New Jerusalem stauropegic monastery. New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra - a piece of Palestine on Moscow soil

13.07.2023

This Saturday, my friends and I decided to leave Moscow for a one-day trip to Istra, walk around the area, and visit the New Jerusalem Monastery, which many have heard about, but few have visited. It was also interesting to see the museum of wooden architecture. The summer of 2014 turned out to be cold and rainy, but this did not stop us from traveling.

Istra. New Jerusalem

New Jerusalem 2017: review of the trip to the monastery after restoration

On Saturday, despite the preparations the day before and the intention to leave at 9 am, we all overslept and got into the car only at 12. We started the navigator on our smartphone (it was enough to enter the official address of the monastery in Istra, Sovetskaya Street, 2) , he led us along the Novorizhskoe highway. You can get to Istra along the Volokolamsk highway, but there was a big traffic jam there. The journey by car took us about an hour, despite the fact that the distance from Moscow is small - only 60 km.

We arrived at the main entrance to the Monastery around 15-00. I must say that if you arrive here late, you won’t have time to see anything; the ticket office and main places to visit are open only until 16-30. The entrance to the territory of the New Jerusalem Monastery is open until 18-00.

There is free parking for cars in front of the monastery entrance. We were lucky - a place became available right before our arrival.

New Jerusalem. Square in front of the monastery

On the square in front of the monastery there was a brisk trade in all kinds of souvenirs, beggars hung out, but they were afraid to approach us on our hike.

Tour of the New Jerusalem Monastery

If you stand facing the monastery, then on your left hand there will be a small building with a sign “Excursion Bureau”. Having checked whether there were any available guides, we decided to book an individual excursion (cost 1,500 when viewing the full exhibition, 900 rubles when viewing only the territory of the monastery and the Ascension Cathedral). Entrance to the territory of the monastery itself is free. A fee is charged only for the ability to walk on the walls when they are open. In our case, the passage was closed due to restoration.

In addition to ordering excursions, here you could purchase tickets to visit the museum of wooden architecture, which is located behind the monastery. More precisely, visiting the territory itself is free, you only pay for the entrance directly to the Hut, where items of peasant everyday life are presented (50 rubles for entry, 150 rubles for photography). We still bought the ticket, although even in advance it was clear that there was a catch here.

Here at the tour desk we studied a map of the monastery and the area around it.

So, after 5 minutes our guide came out and led us to the territory of the Resurrection New Jerusalem Stauropigeal Monastery.

Entering the gate, we froze at the view of the main cathedral of the monastery - the Resurrection Cathedral and the bell tower. The spectacle was truly stunning: the gilded domes sparkled majestically against the background of a stormy sky.

Resurrection Cathedral

Here the guide began her story.

History of the New Jerusalem Monastery

The history of the monastery goes back to the distant 17th century, when Patriarch Nikon, together with Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, decided to build an analogue of Palestine on Russian soil. The fact is that in those days the Ottoman Empire dominated the Holy Land, and visiting Jerusalem was simply dangerous for Christians. The Istra lands were not chosen by chance - the landscape made it possible to recreate the holy land in miniature: the Istra River played the role of the Jordan River, the hills surrounding the monastery could serve as analogues of the hills surrounding Jerusalem, the park outside the walls of the monastery was renamed Gethsemane.

In 1649, Patriarch Pasius of Jerusalem brought a model of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to Moscow. This sculptural image was used in the construction of the Resurrection Cathedral, which is a copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem (although the Cathedral is completely different in appearance).

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the New Jerusalem Monastery was the most visited place of pilgrimage; it played a vital role in the spiritual development of Russia. After the revolution in 1919, the Monastery was closed. Two museums were opened on the territory.

During the Great Patriotic War, the territory of the monastery was occupied by the Germans. Many buildings and structures were destroyed, the Resurrection Cathedral and the bell tower were blown up. This issue was particularly noted at the Nuremberg trials. In the period from the 1950s to the 1990s, restoration work was carried out, thanks to which the New Jerusalem Monastery was restored from the ashes, like a phoenix.

