Story
The New Jerusalem Monastery was founded in 1656 in the Moscow region. According to his plan, the monastery was to become the center of the Orthodox world. Topography, toponymy, church buildings of the monastery and the surrounding territory, stretching for several tens of kilometers, created the image of the Holy Land and reproduced the main Christian shrines Palestine. On a hill located in the center of this territory, called Zion, a monastery was founded - a kind of temple city. Some buildings of the monastery complex repeat the outlines of the buildings of the Holy Land, and main cathedral The monastery, consecrated in 1685, was built in the likeness of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The cathedral reproduces sacred likenesses of Mount Golgotha, the cave of the Holy Sepulcher, the place of the three-day burial and the Life-Giving Resurrection of the Savior. The towers also have symbolic names: Entrance to Jerusalem, Gethsemane, etc. The hills surrounding the monastery were called Eleonsky, Tavorsky, etc., the villages were Preobrazhenskoye, Nazareth, Capernaum. The fast, winding river Istra, which received the name Jordan, flows through the land of Russian Palestine; The stream flowing around the monastery hill is the Kidron Stream. Nowadays, a significant part of the territory is occupied by the city of Istra, which until 1930 was called Voskresensk.
In 1919, the monastery was closed, and a museum was opened on its territory. New Jerusalem", and the holy places were partly destroyed, partly consigned to oblivion and changed beyond recognition.
The monastery, which began to deteriorate even after its closure, suffered greatly during the Great Patriotic War. During the three week German occupation in 1941 the museum was looted. During the retreat of the fascist troops, the monastery was blown up, the tower and bell tower of the monastery were destroyed, and the cathedral was significantly damaged.
Restoration work at the monastery began in 1947; They were carried out especially intensively in the 1960-80s.
In 1994, the process of transferring the monastery buildings to the Russian Orthodox Church began. July 18, 1994 Holy Synod approved Archimandrite Nikita (Latushko) as abbot of the reviving stauropegial New Jerusalem Monastery; Liturgical activities resumed in the monastery.
On July 23, 2008, the monastery was visited by the President of Russia and. On their initiative, a Charitable Foundation for the restoration of the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery was created. October 20, 2008 in the Kremlin of the Board of Trustees of this fund. The co-chairs of the Board of Trustees are the head Russian state and Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.
March 6, 2009 President D.A. Medvedev signed “On measures to recreate the historical appearance of the Resurrection New Jerusalem stauropegial monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church.” The decree provides for the provision of subsidies from the federal budget to the Charitable Foundation for the reconstruction of the historical appearance of the monastery.
To ensure control and methodological assistance, the Foundation's Expert Council, which included prominent Russian art scientists, famous architects and restorers, specialists from the Moscow Patriarchate, the Russian Ministry of Culture, and representatives of the public.
Full-scale restoration efforts began in December 2011. The restoration of the Resurrection Cathedral was completed in 2015.
History of the monastery.
The idea of creating something similar to the shrines of Palestine on the Moscow region belongs to Patriarch Nikon (1605-1681), and he tried to bring it to life. On his instructions, the learned hieromonk of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery Arseny Sukhanov went to the Holy Land, who, upon returning from the trip, delivered to the Patriarch drawings, plans and an exact model of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem, as well as drawings of the Bethlehem Church. Under the personal supervision of Patriarch Nikon (he lived in a monastery, the building of which has survived to this day), work began to bring his grandiose plan to life. 60 km from Moscow, before the eyes of amazed contemporaries, the “New Jerusalem” arose - an architectural and landscape icon that combined the images of many Palestinian shrines.
In the center of the ensemble is the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, which is a fairly accurate likeness of the famous temple in Jerusalem. Nearby is the Church of the Nativity - a reminder of Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Savior. To the north of the monastery is the village of Skudelnichye (Mikulino), to the northwest are Mount Tabor and Ermon. Near the walls of the monastery there is a birch grove called the Garden of Gethsemane. Patriarch Nikon renamed the Istra River Jordan, and the small stream flowing at the foot of the monastery hill into the Kidron Stream. Nikon did not have time to see his plan completed. He was condemned by the Moscow Council in 1666 and exiled to the North, to the distant Ferapontov Monastery. The construction of the New Jerusalem was suspended for a long time. Resumed work in 1679 by Tsar Feodor Alekseevich. He also brought Nikon back from exile, but the Patriarch died on the way to Moscow. His body was taken to New Jerusalem and buried in the John the Baptist chapel of the Resurrection Church. Construction of the monastery was completed only under Empress Elisaveta Petrovna. At the same time, the monastery buildings were treated in the Baroque style. XVIII-XIX centuries. Outstanding architects worked on the creation of the ensemble: Rastrelli, Blank, Kazakov, Voronikhin, Vit6erg.
