Holy Spirit Convent. Holy Spirit Monastery Holy Spirit Monastery

While we are covered in snow, I am trying to embrace the immensity and rake through gigabytes of photographs over several years. Well, okay, at least for the past year. I realized that I never showed some pictures here. Here I am, correcting myself.

She lived in Borovichi for quite a long time, but was honored to go to the monastery only last summer. It is located on the bend of Msta, on Alexander Nevsky Street, 6. Various sources on the Internet tell us this.

Holy Spirit Jacob Borovichi Monastery on the banks of the Msta River. Who was the founder of this monastery and what its initial fate was, this is not known: because written monuments, from which reliable information about its initial existence could be borrowed, were destroyed by the fire of 1732. The only certainty is that it belonged to the number of ancient Russian monasteries, which began in the first half of the 14th century, probably during the reign of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ioann Danilovich Kalita. The Monastery of the Holy Spirit became famous when the incorruptible relics of St. Jacob, who openly rested there for 109 years and gathered pilgrims from all over Russia. In 1654, Patriarch Nikon, having founded the Iveron Monastery on Valdai - “Russian Athos”, ordered the Borovichi shrine to be moved to the new monastery. Holy Spirit Monastery, in which a particle of the relics of St. Jacob, was assigned to Iverskoye-Valdaisky. The Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" was built in 1881 on the site of the discovery of the relics of the holy righteous Jacob of Borovichi. In the basement of the church there is a holy spring, which opened at the moment of the discovery of the relics of the holy righteous James. End of quote.

In my opinion, the location is extremely unfortunate. Perhaps many years ago the monastery complex of buildings stood on the outskirts, but now it is built up on all sides, fenced off, covered with wires, fenced off with pillars. It's almost impossible to find a good vantage point outside. Here, maybe, from above if. From the river side it is more visible, but still flat and does not reflect the scale.

If you stand with your back to Msta

Teddy bear for comparison

Closer windows

The same building from the back. Renovations are in full swing. Workers lay tiles, carry sand, rush back and forth. We did not come closer so as not to interfere.

Inside, in the courtyard, there are flower beds with a variety of flowers. Everything is well-groomed, people are scurrying about, clearly busy. And we came with Maya. She refused to go to the temple, but tried to take away the wheelbarrow with roses standing at the entrance. They didn’t give it. I was offended.

I think it's the gate church. Although I could be wrong, because my daughter climbed in to help the builders.

Temple of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. In the foreground you can see that same holy spring with a mug. For some reason I was embarrassed to approach.

On the website of the Borovichi diocese we read:

The stone cathedral church in honor of the Holy Spirit was built in 1676, on the site of two ancient wooden churches. It is the first stone building of the Borovichi family that has survived to this day. This temple, in addition to the main altar, had two more chapels: on the northern side of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, in memory of the ancient church that stood on this place, on the southern side - in honor of the prophet Elijah, in memory of the hermit monks who founded the monastery.
After a fire in the 18th century, the cathedral was renovated and the narrow chapels were expanded. There were other renovations to the temple. As a result, the cathedral lost its original appearance. Now the temple retains elements of classical architecture. The light drum of the temple, decorated with arches resting on semi-columns with interceptions, the dome and the cross remained from the original appearance of the temple of the 17th century.

Temple doors:

As it turned out, this building also belongs to the monastery. It seemed to me that these were garages.

Unfortunately, we did not receive any useful information on the spot due to an inconvenient travel companion. However, afterwards I found something interesting about this place.

Shrines located on the territory of the monastery

Reliquary with a particle of the relics of the holy righteous Jacob of Borovichi. Located in the central chapel of the Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles since 2001.

Reliquary with particles of the holy relics of the venerable fathers of Kiev-Pechersk and other holy wonderworkers.Located in the central chapel of the Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles since 2012.It contains particles of the relics of the venerable fathers of the Kiev Pechersk Lavrain the Near Caves (St. Anthony) resting:

