Ferapontov Monastery and the frescoes of Dionysius

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

Ferapontov Monastery (Vologda region), towering above the village of Ferapontovo, is a unique beauty ensemble, which is a historical monument of world significance. At the moment it is included in the UNESCO list. The history of the monastery is directly related to those significant events that took place in Moscow in the 15th-17th centuries. Here, in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, there are many frescoes made by the famous icon painter Dionysius.

Monastery Ensemble

The Ferapontov Monastery was built on a hill between lakes Borodaevsky and Pavsky, which are connected by a small river Paska. Its ensemble harmoniously combines architectural details of various centuries. Of particular interest is the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. This is the main church of the monastery, the construction of which began in 1490. Not far from the Cathedral, the Church of the Annunciation was built in 1530, and in 1640 the construction of the Church of St. Martimian began.

How the monastery was founded

Ferapontov Monastery was founded in 1397 by Ferapont, a native ofthe ancient family of the Poskochins. The saint took tonsure at the Simonov Monastery in Moscow at the age of forty. Here he became friends with the Monk Kirill Belozersky. Together they listened to the sermons of Sergius of Radonezh, who often visited the monastery. Fulfilling obedience, Ferapont went north to Beloozero. The saint liked the harsh northern region, and a little later he decided to return there for exploits. This time they went north together with St. Cyril. Here, near Siversky Lake, they founded the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery.

After some time, Ferapont founded his monastery on a hill between lakes Pavsky and Borodaevsky. At first he lived in a cell built by him in a hermitage. He had to endure many hardships. Over time, monks began to come to him, who also built cells here. So gradually this place turned into a monastery.

Flourishing period

The Ferapontov Monastery became widely known thanks to the efforts of the Monk Martinian, a disciple of Cyril Belozersky, who, at the insistence of the brethren, became its hegumen. The most famous representatives of the Russian nobility once came here to worship - Elena Glinskaya, Ivan IV, Vasily III and others. In the XV-XVI centuries. the most prominent figures of the Russian Church came out of the walls of this monastery - Bishop Philotheus of Vologda and Perm, Bishop Joasaph of Yaroslavl and Rostov and others. Over time, the monastery becomes a place of exile for prominent figures who fought for the supremacy of the Church in the state - Patriarch Nikon, Metropolitan Spiridon-Sava, etc.

Apart from everything else, the Ferapontov Monastery was also the largest estate. In the 17th century the monastery owned about 60 villages, three hundred peasants and 100 wastelands.

Business

Despite the fact that many stone buildings were erected in the monastery, starting from the 15th and ending with the 17th century, it never became a real fortress. Its fence remained wooden until the 19th century. This was the reason for the destruction of the monastery in 1614 by Polish-Lithuanian robbers. Stone construction was resumed only 25 years after the invasion. It is precisely the fact that the monastery fell into decay that we owe to the preservation of the frescoes in their original form. The monastery was not rich, and therefore the paintings were never updated.

In 1798, by the decree of the Synod, the monastery was abolished. In 1904, a monastery was again opened here, but this time for women. It did not last long - until 1924. Today, a museum of frescoes by Dionysius operates on the territory of the monastery.

Icon painter Dionysius

In 1502, the icon painter Dionisy with an artel was invited to the Ferapontov Monastery. His task was to paint the Nativity Cathedral. By that time, Dionysius was already famous and was considered the leading Moscow master. He received his first serious commission between 1467 and 1477. At this time, he was offered to participate in the design of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the Pafnutyevo-Borovsky Monastery. In 1481, he began to perform another important task - the implementation of icons foriconostasis of the Assumption Cathedral (Moscow Kremlin). The master coped with the order simply superbly and since then has become the personification of the Moscow school of painting.

Ferapontov Monastery. Frescoes of Dionysius

The frescoes of Dionysius in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin are the only murals of the master that have survived to this day. Before the alterations of the facade in the XVI century. the scenes depicted on it were visible from afar. Archangels Gabriel and Michael are depicted on both sides of the gate. The portal is decorated with scenes of the "Nativity of the Virgin" and the fresco "Desus". At the head you can see a medallion with the image of Christ. Above the door, Dionysius placed an image of the Mother of God herself, surrounded by Cosmas of Mayum and John of Damascus. It is this fresco that becomes the beginning of the plot-related images dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. In the central asp, the Mother of God Hodegetria is depicted seated on a throne with angels kneeling before her. There are other frescoes presenting the Virgin Mary to the viewer's attention in the temple. Ferapontov Monastery is famous, first of all, thanks to the murals of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin.

Features of the murals of the temple

The church painting system is organized very strictly and concisely. The frescoes are made taking into account the architectural features of the building. Another special feature that makes the design of the temple harmonious is the mastery of composition. This can be attributed both to the placement of frescoes, and to each individual plot. The drawing is distinguished by the flexibility of the lines and at the same time their conciseness. All images lookweightless, directed upwards. The murals are crowded and dynamic. In order to view all the frescoes in the sequence of the plot, you need to go around the entire temple in a circle several times.

Another distinctive feature of Dionysius's frescoes is the softness of the colors and elegance. The images are dominated by white, sky blue, yellow, pink, cherry and light green tones. For the background, the icon painter used mostly bright blue. Paints were supposedly delivered to the artist from Moscow. The richest painting in terms of color is the medallions under the drum and on the spring arches. Both pure colors and mixtures were used in their execution.

The murals of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin can be safely called the pinnacle of Dionysius' creativity. An interesting fact is that all the frescoes of the Ferapontov Monastery were completed in just 34 days (from August 6 to September 8). And this despite the fact that their total area is 600 m2.

Ferapontov Luzhetsky Monastery

In the 15th century, Beloozero belonged to Prince Andrei, son of Dmitry Donskoy. In 1408, he turned to Ferapont with a request to found a monastery in the city of Mozhaisk. After much deliberation, the saint agrees to become abbot of the new monastery. Built on the banks of the Moskva River, the monastery was named Luzhetsky. In 1420, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin was erected in it. Not far from the Luzhetsky Monastery, today there is a spring with healing water. They call it the well of St. Ferapont. According to legend, it was opened by the saint himself.

St. Ferapont remained in the Luzhetsky monastery until his death in 1426. In 1547 he was canonized as a saint. His relics are still buried in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin. The Vologda and Luzhetsk Ferapont monasteries are today the most valuable monuments of medieval Russian culture.