Makaryev Monastery
Encyclopedia
Zheltovodsky Makaryev Convent (formerly Monastery) of the Holy Trinity
(
or Свя́то-Тро́ице-Мака́рьево-Желтово́дский же́нский монасты́рь)
is one of the convent
s of Russian Orthodox Church
.
It is located in the vicinity of the urban-type settlement
of Makaryevo in Lyskovsky District
of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
.
was founded originally as a men's monastery
. According to the legend, it was founded by the missionary Saint Macarius
(Makary) in the early 15th century (1435, or, according to the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy
site, in 1415) by the waters of Zhyoltoye Ozero (Yellow Lake), from where comes the appellation "Zheltovodsky".
In 1439, the monastery was burned by Tatar Khan Ulu Mukhammed. Macarius was taken prisoner, but released by the Khan on the condition that he not rebuild the monastery. Macarius then went into the Kostroma
forests, where he founded a new monastery on the Unzha River
, now known as Unzhensky Makaryev monastery.
) from Murom
came to this place to rebuild the monastery, and soon he was surrounded by other monks. In 1624, the first wooden Cathedral
of the Holy Trinity was consecrated.
Most of the existing major monastery buildings were constructed of stone between 1651 and 1667. The entire complex is surrounded by a fotress-like stone wall with towers, forming a square with each side being about 200 meters long. The notable buildings of the period include the (rebuilt) Cathedral of Holy Trinity (1658), the Church of the Dormition of Our Lady (the Uspensky Church) with the large attached refectory
(trapeznaya) (1651), the bell tower (1651), the Church of St. Michael the Archangel
above the southern gate, and the monastic cells. The refectory is a large (420 m²), two-storied building.
The Church to St. Macarius was built in classical
style in 1808. Eventually, the monastery had seven churches and one cathedral where the remains of St. Macarius were venerated. A well in the monastery was said to have been dug by St. Macarius himself.
Despite the fortifications, the monastery was captured by Stenka Razin
's rebel forces in 1670.
The famous Makaryev Fair took place every summer for more than two centuries outside of the walls of the monastery. This was one of the most famous and important merchant
fairs in Eastern Europe
. Many merchants from Europe
and Asia
arrived in July to exchange good
s. From the 1620s the fair was an important event in the Russian economy. By 1800, there were over three thousand government and private buildings to house the millions of rubles
worth of trade goods. In 1816, a huge fire burned most of the buildings and millions of rubles were lost. The fair was then (in 1817) moved to Nizhny Novgorod
, where it became even more famous.
of the shore; in 1859, the main dome of the cathedral was shattered. Concerned with the monks' security, the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy (Orthodox Diocese) and the local authorities decided to abolish the monastery. In 1869, the monastic community was dissolved; a sole hieromonk
remained as a caretaker of the desereted compound. The diocese transferred the icons, bells, and other valuables to other churches. Only the Holy Icon of St. Macarius stayed in the monastery, due to the pleadings of the residents of the adjacent town of Makaryev (currently, the urban-type settlement of Makaryevo).
A few years later, the Volga shifted its course again, and now was almost a kilometer away from the monastery buildings, not endangering them anymore. In 1882, the old monastery was resurrected, now as a women's convent
. In 1910, the main dome of the Trinity Cathedral was rebuilt and decorated with new paintings. By 1917, around three hundred nuns lived in the convent.
After the October Revolution
, the Bolsheviks nationalized monastic properties. In 1927, the nuns were expelled from the convent. In 1928–1929, the buildings were used for an orphanage, and later rented out to various institutions. The premises were used by a military hospital during World War II
, and in 1943 they were transferred to the Lyskovo
College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine .
In January 1992, Zheltovodsky Makaryev Convent of Holy Trinity was restored to the Nizhny Novgorod Orthodox Diocese. As of 2006, twenty-two nuns live there. The hegumenia (abbess
) of the convent is Sister Mikhaila (Orlova).
