Davydovskaya hermitage. David's Hermitage - one of the main holy places in Russia

David's Voznesenskaya hermitage, unemployed, communal, 25 versts from the city of Serpukhov, near the Lopasna River. Founded in 1515 by the disciple of St. Paphnutius of Borovsky, David (October 18, 1520), who rests here in the Znamensky chapel of the Ascension Cathedral. This is where the coffin is kept. Saint Moses Ugrin (see July 26), taken from Kyiv and given to the desert by Metropolitan Plato of Moscow. The ancient miraculous image of the All-Merciful Savior, located in the chapel near the Moskvoretsky Bridge in Moscow, belongs to the desert.

From the book by S.V. Bulgakov "Russian monasteries in 1913"



Founder of Voznesenskaya David's Desert was the Rev. David of Serpukhov. It was founded at the beginning of the 16th century. Many sources give the exact date - 1515. The Monk David and his comrades set up wooden cells and erected a wooden temple in honor of the Ascension of the Lord on the banks of the Lopasnya River. After the death of Rev. A wooden chapel was erected over David's relics.

First stone building Construction began at the end of the 16th century - a stone church in honor of the Ascension of the Lord. But with the death of Ivan IV, the Time of Troubles began, which also affected the deserts. In 1619 it was devastated by the Lithuanians.

Finally it came to the Ascension Cathedral. It remained unfinished until the second half of the 17th century. Other buildings were built in the 18th century. But due to poverty, the deserts are beginning to be assigned to one Moscow monastery, then to another. The brothers are getting smaller and smaller. This continued until the beginning of the 19th century. The heyday of David's Desert begins. New temples are being built, old ones are being repaired and decorated. New auxiliary buildings are appearing.

Since 1917, the desert has entered a new period in its history. Destroyed, plundered, destroyed... I have nothing more to add about this period. The desert revival begins in 1992. First, the cathedral was transferred in the name of the All-Merciful Savior. In 1995, a decision was made to resume monastic life. From 1997 to 1999, restoration work took place in the desert. And finally, in 2003, the Ascension Cathedral was consecrated.



Voznesenskaya Davidova dormitory men's hermitage 8 versts from the station "Sharapova Okhota" of the Moscow-Kursk railway, near the village of Barantseva, 18 versts from the district town of Serpukhov. Founded in 1515 by the locally revered David, a disciple of St. Paphnutius of Borovsk . The David's Hermitage belongs to a chapel in Moscow at the Moskvoretsky Bridge, where there is an ancient shrine - the miraculous image of the All-Merciful Savior.

There are two temples in the desert: 1) a cathedral in the name of the Ascension of the Lord, with two chapels: in honor of the Sign of the Pr. Theotokos, which is under the bell tower, and in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker; 2) above the gate, in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God. In the cathedral church, in the chapel of the Sign of the Holy Mother of God, the relics of the locally revered David rest in secret. There is also a coffin in which the body of the saint previously lay. Moses Ugrin, taken from Kiev, where his relics rest in another tomb, and given to the David Hermitage by Metropolitan Plato of Moscow.

Among the remarkable things kept in the desert are: vessels used in sacred services, made in 1598 by order of Tsarevich Feodor Borisovich. Pustyn owns 83 dessiatinas. land. Abbot. Monakhov 33, novices 17.

Denisov L.I. Orthodox monasteries Russian Empire, 1908, pp.489-490



In 1515, St. David, from the family of princes. Vyazemsky, who labored for more than 40 years in the Borovsky Monastery, in a desert area on the banks of the Lopasnya, which was in the possession of Prince. Vasily Semenovich Starodubsky, founded a monastery. By decree of Ivan the Terrible, they began to build a stone Ascension Cathedral here, but the construction was not completed. In 1619 the monastery was devastated by the Lithuanians and Circassians. At that time the monastery was the poorest. In 1657 he was assigned to the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery, then to Chudov, and in 1721 to Zlatoust. In 1727, David's Hermitage gained independence. In 1760-1778 The Khatun Spiritual Board was located in the monastery. In 1792, a hostel was introduced in the monastery and it was restored by order of Metropolitan Platon by Hieromonk Macarius.

Since the 19th century the monastery began to flourish, many stone buildings appeared; the existing architectural appearance took shape. In 1915 the monastery received the status of a second-class monastery. The growth of the monastery's prosperity was interrupted by the events of 1917. In the 1930s. The last monks left the monastery. An agricultural technical school was located on the territory of the monastery and in its buildings. The monastery cemetery where the hero's ashes rested was destroyed Patriotic War 1812 by General Dokhturov. In 1992, residents of the village formed a community, to which the Cathedral of the All-Merciful Savior was transferred. Since 1995, the monastery was re-established and its revival began. In 1997, the relics of St. David of Serpukhov were discovered. The monastery contains more than 150 pieces of relics of the holy saints of God.

Source: Directory-guide "Moscow region. Monasteries. Temples. Sources". M., UKINO " Spiritual transformation", 2008, pp. 28-30.

Monastery "Voznesenskaya St. David's Monastery" at the address: Chekhov district, Novy Byt village, Molodezhnaya street, is an object cultural heritage federal significance(previously a historical and cultural monument of republican significance) (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR dated August 30, 1960 No. 1327, Decree of the President of Russia dated February 20, 1995 No. 176). In its composition, only the Ascension Cathedral and the Assumption Gate Church are noted. The remaining buildings in the monastery ensemble are identified objects of cultural heritage (Order of the Ministry of Culture of the Moscow Region dated July 12, 2005 No. 237-r). It includes: an almshouse; hotel; carriage house; bell tower with northern gatehouse; horse yard; hospital building; residential building "A"; residential wing south-east; residential building "B"; rectory building; corps of elders; prosphora; Spassky Cathedral; fence; hotel outbuilding; Church of All Saints, with a new refectory and fraternal building; overlay chapel; northeast tower; north-west tower; southeast tower; southwest tower; fence of the southern part of the monastery.



Pustyn was assigned to the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery in 1657, and in 1667 it was excluded from its jurisdiction by decree of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In 1712, it was assigned to the Chudov Monastery, and in 1721, by definition of the Holy Synod of April 28, to the Moscow Chrysostom Monastery, whose treasury received all the lands and livestock of the desert, as well as income from the chapel at the Arbat Gate. In 1724, by determination of the Spiritual Dicastery (Synodal Office in Moscow), the sacristy of the desert was taken into the monastery.

Source: Archpriest Oleg Penezhko. "Chekhov. Temples of the Chekhov district of the Moscow region." 2001

The main restoration work in the monastery was carried out under the leadership of the architect O.V. Gaeva.