Even today you can see traces of shells, which were specially left by restorers to commemorate these times.

New Jerusalem. Traces of war

Today, grandiose work is underway on the territory of the monastery. In 2014, a bell tower “grew up” near the Cathedral, destroyed during the Great Patriotic War.

The main cathedral looks fresh and updated in appearance. The rest of the territory is covered with nets and forests. It is impossible to walk along the walls of the monastery today - they are closed due to work.

The number of workers carrying out the work is about 1,500 people. The completion of the restoration of the monastery is scheduled for 2016. The guide told us that the work is personally monitored by the President of the country, flying here in a blue helicopter, however, he does not show movies for free and does not congratulate you on your birthday.

Separately, it is worth noting the beautiful ceramic decor of the Ascension Cathedral; in some places, original decor from the 17th century has even been preserved.

Resurrection Cathedral. Decorative elements

Resurrection Cathedral. Tiles

Inspection of the Resurrection Cathedral of the New Jerusalem Monastery

After an external inspection of the beautiful Resurrection Cathedral, we went inside. The inside of the building is very complex, so I recommend that you purchase a map from a kiosk before visiting it, or, like us, use the services of a guide.

I am posting the plan of the cathedral. Those who have been to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem can note that the structure of the Resurrection Cathedral, in terms of the arrangement of the main elements, completely coincides with the Resurrection Cathedral.

Resurrection Cathedral. Cathedral plan

The interiors of the cathedral contrast sharply with its appearance. The room is, of course, very majestic, but it is made in the Baroque style, with characteristic stucco molding, angels, bows, and so on. It is immediately clear who ordered the interior decoration. It was Elizaveta Petrovna, who adored all these palace attributes. We were surprised how the external decoration of the Cathedral, reminiscent of a Russian tower, is dissonant with the internal palace decor. It’s as if these are completely different rooms, but each is chic in its own way.

New Jerusalem. Inside the Cathedral

The dome of the cathedral has already been painted by masters.

Resurrection Cathedral. Cathedral dome

The temple itself, despite the inclement weather, looks very bright and clean.

Grandiose work is also underway inside the cathedral. The huge iconostasis gapes with black holes instead of icons. Very soon they will take their places here.

New Jerusalem. Iconostasis

Now you can see above the iconostasis a figure of the Savior made of cardboard. The guide explained that this is one of the stages of restoration, when future sculptures are made from cardboard, the aesthetic appearance is agreed upon with government officials, and only then the real decor is made.

New Jerusalem. Figure of the Savior

The guide told us that the cathedral, in its size and location of the main churches, completely coincides with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. It didn’t fit in my head, because in size it may be similar, but in terms of the interior style, decoration and atmosphere it is a completely different place.

Resurrection Cathedral. Emperor's box

The guide showed us the way to the “calvary”, which, like in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, is located to the left of the main entrance to the Temple. It is not possible to go upstairs yet, as work is underway. As the guide continued her story, more and more people joined us. So our small group of three grew to 15 people. Anyway.

New Jerusalem. Everyone is interested in listening to the tour

Inside the temple there is also the “Cave of the Holy Sepulcher,” where, according to the guide, healing blue fire descends here on Orthodox Easter. To put it mildly, we were surprised.

Resurrection Cathedral. Cave of the Holy Sepulcher

Whoever wanted to venerate the Tomb. By the way, there is a rule here - you can leave the cave without turning your back to it.

After visiting the main church, we went to the Chapel of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where you can see real fragments of the design of that very first Church of the Resurrection. The author of the design of this chapel, by order of the emperor, was the famous Matvey Kazakov (1802).

Resurrection Cathedral. Chapel of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

What struck me most was the art of the tiles. I have never seen anything like this in any Orthodox church.

One of the symbols that was embodied in the tiles was the “pomegranate flower,” which symbolizes the blood of Christ - a symbol of the martyrdom of the savior. The drawing “near the peacock” symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ.

Resurrection Cathedral. Fragments of tiles

The guide also showed us another symbol encrypted in the tiles - a lion, meaning power on Earth.

