Description of the attraction
The northern Russian capital is famous not only for its many tourist places and attractions, but also for revered shrines, famous Orthodox churches, many of which are historical and architectural monuments. One of these places where both tourists and pilgrims flock every year is the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
The history of this monastery begins in the 10s of the 18th century. It became the first monastery in the city. Currently, it is a complex of structures (including necropolises) and is the largest monastery in the northern Russian capital.
Construction history
The decree on the construction of the monastery was issued Peter the Great … A large territory was allocated to the future monastery - five thousand square fathoms. It was built exactly on the spot where in the XIII century Alexander Nevskiy defeated the Swedish army. Moreover, the monastery was erected during the Northern War - that is, when Russia was again at war with Sweden.
In the early 10s of the 18th century, the monastery was completed and consecrated Annunciation Church … It was built of wood. It is the date of its consecration that is considered the beginning of the history of the monastery.
Domenico Andrea Trezzini supervised the creation of the architectural ensemble of the monastery. The new monastery was supposed to become not only a harmonious architectural ensemble, but also an outpost on the border of the city.
A whole settlement spontaneously formed near the walls of the monastery under construction. There, servants and workers lived in wooden houses. They grew fruits in the garden and vegetables in the garden beds. It was a real town with a smithy, a mill, a carpentry workshop and cattle yards.
In the 20s on the monastery territory school opened … The children of the clergy studied there. Six years later, it was transformed into a seminary, and in the 1890s it was given a new status: the seminary turned into an academy. Around the same time when the school was opened, a printing house began to function at the monastery. A few years earlier, a charitable institution was opened under him to support retired soldiers.
In the first half of the 20s of the 18th century, they were solemnly transferred to the monastery. relics of the legendary prince Alexander, who were previously in one of the Vladimir monasteries.
Meanwhile, construction work was progressing extremely slowly. Years passed, and it was still a long way to the end of construction. One of the reasons was that the project was large enough (for the 18th century). In addition, difficulties arose that impeded the progress of construction work.
And at Elizaveta Petrovna, and at Catherine II construction was still in progress. For a number of reasons, the cathedral building had to be dismantled. Ivan Starov a new project of this temple was developed. Around the same time, a square appeared in front of the entrance to the monastery.
In the 90s of the 18th century, the construction of the new cathedral was finally completed.
At that time, the staff of the Lavra consisted of the governor, confessor, sacristan, dean, housekeeper, instructor, thirty hieromonks, eighteen hierodeacons, twenty-four monks and twenty hospitalized ones. Lavra was one of the richest monasteries in the country. She possessed a very impressive capital (three million rubles) and vast land (more than thirteen thousand dessiatines).
Lavra in the XX century
At the beginning of the 20th century, under the Lavra there was museum opened … Around the same period, courses for singers appeared in it. During wartime, some of the monastery's premises were used as an infirmary.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery was still very rich. In the pre-revolutionary period, his capital was approximately two million rubles. Most of this amount was in interest-bearing securities, and there was relatively little cash. At that time, fifty novices and sixty-three monastics lived in the Lavra. In the post-revolutionary period, abuses committed by the leadership of the Lavra were revealed. The leader was dismissed from his post and replaced by another.
A month after these events, representatives of the Soviet government committed an attempt to requisition all the capital of the Lavra, the premises of the monastery were decided to be used as shelters and almshouses. But this attempt was unsuccessful. When it became clear that the matter was not limited to requisition, but that the clergy were also arrested, a bell rang over the Lavra: someone began to sound the alarm. The townspeople came running to the monastery from all sides. They disarmed the representatives of the new government. One of the clergymen was mortally wounded, which shocked the townspeople and caused them extreme indignation. The "props" had to urgently leave the walls of the lavra. This was the first clash between the Orthodox Church and the new authorities in the country. It ended with the victory of the church, but it should be noted that this was its only major victory for the entire period of Soviet power.