1. St. Pimen the Many-Painful (†1110)

2. St. Nestor the Chronicler (†c. 1114)

3. St. Erasmus, monk (†c. 1160)

4. St. Mark the Grave Digger (†c. 1102)

5. St. John, youth, Kiev, first martyr of Russia († 983)

6. St. Titus, presbyter (†1190)

7. St. Nikon, 4th abbot (†1088)

8. Prmch. Eustratius, monk (†1097)

9. St. Lavrenty, recluse, bishop. Turovsky (†1194)

10. Prmch. Theodore, monk (†1098)

11. St. Savva, the miracle worker (†XIII)

12. St. Damian, presbyter, healer (†1071)

13. Sschmch. Anastasius, deacon (†XII)

14. St. Nicodemus, prosphora (†XII)

15. St. Pimen, faster (†after 1114)

16. St. Paul the Obedient (†XIII-XIV)

17. St. Sisoi, recluse (†XIII)

in the Far Caves (St. Theodosius) resting:

18. St. Zechariah, faster (†XIII-XIV)

19. St. Theodore the Silent (†XIII)

20. St. Nestor Neknizhny (†XIV)

21. St. Achila, deacon (†XIV)

22. St. Joseph the Many-Sick (†XIV)

23. Sschmch. Lucian, presbyter (†1243)

24. St. Arseny the Hardworking (†XIV)

25. St. Gerontius, canonarch (†XIV)

26. St. Agathon, wonderworker (†XIII-XIV)

27. St. Silouan, schema-monk (†XIII-XIV)

28. St. Pimen, faster, abbot (†XII)

29. St. Benjamin, recluse (†XIV)

30. St. Zinon, faster (†XIV)

31. St. Martyrius, deacon (†XIV)

32. St. Ignatius, archimandrite (†1435)

33. St. Philaret (in the schema of Theodosius), Metropolitan. Kyiv (†1857)

34. St. Euthymius, Hieroschemamonk (†XIV)

35. St. Paisius, monk (†XIV)

36. St. Longinus the Hardworking, goalkeeper (†XIII-XIV)

37. St. Theophilus, Archbishop Novgorod (†1482)

38. St. Titus, former warrior (†XIV)

and particles of the relics of other saints and other shrines:

39. St. Kuksha Odessa, confessor (†1964)

40. Rights Jacob Borovichsky (approx. 1452)

41. Piece of the coffin of St. Ambrose of Optina (†1891)

42. St. Amfilohiy Pochaevsky (†1970)

43. Sschmch. Thaddeus (Uspensky), Archbishop. Tverskoy (†1937)

44. Sschmch. Konstantin Bogoslovsky, archpriest (†1937)

45. Sschmch. Vladimir (Epiphany), Metropolitan. Kyiv (†1918)

46. Sschmch. Clement, Pope of Rome, disciple of St. Petra (†101)

47. Martyr. Theodore, psalm-reader, Ostrovsky

Temples of the monastery:

Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit

Church of Jacob Borovichi

Gate Church of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God

Chapel of Taisia (Solopova)

The monastery gained great fame in the second half of the 15th century, in connection with the transfer of the relics of St. Jacob (1545).

Tsar Ivan the Terrible, having a great love for the newly-minted saints and miraculous icons, endowed the monastery with arable land and lands. In 1613, during a period of troubles, the Holy Spirit Monastery was plundered by gangs of Swedes and Poles.

In 1654, Patriarch Nikon, having founded the Iversky Monastery on Valdai - “Russian Athos”, ordered the Borovichi shrine to be moved to the new monastery. Holy Spirit Monastery, in which a particle of the relics of St. Jacob, was assigned to Iverskoye-Valdaisky.

In 1724, the relics of St. were kept in the monastery for some time. blg. Vlk. book Alexander Nevsky during the solemn transfer of them, on the orders of Peter I, from Vladimir to St. Petersburg.

Since 1741, the Borovichi Holy Spirit Monastery was assigned to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

During the First World War, part of the monastery buildings was used as an infirmary.

In February 1918, the district commission of Borovichi adopted a resolution to close the Holy Spiritual Monastery; on April 17 of the same year, the liquidation commission began work. The monastery was closed, its churches were turned into parish churches, which did not function for long. In 1920, silver church valuables weighing more than 16 kg were confiscated from the churches of the former Holy Spiritual Monastery. Soon the churches were closed, almost all signs reminiscent of their cult purpose were destroyed, the bell tower was dismantled, and the ancient monastery cemetery was destroyed.