Soon after his righteous death, Abbot David was called a venerable in the synod (recorded in 1602), and several decades later - a wonderworker (recorded in 1657). This speaks of his local veneration. A wooden chapel of the image of the Mother of God “The Sign” was built over the coffin of the venerable abbot. The icon with which David came from the Borovsk monastery was placed there: his cell prayer image. It depicts the Mother of God in the same way as on the “Sign” icon - stretching out her hands in prayer, the baby Jesus is depicted in the womb: The Holy Prophets Habakkuk and Daniel are standing before the Most Holy Lady Reverend Peter and Onuphrius of Athonite. Later, the chapel was dismantled, and a bell tower was built on this site (1740), on the ground floor of which was the Znamensky Church (later the bell tower was dismantled, and a new one was built in its place, now serving as the gate to the monastery). In the 19th century veneration of the Monk David expanded. Records of his miracles were kept.

IN Soviet time When the monastery was finally closed, the authorities took the abbot's building into an agricultural technical school. The fraternal buildings housed dormitories for students. Garages and warehouses were built in the monastery churches, which had previously amazed with the grandeur of their beauty. A village club was opened in the St. Nicholas Church - a new “center of culture” with mandatory anti-religious debates, films and dances. A gym was built in the Assumption Church, a dining room was set up in the Church of All Saints, and a red flag was hoisted on the bell tower.

In the mid-1950s. a large monastery cemetery, where, in addition to monks and laymen (for example, the princes Obolensky, the hero of the war of 1812, General Dokhturov, etc.), was destroyed, the graves were excavated, and the tombstones were used for the construction of a new college dormitory. At the same time, the monastery fence was almost completely destroyed, the domes of the Ascension Cathedral, St. Nicholas, Znamensky and All Saints churches were destroyed - the authorities tried with all their might to give the monastery complex a “non-cult” appearance. Even the village, which at one time grew up next to the monastery, was symbolically named “New Life”. More than 250 particles of holy relics were collected by the abbots of the monastery within its walls.

Znamenskaya Church

How it is customary to begin a visit to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra with prayer at the relics St. Sergius in the Trinity Cathedral, so in the Davidic Hermitage it would be good to venerate the relics of David in the Znamensky Church. A direct path leads to its entrance from the gates of the monastery. The Znamensky Church stands exactly where there once was a wooden chapel over the burial place of St. David. In the middle of the 18th century. there was a small stone Church of the Sign, and in 1867-1870. a new temple was built in its place. In this temple there is a shrine with the relics of the Monk David, and everyone goes to it to kneel, pray and ask the Monk David for help.

St. Nicholas Church

The temple in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, built in the style of classicism, adjoins the Ascension Cathedral from the north. It dates back to 1804. The building is rectangular in plan, topped with pediments and a dome on a drum with a dome above it. On the eastern side of the building there is a semicircular apse, equal in width and height to the main volume of the temple. Two rows of windows cut through the space of the church, including the apse. The church has a rich decor, represented by stucco friezes, floral ornaments, garlands and masks.

Ascension Cathedral

The construction of the church began, as evidenced by the entry in the synod, on May 4, 1682. The cathedral was built on the old foundation laid by Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible. Its basement was a vast room, partly plastered, with barely noticeable traces of painting, which indicated that a lower temple was located here. From the 16th century The walls have also been partially preserved. The cathedral building is a two-tier quadrangle topped with a five-domed structure. From the east, a three-part apse adjoins the quadrangle, reaching the middle of the quadrangle. At the time of construction, the cathedral was surrounded on the western, southern and northern sides by a covered two-story gallery, and on the northeastern and southeastern ends there were chapels adjacent to it.

Cathedral of the All-Merciful Savior

Along with the monastery bell tower, this temple is one of the architectural dominants of the Danilov Hermitage. Its building is rectangular in plan, the central part of which has a massive light drum and a dome above it. The space under the dome is adjacent to the apse from the east and the refectory from the west. From the northern and southern facades, the space under the dome is highlighted by risalits, completed with four decorative domes. The walls of the cathedral are richly decorated in accordance with the requirements of the pseudo-Russian style: decorative elements stylized as keel-shaped arches, curbs, kokoshniks. The building is cut through by elongated high windows. The Cathedral of the All-Merciful Savior was built on the site of the refectory church at the end of the 19th century. With this cathedral, the revival of the monastery began after its desecration in Soviet times. In 1992, residents of the village of Novy Byt formed an Orthodox community, to which the cathedral in the name of the All-Merciful Savior was transferred. In 1995, shortly after the appointment of Hieromonk Herman as rector, the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated here on the first Saturday of Great Lent.

Church of All Saints

The one-domed All Saints Church was built shortly before the outbreak of the First World War - the last of the temples of St. Daniel's Hermitage. It contained a copy of miraculous icon The All-Merciful Savior from the assigned chapel near the Moskvoretsky Bridge.

Church of the Assumption Holy Mother of God

The second surviving building of the Danilov Hermitage in terms of construction time is the church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was built in 1740 above the northern gate of the monastery. The temple belongs to the “octagon on quadrangle” type that was widespread at that time. A faceted apse adjoins its main volume from the east, and a refectory with a gate underneath it from the west. A dome rises above the octagon, topped with a small dome on a faceted drum. The quadrangle of the temple is cut from the north and south by two rows of semi-circular windows, decorated with rectangular frames. Each face of the octagon has one window, surrounded by platbands in the form of columns with keeled ends. The corners of the temple volumes are marked with pilasters.

Bell tower

The bell tower is the dominant feature of the monastery architectural ensemble. Located in the middle of the western part of the wall surrounding the desert. The bell tower was built under the influence of the Russian-Byzantine style. On the quadrangle, in which the main gate of the monastery is located, there is an octagon; on it there is a cylindrical tier of bells; even higher is a small drum crowned with a massive head with a clock on the four cardinal directions. The facades are decorated decorative trims, threads with panels, kokoshniks. Historians have noted that the second - octagonal - tier of the bell tower imitates the ringing tier, characteristic of ancient bell towers, but it remains unclear whether it performs purely decorative functions or is intended to house bells according to the project. The current bell tower was built in the 19th century.

Source: "Voznesenskaya David's Hermitage. History. Temples. Shrines. Life of St. David." Guide.



The Voznesenskaya Davidova Hermitage is located eighty-five kilometers from Moscow and twenty-four kilometers from Serpukhov, not far from the city of Chekhov. It is located in a beautiful area on the banks of the Lopasni River, which flows into the Oka, on a high semi-mountain replete with white stone. The monastery was founded on May 31, 1515 by the Monk David, abbot of the Ascension, Serpukhov miracle worker, who came to this place with the icon of the Sign of the Mother of God with two monks and two novices. Having settled here, he set up cells, erected the first wooden churches in honor of the magnificent Ascension of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ with a chapel in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with a meal. The monk planted a linden grove near his desert.