Lion tile

Candles can be placed in the same aisle.
There are a few icons on the wall, for example a copy from the Athonite icon of “Our Lady of Three Hands”. In the same chapel you can collect holy water.
A farewell look at the cathedral.

Resurrection Cathedral. New Jerusalem

At 4:00 pm we left the temple and continued exploring the area.

Walk around the monastery grounds

Opposite the entrance to the temple are the chambers of Tsarina Tatiana Mikhailovna (patron of the monastery), restored from old engravings.

Chambers of Tsarina Tatiana Mikhailovna (patron of the monastery)

Behind the Resurrection Cathedral is the Church of the Nativity of Christ, also open to the public. But since we had limited time (we wanted to make it to the museum of wooden architecture), we decided not to go inside.

Church of the Nativity

There is also a museum on the territory (in the Refectory and Hospital wards), which we also did not get to due to the fact that time was limited. I needed to sleep less.

You can look around the Resurrection Cathedral for a very long time, the tiles with which it is decorated on the outside are so beautiful. The pattern of tiles that decorate the cathedral is called “Peacock Eye”; it was created by the Belarusian master Stepan Polubes (apparently he was so nicknamed for his golden hands).

Resurrection Cathedral

Resurrection Cathedral. Tiles

Resurrection Cathedral

The only thing that disappointed me was that during the reconstruction there was a beautiful multi-tiered dome of the Resurrection Cathedral. But never mind, very soon he will appear in all his glory.

At this point our excursion was completed, and we independently went to the museum of wooden architecture. To do this, we walked along a wooden corridor along the walls of the monastery. According to the plan of the monastery, this place was the “Garden of Gethsemane.”

You can read about our walk through the Museum of Wooden Architecture here.

How to get to the New Jerusalem Monastery

Address: Moscow region, Istra, Sovetskaya street, 2

Monastery opening hours: daily from 9-00 to 18-00.

By car you can get to the monastery along the Novorizhskoye or Volokolamsk highway (you will need to drive through the city of Istra). Distance approximately 45 km from MKAD

You can travel on your own by train from the Rizhsky station (you can also get on at the Tushinskaya station, not far from the metro station of the same name) to the Istra station or to the Novo-Ierusalimskaya station. From there it is recommended to take a bus to the Monastyr stop; you can also walk - about 20 minutes. Local taxi drivers can also take you to the monastery.

An alternative option is to take bus No. 372 from the Tushinskaya metro station. You will need to go to the “Pochta” stop. Here you will need to change trains and get to the Monastyr stop.

This sacred building is extremely revered and famous for the fact that it was created in the image of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located on Calvary. The church complex attracts pilgrims and many tourists, striking with its architecture and atmosphere of tranquility.

History of the foundation of the monastery

If you look at the New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra from a great height, you will see a beautifully fortified stone fortress rising on a small hill. In the center of this church complex stands the Resurrection Cathedral, boasting golden domes.

The territory of the monastery resembles a hexagon in shape with walls that are 3 meters wide. The height of the fence of the New Jerusalem Monastery is 9 meters, and the length is 1000 meters.

New Jerusalem Monastery, Istra

The New Jerusalem Monastery is considered independent of any dioceses.

Patriarch Nikon founded this church complex in 1656. The monk wanted to recreate a monastery similar to those in the holy places of Israel.

The territory on which the New Jerusalem Monastery was supposed to be built belonged to votchinniki (private owners), and Patriarch Nikon agreed with Tsar Alexei to acquire a special right to the lands. The area where churches and chapels were built expanded to include the possessions of local boyars and princes. For example, the village of Redkino, which became part of the monastery, was bought from a clerk named Lukyan.