On the occasion of the Feast of the Venerable Macarius in August 2007, the Saint's head was transferred
to Makaryev Monastery from Nizhny Novgorod's Pechersky Ascension Monastery
, where it had been previously kept.
The outside of the monastery features in the 2010 film Salt.
(
or Свя́то-Тро́ице-Мака́рьево-Желтово́дский же́нский монасты́рь)
is one of the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
s of Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
.
It is located in the vicinity of the urban-type settlement
Urban-type settlement
Urban-type settlement ; , selyshche mis'koho typu ) is an official designation for a type of locality used in some of the countries of the former Soviet Union...
of Makaryevo in Lyskovsky District
Lyskovsky District
Lyskovsky District is an administrative district in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia. Itsadministrative center is the town of Lyskovo.-Geography:Lyskovsky District is located on both sides of the Volga River, about 90 km to the east of...
of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast
Nizhny Novgorod Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Nizhny Novgorod. Population: The oblast is crossed by the Volga River. Apart from Nizhny Novgorod's metropolitan area, the biggest city is Arzamas...
.
Legendary foundation
The Makaryev (Makaryevsky) ConventConvent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
was founded originally as a men's monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
. According to the legend, it was founded by the missionary Saint Macarius
Macarius of Unzha
Venerable Macarius of the Yellow Water Lake and the Unzha, the Miracle Worker is a Saint of Russian Orthodox Church.He is credited with the founding of four monasteries in the Middle and Upper Volga regions of Russia....
(Makary) in the early 15th century (1435, or, according to the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy
Eparchy
Eparchy is an anglicized Greek word , authentically Latinized as eparchia and loosely translating as 'rule over something,' like province, prefecture, or territory, to have the jurisdiction over, it has specific meanings both in politics, history and in the hierarchy of the Eastern Christian...
site, in 1415) by the waters of Zhyoltoye Ozero (Yellow Lake), from where comes the appellation "Zheltovodsky".
In 1439, the monastery was burned by Tatar Khan Ulu Mukhammed. Macarius was taken prisoner, but released by the Khan on the condition that he not rebuild the monastery. Macarius then went into the Kostroma
Kostroma
Kostroma is a historic city and the administrative center of Kostroma Oblast, Russia. A part of the Golden Ring of Russian towns, it is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kostroma Rivers...
forests, where he founded a new monastery on the Unzha River
Unzha River
Unzha River , a river in the Vologda Oblast and Kostroma Oblast in Russia, a tributary of the Volga River. Its length is 426 km. The area of the basin is 28,900 km². The Unzha River begins at the confluence of the Kema River and the Lundonga River. It flows into the Unzhensky Cove of the Gorkovsky...
, now known as Unzhensky Makaryev monastery.
The Monastery and the fair
In 1620, the monk Avramy (AbrahamAbraham (name)
This is a list of people named after Abraham, the Biblical patriarch ; the father of the Abrahamic Religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam:...
) from Murom
Murom
Murom is a historic city in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, which sprawls along the left bank of Oka River. Population: -History:In the 9th century CE, the city marked the easternmost settlement of the Eastern Slavs in the land of the Finno-Ugric people called Muromians. The Russian Primary Chronicle...
came to this place to rebuild the monastery, and soon he was surrounded by other monks. In 1624, the first wooden Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the Holy Trinity was consecrated.
Most of the existing major monastery buildings were constructed of stone between 1651 and 1667. The entire complex is surrounded by a fotress-like stone wall with towers, forming a square with each side being about 200 meters long. The notable buildings of the period include the (rebuilt) Cathedral of Holy Trinity (1658), the Church of the Dormition of Our Lady (the Uspensky Church) with the large attached refectory
Refectory
A refectory is a dining room, especially in monasteries, boarding schools and academic institutions. One of the places the term is most often used today is in graduate seminaries...
(trapeznaya) (1651), the bell tower (1651), the Church of St. Michael the Archangel
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
above the southern gate, and the monastic cells. The refectory is a large (420 m²), two-storied building.
