Zilantov convent. Monastery

14.02.202427.05.2017

How to get there.
1. from Kazan railway station to the Admiralteyskaya Sloboda stop (5 minutes)
2. by trolleybus No. 3,4, 10 or by minibus going through the Kirovsky district to the stop “Gladilova”, “1 Maya”.

We combined a trip to Old Arakchino (Temple of All Religions) with a foray along the way to the Admiralteyskaya Sloboda and a walk to the monastery. Walk along the platform in the direction from Kazan to the end, cross the road, and move along the road in the same direction for 3-4 minutes, then turn right, along the garages for 200 meters, and left, towards the monastery. I’m describing this for a long time, but you can see where to go from the station - focus on the domes. In addition, it is when you walk from the station (you don’t know how to walk if you arrived by trolleybus or minibus), the monastery first appears on the top of the hill, and then the whole thing becomes visible, and you get good photos. The Kremlin and Kul-Sharif are also clearly visible from here.

By the way, the photo on the territory is only with the blessing of the abbess, as one individual shouted to us across the entire territory, my husband obeyed, I, of course, did not

Zilantova Mountain is, without a doubt, one of the most legendary and legendary places in Tatarstan. Maybe even the most legendary. Some legends claim that the original ancient Kazan supposedly arose here, and not on the Kremlin hill. But archaeological data does not yet confirm this. "Zilantova" mountain (Djilan Tau) - means "snake". And the snake is a special creature for almost all peoples of the pre-Christian era without exception. Moreover, if this snake is... winged and indestructible in the usual way. It was just such a snake that wound up, according to legend, on the mountain that was later named after her. “Wound up” in a very symptomatic way, which for some reason few researchers of history and folklore have thought about. The fact is that the founders of ancient Kazan, the Bulgars, decided to remove the ordinary snakes that lived on the mountain, but they would certainly remove them using the shamanic-witchcraft method, because they did not know any other way. According to one legend, a sorcerer, according to another, a “maiden” (or even “the daughter-in-law of Khan Ali Bey, known for her enchantments”) performed a ritual of burning snakes. They burned ordinary snakes, but after that something completely wrong began to happen. Those gathered around the shaman's fire suddenly rushed to run screaming from the superstitious horror that had suddenly attacked them: everyone at once imagined that they were being pursued through the air by a 2-headed or even 12-headed snake that had emerged from the fire. As a result, in the end, what the spirit needed most happened: the residents realized the futility of the struggle and began to regularly “appease” him with victims, as a result of which he, from an enemy, became the “patron and guardian” of the city. How can one not recall the wonderfully symbolic coat of arms of Moscow, now inserted into the middle of the officially approved Russian State Emblem: St. George the Victorious pierces a snake, exactly repeating the image of Zilant!

In 1552, the well-known, legendary, last Kazan campaign took place. On October 2, 22-year-old Tsar John, whom no one called the Terrible at that time, entered Kazan, “taken by the sword,” overflowing with corpses. Never before in Russian history have there been victories on such a scale: an entire neighboring state fell under its power! Moreover, it was a state with which, in just over 100 years of its existence, there were 13 major wars, not counting minor skirmishes. But there were also casualties - previously unheard of: everyone noted that the number of those killed on October 2, which no one could fully count, was comparable only to those who died on the Kulikovo Field.

Many memorial monasteries and temples were founded in Rus' after the Battle of Kulikovo. After the capture of Kazan, Ivan IV also founded a memorial monastery of the Assumption: on Kazanka. That same evening, October 2, he, according to the chronicles, “commanded the royal banner to be received and the place to be outlined and the church to be erected on one day, and commanded the Monastery to be there.” From the very beginning, the monastery was erected by Ivan IV on the site of a mass grave of soldiers who died during the capture of Kazan. “This monastery is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God... the monks of this monastery will be living candles before the Lord and we give them a bequest to sing requiems for our murdered parents forever and ever...”, said, according to the chronicle, the young king, mourning the fallen knights. But this place was flooded with water almost every year, and in 1559 the monastery was moved to Zilantova Mountain.

