees of the institution lived.

There is even written evidence that there was a prison, a colony and a concentration camp for "prisoners of the bourgeoisie" on the monastery lands. During the post-revolutionary period, the monastery lost 888 kg of silver and 2 kg of gold. Everything turned upside down, but ... such was the time!

But here, too, the monastery was lucky: its architectural ensemble was completely preserved, none of the monastery buildings was destroyed. And in the 80s of the 20th century, as a branch of the Rostov Museum, it began to host excursion groups. But this state did not last long, and in the early 90s the monastery became active again.

The modern territory of the monastery

The greatness of the temple in honor of St. Demetrius of Rostov

A large majestic temple with columns in honor of Dimitri of Rostov was erected in 1801 at the expense of the famous Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetyev. The construction itself cost 55,000 rubles and the interior decoration cost 10,000.

At present, the church houses the holy relics of Demetrius of Rostov, and next to it is the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Joy and Consolation" - this is the saint's cell icon.

The history of its writing is amazing. The original of the shrine is located on Mount Athos, in the Vatopedi monastery. And here the artist got a little confused: and the list was written exactly the opposite, in a mirror image. Here's a story!

During the years of Soviet power, the family of one priest kept it in their house, then they gave it to the monastery. Now the relics of Dmitry Rostovsky are in the main cathedral of the Yakovlevsky monastery. On the right side of the altar, on a dais under a marble canopy, there is a shrine, and next to it, on the wall, hangs the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Joy and Consolation."

The iconostasis of the church in honor of St. Demetrius of Rostov has the shape of a triumphal arch. Such variants are rather rare in Russian churches.

In addition to the huge icons of St. James and St. Demetrius, there are other shrines here: icons to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the first saint of the Yaroslavl land - St. Leonty, who lived in the 11th century. These two icons are unusual in that they are made directly on canvas, they do not have a solid base.

The floor, laid out with pre-revolutionary tiles, is amazing. It’s hard to believe that all this could have survived in this quality for over 100 years!

The dome space is painted very beautifully, the walls are decorated with stucco molding. Another element of the palace architecture is the graceful balcony intended for the church choir.

Our small excursion group was allowed to enter the secret door and climb the ancient spiral staircase, which is located inside the temple wall, almost to the very top: under the dome.

Passing through the attic room, we found ourselves on this beautiful balcony, where the church choir is located earlier and now during the service.

It was a little scary from such a height and the proximity of the church dome. But the whole cathedral was so beautifully visible from here. And the acoustics are just wonderful!

Church of St. James of Rostov and the Conception Cathedral

These two churches are located closely to each other. The one with the green dome is consecrated in honor of St. James of Rostov, and the cathedral in honor of the Conception of the Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos is located under 5 domes: the central gold one, which is surrounded by 4 blue ones with stars.

The temple in honor of St. James (the founder of the monastery) was built in 1836. It was attached to the butt to the northern wall of the Conception Cathedral.

But in fact there are even 3 churches here! In 1912, an underground church with elements of some temples in Palestine was still consecrated under the Yakovlevsky temple. It is consecrated in honor of the Resurrection of the Lord. Unfortunately, it does not work now due to moisture problems, because it is located below ground level.

In the church in honor of St. Jacob, the founder of the monastery, his relics are carefully kept under a bushel, as well as a particle of the relics of the Monk Abraham, the founder of another monastery in the city of Rostov - Epiphany. An interesting fact is that this monastery was built on the site of a pagan temple.

On the site of the wooden church in honor of the Conception of the Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos in 1686, a majestic stone cathedral was built by the Rostov Metropolitan Iona Sysoevich, who built the Kremlin in Rostov.

The iconostasis of the Church of the Conception is amazing - the icons here were painted by artists right on the stone wall. Such iconostases are rare in Russia, but in Rostov the Great - on the contrary.

An inscription was found on one of the walls of the temple, left by the first artists who painted this cathedral. Modern icon painters were very surprised by the decoding. It turned out that 6 Yaroslavl artists were involved in the painting of the cathedral, who painted the church in just 2 months and 1 week.

The church has a marble pedestal in the place where Saint Demetrius of Rostov was originally buried in 1709 and where his imperishable relics were found 42 years after his death.