The veneration of the Monk David began soon after his righteous death. In the synod of 1602 he is called a monk, and in documents of 1657, in addition, a miracle worker. Protected by the holy prayers of its founder, the monastery of St. David's has been around for 500 years. During this time she suffered more than once various kinds adversity and disorder, but by the grace of God, with the support of pious people, she endured them with patience and currently continues to actively recover and develop. Today the monastery has 12 inhabitants. The rector of the monastery is Abbot Sergius (Kuksov). Every day a liturgy is celebrated within the walls of the monastery.

In the Znamensky Church, before the revolution, the coffin of the Monk Moses Ugrin was kept, brought here by Moscow Metropolitan Platon (Levshin). Unfortunately, it has not survived to this day. In addition, the monastery contains more than 200 pieces of relics of saints of God, including St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, St. Sergius of Radonezh, St. John the Baptist, ap. Andrew the First-Called, military commander. Panteleimon, VMC. Varvara, MC. Tatiana, great teachers and saints, Kiev-Pechersk saints and many other revered saints of God.

Not far from the monastery, in the village of Talezh, Chekhov district, Moscow region, there is a desert courtyard. There, from underground comes an abundant source of spring water, consecrated in the name of St. David. The holy spring has quenched the thirst of numerous pilgrims for centuries. On the territory of the courtyard there is a temple in the name of St. David, baths have been set up.

Temples of the monastery

St. David, laying the foundation of the monastery, created churches in honor of the Ascension of the Lord, the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas with a meal. For many centuries, churches in Rus' were mainly wooden. This applied to both parish churches and monastic ones. Only the richest monasteries could build stone temples. The Davidic Hermitage was no exception to the general rule.

In the first decades of the existence of the Davidic Desert, all its churches were built of wood. Already under the Monk David there were two of them, and the cathedral Church of the Ascension had a chapel. As the monastery synodik of 1602 testifies, the founder of the monastery “erect a church in the name of the divine Ascension of the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, in the limit erecting the church of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and the Ever-Virgin Mary of Her honorable and glorious Dormition, and with the meal erect a church in the name of in the saints of our father St. Nicholas the Wonderworker." These ancient temples, like all the later ones wooden buildings, have not been preserved. In 1600, at the expense of abbot Leonid, a new wooden Ascension Church was erected, which, presumably, replaced the dilapidated and dismantled church of the time of St. David, which was subsequently moved to the village of Legchishchevo. According to the inventory of 1627-1628. In the monastery there was a wooden church in honor of the Ascension of the Lord with a chapel in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with a refectory. In 1657, on the territory of the monastery there was a wooden tented church of the Ascension of the Lord “with three peaks” with two altars in the chapels in the name of the Assumption Mother of God and St. Nicholas, the Znamenskaya Chapel, in which the relics of St. David rested hidden, a wooden bell tower with five bells, outbuildings and a fence, as well as the unfinished stone Ascension Cathedral.

History of buildings

In 1627-1628 In addition to the temples, David's hermitage had an abbot's cell, three brethren's cells, a bakery, a cookhouse, a stable yard, and near it a linden grove, and under the monastery there was arable land.

In 1657 the monastery had next view: it was surrounded by a fence, near the monastery there was a linden grove, and between the grove and the fence there was a garden with apple trees. Behind the monastery there is a farmyard where the janitor lived.

According to the inventory of 1745, there is a stone fence around the monastery, in many places it is dilapidated and has collapsed, there are two gates - one holy, the other on the right side for roadways. The front and rear abbot cells are made of stone with stone vestibules. Opposite them on the right side is a stone state cell, and in it there are state charters and decrees, printed and written, fortresses and extracts of courtyards and land and payment inventories on sheets and on columns and all sorts of letters, a box and two boxes, as well as copper and tin utensils. Under the abbot's and state's cells there are empty cells. At the holy gate, going to the monastery on the right side, there are two fraternal stone cells with stone vestibules about two dwellings. Under the church and under the altar there are winter cellars. Under the refectory and under the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker there is a bakery with a canopy, under the altar there is a tent for flour. On the corner there is a stone tower built instead of a kvass brewery. The cellar is stone and wooden. A wooden dryer with a supply of oat and barley cereals, hemp seeds and peas. Four granaries. Behind the monastery there is a stable yard with a wooden mansion on it. There is a cattle yard, there are five huts on it, in which monastic servants of various services live.

According to the inventory of 1764, the stone structure of the desert: cells, about two apartments, in the upper one - the abbot's cell and the brother's cell, in the lower - the brethren's cells, two malthouses and a pantry; other cells were located near the fence. Wooden structure: kitchen, cellar, five granaries. In the monastery there is a pond around 80 fathoms and a garden, and in it there are 15 apple trees and 78 beehives. There is a dilapidated stone fence around the monastery. Near the monastery there are stables and cattle yards, with two huts; there is a linden grove, near the grove there is a monastery humen and a hay barn. On the Lopasni River there is a mill with three stands, on the banks of the Lopasni River there is a Krugloe lake, and in it there is fish for the monastery’s use, on the Rodinka River there are two monastic ponds.

At this time, “David’s Hermitage - according to its abbot, Abbot Gideon - fell into considerable disrepair: like the roofs of holy churches and cells and the monastery fence walls, everything became dilapidated and collapsed in many places.” Monastic inventories give reason to believe that churches and other buildings were renovated around 1788.

At the end of the 18th century, the Khatun Spiritual Board was located in the David Hermitage, whose members were a builder and two priests chosen by local clergy. It was located in 1762 in two abbot winter cells with vestibules, covered with planks, with stone vaults, “ascending into the monastery directly from the holy gates.” It existed before 1760 and is mentioned before 1788.

In the 19th century, along with the beautification of holy churches, various monastic buildings were maintained: some of them were repaired, others were destroyed, and new ones were erected in their place. Thus, under Abbot Gennady (1833-1836), the abbot’s cell was covered with iron. Hegumen Paisiy (1843-1854) in 1845 “took the fence at an angle of 50 degrees, and built a tower on the corner. The old fence to the west was dismantled. The appearance of the monastery to the west has completely changed.” He also built two ponds. He finished a new sacristy between two churches (“but it’s done intricately”). On the other side of the bell tower, a guardhouse and a gate to the horse yard were built, while the old fence with a gate, which was attached to the old turret, was dismantled.

In 1848, a fraternal two-story stone building with 20 cells and a fence were built near the garden inside the monastery to the southwestern corner, where in former times there was a pond. A wooden hotel with 10 rooms was built opposite the southwestern tower. A northwestern corner three-story tower and a stone barnyard were built instead of the first old one that burned down in 1846, which was opposite the northwestern corner of the tower, and the second, newly built on the site of the current barnyard, which burned down in 1848, a pond was dug near the barnyard .

