In the western part of the Russian Federation is the regional center of the Pskov region, the city of Pskov. Its area is 95.5 km². Located on the river Velikaya. The article tells about the city itself and about its main attraction - the Mirozhsky Monastery in Pskov.
City name and legend
In our time, there are two main versions of the origin of the name of the city. According to the first, the name comes from the Pskov River (the right tributary of the Velikaya River), where the settlement was located, and the name of the river itself comes from the word "ples", which in Old Russian means a part of the river between sharp bends.
The second version assumes that the territory of the future city got its name from the word "piskava", which means "resinous water" in Liv (one of the B altic languages).
There is a legend of the formation of the city, which says that Princess Olga (wife of the first ancient Russian prince Igor Rurikovich) in 957 saw an omen: three sunbeams brightly sanctifiedbank of the Velikaya River, and decided to build a church on this site.
So there was a city formed around the cathedral, which later received the name "Trinity". This legend is not confirmed by historical research, in 957 the city already existed.
History of the city of Pskov
Historians have not established the exact year of foundation of Pskov. The first mention of this settlement dates back to 903 in the Laurentian Chronicle (the manuscript is named after the monk Lavrenty). Therefore, it is customary to consider this date the year of foundation of the city of Pskov. Its history begins from this date.
In 1348, the medieval Pskov state was formed on the territory of Russia, which existed for 162 years. Its capital was Pskov.
From 1510 the city was part of the Grand Duchy of Moscow, and until the 18th century it was one of the major cities of ancient Russia.
The Pskov fortress (2.5 km²) erected in its time was a defensive fort of the western borders of the state, surrounded by five belts of stone fortress walls and was considered impregnable to external enemies.
In its entire history, the Pskov defensive structure around which the city grew was captured only once (not counting the occupation during the hostilities during the First and Second World Wars).
This happened after the German crusaders, having ravaged Yuryev (a city founded by Yuri Dolgorukov in 1152), decided to capture Pskov. The city was occupied for 1.5 years, after which it was liberated by Russian troops under the command of commander AlexanderNevsky.
After the end of the Great Northern War (1700-1721) between Russia and its allies against Sweden, Pskov lost its defensive significance, because according to the agreement signed in the city of Nishtad (Finland), the borders of the Russian Empire moved to the west.
The city became provincial in the Pskov province, and began its development in the 19th century. Residential wooden one-story houses have been replaced by stone three-story buildings.
In connection with the development of the economy and trade with other cities of Russia in 1882, the construction of the railway began. A railway line "St. Petersburg - Warsaw" was laid through the city.
Interesting fact: at the Pskov railway station, built in 1860, in the royal carriage, the Russian Emperor Nicholas II signed an act of abdication on March 2, 1917.
In 1904, the first power station was built, and 8 years later, the opening of the tram service took place in the city. During this period, he alth care, education, the construction of church buildings and cultural institutions developed.
Now Pskov, home to more than 200 thousand indigenous people, is a modern economically developed city that attracts history buffs with a large number of cultural monuments.
Diocese
The Pskov diocese was created in 1598, in gratitude for the defense of the western borders of Russia from the Polish troops of Stefan Batory. Until 1917, she carried out construction on the territory of the Pskovprovince churches, monasteries, seminaries and many other church institutions.
After the revolutionary events, the activity of the diocese was suspended. But it began to revive in 1945. Now, under the leadership of the diocese of the Pskov region, new places of worship are being built and old churches and temples are being restored.
The diocese organizes church cultural and educational events and supports the development of Orthodox art. In Pskov, tourists can get acquainted with the life of members of religious communities and see the monastic cloisters: the Pskov-Caves Monastery, the Snetogorsk Women's Monastery, the Krypetsky Monastery. The Mirozh Monastery is very popular with travel lovers.