In 1919, the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery was closed, monastic community abolished. In 1920, an Art and History Museum was created on the basis of the monastery, the collection of which was put together with expropriated and nationalized valuables from the sacristy of the monastery. Great damage was caused to the architectural ensemble during the Great Patriotic War. Patriotic War. On December 10, 1941, retreating German troops blew up the Resurrection Cathedral and its bell tower, the Damascus and Elizabeth towers, the holy gates of the monastery, and burned other buildings. In the post-war years, through the work of domestic restorers, the complex of buildings as a whole was restored.
In 1994, the Resurrection New Jerusalem stauropegial was resumed monastery. In 1995, the Resurrection Cathedral with the earthen church of Saints Constantine and Helen, the Church of the Nativity of Christ, the monastery of Patriarch Nikon, and the eastern fraternal building were returned to the Church. The Church of Saints Constantine and Helena was renovated in the monastery, the chapel of the Archangel was restored Saint Michael of God and All the Bodiless Powers, the Beheading of the Head of the Baptist of the Lord John the Baptist, which are consecrated with a small rite.
The rite of great consecration His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow of All Rus' consecrated the restored cathedral Church of the Nativity of Christ in 1997 and the chapel of the Assumption Holy Mother of God in 1999, the Edicule was opened with the chapel of an Angel, as in Jerusalem. It contains exact copies of the Stone of Anointing and the Holy Sepulcher.
Shrines of the monastery
The tomb of Patriarch Nikon is located in the active chapel of John the Baptist. And in our time there are cases of healings from the tomb of the saint according to the faith of his admirers.
The Patriarch set an example of piety throughout his life. It is enough to visit the monastery of Patriarch Nikon, look at the stone bed that served as his bed, and hold his chains (weighing about 6 kg) in his hands to understand how strict he was with himself.
In the same chapel is a miraculous copy of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God. Once before the revolution, the Resurrection Monastery kept miraculous icon Mother of God "Three-handed". In the current Assumption chapel there are the relics of the holy martyr Tatiana.
Holy springs Treasure "Life-giving spring"
To the south of the side-chapel of the Hieromartyr Kyriakos there is the place of the Finding of the Life-Giving Cross with a treasure called the Life-Giving Spring.
Initially, the vault of the aisle was blank. The oval hole above the storehouse dates back to the 18th century, when at the top: a “tent” was built in the form of a high tetrahedral lantern. Nowadays a wooden Cross has been restored here in the measure of the Cross of the Lord.
The life-giving spring was consecrated after the resumption of the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery on January 5/18, 1994, on the Eve of Epiphany.
Samaritan Woman's Treasure
There is another spring on the northern slope of the monastery hill. It is called the Samaritan woman’s well, recalling the Gospel event - the conversation of Jesus Christ at the well with a woman from Samaria, to whom the Lord said: “Everyone drinking water this, if he thirsts again, otherwise he will drink the water that I will give him, and he will never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life” (John 4:13-14).
There was also a monastery chapel above this source, which was demolished during the years of militant atheism.
While collecting water from the well of the Samaritan woman, pilgrims sing hymns from the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.
Siloam Spring
From Jordan we will go to the Siloam spring, located at the foot of the monastery hill on the northwestern side. The name of the source brings to mind 
events Sacred history, associated with the famous Pool of Siloam near Jerusalem. According to legend, in the 5th century BC. E. King Manasiah ordered the holy prophet Isaiah to be subjected to terrible torture in the royal gardens of Siloam. The prophet's body was cut with a saw; he suffered from pain and thirst. And then, to give the martyr something to drink, a spring splashed out from under the rock.
The spring received its name because many sick people, having bathed in it, were healed of their ailments, just like those who plunged into the reservoir of Siloam, at which there was a pool of Siloam. Above the Spring of Siloam in New Jerusalem there was a wooden chapel called the “Pool of Siloam.” It was built in 1845. Every year on the feast of Mid-Pentecost, a pilgrimage was made from the Resurrection Monastery to the Font of Siloam. procession for the blessing of water. Inside the chapel there was a stone well, along the walls there were icons, in front of which there were candlesticks. Metal buckets with long handles curved at the end hung along the edge of the well. The water for the pilgrims was drawn and poured by the monk who was serving in the chapel.