All travelers who arrived in Kazan, even just passing through, could not possibly pass the Zilantov Monastery. And it was very symbolic. The significance of the Zilantov Monastery for Kazan can be compared with the significance of the Novodevichy Monastery for Moscow. Both monasteries stand “on spiritual guard”, on the western outskirts of their cities and, coincidentally, the main shrine of the two monasteries is the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God - only different lists of it from the 16th century.

The main ensemble of the monastery was formed in the 17th century. On a high mountain, outside the walls, there was the Assumption Cathedral (1625), a temple in the name of Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow (1720), and many residential and outbuildings. A beautiful view of the monastery opened both from the Volga and from the trains of the railway that laid past the monastery in 1890. In 1640-1642. In the monastery, the Suzdal Bishop Joseph, a native of Ukraine, exiled on charges of heresy, lived in exile. In 1732-1740 the monastery housed the Kazan Theological Seminary, and from 1740 the New Epiphany School. Later, both educational institutions moved into their own buildings. In 1829-1850 The abbot of the monastery was Archimandrite Gabriel, a scientist-philosopher, the author of the first multi-volume history of philosophy in Russia.

In August 1918, Kazan was occupied by the White Czechs, and guns were installed on Zilantovaya Mountain. When the Red Army broke into Kazan that same year, ten monastics of the Zilantov Monastery, led by the archimandrite, were shot without trial on unclear charges of shelling Red Guards. For some time the monastery was inactive, but was soon inhabited by nuns. The female monastic community existed until the early 20s, and then was liquidated. The monastery cemetery, which had the burials of eminent citizens, was destroyed in the 30s.

The ensemble on Zilantova Mountain itself was almost wiped off the face of the earth (except for the Church of All Saints - 1681, rebuilt and acquired its modern appearance in the 1890s and the Rector's building - 1808). The former men's monastery was revived as a women's monastery - the only women's monastery in Kazan and its environs. Everything else is a remake, from the beginning of the 21st century.

Zilantov Holy Dormition Monastery is a monastery located in Kazan on Zilantovaya Mountain, more than 2 kilometers below the Kazan Kremlin along the old bed of the Kazanka River.
The monastery was founded by John IV on October 15, 1552 after the capture of the city, and was built on the site where the royal tent and camp church stood and where Russian soldiers killed under the walls of Kazan were buried. In 1559, the Volga flood washed away and destroyed the monastery walls, after which the monastery was moved to the top of the mountain.
The Moscow royal couple took a close part in the restoration of the monastery in its new location. Tsar John Vasilyevich and Tsarina Anastasia donated 400 rubles (a very significant amount according to the monetary system of that time) for the monastery building, and Tsarina Anastasia, in addition, donated an entire iconostasis for the monastery church.

An old photograph of the Zilantov Monastery - almost the entire complex of the monastery was destroyed.

The name of the monastery is associated with legends about the mythical creature Zilant.

There are many legends about Zilant Mountain. Here is one of them.
“One day the khan ordered to bring to him a girl who loudly reproached him, the founder of the city.
- Why are you scolding me, beauty?
“Oh, great founder of the city, you don’t know how hard it is for women to carry water so far.” I wish we could move the city closer to the water.
“There is a convenient hill closer to the water, but there are a lot of snakes and wild pigs there,” objected the khan.
“Can’t the Great Khan’s sorcerers cope with this?” - said the girl.

Khan decided to move the city to the hill where the Kremlin now stands. But this place was inconvenient, as it was filled with snake nests. People were frightened by the snake's whistle and avoided the hill. Over the winter they brought a lot of brushwood and straw up the mountain, and in the spring, when the snakes crawled out onto the straw, they set it all on fire.

The fire destroyed all the snakes, large and small. But one winged serpent rushed after the hero, who set fire to the straw. The snake overtook the hero near the village of Churilin, near a ravine, which in Tatar is called Alty-kutar, and in Russian - Kutarka, and tore it into 6 parts. Later, the burnt snake settled on Mount Dzhilantau, from where it flew out at night towards the Kazan fortress and struck fear into its inhabitants.”

The monastery guard said that the bells were old and had been preserved in their time. And they look like new ones.

The main ensemble of the monastery was formed in the 17th century. It contained the Assumption Cathedral (1625), a temple in the name of Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow (1720), the Church of All Saints (1681, rebuilt in the 1890s), the Holy Gate with a hipped bell tower on the southern wall (1897), jagged white stone walls (1822), many residential and outbuildings, incl. The abbot's corps, which has survived to this day (1808).

