Novodevichiy Convent

This 16-17^th century complex of 15 buildings, surmounted by golden domes, is one of the oldest religious complexes in Moscow. It was here that women from the royal family and top-ranking boyar families took the veil, thereby closely linking its history with the life of the Russian state from the 16^th to early 18^th centuries.

The Novodevichiy Convent, also known as the Convent of the Smolensk Icon of Our Lady, was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasily III to commemorate the recapture of the city of Smolensk from the Lithuanians. It was called Novodevichiy (“New Maidens”) because it was situated not far from the older 14^th century St. Alexei convent.

The convent, built as a fortress at the intersection of three crossings of the Moskva River, became an important component of the capital's southern defence belt. It played an important part in the struggle against the Tatar conquerors and the Polish invaders. In 1591, when the Crimean Khan Kazy Girei tried to cross the Moskva River, the convent's cannon compelled the enemy to retreat. In 1612, the troops led by Dmitri Pozharsky defeated Hetman Chodkiewiez's detachments here.

Ravaged during the Times of Troubles, it was rebuilt in the 1680's by the Regent Sofia.

In 1702 Peter I issued an edict, which stipulated that the gates of the Women's Convents must always be closed, their watchmen should be old people and men must never visit the convents. Since 1724 an orphanage was opened at the monastery, and children were taught weaving laces and spinning threads.

In 1812, shortly before the retreat of the French from Moscow, Napoleon ordered the convent to be blown up. Trenches were dug and filled with powder kegs. The convent was saved by the valiant Sister Sana, the cloister's treasurer, who managed to extinguish the fuses.

Later, in 1875, a new school for orphans was opened. Graduating from that school, children became nursemaids and servants. In 1917 the school was closed.

Situated near the eastern wall, the 72-meter Bell Tower rivals the famous Bell Tower of Ivan the Great in the Kremlin in its beauty. Elegant and highly decorative it was erected in 1689-1690, and consists of six octagonal stepped tiers crowned with a gilt cupola.
Eastern Wall & Bell Tower

The brick walls were reconstructed at the end of the 17th century, when the convent was refurbished by the regent Sofia (1657-1704), Peter the Great's half-sister. After the unsuccessful Streltsy rebellion of 1689 he had her locked up in the convent's Chamber Prison, while the three ringleaders and 195 other rebels were hanged outside her window.
Tsaritsynskaya Tower

Surrounded by a massive brick wall with swallow-tailed battlements and twelve bastions, the convent is entered via the Gate-Church of the Transfiguration.
Gate Church of the Transfiguration

	Built 1687-89 at the behest of the Regent Sofia, it is a baroque tower with five gilded domes.
	Gate Church of the Transfiguration

Just inside are the Lopukhin Chambers, also built under Regent Sofia. It is named after the first wife of Peter the Great, Evdokiya Lopukhina, who took the veil at the Suzdal' Pokrovsky Convent, but later moved to Novodevichiy by edict of her grandson Peter II.
Lopukhin Chambers

The Cathedral of the Virgin of Smolensk (1524-1525) is the oldest building of the Novodevichiy Convent. It is strongly influenced by the cathedral of the Archangel Michael in the Kremlin, built in 1505-1508 by the Italian Alevis' Fryazin the Younger or Novi, from Milan.

In 1598 it was restored by Boris Godunov, who had lived in the Monastery for a while. It was here that Patriarch Job asked him to become Tsar of all Russia.
Cathedral of the Virgin of Smolensk

The Uspenskaya (Assumption) church was built in 1685-87, also at the behest of Regent Sofia.
Refectory and Church of the Assumption

	The sister of Boris Godunov, Irina Godunova retired here in 1598 after the death of her feeble-minded husband Tsar Fjodor Iovannovich, the last of the Rurik Dinasty.
	Chambers of Irina Godunova

	One of the older structures from the time of the Convents foundation is the low, all-white Church of Saint Ambrose.
	Church of Saint Ambrose

As soon as the convent was founded, a cemetery was opened on its grounds, which subsequently became a traditional burial place for the church dignitaries and feudal lords of Moscow and later on, in the 19th century, of the intelligentsia and merchants.
Chapel of the Shroud

In 1898, the so-called New Cemetery was established behind the south wall of the convent. Surrounded by a wall in 1898-1904, it became the most venerated cemetery in Moscow.

In 1922 the convent was closed, and the buildings turned into a museum, such as the Museum of Women's Emancipation which was opened here. After 1945 the Cathedral was returned to the Church.

Home | Next Page: Krutitskoye Podvorye >>

Links

• Moscow Novodevichy Convent – from Russia.Net
• Novodevich'e Monastery (convent) – section of a longer page about Moscow and nearby towns
• Novodevichi Convent – from above site, with map
• Novodevichy Monastery - Churches, Temples & Mosques in Moscow photos – some nice pictures
• Rough Guide Moscow – The main guidebook I used
• Moskou Startkabel – Moscow links (in Dutch)
• Rusland Startkabel – Russia links (in Dutch)

My Other Pages:

• Talava.com
• Castles of Latvia
• Liepaja Navy Harbor
• Northeast Prussia 2000
• Castles in Northeast Prussia

Mail:

• joost@talava.com