The Siloam Chapel was demolished in the 1930s. However, it was not possible to destroy the source, although until the 1990s. By order of the local authorities, a dump truck loaded to the top from time to time drove up to the spring and poured earth or sand into the water.
The first consecration of the Siloam spring after the resumption of the Resurrection Monastery was performed on Epiphany Eve on January 5/18, 1994. Since then, the consecration of the water in the source has been performed annually on the feast of the Epiphany.
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At the very beginning of my vacation, I went on an excursion to the city of Istra, Moscow region in...
Resurrection New Jerusalem stauropegial monastery
The idea of creating something similar to the shrines of Palestine on the Moscow region belongs to Patriarch Nikon (1605-1681), and he tried to bring it to life. On his instructions, the learned hieromonk of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery Arseny Sukhanov went to the Holy Land, who, upon returning from the trip, delivered to the Patriarch drawings, plans and an exact model of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Jerusalem, as well as drawings of the Bethlehem Church. Under the personal supervision of Patriarch Nikon (he lived in a monastery, the building of which has survived to this day), work began to bring his grandiose plan to life. 60 km from Moscow, before the eyes of amazed contemporaries, the “New Jerusalem” arose - an architectural and landscape icon that combined the images of many Palestinian shrines.
In the center of the ensemble is the Church of the Resurrection of Christ, which is a fairly accurate likeness of the famous temple in Jerusalem. Nearby is the Church of the Nativity - a reminder of Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Savior. To the north of the monastery is the village of Skudelnichye (Mikulino), to the northwest are Mount Tabor and Ermon. Near the walls of the monastery there is a birch grove called the Garden of Gethsemane. Patriarch Nikon renamed the Istra River Jordan, and the small stream flowing at the foot of the monastery hill into the Kidron Stream. Nikon did not have time to see his plan completed. He was condemned by the Moscow Council in 1666 and exiled to the North, to the distant Ferapontov Monastery. The construction of the New Jerusalem was suspended for a long time. Resumed work in 1679 by Tsar Feodor Alekseevich. He also brought Nikon back from exile, but the Patriarch died on the way to Moscow. His body was taken to New Jerusalem and buried in the St. John the Baptist chapel of the Resurrection Cathedral. Construction of the monastery was completed only under Empress Elisaveta Petrovna. At the same time, the monastery buildings were treated in the Baroque style. XVIII-XIX centuries. Outstanding architects worked on the creation of the ensemble: Rastrelli, Blank, Kazakov, Voronikhin, Vit6erg.
The necropolis of the New Jerusalem Monastery is located inside the cathedral (burial site of the 17th century) and on its territory itself - on both sides of the Church of Constantine and Helena
In 1919, the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery was closed and the monastic community was abolished. In 1920, an Artistic and Historical Museum was created on the basis of the monastery, the collection of which included expropriated and nationalized valuables from the sacristy of the monastery. Great damage was caused to the architectural ensemble during the Great Patriotic War. On December 10, 1941, retreating German troops blew up the Resurrection Cathedral and its bell tower, the Damascus and Elizabeth towers, the holy gates of the monastery, and burned other buildings. In the post-war years, through the work of domestic restorers, the complex of buildings as a whole was restored.
In 1994, the Resurrection New Jerusalem Stavropegic Monastery was reopened. In 1995, the Resurrection Cathedral with the earthen church of Saints Constantine and Helen, the Church of the Nativity of Christ, the monastery of Patriarch Nikon, and the eastern fraternal building were returned to the Church. In the monastery, the Church of Saints Constantine and Helena was renovated, the chapel of the Archangel Michael and All the Bodiless Powers, the Beheading of the Baptist of the Lord John the Baptist, which were consecrated with a small rite, were restored.
Bell tower of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ
With the rite of great consecration, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow of All Rus' consecrated the restored cathedral Church of the Nativity in 1997 and the chapel of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1999. The Edicule with the chapel of the Angel was opened, as in Jerusalem. It contains exact copies of the Stone of Anointing and the Holy Sepulcher.
Earthen Church of Saints Constantine and Helena. Located at a depth of 6 meters below ground level. We arrived at the monastery and were given 1.5 hours of time to look around the temple, order a memorial to relatives living and dead, pray, and light candles. And I (who had never been here) miraculously came right here, to the temple of my patroness, Holy Equal-to-Aples Queen Helena and her son Constantine.
