Today the Russian Church commemorates the martyrdom of Hieromartyr Lawrence Bishop of Balakhna and the murdered Hieromartyr Alexy Porfiryev Presbyter and Martyr Alexy Neidgardt with him. We invite our God-loving readers to get acquainted with the teachings of Hieromartyr Lawrence. - Ed.
Speech by His Grace Lawrence, Bishop of Balakhnin, at the First Organizational Meeting of the Nizhny Novgorod Spaso-Preobrazhensky Orthodox Brotherhood for the Revival of Church and Public Life.
The first words, beloved in the Lord, fathers, brothers and sisters, with which we began our prayer today before the opening of our meeting, are two marvelous words: “Christ is Risen!” How much deep meaning and content lies in these two, only words! What joy, what consolation fills the soul when you hear them for the first time on Paschal matins! Why is it that such joy, such joy emanates from them? Yes, because in them, in these words, one hears a victorious hymn and the triumph of the kingdom of light, truth, goodness and truth over the kingdom of darkness, lies and untruth. Even on the eve, one might say, of the Resurrection of Christ, this gloomy kingdom, apparently, triumphed in its complete victory: Truth, Holiness, Truth - desecrated, mortified and imprisoned in a coffin, it seemed, forever. But at that moment, when hell was preparing to celebrate its victory, the Divine Light instantly blinded him and destroyed his kingdom, and from the tomb, as from the chamber, Christ ascended ...
This greatest world triumph inspires our spirit with joyful hope that even in that greatest struggle that red thread passes through the entire history of the World, the struggle of the kingdom of darkness, lies and untruth with the kingdom of truth, light and truth, the final and all-perfect victory will be on the side of this latter. The word of God clearly tells us this. You will be sorrowful in the world, the Lord said to His disciples, but dare, for I have conquered the world (John XVI, 33). New heavens and new earth, says St. Ap. Peter, according to His (Lord's) promise, tea, the truth lives in them (II Peter III 12), and where, therefore, there will no longer be room for any untruth.
Therefore, I would like to believe and hope that in that popular movement, the beginning of which was laid by the revolution that has taken place in our country, not destructive elements and forces, but creative elements and forces, will take over and predominate, that in the worldly cycle that is now taking place around us, there will also arise finally, a solid and strong core will be created, which will gather around itself everything that is most prudent, healthy and durable, which will form the basis of the life of a renewed Russia.
To promote the formation of this main core, which should become the foundation of a new public life of our Motherland, I think, we are all called, not excluding us who have gathered here. True, the tasks and goals of our meetings are not at all political, but purely religious and ecclesiastical; but if we God's help If we achieve the proper implementation of the planned tasks and goals, then this will undoubtedly have a most beneficial effect on our entire socio-political life, due to the close connection of religion and the church with life in general.
After all, we should firmly remember that the world, as the word of God says, stands only for the righteous: the seed of holy standing is his (Is. VI, 13). There will be no righteous and saints, and the world, under the present conditions of its existence, will cease to exist. Holiness and piety are undoubtedly, of course, the essence of the ideal to which all of us, gathered here, must and want to strive. But we cannot acquire holiness otherwise than by entering into the most lively and closest communion with the Source of holiness - the Lord, just as He Himself says: you will be holy, as I am holy (I Peter I, 17). Awake in Me and Az in you, says the Lord Savior: As the rod cannot bring forth fruit for itself, unless it be on the vine, so you too, unless you abide in Me... For without Me you cannot do anything. (John XV, 4, 5).
But we cannot approach the Lord Christ otherwise than through His beloved bride, the Holy Church, which, as St. Ap. Paul is His Body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Heb. 1:23), that is, through which Christ fills all in all.
The world is an infinite number of forms of life; all these forms, through the fall of the forefathers, for the most part lost their essential content and became, as it were, completely empty. To fill this void that has been formed with the appropriate content through the Source of the fullness of all life - Christ - these are the tasks of church life.