Before construction, the surrounding area underwent specific modifications: the forest that was located along the banks of the Istra River was cut down, and the small hill was increased in size and strengthened.
The first monastery here was erected on a hill called Zion. On the eastern side of this structure, on another hill, the Chapel of Olives was built. Each building bore a name taken from the Holy Gospel. The Istra River was christened the Jordan, and an Orthodox skete for the patriarch was built on its bank. This site, where two small churches dedicated to Peter and Paul were located, was often called the "waste desert".
Soon, a women's cathedral was built on the territory of the monastery, bearing the name of Bethany, the city described in the text of the New Testament. Many church buildings repeat the external contours of the sacred architecture of the Jerusalem "Holy Sepulcher".
The construction process involved skilled craftsmen, as well as many auxiliary workers from the peasantry. However, the latter complained that, being in distant lands, they were deprived of the opportunity to work on their own land. Even the provision of financial benefits did not make work easier.
Under Nikon, the monastery expanded due to wooden buildings traditional for Rus'. In 1656, the Resurrection Cathedral was erected on the territory, inside which there was a refectory and service premises. Two years later, the church was consecrated; the guest of this great celebration was Tsar Alexei, who first called this complex New Jerusalem, looking at it from the Hill of Olives. In honor of this, a symbolic cross was placed on the hill.

On a note! The New Jerusalem Monastery is not the first attempt to create a copy of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on the territory of Rus'. The influence of the Palestinian prototype can be seen in the architecture of the Intercession on the Moat and in the unrealized project of the Holy of Holies, conceived by Boris Godunov.

Further history

After its founding, the monastery officially received the status of a major landowner. Nearby territories were acquired for the monastery, and special charters were issued for most of them.

Craftsmen from Belarus sent by Patriarch Nikon worked on the construction of three main buildings (Resurrection Cathedral, Iversky and Cross Church). The first architect of the complex was the famous artisan P. Zaborsky. The construction of temples was suspended when Nikon was sent to the Ferapontov Monastery, and the craftsmen were transferred to the Armory.

Resurrection Cathedral of the New Jerusalem Monastery

In the 17th century, the monastery acquired its own library, which contained a large number of books by Patriarch Nikon. Among the literature were copies of Greek and early Christian tomes. The library contained the Holy Scriptures, chronicles, chronographs, books on genealogies, texts for worship, as well as foreign publications. Translated works covering philology, history and theology were kept here.
In the period from 1666 to 1676. The monastery had its own printing house, transferred from the Iversky Monastery at the insistence of Nikon. At the beginning of the 20th century, the manuscripts were transferred for storage to the Synodal Library.
In the 17th century, a school of music and poetry was created here; it continued the traditions of the Polish-Ukrainian style of singing. Abbots Herman and Nikanor took on the responsibilities of choir director. For this purpose, they studied books on versification and musical notation.
At the end of the 17th century, Patriarch Nikon was expelled from the monastery, which opponents wanted to take advantage of, trying to deprive the church complex of acquired lands. However, the plan could not be realized, and the territories were recognized as New Jerusalem through the Council Charter.
During the reign of Fyodor (a student of Nikon), the construction of the Resurrection Church resumed. The monarch assigned two dozen monasteries to the New Jerusalem monastery and gave it new lands. Tsar Fedor personally supervised the construction and improvement. Only in 1681 was Nikon allowed to return to the monastery. However, the patriarch was already seriously ill and died on the way to the monastery. The reverend father was buried next to the Resurrection Cathedral, consecrated in 1685.

Getting to know Orthodoxy:

History from the 18th century to the present day

During the reign of Peter I, the staff of monks in the monastery was reduced, and the monastery supplied the state treasury with livestock, feed and artisan workers from among the peasants.

Under Elizabeth, the financial situation of “New Jerusalem” improved somewhat, and the number of lands increased. The Empress allocated money for the restoration of the Resurrection Cathedral. However, most of the income came from pilgrimage.
In the 19th century, descriptions of the monastery appeared, which were intended to introduce the modern way of life and served as a source of information about ancient buildings on the territory, rituals and services.
In 1869, Father Leonid, famous for his knowledge of archaeography, was appointed archimandrite of the monastery. He used the time spent in the monastery for scientific activities. For his book, he analyzed archival documents located in the local library. Since 1870, the scientist Father Leonid worked on the project of a church museum dedicated to Patriarch Nikon.