In 1851, the eastern part of the monastery was extended 15 fathoms further to the east; the ditch that was in that place was filled in, and subsequently everything was occupied by a garden. The north-eastern side of the monastery was built, starting from the Assumption Church, where stone prosphora, a bakery, a kvass factory, cellars with storage rooms above them, cellars, grain barns were erected in the corner north-eastern tower with outbuildings.

In 1852, the entire eastern side with the corner half-tower, in which seven cells were placed, and part of the fence near the garden were completed. In 1853, between the Ascension and St. Nicholas churches, a sacristy with a library was built, where up to 500 volumes of books were placed, and the former sacristy near the altar of the cathedral church on the south-eastern corner was connected by an altar with a southern porch. Under Abbot Varlaam (1854-1865), a third floor was added to the old two-story building and a stone fraternal bathhouse was built on the Lopasna River with a lower underground passage into it from the monastery. In 1885, all the roofs of the monastery were painted copper green and various other repairs and corrections were made to the buildings. In 1886, the barnyard was covered and built, different rooms sheds for storing firewood, the monastery fence was cleared of dilapidated plank roof and covered with iron, in the monastery itself the ditches and pits were filled up and the place was leveled, made stone wall for a garden with stone pillars, an overgrown pond near the barnyard was cleared. The laundry room with the yard, the greenhouse were rebuilt and various corrections were made.

In 1888 it was established brickworks. A two-story stone house with a mezzanine for the barnyard servants was erected again and covered with iron. In 1889, a wooden outbuilding with six rooms with a mezzanine was built again on a stone foundation and covered with iron for visitors to the monastery, and other improvements were made to the hotel courtyard. A new stone cellar with a storage room was built to save the barnyard. A two-story stone hotel was started in rough form and rebuilt with 16 rooms for pilgrims, and other dilapidated areas were put in order.

In 1890, the following buildings were completed: a two-story stone hotel was finished inside, the front side was plastered, floors, ceilings, bulkheads, frames were put in place. The entrance is set on a stone staircase, cast iron with a decent umbrella and the unfinished stone work is roughly completed this year. A new stone hospice building with a kitchen section for visitors to the desert with a mezzanine was built and covered with iron.

In 1891, a monastery fence was erected on the southwestern side and a stone one-story outbuilding for elderly honored elders was built next to it, which was covered with iron and plastered inside and out. Stone house for visitors to the desert, the inside is decorated and plastered, surrounded by a stone fence with stables and two sheds, which are covered with iron.

Finally, it should be noted that from the middle of the 19th century, a beekeeper with such a system of hives was established at the monastery, which at beekeepers' exhibitions deserved to be awarded a large silver medal in 1867, and a gold medal in 1868.

In October 1929, the monastery was closed. The abbot's building was taken over as an agricultural technical school. Dormitories for students were located in the fraternal buildings; garages and warehouses were installed in the churches of the monastery, which previously amazed with the grandeur of their beauty. A village club was opened in the St. Nicholas Church, a gym was located in the Assumption Church, and a dining room was located in the Church of All Saints. A red banner was hoisted on the bell tower. A large monastery cemetery, where, in addition to monks, lay people were buried, existed in the mid-1950s. destroyed, the graves were excavated, and the tombstones were used as the foundation of a new college dormitory. The monastery fence was almost completely destroyed, the domes on the Cathedral, Nikolsky, Znamensky and the Church of All Saints were destroyed. The monastery complex was given a “non-cult appearance” with all its might. The memory of the glorious past was erased. The new authorities tried to establish a new “culture”, a new “spirituality”, to make people forget the faith of their fathers, their roots. Even the village that grew up next to the monastery was renamed “New Life”.

In 1992, the cathedral in the name of the All-Merciful Savior was transferred to the Orthodox community formed in the village of Novy Byt. This was the beginning of the revival of the monastery. On January 11, 1995, Hieromonk German (Khaputin) became the rector of the Church of the Ascension on the territory of the former David's Hermitage, and on June 1, 1995, Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna announced the decision to resume monastic life in the David's Hermitage. At the same time, Hieromonk Herman was elevated to the rank of abbot and was given the abbot's staff.

David's hermitage was in a deplorable state. The monastery complex was used for completely different purposes than it was intended for: 13 families lived in the desert, and an agricultural technical school and a catering canteen were also located here. Father Herman settled in the corner monastery tower. Time passed, and the ancient monastery gradually came to life. In the winter of 1997, work began on the restoration of the Znamensky Church. Happy event for the brethren and parishioners happened in April 1998: a bell weighing 1 ton was donated to the monastery. On June 5 of the same year, on the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord, he was raised to the bell tower.

By the end of 1999, the monastery fence, the domes of the Cathedrals of the All-Merciful Savior and the Ascension of the Lord, St. Nicholas and Znamenskaya churches were partially restored in the David Hermitage.

Currently, the monastery continues to be actively restored. Much has already been done, the abbot’s building has been restored, the monastery cemetery has been put in order. The territory of the monastery is beautified and expanded. Once upon a time there was a pond in the middle of the monastery, which not only decorated the monastery, but also collected groundwater. It has currently been restored. It is necessary to build a hotel complex for pilgrims, as well as an almshouse for retired clergy. Buildings for a hotel and Sunday school. In addition, it is planned to restore the underground passage to the Lopasna River, built in the mid-19th century.

On the eastern and southern sides of the old cathedral there was a fairly extensive monastery cemetery, in which, in addition to the brethren of the monastery, strangers were buried. Here were the graves of Infantry General Dmitry Sergeevich Dokhturov (1759-1816), a participant in the wars of 1805-1815, the Obolensky princes, Lieutenant Colonel P. I. Zybina, Captain I. I. Sokolov, sibling Archimandrite Paisiy, Chufarovskys, Kochetovs and others. Unfortunately, the cemetery was destroyed in the mid-50s. 20th century, the graves were excavated, and the tombstones were used as the foundation of a new dormitory for the agricultural technical school, which was located on the territory of the monastery after its closure in 1929. After the resumption of monastic life at the monastery, the monastery cemetery began to be restored, and on October 26, 1999, the remains of those who were once buried in the monastery were reburied cemetery of Infantry General D.S. Dokhturov, hero of the Patriotic War of 1812.