The Conception Church has one design feature that is not found in any other Russian temple: the arches are thrown from all sides: they go from the walls to the pillars, between them, from the pillars to the iconostasis. That is, it turns out, as it were, an intermediate arched tier, and the vaults and the ceiling are even higher.

And we were also told the original story that when designing the temple, Iona Sysoevich forgot that people could be on these arches. Therefore, a staircase was built right in the stone wall of the cathedral, along which it was possible to climb up.

When Emperor Nicholas II visited this church in 1913, he was allowed to climb it. Ordinary people, including modern pilgrims, are not given such an honor. 🙂

The main temple icon depicting the parents of the Most Holy Theotokos is Saints Joachim and Anna. Believers pray before this image for a happy family life, for the health and well-being of children. But most often, people who really want to become a happy mom or dad turn to her. There are many known cases when the prayer was answered, and the family was filled with children's laughter!

Protection of the monastery

The monastery is surrounded by a fortress wall, built in the second half of the 18th - early 19th century. Observation towers are installed from 4 corners. Upstairs is the Protector Weathervane: the trumpeting Angel.

Towers for various purposes are also built along the wall. The entrance to the monastery is under the Holy Gates.

Once on the territory of the monastery, immediately the gaze falls on the opposite Water Tower, similar to the entrance.

Another structure in the wall is the bell tower.

And below, in convenient niches of the fortress walls, stocks of firewood for the winter are very well stored. 🙂

True, as our guide explained to us, the boiler room in the monastery is modern: automatic boilers run on natural gas. But the local monastery bathhouse is traditionally heated with firewood.

Observation deck

An observation deck is installed in the south-western corner tower of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery.

To climb it, you need to overcome several flights of a very steep and unstable wooden staircase. But it's worth it! From here a beautiful view of the shallow but very beautiful Lake Nero opens up.

And the monastery itself is visible at a glance. It appears in all its glory in the rays of the setting sun.

From here there is a passage to the monastery walls, you can walk a little along them.

True, a very small gap is open, but even this allows you to feel the full power of the ancient structure and it is better to look at the monastery buildings from above.

The realities of monastic life

The monastery has its own extensive library, there is a sacristy, an icon-painting workshop, a carpentry workshop, a prosphora, its own bakery, extensive vegetable gardens and a cattle yard. There is a magnificent apple orchard, a pond is cleaned and equipped, the whole territory is decorated with flower beds and flower beds.

In the center of the courtyard there is a spring, over which a wooden chapel is built, drowning in flowers.

The water there is mineral with a slightly high iron content. The water is cool, you can drink and wash.

There is a Spiritual School here, where future pastors of Orthodox churches study. The brethren of the monastery consists of 20 people.

Many pilgrims visit the male Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitrievsky Monastery every day. And if someone has a desire, he can stay there, live for a while and help in equipping the monastery with his work.

Excursion program

We decided to book an individual excursion, during which the local priest took us around the temples for an hour and told us very interestingly about the history of this place and the human destinies associated with it.

We also visited the attic of one of the temples, which is rarely allowed anywhere. More precisely, it was the place where the church choir was located, almost under the very dome. The temples that were currently closed to other pilgrims were also opened for us.

The tour lasted about 1 hour. We really enjoyed! Without our guide and his interesting story, we would not have been able to know and love this wonderful place so deeply.

The tour can be ordered by arriving at the monastery. The cost per group is 500 rubles. Here at the entrance you can buy tickets for the observation deck. Their price is 50 rubles per person.

It should be borne in mind that you can climb to the south-western tower and walk along the fortress wall every day from 10.00 to 17.00. By the way, when ordering an excursion, the entrance to the observation deck is free, it is included in the price of the excursion program.

If you are unable to get to the monastery on your own, you can book an organized tour in advance. Accompanied by professional guides, you can see all the most important sights of Rostov the Great.

The Spaso-Yakovslevsky Monastery is located in the city of Rostov, Yaroslavl Region, at 44 Engels Street. On weekdays, morning services are held there at 7:30, and on holidays and weekends - at 9:00. Evening services are held daily at 17:30.

They do not serve in the Conception Cathedral now, as it is under restoration, but a prayer service is held here once a week. You can leave a note with the names of relatives and friends so that they can also be prayed for during the service if you yourself cannot be present.

There is a small parking lot next to the monastery. Coordinates: 57.1753, 39.39296.