Resurrection Cathedral in the 19th century

At the beginning of the 20th century, this church complex became a center of active pilgrimage. The number of ordinary visitors increased after the introduction of the railway. Behind the fence of the monastery, instead of stone houses, hotels made of wood were installed. Rich pilgrims could be accommodated here, but no one forgot about the poor: a free hostel and a monastic school were built. In one year, up to 35 thousand interested people came to the monastery.
After the October Revolution, the church complex was closed. In 1921, only two historical museums operated on the territory, the collection of which included objects from churches, sacristies and other exhibits from the museum of Patriarch Nikon. In 1941, the Resurrection Cathedral was blown up by the German military, and many precious relics were destroyed or stolen.
The church complex resumed work in 1949, and the monastery buildings were actively restored.

In 1993, Patriarch Alexy II conducted active negotiations with the Moscow authorities about returning the “New Jerusalem” to the subordination of the Church. A year later, the monastery again gained stauropegial independence from the dioceses. The Holy Synod approved Father Nikita as the new archimandrite.

Architecture of the "New Jerusalem"

In 1668, an inventory of the monastery’s objects was carried out, according to which, next to the complex there were stable and living courtyards, as well as small cells. The territory of the monastery was surrounded by a ditch reinforced with logs. The entrance to the monastery was preceded by a bridge over this protective pit. The wall of the complex was complemented by eight towers, the main one of which was decorated with a clock.

Read more about Russian churches and monasteries:

Inside the monastery there were wooden cells of the patriarch and brethren, other buildings (bread chamber, kitchen, cellars) were built of stone.

During the construction of the Resurrection Cathedral, drawings of a temple in Palestine were used. On its façade and inside the walls, explanatory inscriptions were drawn on iconostases and white slabs. The presence of decorative ceramics gave the building a special elegance. Under Nikon, five iconostases were created from this material.

Interesting! The cathedral was famous for its beautiful decoration - portals, inscriptions, solemn images of icons and decorative belts. Ceramic tiles, distinguished by their detailed relief and large dimensions, imbue the appearance with divine grace.

On the eastern side of the grandiose cathedral there was an underground church, consecrated in honor of Constantine and Helen. It was located at a level of 6 meters below the ground, has a rectangular shape, a flat roof, and its decoration was a dome with ceramic slabs. Soon a ditch was dug around the building to prevent the walls from collapsing. In the mid-18th century, the interior decoration was given Baroque features.
The construction of the stone fence was completed in 1697. Its length is 1 km, height - 9 m, and thickness - 3. The upper part of the stone walls is a military passage, equipped with melee and ranged weapons. There are observation towers at the breaks in the fence. The construction gives the church complex architectural unity.
The necropolis is located inside the monastery and on both sides of the Temple of Constantine and Helena. During construction, the architects tried to recreate the location of the tombstones on Jerusalem soil. Patriarch Nikon bequeathed that his body be buried in the local cemetery. The necropolis became a resting place for Peter Zaborsky, subdeacon Nikita, author of the biography of Nikon I. Shusherin. Members of families who made contributions to the financial well-being of the monastery found their last refuge in the local cemetery.

How to get there

The New Jerusalem Monastery, located in the city of Istra, is a grandiose monument of Orthodox splendor, attracting many pilgrims.

The monastery is located in the city of Istra, Moscow region, on Sovetskaya Street, 2. You can get to it by bus 372, going from the Tushino metro station to the Pochta stop. Transport takes approximately one hour.

The monastery is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Video about the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra

The Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery was founded by His Holiness Patriarch Nikon. In 1656, the Patriarch bought from the steward Roman Boborykin the village of Voskresenskoye on the Istra River, with surrounding villages and wastelands; On a hill cleared of forest, a warm wooden church was erected in honor of the Resurrection of Christ, a moat was dug around the monastery and a wooden wall with eight towers was built.

The monastery near Moscow was supposed to become the embodiment of the Patriarch’s cherished desire - to create in Rus' a visible likeness of the Holy Land - a Russian New Palestine with the Resurrection Cathedral dominating the whole, which would repeat in detail the Jerusalem shrine - the Temple of the Resurrection of Christ. The Patriarch's thought extended much further: it was, first of all, a desire to embody and glorify the idea of Rus' as the spiritual center of the Orthodox world.

