Description of the attraction
Within the boundaries of a small northern town, located 130 km from Vologda, called Kirillov, there is the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. The monastery was founded in 1397 by two monks of the Moscow Simonov monastery, Cyril and Ferapont. In a small forest on a small hillock on the shore of Lake Siverskoye, the monks erected a cross made of wood and dug a cave, so the foundation of the future monastery was laid. The first stone building of the monastery was the Assumption Cathedral, which was built by an artel of Rostov masters.
The monastery was considered the largest monastery in Europe. On twelve hectares were placed the Assumption Cathedral, Large hospital chambers, churches, a refectory, monastic cells, the abbot's building, the Holy Gates, the Church of John Climacus, as well as the Treasury. The cloister is surrounded by stone walls with huge towers.
During its heyday, the monastery was the richest fortified city. He owned considerable land plots, fishing. The monastery housed an extensive library, talented carvers and icon painters worked. In the 16th century, the monastery was engaged in the supply of various utensils decorated with ornamental carvings to other areas.
The rapid growth of the monastery would have been impracticable without the active assistance of the Moscow princes, which was expressed in various benefits, monetary and land donations.
Ivan the Terrible believed that he was born thanks to the prayers of the local brethren. During his life, he visited the monastery three times and left generous gifts. In 1557, the monastery survived a great fire, endured the sieges of the Lithuanian and Polish feudal lords. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Kirillo-Belozerskaya monastery included two monasteries: the Assumption and Ioannovsky. The adjacent monasteries were surrounded by stone walls with eight towers. Nine stone churches, a bell tower and various outbuildings were located outside the walls. The monks' cells were made of wood.
Since the monastery was located far from Moscow and was surrounded by strong walls, it was an ideal place for exile of influential people. The conditions of the exiles' stay in it varied greatly: from living in fairly favorable conditions (own mansions, personal servants, a special table) to the strictest imprisonment.
At the end of the 17th century, new walls were built, which have survived to this day, and the monastery becomes one of the most powerful fortresses in Russia. In 1764, in connection with the instruction of Catherine II, the monastery was deprived of the peasants, as well as all the land. The town of Kirillov was formed from the monastery settlement in 1776. They also found a purpose for the fortress wall, it housed the city and district prisons. From this moment the monastery begins to decline.
The monastery closes in 1924. On its territory there is the Kirillovsky Museum of Local Lore, which was later transformed into a historical and art museum. After the closure of the monastery and monasteries, in these holy places, severe persecution of believers arose. The small monastic brethren were either shot or sent to the camps. But the monastery complex itself escaped the fate of the other northern monasteries - it was not turned into a concentration camp.
Since 1957, work has been carried out on the comprehensive restoration of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. For almost half a century, work in the monastery has not stopped: the buildings themselves, their interior decor, murals, as well as iconostases in churches are being restored.
The revival of the monastery began in the late 90s. In that year, when the 600th anniversary of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery was celebrated, monastic life was revived within its walls: the Church of Cyril and the Ioannovsky Monastery handed over to the Church for free and perpetual use.