Based on materials from: http://www.davidova-pustyn.ru



According to the scribe books of the Moscow district of 1627 - 28. in the Khatun volost: “the monastery is the mansion of Davydov (David) desert, and on the monastery there is the Church of the Ascension of Christ, and in the chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with a meal, a wooden, klettsky, monastery building and parish people, and on the monastery there is a stone church of the Resurrection of Christ and the Most Pure Virgin Mary of the Assumption , was begun to be done in blessed memory under Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, but was not completed, and the building was the sovereign’s; Yes, at the monastery there is an abbot’s cell and 3 brethren’s cells; Yes, in the monastery there is a bakery and a fraternal cookhouse, in the monastery there is a stable yard, and near the stable yard there is a grove of linden trees all around; and under the monastery the monastery's arable land was plowed 50 quarters... of hay on the Lopasna River 300 kopecks, a linden grove near the monastery 15 dessiatines... on the Lopasna River a mill... In total, the Davydov Hermitages in the Khatunsky volost village and 8 villages, and 11 wastelands, in them 55 peasant households yes 11 bobyl households... plowed fields with arable fallow land and forest land 1220 cheti with half-osmina in the field, hay 770 kopecks, uncultivated forest 33 dessiatines and forest and groves 18 dessiatines.”

Summer 1657 August 7, “by decree of the great sovereign, His Holiness Nikon, Patriarch of Moscow and all great and small Russia, and by order of memory from his sovereign patriarchal rank, with the signature of clerk Ivan Kalitin, clerk Yakov Yakovlev went to the Moscow district, to Khatunskaya volost, in the David's Hermitage, and having arrived, in that desert he copied the churches and in the churches of God of Mercy - local images, Deesis, prophets, forefathers, censers, chandeliers, books, vestments, bells on the bell tower and all kinds of church utensils, and in the monastery the sovereign's grants letters and fortresses, all kinds of dishes and in the monastery brothers, servants and servants by name, in dryers and granaries bread and all kinds of table supplies and cooking vessels, in the stables and in the oxen yards horses, oxen, cows and all small animals, and under the monastery in settlements and in monastic estates of peasants and peasants and their brothers, nephews and neighbors by name and nickname, in granaries milked bread and in the fields in stacks not milked, arable land and all sorts of land, and having rewritten that monastery of David's hermitage, the new sovereign patriarch refused to build to the Resurrection Monastery on the Istra River. At the monastery, the chapel is wooden, and in it the image of the Most Pure Mother of God Hodegetria and the Deesis on one side are written in green. Yes, the Rev. rests in that chapel. Father David is hidden, on the tomb the cover is black cloth, among the silver cross. There are 4 cells in the monastery, and in them the treasurer is Elder Joseph, 2 black priests Harlapey and Ephraim; 4 ordinary elders, 4 servants, a groom, a baker and a church sexton. At the monastery there is a bell tower, cut into timber, with a tent up, on it there are 5 bells, an evangelist weighing 47 pounds, another 7 pounds. 16 hryvnia, the third - 5 pounds, 2 small bells, one for a pood, the other for half a pood. To the monastery of David's desert in the estate in the Khatun volost of the village of Levchishchevo, and in it the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord God and Our Savior Jesus Christ, and in the chapel of the Great Martyr. Paraskeva, called Friday."

In January 1728, a decree on the construction of the throne, the Ascension Monastery of the David Hermitage, was sealed to Abbot Jacob, according to his petition, the abbot, ordered “in that desert in the warm Nikolaev church, on the throne, instead of an old robe, put a new robe, and in the cold Ascension Church, instead old throne, rebuild the throne in the name of the Ascension of the Lord and initiate the dedication according to the order; duties 3 altyn 2 money, the most necessary ¼ taken.”

Hegumen of the David's Hermitage Jacob and his brothers, in a petition submitted to the Synodal Treasury Order on March 7, 1732, wrote: “in our Ascension Monastery, which is known as the David’s Hermitage, in the Moscow district, in the Khatun tithe, there is a Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and on it The head of the church has collapsed and its vaults are collapsing, and in the Church of God and in the altar the floors have all fallen and burned and it is impossible to serve divine services in it, and the holy stone gates have collapsed. And so that it was commanded that this church, due to its dilapidation, be dismantled and built again over the holy gates and that a decree be given to them about that structure.”

As a result of this petition, the Synodal Treasury Order wrote: “in the scribe and census books of the Moscow district in the Khatun tithe of the Ascension Monastery, the David’s Hermitage is not written.” Resolution: “On the 2nd day of April 1732, by Her decree Imperial Majesty and with the blessing of the Holy Governing Synod, give a decree about dismantling the old church and rebuilding it on the gates.” That same year, in April, No. 216, a decree was issued from the Synodal Treasury Order to Abbot Jacob on the construction of a church.

1764 inventory of the Ascension Monastery, called David’s Hermitage, compiled by Lieutenant Andrei Pisarev, which says: “This hermitage, located near the Lopasna River, is 75 away from Moscow, and from the mountains. Serpukhov is 20 versts away; According to what decrees this monastery was built, in what year and under what sovereign - there is no news about this in the monastery. The charter of grant for this monastery and of this monastery for the estates was given the first of blessed memory from the sovereign Tsar and Grand Duke John Vasilyevich, which in 1619 in the royal parish, as the Lithuanian people and Cherkassy stood in this monastery, disappeared, instead of which, at the request of this monastery, Abbot Anthony and his brothers, was given the second in April 1625 on the 1st day, signed by the Tsar and Grand Duke Mikhail Fedorovich of blessed memory with his own hand. In this desert there are two stone churches, they have 4 altars: - the cathedral church in the name of the Ascension of the Lord with 5 chapters, with 2 chapels: the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos, which is under the bell tower, and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, in it the stove is very dilapidated; there are 18 windows in the cathedral, in the chapels of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker 6 and in Znamensky 2, all of them with glass endings... The cathedral church and the chapels are covered with planks and painted, and the domes are upholstered with wooden scales. At this church there is a stone bell tower with one chapter, there are 8 bells on it, and since there are no signatures in them weighing pounds; Yes, she is wearing a Russian watch. Under this church there is a bread chamber and two cellars. Around the church, from the side chapel and under the bell tower, the measure of land is 11 fathoms long and crosswise. - The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is on the holy gates, with a meal, about 1 chapter, is covered with planks, painted, and the chapter is covered with tiles; in the church, the iconostasis of the carpentry is silvered, about 3 tiers... In the same desert there are stone buildings: cells 15 fathoms long and 5 fathoms wide, about 2 apartments, in the upper - the abbot's cell and the brother's cell, in the lower - the brother's cells, 2 malthouses and pantry room; near the fence of the cell about 2 apartments. Wooden structure: kitchen, cellar, 5 granaries. In this monastery there is a pond around 80 fathoms, a garden, there are 15 apple trees and 78 beehives. Around the monastery there is a dilapidated stone fence measuring 221 fathoms. Near the monastery there are stables and cattle yards, with 2 huts; linden grove on 7 acres; Near the grove there is a monastery husk and a hay barn. On the Lopasna River there is a mill with 3 frames; on the bank of the Lopasnya River there is a lake called Krugloye, in which there is fish for the monastery’s use. In Moscow, at the Arbat Gate, there is a stone chapel, which was granted to this hermitage in 1681. for correction in the monastery of candles, palms and church wine; From this chapel there is an income of up to 10 rubles a year.”