The exact date of foundation of the monastery has not been established, because the monastery archives were lost during a fire in 1732. The only certainty is that the Holy Spirit Monastery is one of the oldest Russian monasteries. It was founded at the beginning of the 14th century, during the reign of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Kalita. On the ancient shrine of St. Jacob's inscription was preserved, from which it followed that the Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1327, and the cathedral church was built in 1345. The monastery gained great fame in the second half of the 15th century, in connection with the transfer of the relics of St. Jacob (1545). Tsar Ivan the Terrible, having a great love for the newly-minted saints and miraculous icons, endowed the monastery with arable land and lands. In 1613, during a period of troubles, the Holy Spirit Monastery was plundered by gangs of Swedes and Poles.

In 1654, Patriarch Nikon, having founded the Iveron Monastery on Valdai - “Russian Athos”, ordered the Borovichi shrine to be moved to the new monastery. Holy Spirit Monastery, in which a particle of the relics of St. Jacob, was assigned to Iverskoye-Valdaisky. In 1724, the relics of St. were kept in the monastery for some time. blg. Vlk. book Alexander Nevsky during the solemn transfer of them, on the orders of Peter I, from Vladimir to St. Petersburg. Since 1741, the Borovichi Holy Spirit Monastery was assigned to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. During the First World War, part of the monastery buildings was used as an infirmary.

On September 14, 2000, the Holy Spirit Monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church; in 2002, the golden dome and cross were re-erected on the Church of the Holy Spirit.

The stone cathedral church in honor of the Holy Spirit was built in 1676, on the site of two ancient wooden churches. It is the first stone building of the Borovichi family that has survived to this day. This temple, in addition to the main altar, had two more chapels: on the northern side of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, in memory of the ancient church that stood on this place, on the southern side - in honor of the prophet Elijah, in memory of the hermit monks who founded the monastery. After a fire in the 18th century, the cathedral was renovated and the narrow chapels were expanded. There were other renovations to the temple. As a result, the cathedral lost its original appearance. Now the temple retains elements of classical architecture. The light drum of the temple, decorated with arches resting on semi-columns with interceptions, the dome and the cross remained from the original appearance of the temple of the 17th century.

The temple in honor of the Holy Venerable Jacob of Borovichi the Wonderworker, built in 1872 from red brick, was warm, two-story. It was decorated with five chapters. The central chapter with a large cross was placed on a beautiful octagonal light drum with a tent top. One side of the church faced the street, which was also named in honor of the Borovichi miracle worker Yakovlevskaya (Alexander Nevsky Street). The temple had thrones: the main one - in the name of St. Jacob Ave., on the south side - in the name of St. blg. Vlk. book Alexander Nevsky. At the moment, the chapters are lost, restoration work is underway.

http://www.borovishi.narod.ru/monastir.html; http://novodev.narod.ru/borovichi.html

Holy Spirit Monastery, unofficial, communal, on the Msta River, near the city of Borovichi. Founded in 1327. Part of the relics of St. James Borovitsky is kept here (see October 23). On the day of Pentecost and the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary into the temple, a religious procession is held from the monastery to the city cathedral, on the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and on October 23 - from the cathedral to the monastery.

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

The Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1327 on the right bank of the Msta, between two Borovichi churchyards. In 1452, after Jacob of Borovichi was canonized, his relics, buried near the monastery, were transferred to the Holy Spirit Monastery. The incorrupt relics rested openly in the monastery, attracting pilgrims from all over Russia. This brought great glory to the monastery. In 1654, Patriarch Nikon ordered the relics of the righteous Jacob to be transferred to the Iversky Monastery being built. Only the reliquary with a particle of relics (rib) was left in the Holy Spirit Monastery. Somewhat later, Patriarch Nikon started the construction of the Novo-Dukhov Monastery on the left bank of the Msta, opposite the Holy Spirit Monastery. In 1664, a stone church was laid there, the bricks for which began to be made here, on the territory of the monastery. After Nikon fell into disgrace, the unfinished stone church was dismantled, and the wooden buildings were moved to the Holy Spirit Monastery. The gate church of Iakov Borovicheski was returned to its old place - this happened in 1673. In 1676, a cathedral church was built from Nikon bricks, which has survived to this day.

In 1809, a Theological School was founded in Borovichi. Until 1859, when a building was built for it in the city center, it was located in the Holy Spirit Monastery. During the First World War, part of the monastery buildings was used as an infirmary - the monks cared for the wounded. After the revolution, the monastery was closed. During the Great Patriotic War, the monastery was a hospital for prisoners of war, and after the war a military unit was located.