Edicule with an Angel side chapel. Here are exact copies of the Stone of Anointing and the Holy Sepulcher.
Icon Mother of God"The Joy of All Angels" It can only be seen here in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. It depicts the Mother of God, who personifies the church, and below her is the New Jerusalem Monastery.
I cannot help but dwell on the architectural decoration of the temple. It's incredibly beautiful!
These are tiles from the 17th century.
On the tiled columns you can see an ear at the top and a bunch of grapes below. All this has religious overtones and was created specifically for the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.
Window decorations also include tiles and sculptures of cherubs.
I really liked the excursion, an incredibly interesting story about the history of the monastery, about its creator, Patriarch Nikon. We looked at the Shrines in the temple (I didn’t photograph them). I think I will definitely come here later.
To you, my dear readers, interesting and educational information for the soul!
Address: Russia, Moscow region, Istra, Sovetskaya street, 2
Date of foundation: 1656
Main attractions: Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (1685), Church of the Nativity (1692), Gate Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (1697), Church of Constantine and Helen (1690)
Shrines: fragment of the omophorion of Patriarch Nikon (1597), Tabernacle from the holy chapel Mary Equal to the Apostles Magdalene, icon of the Lord Pantocrator with the reclining Saint Philip and His Holiness Patriarch Nikon (1657)
Coordinates: 55°55"17.3"N 36°50"43.2"E
Cultural heritage site of the Russian Federation
The New Jerusalem Monastery is also known under another name - the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery. The Orthodox men's monastery was founded in 1656 near the city of Istra in the Moscow region. It owes its appearance to Patriarch Nikon, who wished to establish the residence of the patriarchs in this place. Nikon himself stopped here for the night many times, because he often had to visit the Iversky Monastery (he traveled along the old Volokolamsk road). By building a new monastery, the patriarch wanted to achieve the establishment of the center of the Orthodox world on Moscow soil. At the same time, it was planned that the grandiose structure would topographically represent the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, located in Jerusalem.
Bird's eye view of the monastery
The foundation of the monastery was carried out on a hill with the Palestinian name Zion. WITH east side The Hill of Olives was adjacent to the monastery, its northern “neighbor” was the Tabor Hill, and the local Istra River received a new name - Jordan.
In connection with the persecution of Nikon and his exile construction works were interrupted for 14 years. Thus, they took place in 2 stages. The first period of construction occurred between 1656 and 1666. At this time, wooden walls were installed, stone services were built, and the construction of the main temple was almost completed. The same period of time saw the construction of the Nikon monastery, which was later called the Waste Hermitage, and the Chapel of Olives.
View of the monastery from the village of Nikulino
Since 1679, the interrupted work has been resumed - Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich issued a corresponding decree on their continuation. In addition, by a new decree, the ruler assigned two dozen more different monasteries with peasant households to the New Jerusalem Monastery, total number which amounted to 1630 buildings. Together they formed a huge property and made stauropegic monastery one of the richest shrines in Russia.
Nikon's plan was fully realized, and ultimately it amazed with its scope. The complex called “New Jerusalem” maximally reflected the Holy Lands, parts of which the entire area of Istra received new names - Galilee, Bethlehem, Olivet. When studying old maps, it is clear that the new building with its surrounding environs is a smaller copy of its true prototype. Unfortunately, the founder of the monastery did not wait for the completion of construction - he died in 1681. Subsequently, the ensemble was completed under the leadership of Archimandrite Nikanor and with the participation of the master foundry hieromonk Sergius Turchaninov.
View of the main entrance to the monastery
In the winter of 1941, the Resurrection Cathedral at the New Jerusalem Monastery was destroyed by German troops. As a result of the explosion, the bell tower, the central chapter, and the rotunda tent were damaged. Many years later, already in 1985, the cathedral finally found its lost chapter. As for the collapsed tent, it was restored in the early 90s of the 20th century. But its basis was now a metal structure.
Since 1995, all architectural ensemble The Resurrection Monastery becomes part of the Russian Orthodox Church. Since then, two institutions have peacefully coexisted here - the stauropegic monastery itself and the New Jerusalem Museum, recognized as a historical, architectural and artistic monument.
View of the Gate Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem from the monastery
Sacred landmark of Russian Palestine - Resurrection Cathedral
According to the construction plan, the Resurrection Cathedral was supposed to exactly copy the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, functioning in Jerusalem. Reflecting its prototype as much as possible, the grandiose three-part building appearance conveys all the main Christian shrines, namely: Golgotha as the place of the crucifixion of Christ and 2 more places - burial and the Life-Giving Resurrection.