The life of the Church is affirmed on firm and unshakable foundations, which are the word of God, Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. This latter is contained in the canons of the Apostles, the canons of the Ecumenical and Local Councils, the writings of the Holy Fathers adopted by these Councils, and our liturgical books. Therefore, in the very word God's Church called the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim. III, 15); therefore also St. Irenaeus of Lyons writes: one should not look for truth from others, which is easy to borrow from the Church. For in it, as if in a rich treasury, the Apostles in full put everything that belongs to the truth, so that everyone who wishes can receive from her the drink of life. She is the door of life. (Against heresy. III book. Ch. 4). To enter this true life for each of us individually, to check both our personal and church-public life surrounding us, to what extent it stands in accordance or inconsistency with the ideals of church life, and how much it is possible to approach these ideals - this is the end of our most sincere desires.
Let us ask the Lord, without whom, according to His own word, we cannot do anything, so that He would send down His heavenly blessing on all of us, gathered here in His name, and help, with the assistance of His almighty goodness, although in part to approach that ideal , which the Lord Christ requires of his followers when he says that they should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matt. V, 13, 14) and when he calls to all of us: so let your light shine before men, as if they see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matt. V, 16).
About the author. Born in 1877 in the city of Kashira. He came from the clergy. After graduating from the Tula Theological Seminary, he continued his studies at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. After completing his studies in 1902, Eugene on Valaam was tonsured a monk with the name Alexy. In 1912 he was appointed rector of the Lithuanian Theological Seminary and rector of the Vilna Holy Trinity Monastery. There he met Archbishop Tikhon, the future Patriarch, who in 1917 presented him for consecration. In February of the same year, Archimandrite Lavrenty was consecrated Bishop of Balakhna, vicar of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. Vladyka was a zealous doer of the Jesus Prayer, a student and friend of the Optina Elders. Not long before his martyrdom, the Monk Anatoliy (Zertsalov) prostrated himself to him three times.
Under the leadership of Bishop Lavrentiy, the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Brotherhood was created in Nizhny Novgorod for the revival of church and public life, which immediately became an important center of spiritual enlightenment. At the same time, a religious-philosophical society was organized, in whose meetings Vladyka took part. Members of the brotherhood arranged a church kindergarten, a religious library, and were going to publish spiritual literature. All this happened with the most active participation of Bishop Lawrence and with his blessing.
The Saint himself lived in the Caves Monastery, often served, preached sermons. He was left alone in this difficult time to manage the entire Nizhny Novgorod diocese, since the ruling bishop, Archbishop Joachim (Levitsky), accepted a martyr's crown, being hanged in the Crimea by bandits. A vicar is a bishop who does not head a separate diocese, but is called to assist the ruling diocesan bishop. But in fact, Bishop Lavrenty had to govern the entire Nizhny Novgorod diocese all alone - the ruling bishop Joachim (Levitsky) died at the hands of bandits in the summer of 1917.
When the arrests of pastors began in the diocese, Vladyka visited them in prison. At the end of August 1918, the Chekists also arrested Vladyka. In the prison cell, he prayed incessantly, not paying attention to the ridicule of his fellow prisoners. Soon those, seeing the strength of the spirit of the Lord, began to strive to imitate him. One Saint, seeing Vladyka's worn-out rosary sent from prison, which he asked to be replaced with new ones, said: "Labor rosary." In the prison church, the Saint was allowed to serve on holidays, and this was a consolation and support for him. The authorities refused to release him even when the believers, having collected a bail (the amount of 16,000 rubles), turned to them with a request to release their archpastor.
After the appearance of the decree on the separation of the Church from the state, the Savior-Preobrazhensky Brotherhood openly came out in defense of the Church. Mass arrests began, including among the priesthood. When the decree came out that all the church property should be taken away from the Church, Bishop Lavrenty, as well as the rector cathedral Hieromartyr Alexy Porfiryev and the former provincial marshal of the nobility, Martyr Alexy Neidgardt (Aleksey Bo-ri-so-vich was related to Peter Sto-ly-pi-na -ri-nome), and he himself was a prominent public and state de-i-tel.) signed an appeal to the flock in which they protested against this. At one point in their address, they used the biblical quotation "Put on the whole armor of God" (Eph 6:11). This phrase, once uttered by the Apostle Paul, was interpreted by the authorities as a call for an armed uprising and became the reason for the arrest of all signatories. Vladyka put his signature under the protest of believers against the seizure of church valuables, he was transferred to the Che.K. prison. In October, the Chekists offered him to renounce his rank in exchange for freedom.
