Description of the attraction
The Pinsk Svyato-Varvara monastery or nunnery in the name of the great martyr Barbara in the city of Pinsk was founded in the 16th century. The first mention of the Varvara Monastery dates back to 1520, when Prince Feodor Yaroslavich and his wife Alexandra Olelkovicheva built new wooden cells for the nuns and donated land holdings.
Hard times came for the monastery after the adoption of the Union of Brest. In 1596 the St. Barbara Monastery was converted to Uniatism and transferred to Euphrosyne Triznyanka. The recalcitrant Orthodox nuns who had fled from it wanted to found their new monastery in Pinsk, but in 1635, by order of King Vladislav IV, this was prohibited in Pinsk, and the nuns were ordered to be driven out of the city.
In 1839, in Pinsk, which became part of the Russian Empire, the Varvara convent was revived again and rich church utensils, relics, and considerable funds were handed over to it. The main shrine of the monastery was the relics (finger) of St. Barbara, placed in a gilded reliquary.
In the 19th century, the St. Barbara Monastery became an educational institution of a very high level for girls. His library consisted of many books, including early printed and handwritten ones. The monastery taught writing, reading, languages, theological sciences, singing, mathematics, handicrafts. In 1858, the former Bernardine church was transferred to the Varvara Monastery, which was specially reconstructed in order to give it Byzantine features. A large dome was installed on it.
During the Soviet era, a hospital was set up in the monastery.
Today the monastery is an active nunnery. The St. Barbara Monastery houses the greatest Orthodox shrine - the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria of Jerusalem. The library has been revived in the monastery, which is now available for adults and children. An educational and charitable center and a Sunday school for children have been organized at the monastery.
