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Kuzminki

 St. Simon Monastery Danilov Monastery Donskoy Monastery Novodevichy Convent Vysokopetrovsky Monastery Rozhdestvensky Monastery Sretensky Monastery Zachatyevsky Convent

    (Vostochanaya St., 4, the "Avtozavodskaya" Metro station) was founded by the end of the 14th century. Like the Nowospassky Monastery, it was under the direct control of the Patriarch of All Russia. The territory of St. Simon Monastery preserves the ancient Church of Our Lady (16th century). It was built instead of the old, wooden church, where the heroes of Kulikovskaya battle, monks Peresvet and Oslyabya were buried. There is also a so called "New" chapel built in 1677-1685 and decorated by white-stoned ornamental details, the angular tower "Dulo" built by architect Fyodor Kon in the 16th century. The walls and towers of the Monastery were built in the 17th century. There are also some other structures dated by later periods.


    (Danilovsky Val, 22, the "Tulskaya" Metro station) is the official residence of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Aleksiy the Second. This is the most ancient monastery of Moscow. It was founded by the sacred honourable Prince Daniil Moskovsky, the son of Alexander Nevsky, in 1282. During the time of Soviet rule the territory of Monastery housed the colony of under-aged criminals. Today there are 5 churches and 2 chapels where the religious ceremonies are regularly held.


    (Donskaya sq., 1, the "Shabolovskaya" Metro station) was founded in 14th century by Tsar Fedor Ioanovich in the honour of majestic deliverance of Moscow from the hordes of Khan Kazy-Girei. The miracle was achieved thanks to the Donskaya icon of Our Lady. The icon received such name because it was with Prince Dmitry Donskoy during the Kulikovo battle at Don River. It is considered that the icon was painted by Feofan Grek, the famous Russian painter. At present the icon is displayed at the State Tretyakovskaya Gallery.


    The next convent, which was not very important from the strategic point of view, is Novodevichy Convent. This is the only one Nunnery in the southern defense circle. The Convent is located on Novodevichy Proyezd, 1, the "Sportivnaya" Metro station. One of the most beautiful, delicate and sophisticated, if judged by the architectural style, the Convent strongly resisted the hordes of Khan Kazy-Girei in 1591. That was a privilege Convent, its novices were the ladies - representatives of tsar families: Tsarina Irina Godunova; the first wife and the sisters of Peter the Great, other prominent ladies from wealthy families.

    The Convent was founded by Vasily the Third, the Grand Prince of Russia in the memory of seizure of Smolensk. The sacred icon of Our Lady from Smolensk taken from the defeated Lithuanians was placed in the Convent Cathedral. It was a custom in the 16th century that all cathedrals and churches were built to resemble the style of the Dormition Cathedral of the Kremlin. The Convent comprises the brightest and widely known edifice representing the Moscow's or "Naryshkin Baroque" style, this is the Bell-Tower, which adds elegance and sophistication to the whole ensemble of Novodevichy Convent.

    Except for the southern circle of Monasteries there was another one, the northern circle. Strategically, it was of lesser importance. These monasteries accepted multiple pilgrims, who came to see the sacred Moscow's churches and cathedrals. The northern circle of monasteries stood closer to Moscow's centre, along the walls of the White Town (Bulvarnoye Koltso). However, there are only four of nine monasteries, which remain there in modern Moscow.


    (Petrovka, 28, the "Pushkinskaya", "Tverskaya", "Chekhovskaya" Metro stations), which preserved nearly all of its structures.


    The next to Petrovsky is Rozhdestvensky Monastery (Rozhdestvensky Boulvd., 8, the "Kuznetsky Most", "Tsvetnoy Bulvar", "Chystye Prudy" Metro stations). A new nunnery has been recently established here.


    A short walk along the same street may take you to one more monastery called Sretensky Monastery (B. Lubyanka St., 19, the "Turgenevskaya" Metro station). The Monastery main cathedral (12th century), and several monk cells dated by the 17th-18th centuries are the only structures remained.


    One more monastery, Zachatyevsky Convent (2nd Zachatyevsky per., 2, the "Park Kultury" "Kropotkinskaya" Metro stations) displays the only one remaining Church of Our Saviour Over the Gates. The Church was built in the best traditions of "Naryshkin Baroque" style.

    Those, who are vaguely interested in the Russian architecture and the Russian Orthodox Church will admire all the places of interest described above. It would be better, of course, to use the services of experienced guides.




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