Transfiguration monastery, Murom, Vladimirskaya oblast, Russia
This Monastery is first mentioned in the chronicles in 1095 in connection with the internecine clashes between Oleg Svyatoslavovich (son of the Chernigov Prince) and Izyaslav Vladimirovich (son of Vladimir Monomakh). Izyaslav died in battle of Murom. He was interred in the St. Savior (Spassky) Monastery, and later his body was transfered to the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod.
There is no further mention of the monastery until the early 16th century. After the success of Ivan the Terrible’s campaign in Kazan, several brick churches were erected in Murom, including the Transfiguration Cathedral. It is currently the oldest extant church in Murom. In the 1550-60s, another two brick churches were erected on the monastery grounds, the Pokrovsky church and the above-the-gate church of St. Cyril of the White Lake (both were completely rebuilt in the the 17th-19th centuries).
In 1918 the Spassky Monastery was closed on accusations of making propaganda against the Soviet regime. On September 25, 1925. the Cathedral was transfered to the regional museum, and in November 1927, it was rented out to the 41st rifle regiment. Icons that represented historical value were transfered to a museum. In 1920-30s the last necropolis of the Spassky Monastery was destroyed.
From the 1930s, the monastery grounds were occupied by the military. The monastery buildings hosted classes for officer and signal training.
The military left the grounds of the Spassky Monastery in the spring of 1995. In the recent years, the ancient monastery has been actively restored. The main church and Pokrovksy Church have already been restored. A fence has been erected, and the Over-the-gate church of St. Cyril of the White Lake has been reconstructed, while the brethren’s building has been fully restored and modernized. On the monastery grounds, the Chapel of George the Victorius has been established, as well as the new over-the-gates Church of Sergius of Radonezh and the Chapel of St. Xenia of St. Petersburg. The monastery grounds have undergone some landscaping improvements.
Epic Russia Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
Own or work here?