Kazanskiy Zhenskiy Monastyr'

Very beautiful temple

In Yaroslavl, a must visit.

One of the best places in Yaroslavl

Very well-groomed area with a wonderful flower garden

The foundation of the Kazan Monastery was preceded by the appearance of the Yaroslavl-Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and it is connected with the events of the Time of Troubles.  Image of the Mother of God Yaroslavl Kazan. 1588 g. This shrine is one of the first copies of the Kazan icon revealed in 1579 in the city of Kazan. The icon was brought in 1588 to the city of Romanov by its resident Gerasim from Kazan, where he received the healing of his hand from this image. During the Polish-Lithuanian intervention of 1608-1614, during the retreat of the Poles from Romanov, the Polish lieutenant Lyubsky brought the miraculous icon to Yaroslavl, which was later bought from him by the pious Yaroslavl merchant Vasily Lytkin. In April 1609, the siege of Yaroslavl began. It was during this difficult time that the intercession of the miraculous icon was manifested. The Most Pure Mother, appearing in a vision to the deacon of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, Eleazar, revealed her holy will to build a temple in honor of Her miraculous image and at the same time “uttered Her word with reliable hope: as if they would help them invisibly stronghold and wall, more than any fence and weapons from the opposite adversary ... ". After 24 days, the Poles, having suffered heavy losses, lifted the siege and retreated from Yaroslavl. Residents of the city saw in this the intercession of the Mother of God. For the miraculous salvation of the city and in gratitude to the Most Holy Theotokos, the Yaroslavl residents began building a church in honor of her miraculous Kazan icon. The main stone construction in the monastery began in the 19th century under Abbess Margarita and was connected with the need to renovate dilapidated buildings and with the redevelopment of city streets. Kazan Cathedral was erected on the site of the former temple from 1835 to 1845. In 1820-1828. a winter church was erected in honor of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos with a three-tiered bell tower. From 1878 to 1881, a house church was built in the name of the Presentation of the Lord at the abbot's building. At the same time, a three-storey stone building was attached to the abbot's building for convenient placement of the monastery meal, gold embroidery and icon painting workshops, a singing hall and classes.  Kazan monastery at the beginning of the XX century. By its 300th anniversary, the monastery numbered about 400 sisters and was famous for its gold embroidery and icon painting skills. At the same time, the monastery was distinguished by its modesty, harmonious prayer singing, measured services, solemn processions with the miraculous icon to Romanov and Rybinsk. On July 20-21, 1910, the jubilee service at the monastery was led by Saint Tikhon (Belavin), Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov (since 1917 - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia). During the White Guard uprising in the city in July 1918, the monastery was badly damaged by artillery shelling. The bell tower, the north-west tower, and two cell buildings were destroyed. In December 1918, the monastery was closed, but the Intercession Church continued to function as a parish until the end of 1921. It preserved the main shrines of the monastery - the Yaroslavl-Kazan icon of the Mother of God, the icon of the Savior Nerutvorny and the Three-handed. After the closure of the Intercession Church, the community was transferred to the Holy Cross Church, where the shrines were also moved. Abbess Theodotia and her sisters moved to the Tolga monastery and lived there until its closure. In October 1925, the miraculous Yaroslavl Kazan Icon of the Mother of God along with a precious vestry was stolen from the Exaltation of the Cross Church of the city, along with a precious vestment, only a picturesque frame with stamps was left, which is on display in the Old Russian department of the Yaroslavl Art Museum. The fate of the icon is still unknown. The Kazan monastery underwent many destruction and a period of desolation during the years of Soviet power, sharing the fate of many monasteries in Russia. The revival of the monastery began in the 90s. The Kazan Cathedral, which had not yet been returned to the Church, was crowned with five gilded heads. In 1997 the liturgical life of the monastery was resumed. In 1998, by the decision of the Holy Council, the Kazan Convent in Yaroslavl was opened after 80 years of desolation. The nun Mikhail (Safonova) from the Tolga convent was appointed abbess, with whom the first sisters arrived. In