Suzdal, Russia, October 19, 2022
Photo: azbyka.ru
One of the Russia’s oldest monasteries is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its rebirth after the years of persecution under the godless atheist regime.
The main anniversary celebration for the Holy Protection Convent in Suzdal was held on the monastery’s patronal feast, beginning with the All-Night Vigil for the Holy Protection on October 13, celebrated by His Grace Bishop Stephan of Kovrov, vicar of the Vladimir Diocese, the monastery reports.
The clergy and sisterhood were joined by pious parishioners and pilgrims.
The next day, an early Liturgy was celebrated in the lower church dedicated to St. Sophia of Suzdal. His Eminence Metropolitan Tikhon of Vladimir and Suzdal then celebrated the late Liturgy in the Holy Protection Cathedral. The Metropolitan was concelebrated by Bp. Stephan and local and visiting clergy.
The abbesses and sisterhoods of several other monasteries were also in attendance.
Photo: monasterium.ru
In connection with the 30th anniversary, Met. Tikhon awarded Abbess Ekaterina (Kozhevnikova) the right to wear a jeweled pectoral cross. Bp. Stephan then led a procession around the church, during which a memorial litia was served at the grave of Mother Sophia (Komarova), the first abbess of the reborn Holy Protection Monastery.
Mother Ekaterina thanked Met. Tikhon for serving and presented him with an icon of the Holy Protection. In turn, Vladyka spoke about the history and significance of the monastery, where even high-ranking Russian officials would come for spiritual guidance and consolation.
All those present were then invited to a festive meal, during which they watched the documentary, “This Monastery Shall Be Glorious…” which was produced in 2017 for the holy habitation’s 25th anniversary. Everyone also received a new book dedicated to the present anniversary, telling about the revival of the monastery.
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The Holy Protection Monastery in Suzdal was founded in 1364 under Prince Dmitry Konstantinovich, though nothing has survived of the initial wooden buildings. The Holy Protection Cathedral and Holy Gates that have survived to this day were funded by Tsar Vasily III in the 16th century.
The monastery was home to many notable figures in Russian history, as nuns and as prisoners, the first being Solomonia Saburova, the wife of Vasily III, who was accused of infertility and then tonsured a nun in 1525.
The monastery was closed in 1923 and repurposed into a biological weapons lab.
In the 1950s and 60s, the monastery buildings were restored and museum exhibitions were opened. Later, the cathedral was home to a concert hall.
The revival of the monastic life at Holy Protection Monastery began in 1992.
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