Donskoy Monastery

From Moscowiki

Address: Donskaya pl., 1
Metro: Shabolovskaya
Tel: 952-1646

Donskoy monastery is obliged to a miracle for its existence. In 1591-1593 Kazy-Girey Khan from Crimea besieged Moscow; getting ready for the battle, tsar Fedor and all Muscovites prayed to the Donskaya Icon of Mother of God for help. Divine mercy was shown: all of a sudden invaders left Moscow walls in an inexplicable fear. As a sign of gratitude to this holy icon, tsar Fedor founded Donskoy monastery.

[edit] Donskaya Icon of Mother of God

According to a legend, with this miraculous icon St. Sergiy Radonezhsky blessed Grand Prince Dmitry before the Battle of Kulikovo, which took place not far from the river Don. That’s how the icon got its name. The icon was placed in the monastery cathedral, to defend Moscow again and again from uninvited guests.

[edit] History

The cathedral was built in 1591, probably by architect Fedor Kon. A century later another cathedral, a bigger one, was erected. The name matched its size – the Great Cathedral (1684-1698), and its old neighbour was named the Small Cathedral. Monastery walls and towers appeared in 1686-1711.

Although this cathedral protected Russia from its foreign enemies, it couldn’t save itself and its ministers from the execution. After the October Revolution there was a decree to turn the monastery Church of St. Serafim Sarovsky into a crematorium.

Not only dead people were brought here; Donskoy monastery became a cemetery of old Moscow. Many pieces of destroyed houses, churches and monuments were kept here. On the eastern monastery wall one can see high relieves of the destroyed Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, sad reminders of what the city and the country have been through.

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