You can see the location of the monastery on the map (press "+" to zoom in on the objects).

The city is called Rostov the Great, but it is small, with only 32,000 people living there. But then there are 5 active monasteries and 2 more in the suburbs. Come, this place has been prayed for for centuries, and you can feel it here!

Our trip to the Yakovlev Monastery took place on July 18, 2016. Other sights of the Yaroslavl region, where I managed to visit, are on this map.

Several years have passed since I was at the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery for the last time. Previously, it was a beautiful, but rather modest, monastery that has not been restored for a long time. With all this, it has always been one of the main attractions of Rostov the Great. No wonder - the city is small, the choice is small, the program is knurled - the Kremlin and ... Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery.

But to be honest, today's monastery surprised me. She reminded me of a modern, lively excursion site, and the same Rostov Kremlin, with its tourist bustle, excursions, tickets to the observation deck (one of the fence towers) and information boards placed everywhere - neither give nor take a museum.

Now I will not talk about the history and architecture of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery. There are already two articles about this in the "Diary of a Successful Mom":

Today I present to you a photo post about the monastery as I saw it in March 2014, during our holiday trip along the route "Pereslavl-Zalessky - Rostov the Great".
My task is to show updates in the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery, such small excursion to the present with a return to the pastfor those who have not been here for a long time ... or have never been.

So, March 8, 2014. A cloudless, joyful spring day. From we go to the "main" monastery of Rostov - Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitrievsky. The word "chief" is, of course, conditional, but the essence is clear - at this point in time it is he who occupies a central position among the monasteries of the city. Yes, yes, this has been the case for the past few centuries.
We go into the territory. I put on a skirt. I look around ... Yes, the overall impression: beautiful, clean, well-groomed, somehow more vain than it was before. Contemporary. But no one pesters or looks askance. We walk, calmly take pictures ...

Another notable innovation is the collection box. Inscription:

My husband and I pay 10 rubles. for each camera and calmly go further along the bypass path around the church of St. Demetrius of Rostov. There were no paths from birth here. What can be clearly seen in this diagram (we entered the North Gate - they are marked with the number 7 - and turned left) and my photo below:

And since there were no paths here, we never went here. What a blessing that now there is an opportunity to look at the beautiful, I would even say the solemn architecture of the Spaso-Yakolev Monastery from all sides.
There are sculptures in the niches of the Dimitrievsky Cathedral. The day is too bright, so it is not possible to photograph them adequately. On this side of the temple, they are buried in the shadow of niches, on the other, unfortunately, too.

The renewed state of the temple is pleasing. Especially when you look at what was and what has become.

Having walked around the Dimitrievsky temple half, I see a cemetery located at the monastery wall - about two dozen burials. There is also a bell tower, which is almost invisible in the photo, only its lower part with columns. The bell tower is built into the fence.

And here you can see one more temple, or rather two. The part that we see, and which looks like the Dimitrievsky temple, is called the Temple of Jacob of Rostov (Yakovlevskaya Church - 1836) - it has green domes. On the other hand, it is closely adjacent to the Church of the Conception - the oldest church in the monastery. Its domes are gold and blue.

I turn around, shoot the Dimitrievsky Cathedral (built in 1801 in the classical style) from the sunny side. Awesome, grandiose and ... like nothing else. It was built at the expense of Count N. Sheremetev, therefore it is often called Sheremetev.
I thought for a long time what associations I have with this temple. I realized that he was the purest example of his time, like the fluffy, lined skirts of noble ladies - magnificent, luxurious, sophisticated, like a palace. Classicism, but not yet "militant" Empire style! The cathedral was erected several years earlier than many famous St. Petersburg buildings - the Kazan Cathedral, the Admiralty, the Exchange Building and others.

It is good, after all, that now people are given the opportunity to go around cathedrals, see the sculpture and bas-reliefs in detail.

I just want to repeat: "What a beautiful cathedral!"

And this is the bell tower I mentioned. The bell tower is rather small.

When we approached this place, we looked at the tower where the observation deck is located, they were simply stunned.

Lots of people!

