Valdai has always attracted touristsmagnificent nature, unique national park and nature reserve. But the main point of any excursion to these places is the Iver Monastery in Valdai. This main Orthodox landmark is located on the Selvick Island.
This monastery was built by order of thethe patriarch Nikon. This happened in the XVII century. The construction of the monastery was approved by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Clergymen said that the patriarch had a vision during a trip to Solovki, which was a fiery pillar marking the place of construction of the monastery. In architectural terms, it was created in the image of the male Iberian monastery, located on Mount Athos in Greece.
For a long time, a measured and calm lifeValdai was famous. The monastery of Iversky successfully functioned as a temple. So it was before the October Revolution, when it began to decline. The miracle-working icon was taken from the monastery in 1927, and the monastery itself, together with the monastic community (70 people), was transformed into a labor collective. Later there was a historical and archival museum of local lore, a school for sick children with tuberculosis, a home for disabled veterans of the Second World War, a recreation center.
The monastery, in an emergency condition, in 1991, returned the Novgorod diocese. His first governor (after the return of the monastery) became Hegumen Stephen.
The President of Russia arrived at the solemn liturgyon the Valdai. Iver Monastery (photo you see in this article) was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Theotokos of Iversk in 2008 by Patriarch Alexy II. In the same year, it was decided to gild the domes of the Iversky Cathedral.
During the years of decline and desolation of the Iversky Monastery(Valdai) almost lost the temple painting. There was a time-consuming and painstaking work to restore it. It was conducted almost five years. The remaining areas were neatly cleared and fortified. Painters restorers completed the lost compositions. In addition, the saints and cherubs were written on the altar windows. The frescoes of the upper part of the altar were restored in accordance with old models in 2009.
Some compositions had to be prescribed forseveral times to withstand a single style. During the restoration work the masters managed to recreate almost three thousand meters of unique temple painting. The restoration was completed in 2011.
All who come to the island of Valdai, the monasteryIversky is always visited. And they begin to get acquainted with the monastery from its main cathedral. Iberian Cathedral (formerly Uspensky) is a six-pillar, five-headed, three-nave structure, built in the form of a square with three apses.
On four sides the temple is surrounded by a gallery,characteristic of all the buildings of the patriarch Nikon. The gallery has a porch, and on the north and south side there are two two-story tents with crosses. The temple's vaults support six large pillars. Earlier in the altar there were choirs made of wood, but they did not survive until our time. Now the choir in the temple is stone, located above the door at the entrance.
The church is decorated with frescoes of the XIX century, restored by the restorers of the enterprise "Kitezh".
At the entrance to the church you can see a story telling how the Iberian icon came into the holy abode, as well as the phenomenon of the incorrupt relics of St. James.
The throne (XVII century.) Is set on stone pillars, to it also adjoins a step from a stone. The throne is decorated with embossing, and above it is a carved canopy.
In the high place is depicted the Savior, who sits on the throne. He is the prophet John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin. On the two sides of this image are the twelve apostles.
Presumably this grandiose structure withThe refectory was built in 1669. Its modest decoration is favorably shaded by a strict temple facade. The lower windows are framed by thin columns and small simplified kokoshniki.
The refectory building consists of two floors. On the first (semi-basement) floor there were storages, and on the second there was a spacious refectory, utility rooms and kitchen.
The refectory is a one-pillar chamber, whichoverlaps the arch with the formwork above the windows and doorways. Arched passages connect it with the church of the Epiphany. It is on the east side of the refectory. It is a double-lighted cubic one-domed temple with a two-tier faceted apse.
Along the southern wall of the monastery stretches a picturesque complex of buildings, which consists of two buildings - the local and the abbot. Between them is a monastery bell tower.
This tent structure was built in the XVII century.Significantly later, the buildings were added to it. After the terrible fire of 1825 the appearance of the bell tower changed: the tent was dismantled, and instead of it a dome with a spire appeared. After the recent restoration, the bell tower acquired its original appearance.
This gate church, which was built in1874 on the site of an ancient temple. The church is a quadrilateral, with beveled corners and symmetrical chapels, facades with gabled ends and a large head mounted on a faceted drum.
In the composition of this temple and its decorative design, the features of the pseudo-Russian style and eclecticism are seen.
Hundreds of pilgrims come to Iversky every yearthe monastery (Valdai). The icon of the Iberian Mother of God is the main shrine of the monastery. The Holy Face is an exact copy of the Iberian Icon, which is located in Athos Monastery, in Greece. He was no different from the original. She was taken to the monastery by the monks Cornelius and Nicephorus. The icon struck with its luxurious decoration. The cost of jewelry in those days was estimated at 44 thousand rubles in silver. Saint Patriarch Nikon imposed a ban on icon painters to create copies and lists from it.
The novices of the monastery argue that repeatedlybecame witnesses of miracles, which this icon showed (healing from illnesses, prevention of catastrophes). During the terrible epidemic of cholera (1848), the icon protected the inhabitants of the monastery from the deadly disease. Since then, on the 28th of July, a religious procession takes place. The Mother of God pray for consolation in grief, for solving problems, for a rich harvest, for healing. Everyone can turn to her, not only visiting Valdai, but also at home. The Valdai Mother of God will help everyone who lives with God in his heart and believes in his great strength.
Every year more and more pilgrims, like,however, ordinary tourists also visit the Valdai (the monastery of Iversky). Guests admire the beautifully manicured area. At the entrance for guests there is a parking lot, which during the weekend can hardly accommodate all those wishing to visit the holy abode.
For visits the monastery is open daily, from 6.00 until 21.00. For tourists (and pilgrims), staff conduct orientation tours. In the monastery they are housed in the living room (with meals and overnight stays), however, these questions should be coordinated with the Pilgrim Center in advance.
Many tourists would like to visit the Iversky Monastery (Valdai) today. How to get there? We will describe this below.
The monastery is located on the Selvitsky Island, which can be reached by the ship "Zarya" or by a special excursion boat.
In addition, the island can be reached by car, moving across the bridge, located near the village of Borovichi.
Many of our compatriots, like visitors fromnear abroad, have already visited the Iversky Monastery (Valdai). The testimonies indicate that the impressions of the trip remain unforgettable. The monastery is the embodiment of tranquility and peace. The nature here is magnificent.
Many guests were delighted with the friendly attitude of clergymen to numerous guests. Everyone points out that this is a special world completely devoid of anger, despair, intolerance.
And of course, many enthusiastic words are addressed toemployees of the monastery, who conduct excursions to the monastery. They tell a lot of interesting things about the history of the monastery, its founder, the present inhabitants and the wonderful icon.