Needless to say, such a refusal was unthinkable, and when they heard Vladyka's answer, they announced the final verdict - execution. Vladyka Lawrence had the Holy Gifts in his prison cell. He took communion himself and gave communion to Father Alexy Porfiryev, who was also declared to be shot. The bishop was calm and joyful. Father Alexis was crying. - Why are you crying? We should rejoice,” the bishop said. “I am crying for my family,” Father Alexy answered. "I'm ready," said the bishop.
In prison, Vladyka Lavrenty prayed constantly, which at first made his neighbors laugh, but soon aroused their deepest respect. The authorities even allowed the bishop to serve the Liturgy in the prison church. There was also hope for release under an amnesty in honor of the anniversary of the October Revolution... However, on November 5, 1918, Vladyka, along with his "accomplices," was transferred to the cell of the Nizhny Novgorod Cheka. The garden of the building of the Cheka overlooked the Pochaina ravine, in which shots were heard almost daily that autumn. The clergy were promised pardon if they refused to be ordained, but on this condition the martyrs, of course, preferred to refuse the amnesty. Then all three were taken out into the garden and placed on the edge of a grave dug in advance ... On October 24 (November 6, N.S.), 1918, the former provincial marshal of the nobility Alexei Borisovich Neidgardt was attached to them and taken to the garden, where a grave had already been dug, at the edge of which they were all placed. Vladyka stood opposite the executioners and prayed with upraised hands. The Russian soldiers refused to shoot him, and he was shot by the Latvians. Despite the fame of the details of the murder, the burial place of Bishop Lawrence and Archpriest Alexy is still hidden. A few days later, a cart with two bodies drove out of the gates of the Cheka building, and to the question of a passerby, the cab driver replied that he was taking the bishop and the priest to Mochalny Island, from where "it was ordered to throw them into the Volga."
Hieromartyr Bishop Lavrentiy of Balakhna ( Knyazev)was glorified in the face of the holy host of New Martyrs and Confessors in 1981 by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
The rector of the cathedral, Hieromartyr Alexy Porfiryev, and the former marshal of the nobility, Martyr Alexy Neidgardt, were canonized as New Martyrs of Russia on Bishops' Cathedral ROCOR in 2016.
The memory of all Them is celebrated on October 24 / November 6.
- ← Hieromartyr Nikon (Christmas) Archbishop. Vologda and Totemsky - PROTECT THE TREASURES OF CHURCH LEDITIONS!
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On August 14, 2011, on the feast of the All-Merciful Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos, 10 years have passed since the death of the vicar of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, Bishop Ierofei (Sobolev) of Balakhna.
In the world - Vladimir Ivanovich Sobolev, the future lord was born on October 27, 1936, in the village of Tengushevo, Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, into a peasant family. Graduated from high school. In 1957-1961 he studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary, in 1961-1965 - at the Moscow Theological Academy. In 1963 he entered the brotherhood of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. On October 15, 1964, he took monastic vows with the name Hierofei in honor of the 1st century Hieromartyr Hierotheos, Bishop of Athens (commemoration day, October 17). On November 22, 1964, he was ordained a hierodeacon. In 1965-1972 he studied at the graduate school of the Moscow Theological Academy. On January 30, 1966, he was ordained a hieromonk. In 1970 he was elevated to the rank of abbot by Metropolitan Alexy (Ridiger), and in 1979 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. The oldest inhabitants of the Lavra remember Fr. Hierotheus in various obediences and positions, his ringing voice on the kliros - Fr. Hierofei was a great gunner. Lavra about. Hierofei loved him very much, served God there for 29 years, and probably wished to end his earthly days there. However, he had a different path...
From July 3, 1986 to January 20, 1987, according to the official biography, Fr. Hierofei is the second priest of the Catherine's Church in Vetluga, Gorky Region. As we managed to find out, in the Gorky diocese, Fr. Hierotheus arrived because of the difficulties that arose in the Lavra. Apparently, the authorities or someone else forced the future bishop out of the Lavra. He was asked to leave for the Pskov-Caves Monastery as a monk, but Fr. Hierofey asked to be sent to serve in the Gorky diocese, closer to the places of St. Seraphim of Sarov and his small homeland. The request was granted.
Resurrection Cathedral in Arzamas.
