Boldino, Smolensk Province, Russia, May 16, 2025
Photo: смоленскаямитрополия.рф
Holy Trinity Monastery in Boldino, Smolensk Province, enjoyed a double celebration on Wednesday, May 14—the feast of its founder St. Gerasim of Boldino and the 35th anniversary of its revival.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Isidore of Smolensk, His Grace Bishop Meletiy of Roslavl, abbot Archimandrite Anthony and the brotherhood clergy, and guest clergy, reports the Smolensk Metropolis.
Photo: смоленскаямитрополия.рф
The service was attended by the abbess and sisters of the St. Dimitry Convent in Dorogobuzh and numerous pilgrims.
Photo: смоленскаямитрополия.рф
After the Divine Liturgy, a cross procession was held. Met. Isidore spoke about the revival of the monastery:
Today we have gathered, united by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to glorify our God-bearing father Venerable Gerasim, the spiritual patron of the Smolensk Province, our guide to the Kingdom of Heaven. In addition to commemorating the anniversary of his blessed repose today, we are also celebrating the 35th anniversary of the revival of the Holy Trinity Boldin Monastery, which was initiated by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who blessed the restoration of this holy monastery.
Dear Fr. Anthony, as the closest assistant to the primate of the Church, you have been serving here for all these 35 years, exemplifying monastic feat and emulating Venerable Gerasim in everything. Bishop Meletiy and I sincerely congratulate you, dear Fr. Anthony, and all the brotherhood of this holy monastery, all the gathered clergy of the Smolensk Metropolis on this feast. May the Lord strengthen your powers through his prayers for many more years to diligently serve the Church of Christ and perform your monastic feat.
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Photo: wikimedia.org
Holy Trinity Monastery was founded in 1530 by St. Gerasim of Boldino. During the 16th century, it flourished through royal land grants and donations from nobles, developing extensive holdings including over 80 villages, trading outposts in major cities, mills, and various productive lands.
Stone construction began in the 1590s, featuring the five-domed Trinity Cathedral, a bell tower, refectory with the Church of the Entrance of the Theotkos, and walls.
From 1617 to 1654, the Dorogobuzh Province fell under Polish-Lithuanian rule (Rzeczpospolita), causing the monastery to be abandoned and its buildings transferred to the Smolensk Jesuit Collegium. The monastery was revived in 1654 when Smolensk returned to Russian control, though with significantly reduced holdings.
In the early 18th century, St. John of Tobolsk established a printing press at the monastery, producing liturgical books, educational materials, and spiritual works. In 1764, all monastery lands were confiscated under Catherine II’s manifesto, though Prince Andrei Dolgoruky provided substantial support.
Photo: смоленскаямитрополия.рф
The 1870s-1880s saw a new flourishing under Archimandrite Andrei (Vasiliev), who during his 24-year leadership renovated all existing buildings, constructed new facilities, and wrote a new Life of Venerable Gerasim.
In November 1929, the monastery was officially closed, with buildings repurposed for agricultural use.
During World War II, the monastery served as a partisan base. In March 1943, retreating German forces mined and destroyed the historic Trinity Cathedral, Entrance Church, and bell tower.
Restoration began in 1964 based on surviving measurements and photographs and continues today.
In 1991, the monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Currently, the stone wall with four towers, bell tower, and refectory with the Entrance Church have been restored. A wooden chapel at the cemetery was rebuilt as a church dedicated to St. Tikhon of Kaluga. The Holy Trinity Cathedral was consecrated by Pat. Kirill of Moscow in June 2010.
The monastery cemetery has also been revived.
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