Kholmogorov V.I., Kholmogorov G.I. “Historical materials about churches and villages of the 17th - 18th centuries.” Issue 7, Przemysl and Khotun tithes of the Moscow district. Moscow, University Printing House, Strastnoy Boulevard, 1889

David's Hermitage (Russia) - description, history, location. The exact address, phone, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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In the Moscow region, not far from the city of Chekhov, on the banks of the Lopasnya River there is one of the most beautiful and ancient monasteries in Russia - the Ascension David's Hermitage. The monastery was founded in 1515 by David of Serpukhov. During its existence, David's Hermitage has experienced a lot - times of prosperity, decline and even complete oblivion. Today the Davidova Hermitage greets visitors in all its glory: the monastery has been completely restored.

David of Serpukhovskaya came from the famous princely family of Vyazemsky. While still a very young guy, he decided to give his life to serving God. Already in old age, together with four assistants, David built two churches, a cell and a refectory. The oldest building is considered to be the stone Ascension Cathedral (16th century). Of course, it subsequently underwent reconstruction, but the very first masonry still survived. Interestingly, David planted a linden alley not far from the temple. To demonstrate the power of God, he planted trees with their roots up and they were all accepted. After his death, the founder of David’s desert began to come to many people in dreams, help them and heal them.

During the Time of Troubles in 1619, the Davidov Hermitage was plundered by the Lithuanians and Cossacks. The temple was restored only a few years later. At the end of the 17th century, things got better - this was the heyday of the monastery. In the 18th century, as a result of the reforms of Peter I, the Davidic Hermitage gradually fell into decay. Already in the 20th century - in 1929 - it was completely closed, some monks came under repression. A red flag was hoisted on the bell tower; the church buildings now housed a dining room, a club, a gym and warehouses. In the 50s of the 20th century, the monastery cemetery was destroyed - the graves were excavated, and the tombstones were used for the foundation of the technical school dormitory.

Only 63 years later, the Davidic hermitage begins to come to life - the cathedral in the name of the All-Merciful Savior was transferred to the Orthodox community in the village of Novy Byt. True, the recovery did not go very smoothly. In the 90s, an agricultural technical school and rural administration were located on the territory of the monastery. The rector of the David Hermitage, Father German, faced many problems, but still did not give up on the idea of ​​restoring the monastery. In 1995, unknown persons killed Herman for profit - they robbed the monastery safe.

All the churches of David's Desert are painted in bright, cheerful colors. Znamenskaya Church - orange, St. Nicholas Church - yellow, Ascension Cathedral - white, Assumption Church - pink, Church of All Saints - yellow.

There are still disputes about how the monastery was restored. The fact is that in the 90s, people with dubious reputations donated money to the David’s Hermitage, for example Anton Malevsky and Gennady Nedoseka. Now you can see their luxurious graves in the local cemetery. Malevsky was at one time the “aluminum king” of Russia and the leader of the Izmailovo criminal group, Nedoseka - former manager administration of the Chekhov district with not the best reputation. Nevertheless, largely thanks to the help of these people, it was possible to save David’s hermitage. As they say, judge not, lest ye be judged.

Practical information

Address: Moscow region, Chekhov district, Novy Byt village. You can get to the David's Desert by car or public transport. From Kursky station you need to get to Chekhov station, then take bus number 36 to the village of Novy Byt. You can also take intercity bus No. 428 Moscow - Nerastnoye directly to the village from the Yuzhnaya metro station. By car - along the Simferopol highway (M2) to the intersection with A108, left turn to Kashira, then left turn following the sign.

Visitors to the monastery must be dressed appropriately: men in shorts may not be allowed into the church; women must have headscarves with them.

Address: pos. Novy Byt, Chekhovsky district, Moscow region

    Voznesenskaya Davidova- male dormitory desert, unemployed. Located in Moscow province, in the 18th century. from the city of Serpukhov, near the village. Barantseva. Founded in 1515. There are two churches. The relics of the locally revered David rest in the monastery... Complete Orthodox Theological Encyclopedic Dictionary

    This term has other meanings, see Pustyn (meanings). Hermitage is a term denoting a monastic settlement in the Orthodox tradition, usually a monastery remote from the main monastery. Previously, deserts were called small men's... ... Wikipedia

    DAVIDOV IN HONOR OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD MEN'S DESERT- (Moscow diocese), located in the village. New Life in Chekhov district in the Moscow region. According to the entry in the synod of 1602, D. p. was founded by St. David of Serpukhov, who, together with 2 elders and 2 “simple men”, settled in the desert on May 31, 1515... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia

    Moscow bishopric, in the vicinity of Serpukhov, near the river. Lopasne. Founded in 1515 by a student of St. Paphnutius of Borovsky by David (sc. 1520), who rested here in the Znamensky chapel of the Ascension Cathedral. The coffin of St. Petersburg was also kept here. Moses Ugrin, taken... ... Russian history

    This term has other meanings, see Zosimova Pustyn. Monastery of the Trinity Odigitrievskaya Zosimova Monastery ... Wikipedia

    Monastery of Catherine Hermitage ... Wikipedia

    Panorama of the Ascension David's Hermitage Ascension of David's Hermitage Monastery of the Moscow Patriarchate; located on the high right bank of the Lopasni River (a tributary of the Oka River), on the territory of the ancient Khatun volost, next to the current ... ... Wikipedia

    Transfiguration Cathedral, Nikolo Ugreshsky Monastery, Dzerzhinsky ... Wikipedia

    Monastic deanery district of the Moscow Russian Diocese Orthodox Church unites 12 male and 12 female monasteries. Dean of the district since December 10, 2004, Bishop of Serpukhov Roman (Gavrilov), rector of Vysotsky men’s... ... Wikipedia

Books

  • David's Hermitage, N.P. Vinogradov. Voznesenskaya second-grade dormitory of the David Hermitage, Serpukhov district, Moscow province. The book is a reprint edition of 1915 (publishing house Rus. Printing House (B.V....
  • Voznesenskaya second-clave hostel of David's hermitage, Serpukhov district, Moscow province 1515-1915. , Without author. Reproduced in the original author's spelling of the 1915 edition (Moscow publishing house). IN…

Ascension David's Hermitage- monastery of the Moscow Patriarchate; located on the high right bank of the Lopasni River (a tributary of the Oka River) on the territory of the ancient Khatunsky volost near the current village of Novy Byt, Chekhov district, Moscow region.

Story

The monastery was founded on May 31 (June 10), 1515 by the Monk David (†September 19 (29), 1529), which is recorded in the monastery synodik of 1602 (due to some inconsistencies in the record, the indicated founding date raises doubts about its authenticity). The lands on which the desert was founded belonged to Prince Vasily Starodubsky, godfather of Vasily III.

