If we talk about unusual monasteries, this one will be the best candidate. Everything in this monastery is not as it seems.
1. The foundation of the monastery is associated with the name of Elder Sophronius, but he did not establish the monastery.
2. The monastery seems to be female, but the abbot there is a man.
3. It’s called Alexander Nevsky, but no one calls it that.
4. The guidebooks indicate the Sofroniev monastery, but there is no monastery there.
5. There is no monastery, but there is a monk.
How did that happen?
The monastery bears the name of Elder Sophronius, because his dream was to serve the Lord with a good deed. But he did not dream of a monastery, but of an almshouse. It was the women’s almshouse that was opened here in 1892. For widows and orphans. The reason was a miraculous deliverance from the death of the royal family in a train crash. The land was allocated by a wealthy peasant, and an ideological inspirer
There was Sophrony, who already 3 years lived in those places in the dugout, in the forest Hermit.
First, Sophronius set up a chapel so that there was somewhere to pray. Then they started building the temple. Sophronius laid the first stone (1892) and actively supported it.
construction.
He was already under 70, but he actively participated in the arrangement of the almshouse. In 1904 it was transformed into a women’s dormitory. Until his death in 1914, Sophronius cared about his child. Sophronia was loved and revered, so generously donated to his offspring. But the place was abandoned, it was difficult to get, so the main stream of pilgrims fell on the feast days. We came for the night, for 3 days. They prayed, fasted, gathered water in the well? for drinking and washing. The sisters were engaged in weaving and needlework, bred a garden, kept cattle.
Only in 1907, the community was transformed into a monastery. After 10 years, the revolution broke out and the monastery was closed. Some of the novices were taken to Kazakhstan to work in a weaving factory, some dispersed to the surrounding villages.
The utensils and icons were looted, stolen. Some of them went to neighboring churches. And in 1949, the temple of Alexander Nevsky was dismantled into bricks to build a barn.
The words of Saint Sophronius came true, who foretold that there would be no stone on the stone. Our Lord is so merciful that He gives us hope. The elder not only predicted the destruction of the temple, he predicted its restoration. In the details. He said that the temple would be rebuilt by a monk and that he (Sophronius) would enter first.
For a long time, weeds grew on the site of the temple, and trees. But in 1970, the boy Andrei Anisimov was born. My mother often went to the grave to Sophronius. Participated in the restoration of crosses on graves, maintaining order. His love for God has been burning in his heart since his youth. Already at the age of 20 he went to the monastery of St. John the Theologian. I took my tonsure under the name Nicholas. And the monk had a dream — to restore the monastery. I didn’t know where and why, but my desire grew stronger every day. And then he decided. The young monk gathered the locals and told them about his vision. They supported him. They created a church council, raised money and bought … Friendship chainsaws. Because the first thing you had to do was clear the area. While they were chopping and twisting, they found the foundation of the temple. He was in good condition. They started collecting materials. On September 12, 1996, an objection to the temple was initiated. Exactly in 2 years, on Saint’s Day
The patron of Alexander Nevsky, the temple was consecrated.
But they did not stop there, they took on other buildings. A small (or rather large and important) detail – all the work was carried out manually. There’s no electricity here.
Even before the temple was consecrated, the relics of Saint Sophronius were transferred to it. So the Elder’s prediction came true that he would be the first to enter the temple. Miraculously survived and the icon, which the elder greatly revered: Holy Mother of God. On the day of the canonization of the elder, February 7, 2000, the icon was frozen. There is a relic in the temple, in it are collected particles of the relics of many saints.
Near Sofroniev spring equipped with a bath. We made locker rooms, comfortable descent. The worshippers can experience the grace that water brings from the spring.
There are no inhabitants in the monastery, there is only one monk there – Father Nikolai. On weekdays in the area is quiet and calm, but on weekends and holidays pilgrims can not count. They come from the surrounding villages and cities, and from afar. To worship Saint Sophronius, to plunge into the life-giving waters. She will admire the power of the human spirit. Pray and think. Feeling connected with
and with the Lord through His church.
Charitable Foundation Holy Land
Temples and Monasteries of Russia
