800 years ago, on the territory of the so-called New City, at the edge of the ancient ramparts facing the Lybedi River, the Prince of Vladimir Vsevolod founded the Assumption Monastery.
Short story
The emergence of the monastery is closely connected with the name of the pious wife of Vsevolod - Maria, daughter of the Ossetian prince Shvarnovna (in later sources she is called the Czech princess). Maria was a faithful helper to her husband and a selfless mother who raised 12 children. 4 of the 8 sons born in the marriage of Vsevolod and Mary ruled the Vladimir land at different times.
General view of the Assumption Knyaginin Monastery
In 1198, with the birth of the last son John, the Grand Duchess fell into a grave illness and for 7 years resignedly endured suffering. Mary always responded to the condolences of those around her with the words of the righteous Job, that if we accept everything good from the hand of the Lord, then we must endure the evil that is disagreeable to us. During her illness, the princess vowed to found a monastic monastery, and in 1200, at her insistence, Vsevolod founded the Assumption Monastery.
View of the Assumption Cathedral of the Assumption Knyaginin Monastery
The Laurentian Chronicle informs that in 1206 the Grand Duchess took the monastic order in the monastery, which she herself created, and in monasticism she was named Martha. Grand Duke Vsevolod "with many tears", together with his son George and daughter Vseslav, accompanied his wife to the monastery. Soon after taking the tonsure, Mary departed to the Lord and was buried in her monastery "with sobs and great weeping over her." The townspeople grieved about her death, because Princess Mary poured out good on everyone. The miserable, the sick and the poor were always consoled and given alms.
The further fate of the Assumption Monastery
In honor of Mary, the Assumption Monastery began to be called Knyaginin. Later, the main temple of the monastery served as a family burial vault.... Here are buried Mary's sister - Anna, daughter of Maria and Vsevolod the Big Nest - Elena, both wives of Alexander Nevsky and his daughter, as well as other noble women. For 800 years of its history, the Assumption Monastery suffered from the raids of the Mongol-Tatars and the Horde, was ruined during the years of Soviet power, but was always restored. Since 1993, monastic life began to revive at the monastery.
Inside the Assumption Cathedral of the Assumption Knyaginin Monastery
Temples of the Dormition Knyaginin Monastery
There are two stone churches in the monastery - the Assumption Cathedral and the Kazan Church. The Assumption Cathedral is a wonderful example of early Moscow architecture. This is the only building of this style in Vladimir.
The outer walls of the cathedral are completed by zakomaras. Keel-shaped kokoshniks rise above them in two rows, serving as the basis for a high drum with a helmet-shaped head.
View of the Kazan Church of the Dormition Knyaginin Monastery
Narrow slit-like windows and flat blades dismembering the façade into scaffolds draw attention to the building's flowing silhouette. Inside, the walls of the Assumption Cathedral are painted with frescoes of 1648, commissioned by Patriarch Joseph by Moscow iconographers, headed by the famous master Mark Matveyev. The temple in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God has two side-chapels - in honor of St. John Chrysostom and the Martyr Abraham. Kazan Church is notable for the ancient royal gates with skillful carvings of the 16th century.
Shrines of the Dormition Knyagigin monastery
One of the few surviving pre-Mongol icons is located in the Assumption Cathedral of the Princess Monastery. The miraculous image of the Bogolyubskaya Mother of God was written at the behest of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in memory of the miraculous appearance of the Mother of God to him... In 1157, Andrei left Vyshgorod and went to the Suzdal land with the firm intention of establishing the Grand Duke's throne there. In this pious deed, Prince Andrey was accompanied by the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God.
Mosaic on the eastern facade of the Kazan Church of the Dormition Knyaginin Monastery
10 versts from the city of Vladimir, the cart with the icon suddenly stopped, and the horses could not budge. The change of horses also came to nothing. Then Andrei turned to the Mother of God for help. The prince prayed fervently in front of the miraculous image, and at midnight the Queen of Heaven appeared to him. The Most Holy Theotokos commanded the prince to place Her image, brought from Vyshgorod, in Vladimir, and to create a monastery for the monks at the place of the appearance.
On the territory of the Assumption Knyaginin Monastery
Andrei founded a monastery in the village of Bogolyubovo, returned the miraculous image to Vladimir and ordered to paint a new icon depicting the Mother of God in the form in which she appeared to him - in full growth, with hands raised in prayer and a face turned to the Lord. In addition to the icon of the Bogolyubskaya Theotokos, the shrine of the Assumption Monastery, particles of the relics of the Martyr Abraham of Bulgaria were selected. This saint was a native of the Volga Bulgars and professed Islam, but then he came to believe in Orthodoxy and became an active missionary. Muslims persuaded Abraham to renounce Christ, but he was adamant in his faith and preferred a martyr's death. In 1230, the Vladimir prince Georgy Vsevolodovich transferred the relics of Abraham to the Assumption Cathedralwhere numerous miracles of healing began to take place.
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