We have been to this observation deck before. On one of our visits, a woman came up to us and offered to go up there for a small fee. This is the view we filmed then. A wonderful point for exploring not only the picturesque surroundings and Lake Nero, but all three temples, harmoniously lined up in one line. In addition, the temples are large enough and close in all their glory is simply impossible to see. Especially the Church of the Conception of St. Anne (pictured on the far right).
On the one hand, the idea of \u200b\u200battaching the Yakolev church to it seems strange. On the other hand, you understand that it is quite beautiful and unusual. In any case, I don’t remember such an interesting general “picture” in any monastery.

Yes, we really wanted to refresh our impressions, climb to the observation deck, take new pictures, especially now, with new equipment, a telephoto camera. My husband went to find out if it was paid or free.
It is clear that with a paid entrance, we flew by with our card. Although it is also understandable that it was naive to think that they would not take money this time. While my husband went to the tower, I walked around and considered other innovations in the monastery.
So, the observation deck was put "on stream". They even laid a path to it, along the entire length of which information stands were placed.

My husband returned and said that a visit to the observation deck was paid - 50 rubles. We turned around and went for a walk through the monastery further.

Spring, however ...

And from this angle one can clearly see the Church of the Conception, built in 1686 in the style of Russian pattern. The Rostov Kremlin (1660-1683) was erected in the same style, as well as the churches of the Borisoglebsk monastery, which I promise to tell you about in the coming month.

We go to the car past a huge row of souvenir tables. This, by the way, is also an innovation - before there were two or three sellers of souvenir products near the monastery, but now a real market has formed.
In addition, there is one negative moment - terribly annoying female beggars are sitting near the entrance to the monastery. Not those to whom you yourself give money from your heart, you want to help, but those for whom begging is business, those who "dance and sing" (verses tryndel, as on stage, incessantly), but if you don’t give money, they will spit in the back.

The address: Russia, Yaroslavl region, Rostov Veliky, st. Engels, 44
Foundation date: 1389 year
Major attractions: Cathedral of Demetrius of Rostov, Church of the Conception of Anna, Church of Jacob of Rostov, Chapel of Jacob of Rostov, bell tower
Shrines: the relics of St. James of Rostov, the relics of St. Demetrius of Rostov, the cell image of St. Demetrius - the miraculous Vatopedi icon of the Mother of God "Joy" or "Consolation", particles of the relics of St. Abraham of Rostov, particles of the relics of the Venerable Kiev-Pechersk saints and other saints, the image of the righteous Iohakim , icons of the Mother of God "Tenderness-Rostov" and Shestokovskaya
Coordinates: 57 ° 10 "28.4" N 39 ° 23 "31.7" E

The ancient history of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery dates back over six hundred centuries. After his return to the believers in the early 90s of the last century, large restoration work was carried out on the territory and churches were repaired. The monastery became the first among the restored ones in the city. And today it is a place of pilgrimage and a remarkable tourist site for numerous guests of Rostov the Great.

General view of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitrievsky Monastery

The life of St. Dmitry

Dmitry was born in 1651, at the age of 16 he was tonsured a monk and until the age of 23 he lived in the Kiev Cyril Monastery. Later he became a clergyman and gained the glory of a spiritual preacher, having devoted several decades to compiling the biography of the saints of the Orthodox Church - four books of the Chetya-Menaion, writing the spiritual alphabet, many dramas and poems.

The last 7 years of his life (until 1709) Dmitry spent in Rostov. He is highly revered by the believers of Russia for his contribution to the development of education, the fight against ignorance and drunkenness, as well as for polemics with adherents of the Old Believer faith and Catholicism. 48 years after his burial, Dmitry was canonized. Today, the shrine with the relics of St. Dmitry is in the monastery Church of the Conception.

View of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery from Lake Nero

History of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitrievsky Monastery

On the shore of the lake, where the complex of a modern monastery rises, from the middle of the XIII century there were temples of a female monastery. Its founder is considered to be Maria, who was the daughter of Prince Mikhail. She was married to the Rostov prince Vasilko Konstantinovich. In 1238, a terrible tragedy entered the life of Mary. The princess lost her spouse, who died during the battle with the Tatars on the Sit River. Having become a widow, Maria lived in the new Spaso-Pesotsk monastery until her death, and shortly before her death she was tonsured as a nun. For a long time, the monastery was called Knyaginin in honor of her. Today, the preserved Church of the Savior on the Sands serves as a reminder of the ancient women's monastery.