From January 20, 1987 to July 18, 1991, Archimandrite Ierofei served as rector of the Resurrection Cathedral in the city of Arzamas, Nizhny Novgorod Region. On July 18, 1991, at a meeting of the Holy Synod on the report of Metropolitan Nikolai (Kutepov) of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, Fr. Hierofey is determined to be Bishop of Balakhna, vicar of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. Hirotonisan was appointed bishop on July 29, 1991, on the eve of the great celebrations in Diveevo, connected with the second acquisition of the relics of our venerable and God-bearing father Seraphim of Sarov.
Vladyka served as a vicar bishop for 10 years, from 1991 to 2001. He participated in the historic Council of Bishops in 2000, which glorified the host of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Bishop Ierofey had his own opinion on the question of the unification of the ROC MP and the Russian Church Abroad for a long time. Not accepting criticism from foreigners of the Moscow Patriarchate (“gracelessness of MP churches”, “Sergianism”, etc.), but also not denying grace in ROCOR (“there were and are ascetics”, “there were and are Christians of a high spiritual life”), Bishop Ierofey believed that both parts of the One Russian Church would soon be reunited. It is here, on earth, that we have been separated, and in Heaven our Church is one, Vladyka said, and thus foresaw the Canonical Act of 2007 on unification.
For outstanding services to the Church, Bishop Ierofei was awarded the Order of St. Prince Vladimir (III degree), the Order St. Sergius Radonezhsky (III degree), the medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
With the blessing of the ruling Nizhny Novgorod bishop, Metropolitan Nikolai, he received the relatives of suicides and resolved the issues of funeral or prohibition of the funeral of such, as well as dealt with divorce issues. It was a very heavy burden. In addition, Vladyka never denied the clergy and monastics confession, advice, or consideration of any issues.
Vladyka Hierofei surrounded by laity at the Resurrection Cathedral in Arzamas, where he served for many years.
Photo from Andrey Starichenkov's archive
Vladyka Hierofey continued to serve in the city of Arzamas, in the Cathedral of the Resurrection Cathedral, often served in succession for the priests of the cathedral, baptized, married, confessed. Often served as a simple, priestly rank. He lived with his elderly mother in a simple village house on the street. Communist, did not have a car (even a service one - until Metropolitan Nikolai blessed him with one of the diocesan "Volga"). I remember how Vladyka came from Arzamas to Nizhny in a GAZ-69 car, and only then did he actually drive a Volga. He used to willingly bring up on this "Volga" acquaintances from the cathedral of Nizhny Novgorod, who were traveling from Arzamas to Nizhny,
Vladyka Hierofey in last years life
In the last years of his life, Vladyka Hierofey was ill a lot - he broke his leg several times - and against the background of diabetes, his recovery was very poor - he constantly moved on a crutch and a stick, even served like that. He had an accident - he was going to service in Arzamas, he wanted to take a bus, but the proletarians did not let him into the crowded bus, someone passing by recognized Vladyka - he undertook to give a lift, but crashed into a truck, moreover, on the side where the bishop was sitting. After Vladyka had relatively recovered, a robbery attack took place on his house - the villains beat Hierofei, causing him a concussion and broken ribs, knocked out his teeth, beat Vladyka's mother, took 10 thousand rubles and were like that. It used to be that Vladyka was slandered, I myself heard incredible, absurd rumors about him, but God is the Judge of these people and all of us.
Photo of the grave of Bishop Hierotheus,
In August, as far as I remember, Vladyka fell ill from an illness, no longer received in the diocese. On August 14 at 9.30 in the morning, Vladyka took communion of the Holy, Immortal, Heavenly, Life-Giving, Terrible Mysteries of Christ, and at 10 o’clock he died. The funeral of Bishop Hierotheus took place on August 16 on the territory of the Holy Trinity-Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery in Diveevo. According to the will of the lord, he was buried at the altar of the Diveevo Holy Trinity Cathedral, and in Diveevo, as you know, nothing happens without the will of the Queen of Heaven.
We offer the reader, who loves the Church and Russia, materials about Bishop Hierotheus, who is remembered and loved in Nizhny Novgorod and beyond. These different materials - memoirs, obituaries and articles - show one important quality of Bishop Hierotheus. This is humility. The Lord remained until last days a real monk and was always humble. I have never heard him condemn anyone, although, according to the testament of the apostle, I heard his denunciations of hysterics. But his humility surpassed all our possible ideas about this virtue, so that some who knew Vladyka said: “Probably, there are no such bishops.” We have prepared these materials for prayerful commemoration, dear reader of Russia in Colors, but most importantly, for the glory of God. The Lord continues to have mercy on us, which means that Russia has a future. Only this future is not of this world.
