Vladimir, Vladimir Province, Russia, October 18, 2023
Photo: monasterium.ru
On Sunday, October 15, the Holy Dormition Convent in the city of Vladimir celebrated the 30th anniversary of its revival after it was closed under the godless Soviet regime.
The monastery is known as the Holy Dormition “Duchess” Convent because it was founded by Right-Believing Grand Duchess Maria of Vladimir in the year 1200. The city of Vladimir is one of the most ancient and important in the histry of Russia, part of the famous Golden Ring.
The Divine Liturgy on the anniversary was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Tikhon of Vladimir and Suzdal and local clergy, reports the Department for Monasteries and Monasticism.
The abbesses and nuns of several other monasteries and a host of parishioners and pilgrims attended the service.
Following the service, Met. Tikhon, Abbess Nina, and other addressed the faithful, and His Eminence awarded diocesan awards to those who worked particularly hard in the restoration of the monastery.
The celebration concluded with performances by the Bishops’ Choir of the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir and diocesan choir.
***
Photo: tourism33.ru
Holy Dormition Duchess Monastery was founded in 1200 by Grand Prince Vsevolod of Vladimir at the insistence of his wife Grand Duchess Maria, daughter of the Czech Prince Shvarn. For seven years the Duchess was very ill and desired to spend her last days dedicated to God in a monastery.
In 1200-1201, the stone Dormition Cathedral was built, where Maria took her vows with the name Martha in 1206. Before her death, she spoke with her sons and bequeathed to them to live in love and peace with each other.
Photo: monasterium.ru A few months later, she peacefully departed to the Lord, and the monastery began to be called “Duchess” in her honor.
The monastery then became the ancestral tomb of the princes and princesses of Vladimir. Notably, the wife of St. Alexander Nevsky, Alexandra (named Vassa in monasticism), and their daughter Evdokia are buried there.
The monastery was famous for its beautiful and richly adorned Dormition and Kazan Churches. However, the holy habitation has suffered greatly throughout its history from repeated fires, the Tatar-Mongol invasion of Vladimir in 1238, and the raids of the Golden Horde throughout the 14th-16th centuries.
The monastery’s main spiritual treasure was the relics of St. Abraham of Bulgaria.
The monastery was closed in 1923. Many buildings were demolished and the cells were given for communal housing. The Dormition Cathedral was turned into a granary. In 1919, the relics of St. Abraham were seized and eventually lost, though Hieromonk Athanasy (Sakharov) managed to save a small part before they were taken.
Starting in 1985, the buildings of the closed monastery were used for a museum.
In 1993, the monastery was reopened and the monastic life began to revive. Today, the monastery operates an orphanage, a choir directors’ school, and a Sunday School.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