The implementation of the grandiose plan took many years. Construction of the monastery was suspended during the exile of the Patriarch (from 1666 to 1679).

What began under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich continued during the reign of his son Feodor Alekseevich, with the active participation of Princess Tatyana Mikhailovna. The construction of the Resurrection Cathedral was completed after Patriarch Nikon, who died on his way from exile in August 1681, was buried in his beloved New Jerusalem monastery. On January 18 (Old Art.), 1685, the cathedral was consecrated by Patriarch Joachim. A year later, the young Tsars John and Peter Alekseevich granted the Resurrection Monastery a grant, the so-called “eternally approved charter” for all its then estates and lands.

The territory surrounding the monastery stretched for several tens of kilometers. Its toponymy and all church buildings created the image of the Holy Land: in the center was a hill called Zion; the hills around the monastery were called Olivet, Tavorsky; the villages had the names Preobrazhenskoye, Nazareth, Capernaum; the Istra River received the name Jordan; the stream flowing around the monastery hill is the Kidron Stream. The towers of the monastery walls had symbolic names: Entrance to Jerusalem, Gethsemane, etc. In the cathedral itself, the likenesses of Mount Golgotha, the Cave of the Holy Sepulcher, the Church of the Finding of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, the Prison of the Lord and the Prison Church in the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary were reproduced.

Subsequent rulers of the Romanov dynasty continued to improve the monastery. In the 18th–19th centuries, outstanding architects worked on the creation of its architectural ensemble: B. Rastrelli, K. Blank, M. Kazakov, A. Voronikhin, A. Vitberg.

In the 1870s, scientific interest in the heritage of the monastery arose. Archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin), a researcher of Eastern Christian and domestic written monuments, published in 1874 the fundamental work “Historical Description of the Resurrection, New Jerusalem Monastery,” publishing many valuable documents in it. He also founded the monastery museum, in which the personal belongings of Patriarch Nikon, paintings, icons, books, and fabrics from the collection of the monastery were exhibited.

In 1875, “Description of the Library of the Resurrection Monastery” by Archimandrite Amphilochius (Kazan) was published. The monastery book collection contained the most valuable manuscripts and early printed books of the 11th–18th centuries, which at the beginning of the 20th century formed a special Resurrection collection of the Synodal Library, which is now located in the Historical Museum.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the monastery was a famous center of pilgrimage. In 1913, about 35,000 people visited it. With funds from large donations, the monastery itself built hotels and a hospice for poor pilgrims.

In July 1919, by decision of the Zvenigorod District Congress of Soviets, the Resurrection Monastery was closed and its property was nationalized. In the 1920s, the most valuable items from the sacristy of the Resurrection Cathedral were transferred to the Armory Chamber. A museum was opened on the territory of the monastery; the holy places were partially destroyed or changed beyond recognition.

New Jerusalem suffered greatly at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, finding itself in the zone of battle for Moscow. During the short occupation, the museum was looted, and during the retreat, fascist troops blew up the temple ensemble: some buildings were completely destroyed, the cathedral was significantly damaged. Since 1947, the state began to carry out restoration work, as a result of which it was possible to raise the architectural complex of the monastery from the ruins and begin restoring the interior of the Resurrection Cathedral.

The process of transferring the monastery to the Russian Orthodox Church began in 1994. Liturgical activities have resumed. Archimandrite Nikita (Latushko) was appointed the first governor of the monastery. On June 23, 2008, the Holy Synod approved the dean of the All Saints District of Moscow, Abbot Theophylact (Bezukladnikov), as abbot of the Resurrection New Jerusalem Stauropegial Monastery. At the same time, New Jerusalem was visited by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and Russian President D.A. Medvedev. After examining the monastery’s buildings, they decided to create a Charitable Foundation for the restoration of the Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery and became co-chairs of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited the New Jerusalem Monastery on September 25, 2011, on the day of the celebration of the 355th anniversary of the founding of the holy monastery. Taking into account the unique feature of the New Jerusalem, which recreates the main Christian shrines associated with the days of the earthly life of the Savior and subsequent church history, His Holiness blessed: starting from 2011, the blessing of water in the Istra-Jordan River will be carried out, similar to the existing tradition in the Holy Land, when throughout the year the waters of the Jordan are sanctified according to the rite of the Great Consecration; on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, perform the rite of raising the Cross.