Currently, the Bishop's Compound is located on the territory of the monastery. Opposite the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, the holy well of Abbess Taisia (Solopova), abbess of the Leushinsky monastery, was restored, who here in 1861 received a blessing to become a monk and began her spiritual path - this is reported by the memorial plaque on the building of the abbot's building. Taisin readings are held annually.

Information: The Legend of Jacob Borovichsky. Holy Spirit Monastery. Borovichi 2008; Polevikov A.P. Borovichi is a beautiful city on Msta. - Borovichi, 2006

The spiritual and historical monument of the Borovichi region is the Holy Spirit Monastery. It is believed that it was founded in very ancient times by pious hermit monks who chose a quiet and beautiful place for prayer and the salvation of their souls. On three sides, a small low-lying plain was covered with hills covered with coniferous and mixed forests, which sheltered it from strong winds. From the southwestern side, the Msta River flowed its waters in a clear and quiet stream, changing its violent character here. Nature itself in this place seemed to humble itself and fall silent.

It was not possible to establish the exact date of the foundation of the monastery, since the monastery archives were lost during a fire in 1732. On the ancient shrine of the righteous Jacob there was an inscription, from which it followed that the Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1327, and the cathedral church was built in 1345

The monastery became widely known in the second half of the 15th century. in connection with the transfer of the relics of the righteous Jacob of Borovichi to it.
Ivan the Terrible, having a penchant for newly-minted saints and miraculous icons, endowed the monastery with arable land and farmland. This enabled the monastery to build a new cathedral church in honor of the Holy Spirit. The day following Trinity is called the Spiritual Day and is dedicated to the glorification of the Holy Spirit, which gives a person reason and wisdom, helps his heart to love and understand Jesus Christ, and opens the world of spiritual life.

The temple was wooden, with tent architecture. In the 16th century it had a very rich four-tiered iconostasis. Its Deesis row, in addition to the large image of the Savior, included nineteen more icons. In the first tier there were icons painted in gold, this was a great rarity for that time. The temple icon, two icons of the Mother of God, and the righteous Jacob in the Life were written on gold. Next to the cathedral church, a small warm winter church was built in honor of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This temple was famous for the miraculous icon of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, icons of St. John the Baptist and St. Nicholas. Soon after the relics of St. of the Righteous Jacob, with funds donated by the residents of Borovichi, a gate wooden church was built in the name of the saint. The Holy Gate (the main entrance to the monastery), located in the western part of the monastery, overlooked the river. Mste. Later they were moved to another place, because the water was strongly washing away the shore in this place. The main entrance began to be located in the eastern part of the monastery, from where the Borovichi cathedrals were visible. The monastery ensemble was complemented by a bell tower with four bells.

For the few inhabitants of the monastery, a wooden building was built, which contained monastic cells, a kitchen and a refectory.
In 1613, during a period of troubles, the Holy Spirit Monastery was plundered. The monastery architectural ensemble that has survived to this day is a monument of Russian architecture of the 17th-19th centuries.

There were five monastic churches: the cathedral - in honor of the Holy Spirit, the second - in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, the third - in the name of the Righteous Jacob, and behind the monastery fence - a temple in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God of Tenderness and a temple in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva.

The stone cathedral church in honor of the Holy Spirit was built in 1676. on the site of two ancient wooden churches. It was probably the first stone building in Borovichi that has survived to this day. This temple, in addition to the main altar, had two more chapels: on the northern side - the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, in memory of the ancient church that stood on this place, on the southern side - in honor of the prophet of God Elijah, in memory of the hermit monks who founded the monastery. After a fire in the 18th century. The cathedral was renovated and the narrow chapels were expanded. There were other renovations to the temple. As a result, the cathedral in honor of the Holy Spirit lost its original appearance. The light drum of the temple, decorated with arches resting on semi-columns with interceptions, the dome and the cross, now lost, conveyed the features of the architecture of the 17th century.

As a result of the fire, the holy gates and the Church of the Righteous James were completely destroyed. In 1792, in the same place, a new monastery holy gate was built from brick, and above it the stone Church of the Righteous James. This temple, built in an oblong quadrangle, was painted inside and out. Its architecture was completed by a stone quadrangular single-tier bell tower with a beautiful metal cross. On it at the beginning of the 20th century. there were 10 bells, some of them were very ancient.

In 1872, the Church of Righteous Jacob was reconsecrated in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, because the construction of a new majestic church in the name of St. righteous Jacob in the northeastern part of the monastery. The Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was very revered in Borovichi, since the appearance of the relics of the Borovichi wonderworker took place on the feast day of this icon.