Church of Vladimir Equal to the Apostles

Attached to the monastery is a monument-temple with a church in the name of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, built over the mass grave of soldiers who fell near Kazan. In its present form, the new church was consecrated on August 30, 1823 by Archbishop Ambrose.

On this site, from 1720 to 1923, there was a temple honoring St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, the Wonderworker. On September 10, 1918, Archimandrite Sergius and the brethren of the Zilantov Monastery were shot in the refectory of this church.

The Trinity Cathedral of the monastery is an exact copy of the cathedral of the same name of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

In 1640-1642. In the monastery, the Suzdal Bishop Joseph, a native of Ukraine, exiled on charges of heresy, lived in exile. In 1732-1740 the monastery housed the Kazan Theological Seminary, and from 1740 the New Epiphany School. Later, both educational institutions moved into their own buildings. In 1829-1850 The abbot of the monastery was Archimandrite Gabriel, the author of the first multi-volume history of philosophy in Russia.

There is a cross installed on the territory of the monastery. The inscription under the cross reads: “In memory of the soldiers who gave their lives for the Orthodox faith and the Fatherland, novices who voluntarily and resignedly raised the cross of obedience, and all known and unknown Orthodox prayer books and righteous people, monastics and laity, whose prayer feat holds up this world.”

A beautiful view of the monastery opened both from the Volga and from the trains of the railway that laid past the monastery in 1890. In 1918, it was here that the White Czechs installed their guns.

Previously, it had a monastery and a parochial school, located near Zilantova Mountain outside the walls of the monastery and housed in a one-story wooden building on a stone foundation. About forty boys studied at the school, up to half of whom were Chuvash, who lived in the school premises at the full expense of the monastery. The school was consecrated and opened on September 17, 1909 under the care of Archbishop Nikanor (Kamensky) of Kazan and the diligence of the rector of the Zilantov Monastery, Archimandrite Sergius.

At the beginning of the 20th century. The Zilantov monastery was experiencing its heyday. In 1909, it was headed by Archimandrite Sergius (Zaitsev), under whom the number of brethren increased to 34 people. When Kazan was occupied by the White Czechs in August 1918, on Zilantovaya Mountain, almost in front of the entrance to the monastery, the White Czechs installed two guns, from which they fired at Raskolnikov’s destroyers, who were bombarding the ancient city. The military operations that took place in close proximity to the walls of the holy monastery could not but affect the normal course of monastic life, already disrupted by the decrees of the Soviet government.

In the center of the monastery is the Trinity Cathedral, a copy of the Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. They say that Ivan the Terrible himself ordered that measurements be taken from the Lavra Cathedral, however, such a temple was never built, and the Assumption Cathedral, erected in stone in 1625, was simply similar to the Lavra Cathedral. It was destroyed in 1929 and in 2002 a temple was erected here, consecrated in honor of the Trinity.

Along the wall of the monastery there is a small bell tower, which is called the “Zilantov candle”.
The bell tower is open, you can climb to the very top.

On September 10, 1918, the White Czechs left Kazan. Red troops burst into the city. Ten monastics of the Zilantov Monastery, led by the archimandrite, were shot without trial on unclear charges of shelling Red Guards.

For some time the monastery was inactive, but soon an Orthodox community was formed on its basis. The community existed until 1928, and then was liquidated. The monastery cemetery, which had the burials of eminent citizens, was destroyed in the 30s.

In 1998, the monastery, destroyed almost to the ground, was transferred to the Kazan diocese. A women's monastic community is located here. Currently, through the efforts of the monastery’s patron Natalya Vladimirovna Devyatykh, general director of the Zarechye JSCB, the Assumption Cathedral, the abbot’s and sister’s buildings with the house church of Adrian and Natalia have been restored, a bell tower, the Trinity Cathedral and the baptismal church of St. equal to book Vladimir, the painting of the temples has been completed.

The Assumption Cathedral of the Zilantov Monastery is the oldest.

The monastery has its own library (pictured).

The largest church of the monastery is in the name of the martyrs Adrian and Natalia, with a sister building located next to it.