During a visit to the monastery in 2013, the Patriarch noted that in the future it is necessary to fully implement the plan of Patriarch Nikon - along with the restoration of the monastery, to recreate the entire natural and cultural landscape that reproduces the topography of the Holy Land.

Restoration work in the monastery was carried out intensively for eight years. In 2014, the bell tower, lost during the war, was restored. On May 8, 2016, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' performed the rite of great consecration of the Resurrection Cathedral of the New Jerusalem Stauropegial Monastery. Five altars of the cathedral were consecrated: the Resurrection of Christ; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary; The Unrevealed Cross of the Lord; Saints Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Helen.

Since 2014, next to the monastery there has been a unique museum and exhibition complex of the Moscow region “New Jerusalem”, equipped with the most modern equipment. To date, this is practically the only large-scale project in Russia that has solved the problem of preserving and developing the museum in connection with its withdrawal from the cult complex.

Where is the New Jerusalem Monastery located?

How to get to the New Jerusalem Monastery

There are several ways to get to the monastery, each of which has its own advantages.

By electric train you can get to Istra in about an hour. You need to take the Riga direction train and go to the station. “Novo-Ierusalimskaya” (from here it will be a little faster) or “Istra”. Then take the bus and go to the stop. "Monastery". From the Novo-Ierusalimskaya railway station you can walk to the monastery, it will take about 20 minutes.
From Moscow you can also get to the monastery by bus No. 372, which departs from the Tushinskaya metro station. You need to go to the stop. "Mail", and then transfer to the bus to the stop. "Monastery".
By your own car you can get to Istra from Moscow along Novorizhskoye or Volokolamsk highway. The road lasts about 45 km.

Features of visiting the monastery

The New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra is open daily for pilgrims and tourists, its opening hours are from 7:00 to 20:00.
Every day, within the walls of the monastery churches, Divine Sacraments: divine services, confession, communion, baptism, commemoration and others.

Nowadays there are several excursion programs on the monastery territory:

Sightseeing tour, during which you will get acquainted not only with the temples and shrines of the monastery, but also learn a lot about its history and treasures;
"Gospel for Children"– a children’s excursion, specially adapted for children of preschool and school age, which will introduce your children to the monastery and the main biblical values;
Group excursions around the monastery, designed for people traveling alone. Starts at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 daily. For a group of less than 10 people, the cost of such an excursion will be 2500 rubles, if there are more than 10 participants in the group - 250 rubles/person. (100 rubles for children under 16 years old).

Important! Remember that on the territory of the monastery, especially in churches, you must follow strict rules, which you can find out about in the Pilgrimage Service or on the monastery website.

Also at the New Jerusalem Monastery you can order Sacraments and Requirements. To do this, contact the candle box or call the numbers listed above.
Very interesting Museum of the New Jerusalem Monastery, which you can visit for an additional fee from 10:00 to 18:00 any day except Monday.

Schedule of services at the monastery in Istra

Did you know? The New Jerusalem Monastery, like most others, draws up its schedule of services depending on the church calendar. Check the exact schedule for each week on the monastery website or by calling the Pilgrimage Service.

The first morning services usually begin at 7:00 (8:00 on Sundays);
and evening - at 17:00;
on Sundays, the late morning Liturgy is usually also read at 10:00.

Where can you stay near the monastery?

In the city of Istra there are many hotels for every taste and varying prices, where you can stay for a few days or spend the night.
The monastery pilgrimage service usually recommends Hotel "Livadia" or "House-hotel". They have good, comfortable living conditions, the cost of a room can range from 1,400 to 6,000 rubles.

History of the New Jerusalem Monastery in Istra

The history of the monastery is closely connected with life Patriarch Nikon who founded the cathedral in 1656.