Since 1654, the Holy Spirit Monastery was assigned to the Valdai Monastery, built in honor of the Iveron Icon by Patriarch Nikon.
New church in the name of St. Saint Jacob of Borovichi the Wonderworker, two-story, warm, was built of red brick in 1872. The church had a rectangular shape. It was decorated with five chapters. The central chapter with a large cross was placed on a beautiful octagonal light drum with a tent top. One side of the church faced Yakovlevskaya Street (now A. Nevsky Street). The temple had thrones: the main one - in the name of St. righteous Jacob, on the south side - in the name of St. blg. ow. book Alexander Nevsky. On the first floor of the temple a throne was consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas.

At this time, a stone fraternal building was built, which was located on both sides of the holy gate. A two-story stone abbot's house was erected on the monastery cathedral square. It housed the bishop's, abbot's and fraternal cells, a kitchen, a refectory, and a bakery. Not far from it there was a stone building with services. There were several fraternal cells, a bathhouse, a brewery, a storeroom, cellars and cellars. Next were a stone barnyard, a stable, a barn and living rooms for workers.
The monastery was surrounded by a brick fence with six towers. Four of them were located at the corners of the fence, and two were in the middle of the northeastern and southwestern walls. The southwestern tower overlooked Meta and was especially decorated with wall paintings in memory of the fact that previously there was the main entrance to the monastery and there was a wooden church in honor of the Holy Rights. Jacob. Only the corner towers have survived to this day.

In front of the monastery there was a large square and a birch grove. Fairs were held here on the feast of St. Righteous Jacob of Borovichi. Peasants came on horseback and brought piglets, chickens, geese, apples, pickled lingonberries, mushrooms of all kinds and other products for sale. Merchants brought their goods. There was brisk trade.

From 1830 to 1845, extensive construction work was carried out at the monastery. Material assistance to the Borovichi Monastery was provided by Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg Seraphim (Glagolevsky) and Archimandrite Photius, abbot of the Novgorod Yuriev Monastery.

During the First World War, part of the buildings of the Holy Spiritual Monastery were used as an infirmary. The inhabitants of the monastery looked after the wounded soldiers.

In February 1918, the city's district commission adopted a resolution to close the Holy Spirit Monastery and other monasteries in Borovichi district. This was motivated by the lack of buildings in the city for shelters, almshouses and schools. It was considered possible to leave the elderly clergy and monks at the monastery in the almshouse. The younger and healthier ones were asked to find another place within two weeks. On April 17 of the same year, the liquidation commission began work. She was accompanied by soldiers armed with rifles and bayonets. The monastery was first surrounded on all sides, and then the liquidation commission began checking the monastery's inventory, interest-bearing papers and cash. Such measures were not accidental. Back on January 19, when commissars came to the Holy Spirit Monastery to inventory the property, the believers, deciding that the monastery was being closed, beat up these commissars. Two hieromonks, a monk and several parishioners were sent to prison. The remaining monks were given an iron bed, a stool and a table. Only Hieromonk Misail and Archimandrite Vladimir were left with a little more things.

The Monastery of the Holy Spirit was abolished, its churches were turned into parish churches, which did not function for long. In 1920, silver church valuables weighing more than 16 kg were seized from these churches. Soon the churches were closed, almost all signs that reminded them of their cult purpose were destroyed, the bell tower was dismantled, and the ancient monastery cemetery was destroyed. During the Great Patriotic War, a hospital was again located on the territory of the former Holy Spiritual Monastery. Hospital No. 3810 occupied all the premises of the monastery. Russians, Germans, Hungarians, Italians, Poles were treated here... Later, for a long time, a military unit was located on part of the monastery’s territory, thanks to which this part of the monastery was preserved.

An event of particular importance in the spiritual life of the Borovichi was the return of the Holy Spirit Monastery to the Orthodox Church. Despite numerous reconstructions, the ensemble of the Holy Spiritual Monastery is still distinguished by the proportionality of its structures and its special architectural appearance. On September 14, 2000, after a 70-year break, believers again entered the ancient shrine, and in the church of St. A prayer service for the righteous Jacob was served by a council of Borovichi priests.

Priest ALEXANDER DUMCHEV, Intercession Cathedral, Veliky Novgorod, Magazine "Sofia" No. 4 2010

The city of Timashevsk in the Krasnodar region is known for the monastery located there - the Holy Spiritual Monastery. It is located on the outskirts of the city, but even during its construction the future rector said that it would become a “center.”