The history of the male monastery begins 150 years later than the female monastery - in 1389. They began to build it next to the Knyagin's monastery, thanks to the decision of the bishop of the Rostov diocese, St. James. Initially, the new monastery was called Zachatievsky, and after the death of Jacob, the monastery was called by his name.

View of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery from Lake Nero in winter

Over time, churches in both monastic territories were dilapidated. In the 1860s, the richer convent was abolished by the decree of Empress Catherine II, and its lands and buildings were given to the convent. The fresh breath of monastic life came with Metropolitan Jonah, who became famous for the erection of the stone Rostov Kremlin. In the late 80s - early 90s of the 17th century, the Metropolitan invested in the construction of a brick church over the burial place of St. James and built the old Church of the Conception in stone. The monastery itself at that time began to be credited to the Bishop's house in Rostov, and this saved the monastery from ruin.

In the early 1700s, Saint Demetrius settled within the monastery walls, performing the duties of a metropolitan in the Rostov diocese. He lived here for the last seven years of his life and was buried in the Conception Church. To store his relics, Empress Elizaveta Petrovna ordered a beautiful reliquary made of Kolyvanov silver. But the death of the empress prevented the transfer of gifts to the monastery. Therefore, in 1763, a new queen, Catherine II, was present at the festivities dedicated to the laying of the relics of St. Demetrius in the shrine.

From left to right: Dimitrievsky Cathedral, Yakovlevskaya Church, Conception Cathedral

In the second half of the 18th century, many stone buildings grew on the monastery territory, which replaced dilapidated wooden buildings - a fence with corner and gate towers, a new church and a bell tower, as well as various buildings for brethren and household needs. A little later, a huge temple was built in the monastery, consecrated in honor of Dmitry Rostovsky.

After the stone church of Jacob was rebuilt on the territory of the monastery in the 30s of the XIX century, the monastery took on the appearance we know today. It grew into a complete architectural ensemble that delighted everyone who visited the ancient Russian city with its massiveness and grandeur.

From left to right: North Gate, St. Demetrius Cathedral

With the onset of a new Soviet period in the history of Russia in 1923, the monastery was closed. And after 5 years, it was forbidden to hold services in all of its churches. The premises of the fraternal cells were transferred to a kindergarten, for apartments, a military base and warehouses. During these years, the monastery lost almost all of its valuable utensils. Only in 1991 the monastery was returned to the believers, and it took several years to restore and restore it.

Architectural monuments on the territory of the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitrievsky monastery

The very first monastic buildings were wooden and have not survived. The cathedral, consecrated in honor of the Conception of Righteous Anna, was erected in 5 years from 1685 to 1691. This church has no basement. In monasteries, unlike parish churches, there was no need for a basement that served as a warehouse. Initially, the cathedral was covered by a podzakomarno, but over time, a more practical four-pitched roof was made for it.

Conception Cathedral

The temple is five-domed. Its central gold head is set on a powerful light drum, while the rest of the blue heads, decorated with gold stars, rest on smaller deaf drums. This color combination in Christian traditions is associated with the name of the Mother of God. Surprisingly, the cathedral has preserved the old wall paintings made immediately after its construction, made by the famous Yaroslavl isographers.

In the 60s of the 18th century, craftsmen from Ostashkov carved a magnificent wooden gilded iconostasis for the temple. Almost two decades later, the icons for him were painted by the artist Venedikt Vendersky, who worked at the court.

Dimitrievsky Cathedral

The huge Dmitrievsky Cathedral was built in the tradition of classicism in the late 18th - early 19th centuries with funds allocated by Count Nikolai Petrovich Sheremetyev. The cathedral is crowned with a small cupola on a large dome. It is decorated on all sides with large porticos with columns and bas-reliefs. And the painting of the walls inside the cathedral belongs to the brush of the famous Yaroslavl iconographer Porfiry Ryabov. The Yakovlevskaya church was rebuilt many times. The last time this happened was in the 19th century, when the temple was dismantled almost to the ground and rebuilt. The architects tried to give its proportions and external decor a resemblance to the larger Dmitrievsky Cathedral.

To the east of the monastery churches there is a large three-tiered bell tower, which appeared here in the 70s of the 18th century. This is the tallest building of the monastery, decorated very strictly and organically fits into the architectural ensemble of the monastery. Brick buildings of the urgent and fraternal buildings, as well as outbuildings were erected in the tradition of classicism in the last third of the 18th century.