The same synodikon indicates that David planted a linden grove next to the monastery.

According to monastic tradition, on August 15 (25), 1515, the brethren were visited by the Monk Joseph of Volotsky, who blessed the foundation of the monastery.

During troubled times in 1619, the monastery was destroyed by the Lithuanians and Cossacks under the leadership of Hetman Peter Sagaidachny. The activities of the monastery were resumed only on April 1 (10), 1625, when Mikhail Fedorovich issued a charter granting benefits to the monastery.

In 1657, Patriarch Nikon assigned it to the New Jerusalem Resurrection Monastery. At that time, the treasurer, two hieromonks, five ordinary elders, four servants, a groom, a baker and a belet (church sexton) lived in the desert. Ten years later, in 1667, by decree of Alexei Mikhailovich, the hermitage was excluded from the New Jerusalem Monastery. The last third of the 17th century is the most prosperous time in the history of the Davidic Desert. The monastery had a courtyard in Moscow on Ordynka Street since 1664, and since 1689 a monastery chapel at the Arbat Gate. Monastic properties were located in Moscow and Kolomensky districts, Serpukhov. For example, in the Moscow district by 1700, the hermitage owned 95 peasant households.

In the 18th century, prosperity gave way to decline. As a result of Peter's reforms, the income of the monasteries went to the state treasury and only part of it was returned to the brethren. In 1712 the hermitage was assigned to the Chudov Monastery; from 1721 to 1727 - to Zlatoustovsky. In 1764, after the introduction of monastic states, the hermitage became supernumerary, that is, it was maintained at its own expense, but without the possessions taken into the treasury. On March 17, 1767, the Chapel of Christ the Savior (All-Merciful Savior) at the Moskvoretsky Bridge in Moscow (formerly building 29 on Moskvoretskaya Street) was added to the monastery; The chapel was demolished in 1966 during the completion of the Rossiya Hotel. In the chapel there was a particularly revered miraculous image of the All-Merciful Savior, therefore the chapel brought in considerable income.

In 1792-1796, Metropolitan of Moscow Platon (Levshin) and the abbot of the Nikolo-Peshnoshsky Monastery, Hieromonk Macarius (Bryushkov), established a cenobitic charter in the David Hermitage.

The following were buried on the monastery territory: commander General D.S. Dokhturov († 1816), representatives of the princely and noble families of Obolensky, Romodanovsky, Vasilchikov, Golovkin and others.

In 1915, the 400th anniversary of the monastery was celebrated in Moscow and Serpukhov, in commemoration of which the David’s Hermitage was assigned a second class.

The monastery was finally closed in October 1929. The brethren of the monastery were partly repressed, partly dispersed.

Currently

In 1992, residents of the village of Novy Byt formed an Orthodox community, to which the cathedral in the name of the All-Merciful Savior was transferred.

In 1995, on the first Saturday of Great Lent, the first Liturgy was celebrated.

On June 1, 1995, the Holy Synod decided to form a monastic community; the previously appointed rector, Hieromonk German (Vyacheslav Nikolaevich Khapugin) was elevated to the rank of abbot.

Relics

The monastery contains more than 200 pieces of relics of saints of God. A particle of the Nail of Christ’s Crucifixion is kept in a specially constructed ark in the monastery. In the cathedral, consecrated in honor of the icon of the All-Merciful Savior, the reliquaries contain particles of the Chiton of the Savior and a particle of the Robe of the Theotokos. Also stored here:

  • particles of the relics of the apostles and evangelists Mark, Luke and Matthew;
  • a particle of the holy relics of the Monk Moses Ugrin, the Kiev-Pechersk wonderworker;
  • a particle of the head of the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky;
  • a piece of the relics of Herman of Alaska;
  • a particle of the relics of the Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker;
  • a particle of the relics of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow;
  • the relics of Isaiah, Bishop of Rostov;
  • relics of St. Demetrius of Rostov;
  • the relics of the Venerable Archimandrite Abraham of Rostov;
  • the relics of St. Ignatius, Bishop of Rostov;
  • the relics of Saint and Wonderworker Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra;
  • the relics of St. Nikita the Stylite, Pereslavl miracle worker;
  • relics of St. David of Thessalonica;
  • relics of the holy infants of Bethlehem;
  • relics of the holy martyr Nikolai Lyubomudrov;
  • the relics of St. Ferapont of Luzhetsky, Mozhaisk miracle worker;
  • the honorable head of one of the venerable martyrs of Kiev-Zverenetsky;
  • particles of the relics of other holy relics of God's saints who shone in ancient times and in modern times.

Russia is famous for its Orthodox shrines. One of the oldest is the Ascension David's Hermitage. Today we will talk about the history of its origin, the most convenient way to get there, as well as what services one of the most ancient Christian monasteries in the Moscow region carries out today.

Where is

The address of the Ascension David Hermitage is Moscow region, the village of Novy Byt, Molodezhnaya street, 7.

This village is located in the Chekhov district and is 80 kilometers away from the center of Moscow, if you move south. Historically, there were no settlements here, and the area was a kind of wasteland. With the advent of a monastic monastery here, a small linden park appeared, and the coast of the Lopasny River was greatly transformed, but more on that later.

How to get to the Ascension David Hermitage

By Moscow standards, the distance between the capital and the monastery is not very large, but to overcome it you will have to endure public transport and a couple of transfers between the metro, train and bus.

Action 1. Get to Chekhov.

First, you need to get to the Kursky railway station in Moscow and purchase a ticket for suburban trains. Any Moscow-Chekhov train will do. The average travel time is 1-1.5 hours, and the ticket price will be about 200 rubles.

You can also get to the district center by other public transport. A regular bus leaves from the Yuzhnaya metro station every 15 minutes. If you use it, the travel time will be from 50 minutes to 1.5 hours. Ticket price is 70-150 rubles.

Act 2. Chekhov - Ascension David's Hermitage.

The remaining distance can be covered by bus No. 428. You need to get off at the “Novy Byt” stop.

History of appearance

The appearance of the Ascension David Hermitage dates back to 1515. This date is quite controversial, since its only confirmation is an entry in an ancient monastic document - a church synodik.

Church texts have many discrepancies, which casts doubt the exact date the beginning of the history of the Ascension David's Hermitage Monastery.

However, the official version is this: at the beginning of the 16th century, the Orthodox missionary David, who at that time was already an abbot and also famous for his healing abilities, founded a small monastic monastery 20 kilometers from the city of Serpukhov. To prove the power of his own spiritual experience, as well as the greatness of the confessed God, David planted a linden alley.