Where is the Holy Spirit Monastery located on the map?

You will find it in the Southern microdistrict of Timashevsk, where Malo-Vygonnaya and Druzhby streets intersect. A branch flows nearby - Kirpiltsy.

History of the sacred place

In 1987, Father George took over the leadership of the Holy Ascension parish in Timashevsk. Then he wished to build a temple here. To do this, it was necessary to obtain territory for development. Local authorities were in no hurry to allocate land. The priest had to endure many difficulties and oppression from them.

The way out of the predicament was to purchase a house on 15 acres of marshy land. There is a legend about this hut: in the 20th century, a certain perspicacious holy fool girl living not far from it predicted the construction of a monastery on this site.

In the fall of 1991, the church was completed and consecrated in honor of the descent of the Holy Spirit. At this time, Father wanted to go to the place of his previous ministry, but God’s will was different. Bishop Isidore opens a monastery here, ordains him to the rank of archimandrite and appoints him to the position of governor.

The monastery has shrines:

reliquary with particles of 23 holy saints of God;
list of images of St. healer Panteleimon, brought from Athos;
icons of the Mother of God “Vladimir” and “Burning Bush”;
a piece of Mamre oak brought from the Holy Land.

The story of the “Vladimir” icon

To Father George, when he was still serving in the Epiphany Church in the Arkhangelsk region, a parishioner brought the face of the “Vladimir Mother of God” and told the following story:

This woman's grandfather was a priest. In the 1930s, when the clergy were massively arrested and an anti-religious struggle was waged, this also affected her grandfather. One evening the commissioners came into the house and ordered him to “get ready for the road.” The priest was confused and asked for time to get ready, but he himself turned to the holy corner and began to pray. Everyone noticed how drops of tears appeared on the image of the Mother of God. The commissioner got angry, took out a revolver and started shooting at the icon, after which he shot the priest in a rage.

Relatives hid the shrine and carefully preserved it, passing it on from generation to generation. Over time, the grandmother gave it to her granddaughter, and she brought it to church. This image was brought by Archimandrite. George in the Holy Spirit Monastery of Timashevsk. Now it is kept in the temple altar.

About the confessor of the Timashevsky Monastery

Fr. was born. George February 6, 1942 After graduating from school, he entered obedience at the Transfiguration Monastery in Transcarpathia. In 1961, when the monastery was closed, he left for the Nikolaev region. In 1962 he was drafted into the army. Upon his return, he went to live in Irkutsk. There, in December 1968, he took monastic vows with the name George. Then he was ordained a hierodeacon and then a hieromonk. He served first in the Murmansk region, and then in the Arkhangelsk region. In 1978 he studied at the Moscow Seminary.

To the Krasnodar diocese, Fr. George arrived after Metropolitan Isidore, who was still a bishop at that time. He devoted 19 years to improving the “island of spirituality” in Timashevsk. Here he was tonsured into the great schema with the name of Savva. During the years of his ministry, many changes took place - the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord was rebuilt, buildings for household purposes and four farmsteads were added in nearby settlements.

However, the abbot is better known for his gift of healing with herbs and prayer. He was a herbalist who knew his business well. He learned the art of using the gifts of nature in the treatment of various diseases in his youth, as a novice in the city of Chernivtsi (in Ukraine), on the border with Romania.

There was always a queue for him. People came to receive spiritual and physical treatment; the Holy Spirit Timashevsky Monastery was visited by thousands. Father gave herbal teas that helped cure those diseases that doctors of official, recognized medicine could not cope with.

Life of monks today

At first it was inhabited by only 12 monks. Over time, their number grew to 80. Following the ancient rules of residence of monastic communities, they feed themselves from the labors of their own hands.

Today, 400 hectares of land have been allocated for the monastery for planting agricultural crops. The brethren bear different obediences. Some are engaged in growing vegetables, fruits, grains, herbs, others work in the fraternal refectory, on prosphora, in garages. There is poultry, cattle and pig farming. Excess products - eggs, milk and meat - are sold.

During the construction of the church, all finishing work was carried out by monks: they painted the temple walls and made wooden carved icon cases. Today, all the splendor of the temple can be seen in the photo.

