Zosimova Pustyn (Moscow region)

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Zosimova Hermitage - a monastery in the Moscow region. It was founded in 1826 by a monk and spiritual writer, who will be discussed in this article. After the revolution, Zosimova Pustyn was closed. Returned to the Orthodox Church only in the late 1990s.

Monk Zosima

Zosimova Hermitage - a convent for women. It was founded by a monk, a descendant of a Russian noble family. In the world he was known as Zakhary Verkhovsky. This man was born in 1768. He was educated at home, at the age of 18 he entered the military service. After the death of his father, Zachary became the heir to two villages.

In 1788 Verkhovsky retired, sold his estate and took the monastic vows. In 1922 he founded a convent, where he spent only a few years. Soon a conflict broke out between some of the novices and Zosima. The nuns accused him of embezzlement and schism. Zosima withdrew, followed by his spiritual daughters. Together they founded the monastery, which today is known as the Zosima Hermitage.

Foundation of the monastery

In 1826, not far from Moscow, Zosima foundedwomen's community. He lived here until his death. Zosima gave his last strength to this monastery. For many years he was looking for benefactors. It is worth saying that this man, even among the monks, was famous for his extraordinary craving for solitude. He spent his last years three versts from the monastery, where he arranged a small cell for himself. He lived there for five days. And he spent Saturday and Sunday in the monastery. Zosima died in 1833.

History of the monastery

There is an opinion that the elder who founded the monastery is the prototype of the character from the novel "The Brothers Karamazov". But this is a delusion. The colorful hero of Dostoevsky has nothing to do with the monastery in the Moscow region - Zosimova Pustyn. Although the character from the book of the Russian classic, just like a real person, was once a military man, he retired with the rank of lieutenant.

Like other monasteries and temples, Zosima Pustyn was closed in 1918. An agricultural artel operated on the territory for more than eight years.

In the early thirties, the monastery was converted into a club. The crosses were demolished, the windows were bricked up, and the vaults were covered with a false ceiling. During the war, a hospital was located here. It is worth saying that the offensive of the enemy of the Red Army was stopped very close to the monastery. In Naro-Fominsk, as you know, there were fierce battles. But the Germans failed to approach the holy places.

In the sixties, a pioneer camp was opened on the territory of the monastery, where the children of the employees of the capitalmetro. Approximately during this period, both the northwestern tower and the northeastern one were destroyed. Only a fifth of the monastery wall remained. A swimming pool, a sports complex, carousels were built here.

The revival of the monastery took place in 1999. The first months after the opening, he was the courtyard of the famous Novodevichy Convent, located in Moscow. And only in March 2002 received the status of an independent monastery.

Reviews

Zosimova Pustyn and is located in the village of the same name, which today belongs to New Moscow. Getting here is easy - trains run regularly. You can get to the Bekasovo Center station, but, according to reviews, it is more convenient to get off at the Zosimova Pustyn platform.

In June 2000, the founder of the monastery was canonized as a saint. On the territory of the monastery there is a monument to Zosimus, made of white marble. In recent years, major repairs have been carried out, but construction work is still ongoing. Although, according to the reviews of people who visited the desert, an amazing spirit of antiquity reigns here. And the buildings, which clearly require restoration, do not spoil the overall picture.

Spring of St. Zosimas

Just two kilometers from the monastery there is an old well, the water in which, according to legend, can heal. To get to it, you should go along the road past the village of Arkhangelskoye. Turn right at the lake. Then cross the bridge to the other side,cross the railway track, exit onto the paved road. At the entrance to the forest there is a sign that leads to the source of St. Zosima - the second name of the well with healing water. Not far from it is a ruined chapel.

Perhaps soon both the well and some of the buildings located on the territory of the monastery will be brought into proper condition. Although today, despite some destruction, these places are visited by both believers and simply inquisitive people interested in the history of Orthodox churches.