North gate

Current state and regime of visiting the Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitrievsky Monastery

Today, brethren of 15 people live on the territory of the monastery. The monastery devotes a lot of time and effort to research and publishing activities - they hold international conferences and seminars, publish books on the history of Rostov, the monastery and the life of St. Dmitry. It has its own library, sacristy, icon painting and production workshops, the School of Arts and Music, and a Sunday school. In addition, local works on the restoration and repair of buildings are constantly being carried out on the territory.

To provide the monastery's economy, there is a bakery, a laundry, a prosphora, a bathhouse, and work is also underway in their own gardens, hay meadows and a barnyard. For all comers, the monastery sells delicious bread of its own baking, which looks like a tall Easter cake.

From left to right: South (Water) Gate, South-East Tower

You can get to the territory of the monastery any day freely, for everyone - both pilgrims and tourists. Here it is allowed to conduct amateur photography and video filming for free. And for organized groups there are excursions. Tourists can visit one of the towers of the monastery walls, which offers magnificent views of the lake, temples and the entire monastery complex.

Walking around the monastery is very pleasant. Its territory is paved with neat paths. Inside the monastery walls there is its own young apple orchard, as well as beautifully decorated flower beds, lawns and avenues of berry and ornamental shrubs. A wooden chapel was built in the center above the spring.

In contact with

From 1764 to 1888 had the status of stavropegia.

History of the monastery

Medieval period

Expelled from the city by his flock (for pardoning a criminal who was awaiting execution), Jacob settled south of Rostov, not far from the Church of the Archangel Michael (founded in the 11th century by St. Leonty of Rostov; the last building of this temple was demolished in the 1930s .), next to the source (now there is a chapel above it in 1996), where he cut down a small wooden church with his own hands and consecrated it in honor of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Soon, a small community of like-minded people of the exiled bishop was formed near the church; thus a new monastery was formed.

After the death of Bishop Jacob, his local veneration as a saint began; his burial was guarded as a shrine. The general church glorification was performed by the Makaryevsky Cathedral in 1549. His relics are buried under a bushel in the Church of the Conception of St. Anna.

The monastery was called the Conception (after the name of the main church dedicated to the Conception of the righteous Anna) or the Jacobite monastery - after the name of the founder of the monastery. Since the founding of the monastery (XIV century) until the second half of the XVII century. all the buildings of the Conception Monastery were exclusively wooden (none of them has survived to this day).

The first stone building of the monastery was the Trinity Cathedral, later the Conception Cathedral (1686), built on the site of the wooden church of the same name.

The cathedral is five-domed, with three altar apses, without rich decorative decoration at that time, it had a hipped-roof bell tower with six bells. The cathedral was consecrated by the Rostov Metropolitan Iona Sysoevich.

In 1689 the cathedral was painted by Yaroslavl craftsmen. Over the tomb of St. Jacob was erected a stone canopy.

Monastery in the 18th century

In 1702-1709 the monastery was under the special care of the Rostov Metropolitan.

Location

Spaso-Yakovlevsky Dimitriev Monastery is located on the southwestern outskirts of the city of Rostov, on the shores of Lake Nero.

How to get there

By bus

From Moscow buses to Rostov leave from the Shchelkovo bus station.

By train

Many trains go through Rostov, following from the Yaroslavsky railway station in Moscow.

For Muscovites, it is most convenient to use the Yaroslavl ex-press, coming from Moscow at 8:20 and 16:20. The way to Rostov takes about three hours. Return trains run through Rostov at 7:20 and 17:20.

You can get from the city center to the monastery by bus or minibus (direction - to Pereslavskaya street; for minibuses - the final stop, for buses - the penultimate stop), after which you will need to walk to the monastery three blocks towards the lake shore.

By car

As for motorists, they need the federal highway Moscow - Arkhangelsk (M-8).

Rostov is about 220 km away from Moscow, and 55 km from Yaroslavl.

You should turn to the center of Rostov near the railway station.

Directions from the bus station and railway station to the monastery - along the street. Lunacharsky to the city center (Rostov Kremlin), then along Pokrovskaya street (Lenin street) to the intersection with the street. Moskovskaya, where you should turn left to the lake, after which you will find yourself in the immediate vicinity of the monastery.