In 2011, Fr. George went to the Lord, but the monks continue his “work” - they collect herbs and make all kinds of infusions and teas for various ailments according to preserved recipes. All this is sold in the monastery shop. Those who have already tried herbal preparations many times leave positive reviews about them.

How to get there (get there)?

The easiest way to get here from the Timashevskaya railway station is by minibus No. 2, get off at the final stop “Naumenko Street”. From here you will need to walk about 1 km in a southeast direction.

It’s easy to get from the center of Timashevsk to the monastery by car like this:

Contact Information

Address: Druzhby street, 1, Timashevsk, Krasnodar region, Russia.
GPS coordinates: 45.601274, 38.954505.
Phones: +7-86130-4-01-24.
Official site:
Opening hours: from 4:00 to 19:00.

Timashevsk made the Holy Spirit Monastery a spiritual center not only for monks, but also for everyone who comes here. Divine services are held there every day; on Thursday, an akathist is read in front of the image of that very “Vladimir” icon. In conclusion, we offer a video about this monastery, enjoy watching!

The formation of the Holy Spiritual Monastery dates back to the first quarter of the 12th century. It was founded by the disciples of the Vyatichi enlightener, the Venerable Hieromartyr John Kuksha.

Initially, the monastery was located near the present village of Kresty, Novosilsky district, Oryol region, and numbered about 600 brethren who knew how not only to fulfill church requirements, but also, if necessary, to stand up for the Orthodox faith and the Fatherland with arms in hand... For example, in 1380, a group of monks of St. Dukhova of the monastery as part of the ambush regiment, which included the Novosilsk squad, participated in the Battle of Kulikovo.

In 1495, the monastery was transferred from Bolshaya Yeletskaya to the Lithuanian road and was located near Novosil. Over time, three magnificent churches, residential and outbuildings, surrounded by a stone monastery fence, were erected here. The outpost of Orthodoxy had a strong subsidiary farm. But, as before, in difficult times he always put up his warriors to defend the Fatherland. In particular, a direct relationship between the Holy Spiritual Monastery and the results of the famous Battle of the Fate (1555) can be traced.

According to the petition of the abbot of the Holy Spiritual Monastery, Simon, about the need to strengthen the Novosil fortress and, in general, the abattoir defensive line from the Crimean Tatars and Nagais (this is also a true historical fact!) in 1644, the first sovereign from the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fedorovich, visited the monastery. He stayed with the abbot for several days, then carefully examined the city fortress and talked with the military leaders. Having made the necessary conclusions, the sovereign immediately ordered to significantly strengthen the garrison of the fortress. Novosilsk gunners, archers and Cossacks were given a certificate for owning land. Then this sovereign decision was extended to all the marked borders of Great Rus'.

Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, the quietest and wisest ruler of the Russian state, who, as we know, managed to significantly streamline domestic legislation (Code of Laws), also visited the Holy Spirit Monastery several times. There is no doubt that Alexey Mikhailovich’s spiritual instructions in the monastery also had a beneficial effect on his activities.

Without exaggeration, we can say that the Holy Spirit Monastery from time immemorial was a place especially revered by Orthodox Christians. Not only emperors and influential statesmen came here for spiritual advice. Lines of pilgrims from all over the Russian land stretched here. Here was one of the greatest Russian shrines - the miraculous icon of St. Nicholas, brought to Novosil in 1153 by the second wife of Yuri Dolgoruky Olga, who was also the sister of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel. This icon was so revered in Rus' that in favorable summer times it was regularly taken around the cities and villages of Russia (until 1917). After the Bolsheviks, obsessed with the satanic idea, came to power, the trace of the miraculous icon was lost. What her future fate is is unknown.

The Monastery of the Holy Spirit was closed in 1918. The communists destroyed it in 1934: two churches were blown up - St. Nicholas with the Exaltation of the Cross chapel and in the name of the Image of Christ the Savior Not Made by Hands. Miraculously, only the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity survived, since they decided to use it as a warehouse for storing grain and spare parts for agricultural machinery. The residential and outbuildings of the monastery, as well as the monastery fence, were completely destroyed.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity was severely damaged. All that remained of it was the central part with a dilapidated dome, the altar and some supporting structures of the refectory.

After the war, the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity was also used as a storage room. On the territory of the monastery, the leaders of the local collective farm set up a machine yard and placed containers with fuel and lubricants. And this bacchanalia continued for decades...