Did you know? The personality of the great Patriarch left contradictory traces in history, beginning a schism in the Orthodox Church. Until now, among church ministers there are ardent admirers and opponents of his actions, and it is quite difficult to form an unambiguous opinion about the life of a church leader.

Be that as it may, the founding of many monasteries, among which New Jerusalem became the “favorite” of the Patriarch, is an important merit of Nikon.
For various reasons, the construction of the monastery took quite a long time and was suspended several times. Its main cathedral was consecrated in 1685.
In the 18th century The monastery was partially destroyed several times by fires, but it was successfully restored with the help of Russian rulers.

From the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century the monastery became one of the most popular places of pilgrimage.
With the advent of Soviet power, the monastery was closed, but even then it was recognized as a valuable historical and architectural object of All-Russian significance and they continued to take care of this place, creating here Museum of Local Lore.
The monastery suffered greatly during the Second World War; many of its churches were almost completely destroyed. Already from the 50s. In the last century, the slow restoration of the monastery began.
In 1994 the monastery was returned again Russian Orthodox Church, restoration work began with redoubled force, and Divine chants began to sound in its temples again.
Restoration of the monastery is still ongoing. The current Russian rulers continue the traditions of their ancestors and allocate a lot of funds to help the New Jerusalem Monastery.

Sights of the monastery

The Resurrection Cathedral is not only the main temple of the New Jerusalem Monastery, but also one of its main architectural attractions.
This is a very beautiful and truly monumental structure, which consists of 4 main parts:

Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ– a four-footed cross-domed church, which ends with a dome;
Church of St. Konstantin and Elena– an unusual underground church located at a depth of 6 m;
Beautiful bell tower, which was completely destroyed in 1941 and recently restored;
Rotunda, located above Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher(edicule).
The cathedral is beautiful both outside and inside. I personally like it even more inside - here you can see very bright, spacious and elegant rooms, richly decorated with stucco and paintings.
The landscaped territory of the monastery and its other churches are beautiful in themselves. Here it is Monastery Park(Garden of Gethsemane) with many of its attractions.
Important! Due to restoration work, some objects may be closed.
I also recommend visiting Museum and exhibition complex “New Jerusalem”, located on the territory of the monastery. Nearby is another interesting object - the Museum of Wooden Architecture.

Shrines of the New Jerusalem Monastery

Since the monastery to some extent repeats the main Christian temple, there are all the “attributes” that tell the story of the life of the Savior. Here you can see Golgotha, Jordan, and much more.
The main shrines of the monastery include:

A collapsible model, which was made in the 17th century in Jerusalem from cypress, ivory and mother-of-pearl and was used as a model for the construction of the Resurrection Cathedral;
Fragment of the omophorion of Patriarch Nikon, which was manufactured in 1597;
Tabernacle from the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene– a sacred vessel intended for storing the Body and Blood of Christ, made of silver with gilding at the end of the 18th – beginning of the 19th century;
Antimens, dating from the 17th century, with the signature of Patriarch Nikon, who consecrated it.

The New Jerusalem Monastery is also famous for its icons. The most valuable and revered of them is Icon "Lord Almighty with St. Philip and Patriarch Nikon", written in 1657 in honor of the transfer of the relics of St. Philippa. Now the icon is on display at the New Jerusalem Museum.

Did you know? Several holy springs with healing water have also been discovered in the vicinity of Istra.

Photo of the New Jerusalem Monastery

The monastery, looking out of the morning foggy haze, looks especially romantic.

This is what the grandiose complex of the almost restored monastery looks like.

This is the Resurrection Cathedral - the main temple of the monastery.

And this is inside (Kulukwija and Rotunda) - the scale is amazing!

One of the altars of the temple - such beautiful stucco decorates almost all the walls of the temple.

Entrance to a unique underground church.

New Jerusalem Monastery on video

As for me, the New Jerusalem Monastery is worth visiting for everyone - both deeply religious people and curious tourists - everyone here will find something for themselves and, perhaps, will be inspired to remember the soul and eternal values. So I wish everyone a fruitful journey.

And if you have already been to this magnificent place, I will be happy to read your comments with your impressions of the trip.