In the Penza region in the old days there was a small town — Kerensk. Life there was no different from other tiny provincial towns. When suddenly, in 1631, on the outskirts, where the people went to the spring for water, an icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God was found. In honor of this event, a wooden church was built, and after 2 years, the «maiden» Kerensky Bogoroditsky Odigitriev Tikhvin monastery was organized on this place.
But the monastery did not have rich patrons because of poverty, it was closed in 1764. The monastery was closed and the community continued to exist. Its status was confirmed in 1848, and 4 years later, the monastery was reopened. The monastery complex included a five-domed temple.
The Tikhvin Mother of God, the bell tower, the Church of the Mother of God “Living Spring” and several residential and service buildings. All construction, both temple and secular, lasted a hundred years. The beginning was laid in 1762, but the monastery was closed, construction was resumed only in the 19th century. Finally, the ensemble of the monastery was formed only by 1885. It was the heyday of the monastery. By the 20th century, she had 500 novices. After the revolution, the monastery was closed, but a labor artel was organized on its basis, which was dispersed in 1927. Even the town of Kerensk was renamed Vadinsk, but the status of the city was deprived. Now it’s a village.
The buildings were abandoned, the fence was dismantled for personal needs, the domes of the temples failed.
In 1997, the monastery was reopened. Now it’s a man’s abode. In the same year, the icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God was brought from Penza by the Cross procession. The bell appeared in the monastery in 2003. Then a museum was formed. Excavations by Sunday School Students
With his teacher, found the burial of sisters, utensils, household items. The sisters were reburied, and the finds became the exposition of the museum.
Interesting facts
Tikhvin Monastery – the largest in Penza region
The monastery museum is a museum of Orthodoxy and local lore at the same time.
The main bell bell is the largest in the diocese
The old bell tower was crowned with a crown. Its residents received from Catherine II for repulsing Pugachev’s raid.
Charitable Foundation Holy Land
Russian Temples and Monasteries