By the time monastic life resumed, most of the buildings were partially or completely destroyed. Initially it had the status of a parish.

The revival of the Holy Spirit Monastery began in 2004 with the blessing of the schema-abbot and confessor of the Optina Hermitage, and now the confessor of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill, Schema-Archimandrite Elijah.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of December 27, 2005 (Journal No. 117), the parish was transformed into the diocesan Monastery of the Holy Spirit.

In 2010, the laying of the western and southern parts of the monastery fence with watchtowers and a chapel continued, and the construction of the southern part of the monastery fence with a platform began. The restoration of the monastery church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity has continued. Work was actively underway on the construction of the temple complex, the installation of gas pipelines and heating networks. The improvement of the monastery territory continued. To date, the vestibule and refectory part of the Church of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity have been restored, and work is underway to restore the central part and altar of this temple. The northern part of the monastery fence with the entrance gates and two watchtowers has been built, 70 percent of the brickwork of the eastern and western parts of the fence has been completed, and construction of the southern part has begun. A guardhouse, an almshouse, a refectory with a kitchen for monks and novices have been built, and the construction of a two-story monastic building and a warm garage are nearing completion. An artesian well was drilled and water supply and sewerage lines were installed in the almshouse. An underground gas pipeline has been laid to the main monastery facilities.

The restoration of the Holy Spiritual Monastery is being carried out in accordance with the long-term development plan based on the preserved historical and architectural information and photographs of the monastery from the early twentieth century. Everything is being done in order to recreate the ancient Orthodox shrine in its former beauty and grandeur.

We feel constant guardianship and support in the complex and difficult task of reviving the monastery from our confessor, Fr. Or me. May God grant him health for many years to come. He patiently and persistently works to form a friendly and cohesive team of the monastery brethren. We receive novices newly arriving at the monastery with the blessing of Father Elijah. He always comes to us for tonsure with the greatest joy. The brethren in the Holy Spirit Monastery, thank God, everything is increasing every year. To date, there are already nine monks (including three hieromonks and two hierodeacons) and seven novices. Fifteen workers conscientiously, for the glory of God, carry out work on the restoration and construction of monastery facilities.

Hegumen Alexander (Maslov)

The exact date of the founding of the monastery has not been established, since the monastery archives were lost during a fire in 1732. What is certain is that the Holy Spirit Monastery is one of the oldest Russian monasteries. It was founded at the beginning of the 14th century, during the reign of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Kalita. On the ancient shrine of St. Jacob, an inscription was preserved, from which it followed that the Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1327, and the cathedral church was built in 1345.

In 1654, Patriarch Nikon, having founded the Iveron Monastery on Valdai “Russian Athos,” ordered the Borovichi shrine to be moved to the new monastery. Holy Spirit Monastery, in which a particle of the relics of St. Jacob, was assigned to Iverskoye-Valdaisky.

In 1724, the relics of St. were kept in the monastery for some time. blg. Vlk. book Alexander Nevsky during the solemn transfer of them, on the orders of Peter I, from Vladimir to St. Petersburg.

Since 1741, the Borovichi Holy Spirit Monastery was assigned to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

In April 1918, by resolution of the district commission of the city of Borovichi, the monastery was closed, its churches were turned into parish churches, which did not function for long. Soon the churches were closed, almost all signs reminiscent of their cult purpose were destroyed, the bell tower was dismantled, and the ancient monastery cemetery was destroyed.

During the Great Patriotic War, there was a hospital for prisoners of war on the territory of the former Holy Spiritual Monastery. Later, for a long time, a military unit was located on the territory of the monastery.

On September 14, 2000, the Holy Spirit Monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church; in 2002, the golden dome and cross were re-erected on the Church of the Holy Spirit.

After a fire in the 18th century, the cathedral was renovated and the narrow chapels were expanded. There were other renovations to the temple. As a result, the cathedral lost its original appearance. Now the temple retains elements of classical architecture. The light drum of the temple, decorated with arches resting on semi-columns with interceptions, the dome and the cross remained from the original appearance of the temple of the 17th century.

The temple in honor of the Holy Venerable Jacob of Borovichi the Wonderworker, built in 1872 from red brick, was warm, two-story. It was decorated with five chapters.

The temple had thrones: the main one - in the name of St. Jacob Ave., on the south side - in the name of St. blg. Vlk. book Alexander Nevsky. At the moment, the chapters are lost, restoration work is underway.