The ensemble on Zilantova Mountain itself was almost wiped off the face of the earth (except for the All Saints Church - 1681, rebuilt and acquired its modern appearance in the 1890s, and the Rector's building - 1808).
The former men's monastery has now been revived as a women's monastery.

The monastery began to be revived as a convent at the beginning of the 21st century. The surviving Rector's building and the Church of All Saints were restored, and the gate bell tower with St. Michael's Church was re-erected.

Zilantov Monastery is one of the oldest in Tatarstan. Initially there were three stone churches in the monastery. The first is the cathedral, in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the second - in the name of All Saints with the chapel of Sts. Apostles Paul and Peter, where the ancient icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk and the revered large iconographic image of the martyr John of Kazan, buried, according to legend, on the site of the Zilantov Monastery, were located. The third church, near the eastern monastery wall, was dedicated to St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow. In addition to these three churches, a church in honor of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands was also assigned to the monastery.

In 1836 and 1839, the Zilantov monastery was visited by Emperor Nicholas I and Tsarevich Alexander, the future Tsar-Liberator Alexander II.

In the 1930-1950s, the NKVD prison was located on the territory of the monastery.

On the upper platform of the belfry hang 10 bells donated by the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant, the largest of which weighs 7.4 tons.

No less famous is the Zilantovsky cemetery of the monastery. The cemetery occupied the entire eastern half of the mountain and was an integral part of the holy monastery. It was part of its centuries-old history, the glorious past of the monastery and was the source of many donations - contributions to the monastery for the funeral of the soul.
This is the oldest Russian cemetery in Kazan. Here in 1529 the holy martyr John was buried. Later, a new Russian cemetery appeared: where all the soldiers who fell near Kazan in 1552 rested in a huge mass grave.

Many residents of Kazan expressed a desire to be buried on the “holy mountain at the house of the Most Holy Theotokos” and, during their lifetime, made wills in favor of the Assumption Monastery. For others, relatives contributed to the funeral. The deceased brothers of the holy monastery were also buried here. The cemetery was very small in size, like most Russian monastic necropolises, but at the same time it was considered one of the holiest places not only in Kazan, but throughout the entire diocese.

Not only outside the monastery walls, but also inside the fence itself there were many burials - they filled all the spaces free from buildings. Pre-revolutionary photographs literally show a forest of crosses at the altar of the Assumption Cathedral. During the restoration and reconstruction of the monastery, human remains are found constantly and everywhere: at the foundations of buildings, under the roots of trees... truly, the entire monastery stands on bones, and only by realizing this, you gradually begin to understand its special role and the holiness of this place.

In the monastery necropolis, commoners were buried to the southwest of the monastery (opposite the railway track). This part of the churchyard was destroyed in the 30-40s of the 20th century. Most of Zilantova Mountain was cut off by earth-moving equipment, because... sand, soil, and crushed stone were needed for construction work.

The other, elite part of the cemetery, where eminent townspeople and persons who made contributions to the monastery were buried, was located either on the territory of the monastery or to the northeast of the monastery. There, in the family crypt, the honorary hereditary citizen of Kazan, Ivan Ivanovich Alafuzov, was buried. At the monastery cemetery there were family tombs of famous Kazan merchants Alexandrovs, Tikhomirovs, Kondirins, Krasheninnikovs, Shmagins, Moiseevs, and the Marquises de Traverse.

The monastery on Zilantovaya Mountain was founded in Kazan already in 1552. Initially, it was located near the mass grave of Russian soldiers who died during the capture of Kazan. But this place was flooded with water almost every year and in 1559 the monastery was moved to Zilantova Mountain. The name of the mountain (in Tatar - Zhilantau) comes from the name of the legendary dragon that allegedly lived on the mountain.

It is Zilant that is depicted on the coat of arms of Kazan. The main ensemble of the monastery was formed in the 17th century. On a high mountain, outside the walls, there was the Assumption Cathedral (1625), a temple in the name of Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow (1720), and many residential and outbuildings. A beautiful view of the monastery opened both from the Volga and from the trains of the railway that laid past the monastery in 1890.