Alexander Kornilov
Bishop Ierofey (in the world - Vladimir Ivanovich Sobolev) was born on October 27, 1936, in the village of Tengushevo, Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, into a peasant family. Graduated from high school. In 1957-1961 he studied at the Moscow Theological Seminary, then continued his studies at the academy. In 1963 he entered the brotherhood of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. On October 15, 1964, he was tonsured a monk with the name Hierotheus in honor of Hieromartyr Hierotheus, Bishop of Athens (commemoration day - October 17). In the monastery, he carried out various obediences: he stood behind a candle box, sang in the kliros, was a baker, a canonarch.
Hierofei (Sobolev), Bishop of Balakhna. Photo 2000
On November 22, 1964, Father Ierofey was ordained a hierodeacon. In 1965 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a Ph.D. in theology (dissertation topic: "Elements of Pastoral Activity in the Works of St. Simeon the New Theologian"). In 1965-1972 he studied at the graduate school of the Moscow Theological Academy. January 30, 1966 - ordained a hieromonk. In 1970, Metropolitan Alexy (Ridiger; later Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, † 2008) was elevated to the rank of abbot, in 1979 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.
From July 3, 1986, Father Ierofei served in the Catherine's Church in the city of Vetluga, Gorky Region. On January 20, 1987, he was appointed rector of the Cathedral of the Resurrection Cathedral in the city of Arzamas in the same region.
On July 18, 1991, by decision of St. The synod was appointed as the bishop of the renewed Balakhna vicariate of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese. On July 29, 1991, he was consecrated Bishop of Balakhna in the Resurrection Cathedral in Arzamas, on the eve of the celebrations in Diveevo associated with the Second Finding of Honorable Relics Reverend Seraphim Sarovsky. The consecration was performed by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, Metropolitans of Krutitsy and Kolomna Yuvenaly (Poyarkov), Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill (Gundyaev, now Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia), Nikolai (Kutepov) of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, Archbishops of Orenburg and Buzuluk Leonty (Bondar) , Cheboksary and Chuvash Barnabas (Kedrov), Kaluga and Borovsky Kliment (Kapalin), Ivanovsky and Kineshma Ambrose (Shchurov), Samara and Syzransky Eusebius (Savvin), Tashkent and Central Asian Vladimir (Ikim), Tambov and Michurinsky Evgeny (Zhdan), Alma -Ata and Semipalatinsk Alexy (Kutepov), Bishops of Tver and Kashinsky Victor (Oleynik), Istra Arseny (Epifanov), Podolsky Victor (Pyankov), Tobolsk and Tyumen Dimitri (Kapalin), Bendery Vikenty (Morar), Vladimir and Suzdal Evlogy (Smirnov ).
Vladyka Hierofey surrounded by laity at the Resurrection Cathedral in Arzamas.
Vladyka served as a vicar bishop for 10 years, from 1991 to 2001. He participated in the historic Council of Bishops in 2000, which glorified the host of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. As a bishop, Vladyka Hierofei continued to serve in the city of Arzamas, in the Cathedral of the Resurrection Cathedral. He helped the ruling bishop in managing the diocese, taught at the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary.
For services to the Church, Bishop Ierofey was awarded the Order of St. Prince Vladimir III degree, the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh III degree, the medal of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
In the last years of his life, Vladyka Hierofey was ill a lot - he broke his leg several times - and against the background of diabetes, his recovery was very poor - he constantly moved on a crutch, even served like that. Got in an accident. He survived a robbery attack on his house - the criminals beat Bishop Ierofey, causing him a concussion and broken ribs, beat the bishop's mother, took 10 thousand rubles and disappeared.
Grave of Bishop Hierofei (Sobolev) of Balakhnaat the altar of the Trinity Cathedral,
Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery.
On August 14, 2001, after a severe long illness, Vladyka died. At 9.30 in the morning he took communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, and at 10 o'clock he went to the Lord. The funeral of Bishop Hierotheus took place on August 16 on the territory of Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo convent. According to the will of the bishop, he was buried at the altar of the Trinity Cathedral.