The Church to St. Macarius was built in classical
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
style in 1808. Eventually, the monastery had seven churches and one cathedral where the remains of St. Macarius were venerated. A well in the monastery was said to have been dug by St. Macarius himself.
Despite the fortifications, the monastery was captured by Stenka Razin
Stenka Razin
Stepan Timofeyevich Razin Тимофеевич Разин, ; 1630 – ) was a Cossack leader who led a major uprising against the nobility and Tsar's bureaucracy in South Russia.-Early life:...
's rebel forces in 1670.
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
fairs in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. Many merchants from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
arrived in July to exchange good
Good (economics and accounting)
In economics, a good is something that is intended to satisfy some wants or needs of a consumer and thus has economic utility. It is normally used in the plural form—goods—to denote tangible commodities such as products and materials....
s. From the 1620s the fair was an important event in the Russian economy. By 1800, there were over three thousand government and private buildings to house the millions of rubles
Russian ruble
The ruble or rouble is the currency of the Russian Federation and the two partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Formerly, the ruble was also the currency of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union prior to their breakups. Belarus and Transnistria also use currencies with...
worth of trade goods. In 1816, a huge fire burned most of the buildings and millions of rubles were lost. The fair was then (in 1817) moved to Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
, where it became even more famous.
After the fire
After the fair had been moved to Nizhny Novgorod, the monastery lost its main source of income and monks started leaving. Besides, in the early 19th century the Volga had shifted its course, absorbing the Yellow Lake. The monastery buildings were now threatened by the waters of the great river, with its annual spring floods. First, parts of the monastery walls fell due to erosionErosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
of the shore; in 1859, the main dome of the cathedral was shattered. Concerned with the monks' security, the Nizhny Novgorod Eparchy (Orthodox Diocese) and the local authorities decided to abolish the monastery. In 1869, the monastic community was dissolved; a sole hieromonk
Hieromonk
Hieromonk , also called a Priestmonk, is a monk who is also a priest in the Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholicism....
remained as a caretaker of the desereted compound. The diocese transferred the icons, bells, and other valuables to other churches. Only the Holy Icon of St. Macarius stayed in the monastery, due to the pleadings of the residents of the adjacent town of Makaryev (currently, the urban-type settlement of Makaryevo).
A few years later, the Volga shifted its course again, and now was almost a kilometer away from the monastery buildings, not endangering them anymore. In 1882, the old monastery was resurrected, now as a women's convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
. In 1910, the main dome of the Trinity Cathedral was rebuilt and decorated with new paintings. By 1917, around three hundred nuns lived in the convent.
After the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
, the Bolsheviks nationalized monastic properties. In 1927, the nuns were expelled from the convent. In 1928–1929, the buildings were used for an orphanage, and later rented out to various institutions. The premises were used by a military hospital during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and in 1943 they were transferred to the Lyskovo
Lyskovo
Lyskovo is a town and the administrative center of Lyskovsky District of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, located on the southern side of the Volga River , opposite the mouth of the Kerzhenets River, southeast of Nizhny Novgorod.. Population: It was first mentioned in 1410...
College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine .
Modern condition
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
) of the convent is Sister Mikhaila (Orlova).
On the occasion of the Feast of the Venerable Macarius in August 2007, the Saint's head was transferred
Translation (relics)
In Christianity, the translation of relics is the removal of holy objects from one locality to another ; usually only the movement of the remains of the saint's body would be treated so formally, with secondary relics such as items of clothing treated with less ceremony...
to Makaryev Monastery from Nizhny Novgorod's Pechersky Ascension Monastery
Pechersky Ascension Monastery
Pechersky Ascension Monastery is a monastery in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. It is the principal monastery of the Nizny Novgorod Eparchy and the seat of the Bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas.- History :...
, where it had been previously kept.
The outside of the monastery features in the 2010 film Salt.