In 1640-1642. In the monastery, the Suzdal Bishop Joseph (Kurtsevich) (d. 1642), a native of Ukraine, lived in exile; he was removed from the see and exiled on charges of heresy. However, ten years later, under Patriarch Nikon, his views were accepted by the church. Joseph's grave, located in the Assumption Cathedral, has not survived.

In 1732-1740 the monastery housed the Kazan Theological Seminary, and from 1740 the New Epiphany School. Later, both educational institutions moved into their own buildings. In 1829-1850 The abbot of the monastery was Archimandrite Gabriel (Vasily Nikolaevich Voskresensky) (1795-1868) - a scientist-philosopher, author of the first multi-volume history of philosophy in Russia. At the beginning of the 20th century. The Zilantov monastery was experiencing its heyday. In 1909, it was headed by Archimandrite Sergius (Zaitsev), under whom the number of brethren increased to 34 people. In August 1918, Kazan was occupied by the White Czechs, and guns were installed on Zilantovaya Mountain (as the dominant one) (against the will of the monastics). On September 10, 1918, the White Czechs left Kazan. Red troops burst into the city. Ten monastics of the Zilantov Monastery, led by the archimandrite, were shot without trial on unclear charges of shelling Red Guards. For some time the monastery was inactive, but was soon inhabited by nuns. The female monastic community existed until the early 20s, and then was liquidated. The monastery cemetery, which had the burials of eminent citizens, was destroyed in the 30s. in 1998, the Zilantov Monastery complex was transferred to the Kazan diocese. A women's monastic community is located here. Currently, through the efforts of the monastery’s patron Natalya Vladimirovna Devyatykh, general director of the joint-stock commercial bank Zarechye, the external facade and dome of the Church of All Saints and the abbot’s building with the house church have been restored, the bell tower and the Church of St. equal to book Vladimir and Trinity Cathedral.

(Zhuravsky A.V., Lipakov E.V. Orthodox churches of Tatarstan. - Kazan, 2000.)

Kazan Assumption Zilantov Convent Kazan diocese

The Dormition Monastery was founded in Kazan in the year. Initially, it was located near the mass grave of Russian soldiers who died during the capture of Kazan. But this place was filled with water almost every year during the flood, and in that year the monastery was moved to Zilantova Mountain. Name of the mountain (in Tatar - Zhilantau) comes from the name of the legendary dragon that supposedly lived on the mountain. It is Zilant that is depicted on the coat of arms of Kazan.

The main ensemble of the monastery was formed in the 17th century. On a high mountain, outside the walls there were the Assumption Cathedral (), a temple in the name of Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow (), and many residential and outbuildings. A beautiful view of the monastery opened both from the Volga and from the trains of the railway that ran past the monastery in the year.

In - years, the Suzdal Bishop Joseph (Kurtsevich) (+ 1642) lived in exile in the monastery. His grave, located in the Assumption Cathedral, has not survived.

In the 1990s the Kazan Theological Seminary was located in the monastery, and since 2010 the New Epiphany School has been located. Later, both educational institutions moved into their own buildings.

At the beginning of the century, the Zilantov monastery experienced its heyday. In the year it was headed by Archimandrite Sergius (Zaitsev), under whom the number of brethren increased to 34 people.

In August of the year, Kazan was occupied by the White Czechs, and guns were installed on Zilantovaya Mountain (as the dominant one) against the will of the monks. On September 10 of the same year, the White Czechs left Kazan. Red troops burst into the city. Ten inhabitants of the Zilantov Monastery, led by Archimandrite Sergius, were shot without trial on unclear charges of shelling Red Guards. Now all of them are canonized as new martyrs of Russia.

For some time the monastery was inactive, but was soon inhabited by nuns. The women's monastic community existed until the early 1920s, and then was liquidated. The monastery cemetery, which had the burials of eminent citizens, was destroyed in the 1930s.

In the year, the monastery, destroyed almost to the ground, was transferred to the Kazan diocese. A women's monastic community is located here. Currently, the Assumption Cathedral, the rector's and sister's buildings with the house church of Adrian and Natalia have been restored, a bell tower, the Trinity Cathedral and the baptismal church of St. equal to book Vladimir, the painting of the temples has been completed.

Divine services in the monastery are held daily.