History of the Mirozhsky Monastery in Pskov
On the bank of the left tributary of the Velikaya River, which is the Mirozhka River, in the XII century a complex of buildings of the monastery was built. The monastery is located near the Pskov Kremlin. At one time, it served as the cultural center of Pskov.
In those days, the monastery territory was behind the fortifications of Pskov. Therefore, it was a convenient target for an external enemy. In 1299, the knights of the Teutonic Order, having ruined the commercial and industrial part of the city (this territory was outside the fortress walls), burned the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Mirozhsky Monastery. The latter was subsequently restored.
After the revolutionary events of 1917, the monastery was closed. And on its territory the city organization Pskov excursionstation.”
In 1994, the main buildings of the monastery complex were transferred to the local diocese. After that, the revival of the Mirozh Monastery began.
Monastic buildings
What to see in Pskov for guests of the city? Tourists can visit the monastery territory, get acquainted with the sights, which include the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior, the temple building of the Apostle Stephen, the winter quarters of the abbot and the building of the fraternal buildings.
Currently, the temple, built in the XII century, houses expositions related to the history of the monastery. What to see in Pskov for tourists? The local population will say that they can get acquainted with the wall paintings (frescoes) of unknown masters of that period.
The uniqueness of this type of temple art lies in the fact that they have been preserved to our time. The central part of the painting is occupied by a fresco (Deesis), which depicts Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, John the Baptist sitting on a throne.
The frescoes have been preserved due to the fact that in the 17th century they were covered with whitewash during the next restoration. After 200 years, they were restored by the restorer Vladimir Suslov. In order to preserve the wall paintings, the museum is open only during dry weather, as the maintenance of the frescoes requires a constant temperature.
Church of the First Martyr Apostle St. Stephen
History lovers can attend the service of the current Church of the First Martyr Apostle St. Stephen,who, according to the Bible, was one of the disciples of Jesus Christ.
In the temple, built in the 17th century, there is an iconostasis made by a modern icon painter under the direction of Archimandrite Zinon. Tourists can also see the ancient icons and relics of the clergy, canonized by the Orthodox Church as Saints.
Art Workshop
In the Cathedral of the Apostle Stephen there is an art workshop where future icon painters are trained. In 1789, a two-story building was built - the fraternal building and attached to the Church of the First Martyr Stephen.
The building was built on the foundations of the ancient living quarters of the monks. Initially, the first floor was a monastic cell, but after the flood, they were unsuitable for habitation. Subsequently, the first floor was converted into a kitchen and a refectory, and monastic cells were placed on the second floor.
The main entrance to the monastery territory is the Holy Gates, over which a bell tower was built in 1885 and now, as in the past, it announces the beginning of the service in the church of the Apostle St. Stephen with its ringing.
In the western part of the Mirozhsky Monastery in Pskov, the former abbot's building is located. It was built in 1881 as the archimandrite's winter quarters. Now this building houses the icon-painting center of the Pskov diocese. The territory of the monastery is fenced with a stone wall. It has remained unchanged since its construction in the early 19th century.
Icon of the Mother of God
In the Christian religion, worship is notonly Saints, but also icons. The main holy relic of the local monastery is the icon of the Mother of God of Mirozh.
It appeared in Pskov in 1198. This Christian phenomenon took place on the Mirozhka River, on which a monastery was already located.
In 1596, during a mass infectious disease in the region, the people of Pskov came to the monastery. They prayed before the image of the Mother of God and received healing.
In connection with these healing properties of the icon, a service was written for the temples of Pskov and the date of the celebration was determined (October 7). In 1922 the monastery was closed. Then the icon was transferred to the historical museum.
After the restoration of monastic life in the monastery, the shrine returned to its original place. Tourists can see it by visiting the Church of the Apostle St. Stephen.
How to get to the monastery?
Mirozhsky Monastery in Pskov is a 20-minute walk from the Pskov Kremlin. From the railway station to the temple (2 km) can be reached using bus routes No. 2, 2A, 5 or fixed-route taxi No. 2T to the Damba stop.