The list of works for the construction of the Resurrection Cathedral was also carried out in stages. Until 1666, it was possible not only to bring the building to the roof, but also to attach a bell tower to it, and also to prepare a place for the construction of an underground church. Named in memory of Saints Constantine and Helen, it served as a repository for the place where the Holy Cross was found. But let's get back to admiring the cathedral. Outside and inside it is decorated with ceramic belts, decorated with portals and platbands, and hung with strict and majestic iconostases. 15 ringing bells were cast especially for its bell tower. Of the largest cast items, only one remains today - this is the stopudov bell, made back in 1666.
In the foreground is the Church of Constantine and Helena with the Resurrection Cathedral in the background.
The second stage of construction of the main cathedral of the New Jerusalem complex occurred between 1679 and 1685. Then a dome appeared over the central part of the building, and the master covered the rotunda with an impressive brick tent, the diametrical value of which reached 22 m. In 1690, a ceremony was held to consecrate the underground church.
Despite the fact that the Resurrection Cathedral serves only as a miniature of its prototype, through its appearance and decor it very accurately conveys all the theological content and does not deviate from the old Russian traditions of architecture and art. This trend can be seen very clearly in the appearance of the eastern facade of the temple. Its multi-domed composition, reminiscent of a pyramid in shape, was built by combining parts independent of each other into a whole indivisible structure.
From left to right: Resurrection Cathedral, Church of Constantine and Helena
Chambers of the "New Jerusalem"
The western part of the ensemble is represented by the chambers - Refectory, Archimandrite and Hospital. Initially they were built as separate buildings (from 1685 to 1698), but at the end of the 18th century the decision was made to unite them into a single integral building. The foundation of the Refectory Chambers were old stone services laid before 1666. Three chambers were located against the backdrop of the western part of the wall and stood perpendicular to the building of the Church of the Nativity, located not far from them in the east. The chambers are decorated with white stone platbands, refreshing the huge semi-circular windows.
Hospital wards
Wards with the name "Hospitals", located near Church of the Three Saints, look quite modest both in size and decor. Adjacent to them from the north are the Rector's chambers. Despite their apparent simplicity, these chambers are not lost against the background of the other buildings of the New Jerusalem monastery - they only favorably emphasize the Refectory Chambers, hinting at their dominant position.
The Church at the Hospital Wards was consecrated in 1698. As a result of a fire that engulfed the monastery courtyard in the 18th century, it burned down, but was not subject to restoration work. The premises of this shrine were simply moved to the second floor of the Tsar's chambers - the result of the work of the architect Kazakov, who erected them above the hospital chambers at the end of the same century. The staircase leading to the Royal Apartments is decorated with an elegant arcade. As a decorative detail, it organically complemented the composition of the eastern facade.
Inner courtyard of the monastery
The Skete of Patriarch Nikon is a valuable monument of Russian Palestine
The monastery for solitary prayers of Patriarch Nikon was built in 1657 - 1662. (the building is located on the banks of the Istra River). Of all the architectural monuments located behind the walled fence of Russian Palestine, only this monastery has survived. Its two lower floors were used as service and utility rooms. On the third floor there was a reception room for the clergy and the Church of the Epiphany. The flat roof of the monastery became a suitable location for such significant structures as the octagonal church of the apostles Peter and Paul, a miniature belfry and a small cell with a seat made of stone.
View of the western side of the Resurrection Cathedral
The fortress wall and the Holy Gates are the “defenders” of the territory of the New Jerusalem Monastery
It took 4 years to build a solid stone wall to replace the original wooden fence. It was built from 1690 to 1694 according to the rules of serf architecture.
- The result of the work led by architect Bukhvostov was a large-scale fence with the following characteristics:
- height – about 9 m;
- thickness – 3 m;
total length – 920 m.
It is noteworthy that the corners and breaks of the fence were not empty - their ugliness was brightened up by seven towers of the same type. In the courtyard of the tower there was also an eighth tower - the Elizavetinskaya. The tall structure simply decorated the western gate. It is interesting that all the tiered towers belonging to the New Jerusalem complex do not play any defensive role. Although they are a common element of Russian fences, they perform not a defensive, but rather an artistic function. Their designs with round extensions for spiral staircases are similar to the rotunda and tent at the top of the Resurrection Cathedral.
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