Interesting fact: linden could not take root in this area. The soil on which the Ascension David Hermitage stands is saturated with limestone and white hard stone. In addition, according to legend, the monk planted the sprouts with their roots facing up in order to maintain the purity of the experiment. This idea was conceived for missionary purposes in order to prove to skeptics one of the biblical postulates that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, then you can move mountains.

Oddly enough, the idea was a success. The linden alley amazed with its beauty and left its traces, which were found 500 years after its appearance.

Since then, the Ascension David's Monastery appeared.

Saint David - who is he?

Historians and theologians raise many questions about the identity of the Monk David himself, in whose honor the monastic monastery is named.

This Orthodox saint is unknown to most Christians, but his personality is quite interesting. The founder of the Ascension David Hermitage in the Chekhov region came from the Vyazemsky princes and had the worldly name Daniil. His aristocratic origin and upbringing gave birth in the soul of the future miracle worker to a special love for people and a desire to know God. He took monastic vows and took the new name David.

The young monk became a good spiritual example for other ministers. He was kind-hearted, strong love to God, steadfastness in fasting and prayer.

After 40 years spent in the Borovsk monastery, David went on a mission to found his own monastery. Having enlisted the support of two more monks and captured the icon of the Mother of God, the future saint founded the Ascension David Hermitage, consisting of a wooden church of several small cells.

The exact date of the saint’s death has not been preserved, but most Orthodox historians believe that the saint passed away into eternity 5 years after the founding of the new monastery.

Greatness and decline

The history of the Ascension David Hermitage has seen the best and worst periods of its existence. The history of the monastery is generally characterized by a cyclical existence with rapid ups and equally sharp declines.

  • During the Time of Troubles, the monastery was devastated by Polish and Lithuanian invaders, which interrupted the work of the largest Orthodox monastery for 6 years.
  • The end of the 17th century is the real dawn of the Ascension Davidic Hermitage. The monastery received benefits from the king. The monastery owned several farmsteads, including in Moscow, as well as several serf yards with a large number of workers.
  • The next crisis came during the reign of Emperor Peter the Great. His reforms were deprived Christian churches all benefits, and also obliged to pay a very serious tax to the treasury. As a result, all third-party possessions, icons and books of the Ascension David Hermitage were taken into state ownership.
  • The final demise of the monastery occurred during the establishment of Soviet power. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Red occupation came to the church and most of the brethren were killed. Those who escaped shackles and execution without trial fled, trying to save their lives from terror.

As a result of actions new government the monastery turned into warehouses, museums and the village administration building.

An Orthodox community appeared in the village of Novy Byt, which was given the buildings of the Ascension David’s Hermitage for use. Of course, it was not without difficulties. One of the religious buildings was occupied by the village administration. In 1992, a struggle began for the expulsion of officials from the monastic monastery, which ended in the unconditional victory of the Orthodox initiative group.

Skeptics' objections

Since then, a long journey of reconstruction and repair of ancient knowledge began. There are critics who questioned the integrity of the restoration work. The fact is that the repairs were carried out using funds donated by people. Among the donors were not entirely honest citizens, politicians with a bad reputation, and even open criminals. Despite the indignation of individual citizens, discontent cannot be recognized as justified, based on the postulate: “judge not, lest ye be judged.”

Architectural ensemble

Today the monastery has been completely restored; the Ascension David’s Hermitage is a complex of beautiful and majestic temples and buildings for applied purposes.

The architectural ensemble includes the following buildings:

  • Ascension Cathedral;
  • Znamenskaya Church;
  • St. Nicholas Church;
  • Assumption Church;
  • Spassky Cathedral;
  • All Saints Church;
  • Bell tower;
  • fraternal corps;
  • superstructure chapel;
  • abbot's corps.

Among other things, on the territory of the Holy Ascension David Hermitage you can find several interesting monuments. These include:

  • monument at the grave of the head of the Chekhov district G. M. Nedoseki;
  • monument at the grave of General D.S. Dokhturov;
  • graves of the desert companions.

Also at the entrance you can find a monastery hotel where pilgrims or just random travelers can spend the night.

After 500 years of existence of the Ascension David Hermitage Monastery, we can say that the monastery has reached its peak. Restored temple buildings, a pond with swans, a clean park - all this immerses you in deep thoughts, which should come in such places.

Monastery today

Currently, the monks have begun to revive the old traditions of social service. To the extent possible, the monastery also helps Chekhovsky orphanage, and the district hospital, and rural schools, and kindergartens.

The local abbot regularly attends city events, where he speaks and gives talks on spiritual topics. Among other things, the monastery regularly sends parcels to prisoners in prisons and receives help from people who want to take part in such social service.

The monastery is waiting for those who are ready to spend their time and energy to help their neighbors, and accepts all forms of support. You can help not only financially. There is a long list of essential items that are sent to prisons. They include canned food, notebooks, hygiene items, books and much more. Among other things, churches need constant support. Anyone who wants to escape from the bustle of the world can come to the monastery and accept obedience for any period of time. Often this form of work allows you to relax and put your thoughts in order, no worse than a vacation on the seashore.

Relics and shrines

The Ascension David's Hermitage is a real treasure trove of various kinds Orthodox shrines. The most significant, perhaps, is a piece of metal to which a piece of that same nail from the Calvary cross is attached. It was used during the execution of Jesus Christ.

Among other things, here you can find more than two hundred relics found not only in Russia, but also abroad. For those who believe in the healing power of this form of Orthodox shrines, the Ascension Davidic Hermitage will become a powerful source in strengthening their faith.

All shrines are accessible to parishioners and pilgrims. The very first relics that remained from the body of the ancient Jewish prophet Elisha had such divine power that they could revive the dead. Evidence of this is reflected in the Old Testament, so the monastery firmly holds on to the traditions of the past, which carry Christian teaching.

Working hours

The monastery doors open at 7 am, 45 minutes before the start of the first liturgy. Services are held daily morning and evening. Early congregational prayers are also available for pilgrims, which take place at 5 am.

The schedule of services may change from time to time, so it is better to clarify this information promptly.

Orthodox Christians who dream of immersing themselves in the atmosphere of ancient beliefs can spend here from several days to a couple of weeks. The hotel at the temple welcomes pilgrims at any time of the year. For those who go on a spiritual journey with children, a Sunday school is available on the territory of the monastery.

Classes consist of the child’s participation in Divine Liturgy, spiritual pursuits, study Holy Scripture, acquaintance with the Lives of the Saints. Among other things, many clubs and sections of completely different directions are available for the youngest children.

The Ascension David's Hermitage is the real focus of an ambiguous and long history. For 500 years now, these majestic temples have withstood the pressure of time, bad weather, the anger of people and historical vicissitudes. And only thanks to strong faith and strong spirit For believers, the same timid and at the same time majestic atmosphere of Orthodoxy is preserved here.

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