Hieromartyr Lavrenty (Knyazev), Bishop of Balakhna
“Beloved brothers and sisters, we are going through a very special time - all of us will face confession, and some even martyrdom,” Bishop Lavrenty ended his last sermons. He did not
This photo ssmch. Lawrence was made in 1917.
he had no doubt that martyrdom would befall him himself: this was predicted to him several years before the October coup and the Bolsheviks unleashing the Red Terror.
Bishop Lavrenty of Balakhna was shot on the night of November 6-7 (according to the new style), 1918: this is how the Bolsheviks celebrated the anniversary of the Great October Revolution. His episcopal ministry lasted a little over a year and a half. Simultaneously with the administration of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese (and at some point, Bishop Lavrenty
was faced with the need to practically independently manage it), he was the rector at the Ascension Caves Monastery. And it was he who was one of the few who were not afraid to serve a cathedral memorial service for the victims of the Bolsheviks in the Pechersk Monastery (at the end of August 1918, the Chekists shot more than forty Nizhny Novgorod residents, among them - the abbot of the Oransky monastery, Archimandrite Augustine (Pyatnitsky) and the archpriest of the Barbarian Church Nikolai Orlovsky) . Such "counter-revolutionary activity" overflowed the patience of the new authorities, September 3 in the chambers of the bishop
searched, and he himself was arrested. For two months, Bishop Lawrence languished in a prison cell, from where he was taken out only for interrogations.
There is no exact information about how the execution of the bishop was carried out. It was said that the Russian "revolutionary soldiers" refused to shoot at the clergy (along with Bishop Lavrenty, Archpriest Alexy Porfiryev was killed), and this dirty deed was done in cold blood by the Latvian riflemen. By the time of his martyrdom, Bishop Lavrenty of Balakhna was a little over forty years old. In 2000 he was canonized as a saint.
justified. In 1632, a demand came from Moscow to send to Moscow the masons who worked in the monastery "for our Vyazemsky city stone business."
Again and again, Archimandrite Raphael petitioned “for a blessed letter to erect a stone church in the name of the Ascension of the Lord,” and his perseverance led to positive results: in the 1640s, “official” stone construction began in the Pechersk monastery. By the second half of the 17th century architectural ensemble The monastery was already generally completed, and in 1765 the wooden fence was replaced with a brick one.
After the appointment to the Patriarchal Throne of Metropolitan Nikon of Novgorod, who in his younger years was a novice in the Nizhny Novgorod Caves Monastery, the monastery acquired special meaning. The patriarch remembered the monastery where he labored in his youth, and more than once made contributions to it from his own treasury. In addition, he granted the Archimandrites of the Caves the right to serve the Liturgy in a miter, with ripids, a club and a sulk, to put on a carpet in the middle of the temple and hold an autumn candle, “as it is worthy of a bishop.” Special attention to the Ascension Convent
the tsar was also happy, and this attention did not dry up after Nikon's disgrace.
The decline of the monastic economy dates back, as the reader can easily assume, to the reign of Catherine II. included in the first
In 1858 Caves monastery visited by Alexander II with his wife, in memory of which event this plate was cast.
class and “planted” on a salary of more than two thousand rubles, the monastery came into a truly distressed situation. If earlier he freely disposed of funds,
proceeded from his estates, and could not only maintain his buildings in a tolerable condition, but also do good to those in need, now he himself was on the verge of survival. Temples and buildings fell into disrepair, the brethren were small.
The situation changed in the middle of the 19th century, when the ruling bishops (of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, and since 1866 - Bishops of Balakhna, vicars of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese) began to be appointed as abbots of the monastery. The positive consequences of these changes in the management of the monastery include the repair of stone buildings, an increase in the number of inhabitants and the revival of the charitable activities of the monastery. By 1917, the Pechersky Monastery fully regained its former glory.
The Soviet government quickly and very "successfully" ruined the ancient monastery, destroying everything that had been created over the centuries. And Although in 1925 the architectural complex of the monastery came under the jurisdiction of the Gubmuseum, this did not save either the monastery buildings from being invaded by strangers, or the richest sacristy from being plundered. In the five-domed Ascension Cathedral, constituting