The monastery was closed at the beginning of the 30s of the XX century … At the same time, all the monastics of the Lavra were arrested. Ten years earlier, a shrine with the relics of Prince Alexander was removed from the monastery. The holy relics were removed from it and transferred to one of the city's museums. The cancer they were in was transferred to another St. Petersburg museum.
After the closure of the monastery, its churches for some time functioned as parish, but soon the services in them ceased. Now the premises of the former monastery were occupied by workshops and various government agencies. In particular, part of the territory of the former monastery was transferred to the flying club, the other part was used as a vegetable store, hostels were also located here …
At the end of the 50s of the XX century, divine services were resumed in the cathedral. In the 80s here from the museum the relics of the legendary prince were returned … In the mid-90s, the monastery began to revive. The adoption of a new monastery charter took place. The appointment of the main officials was carried out: the confessor, the housekeeper, the sacristan, the dean, the secretary and the treasurer.
Currently, the territory of the Lavra operates workshop of icon painting … The leadership of the monastery supports traditional crafts: jewelers, cabinetmakers, and tin miniature craftsmen work here. The pilgrimage service plays an important role in the life of the Lavra.
Relatively recently was the dome of the cathedral was restored, covered with gilded fourteen-meter cross.
Structures of the architectural complex
Let's talk about some of the structures that make up the architectural complex of the Lavra:
- The cathedral church of the monastery is a majestic Trinity Cathedral … The building was built at the end of the 18th century. The project was developed by Leonard Theodor Schwertfeger. Initially, the temple was single-domed, with two bell towers towered over it. Preparations for construction were carried out at the beginning of the 18th century; in the 1920s, the building was laid. By the beginning of the 30s, the main construction work had already been completed, but … it turned out that serious mistakes were made in the project. The vaults of the building were cracked. The construction had to be interrupted. For several years the building stood unfinished, in the 40s it was decided to dismantle it. In the 50s of the 18th century, the temple was finally dismantled. Ten years later, it was decided to develop a new project for the cathedral. A competition was announced, in which famous architects of the 18th century took part, but none of the projects presented was approved by the Russian authorities. Only in the 70s was the building project developed by Ivan Starov approved. Construction began. It lasted about fourteen years. In the 90s of the 18th century, the building was consecrated.
- On the territory of the monastery there is the oldest temple in the city - Annunciation Church … It was built at the beginning of the 18th century. Diplomats, several famous generals and statesmen are buried in its fence, and members of the imperial family found their rest here. The temple is located in the northeastern part of the monastery. During the Soviet period, the building was used as a museum.
- One of the most interesting sights on the territory of the Lavra - Lazarevskoe cemetery … It is a necropolis museum. At this cemetery (the oldest in the northern Russian capital) burials are not currently taking place. It is open for inspection: townspeople and guests of the city come here.
- Not far from the above-described necropolis there is another one - Tikhvin cemetery … Fyodor Dostoevsky, Ivan Krylov, Vasily Zhukovsky, Modest Mussorgsky and many other outstanding cultural figures are buried here. On the territory of the necropolis there is a former building of the Tikhvin Church, which is currently a branch of one of the city's museums. The history of this building began in the 60s of the 19th century. In the 30s of the XX century, the church, like many Russian churches, was closed. The interiors of the building were completely destroyed, and almost nothing remained of its facades. The building was later renovated.
On a note
- Location: Monastyrka embankment, 1.
- The nearest metro stations: "Alexander Nevsky Square", "Novocherkasskaya".
- Official website:
- Opening hours: from 5:30 to 23:00, seven days a week. The doors of the Holy Trinity Cathedral open to parishioners at 5:45. It closes at 20:00. The necropolises can be visited from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, and the ticket offices stop working half an hour before the closure of the necropolises.
- Tickets: entrance to the territory of the monastery is free. The entrance fee to the necropolis is 250 rubles. Schoolchildren, students and retirees must pay only one fifth of this amount; for preschoolers, admission is free. For citizens of foreign countries, the cost of a ticket to the necropolis is 400 rubles.
