Nikolo-Ugresh monastery
Encyclopedia
Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery is a walled stauropegic
Russian Orthodox monastery
of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker
located in a suburb of Moscow
formerly known as Ugreshi and now called Dzerzhinsky
. It is the town's main landmark and is featured on the city emblem.
The monastery is known to have existed as early as 1521, when the Tatar horde of Mehmed I Giray
reduced Ugreshi to ashes. The old katholikon
of St. Nicholas (later destroyed by the Soviets) was built in the 16th century. The Ugreshi Monastery was one of the walled abbeys defending approaches to the Russian capital from the south.
A late legend attributes its foundation to Dmitry Donskoy who, on his way to the Kulikovo Field
, is supposed to have made a stay there and determined to give a decisive battle to the Tatars
after seeing an image of St. Nicholas in a pious dream. He "is reputed to have called out in ecstasy ugresha ("this sets my heart aflame") and founded a monastery on the very spot".
The monastery was greatly expanded in the 17th century due to its proximity to the royal residences in Izmailovo and Kolomenskoye
. Tsar Alexis made a habit of visiting the monastery several times a year. In 1668, for instance, he was accompanied by the Patriarchs of Moscow
, Alexandria
, and Antioch
. Metropolitan Macarius II
spent the latter years of his life in Ugreshi, and Archpriest Avvakum was imprisoned there. The great katholikon
(main church) of the monastery was built to a Russian-Byzantine design by Alexander Kaminsky
between 1880 and 1894. It is one of the largest churches in the Moscow region and has a set of new fresco
es dating from 2009.
After the Russian Revolution, the monastery was closed and its grounds were given over to a children labour colony in 1920. In an effort to fight children homelessness
, Felix Dzerzhinsky
had it transformed into a labour commune. The town was later renamed after Dzerzhinsky. Many church buildings were destroyed; others survived in a state of great disrepair. The ruined buildings were returned to the Russian Orthodox Church
in 1991. The monastery has since been fully restored and operates several museum
s, including one dedicated to Nicholas II of Russia
. There is a new seminary
on the grounds.
Stauropegic
Stauropegic, also rendered stavropegic, stauropegial, or stavropegial is a title or description applied to Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christian monasteries subordinated directly to a Patriarch or Synod, rather than to their local Bishop...
Russian Orthodox monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
located in a suburb of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
formerly known as Ugreshi and now called Dzerzhinsky
Dzerzhinsky (town)
Dzerzhinsky is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Moskva River, south of the city of Lyubertsy. The western part of Dzerzhinsky is bordered on Moscow. Population: Lyubertsy–Dzerzhinsky railway is used for cargo transportation only...
. It is the town's main landmark and is featured on the city emblem.
The monastery is known to have existed as early as 1521, when the Tatar horde of Mehmed I Giray
Mehmed I Giray
Mehmed I Giray known as Great — a khan of the Crimean Khanate in 1515 –1523.Son of Meñli I Giray, inherited power after his father's death. In 1520 signed a temporary alliance with king of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Zygmunt I Stary, against Muscovy. In 1521 he took Kazan, where he...
reduced Ugreshi to ashes. The old katholikon
Katholikon
A Katholikon or Catholicon is the major temple of a monastery, or diocese in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The name derives from the fact that it is the largest temple where all gather together to celebrate the major feast days of the liturgical year. At other times, the smaller temples or...
of St. Nicholas (later destroyed by the Soviets) was built in the 16th century. The Ugreshi Monastery was one of the walled abbeys defending approaches to the Russian capital from the south.
A late legend attributes its foundation to Dmitry Donskoy who, on his way to the Kulikovo Field
Kulikovo Field
Kulikovo Field is a field in Tula Oblast in Russia, where the famous Battle of Kulikovo took place on September 8 of 1380.As established by Stepan Nechayev, the battlefield is located between the rivers of Nepryadva, Krasivaya Mecha, and Don some 140 km away from Tula and 23 km away from...
, is supposed to have made a stay there and determined to give a decisive battle to the Tatars
Battle of Kulikovo
The Battle of Kulikovo was a battle between Tatar Mamai and Muscovy Dmitriy and portrayed by Russian historiography as a stand-off between Russians and the Golden Horde. However, the political situation at the time was much more complicated and concerned the politics of the Northeastern Rus'...
after seeing an image of St. Nicholas in a pious dream. He "is reputed to have called out in ecstasy ugresha ("this sets my heart aflame") and founded a monastery on the very spot".
The monastery was greatly expanded in the 17th century due to its proximity to the royal residences in Izmailovo and Kolomenskoye
Kolomenskoye
Kolomenskoye is a former royal estate situated several kilometers to the south-east of the city-centre of Moscow, Russia, on the ancient road leading to the town of Kolomna...
. Tsar Alexis made a habit of visiting the monastery several times a year. In 1668, for instance, he was accompanied by the Patriarchs of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, and Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
. Metropolitan Macarius II
Macarius II
Macarius II was the Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna from 1912 to 1917, an outstanding missionary and enlightener of the masses in the Altai region ....
spent the latter years of his life in Ugreshi, and Archpriest Avvakum was imprisoned there. The great katholikon
Katholikon
A Katholikon or Catholicon is the major temple of a monastery, or diocese in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The name derives from the fact that it is the largest temple where all gather together to celebrate the major feast days of the liturgical year. At other times, the smaller temples or...
(main church) of the monastery was built to a Russian-Byzantine design by Alexander Kaminsky
Alexander Kaminsky
Alexander Stepanovich Kaminsky was a Russian architect working in Moscow and suburbs. One of the most successul and prolific architects of 1860s - 1880s, Kaminsky was a faithful eclecticist, equally skilled in Russian Revival, Neo-Gothic and Renaissance Revival architecture...
between 1880 and 1894. It is one of the largest churches in the Moscow region and has a set of new fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es dating from 2009.
After the Russian Revolution, the monastery was closed and its grounds were given over to a children labour colony in 1920. In an effort to fight children homelessness
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
, Felix Dzerzhinsky
Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky
Felix Edmundovich Dzerzhinsky was a Communist revolutionary, famous as the first director of the Bolshevik secret police, the Cheka, known later by many names during the history of the Soviet Union...
had it transformed into a labour commune. The town was later renamed after Dzerzhinsky. Many church buildings were destroyed; others survived in a state of great disrepair. The ruined buildings were returned to the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
in 1991. The monastery has since been fully restored and operates several museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
s, including one dedicated to Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
. There is a new seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
on the grounds.