Sretensky Monastery

Sretensky Monastery
Sretensky Monastery in the 1920s.

Sretensky Monastery is the oldest Orthodox monastery in the center of Moscow on Bolshaya Lubyanka Street, a 15-minute walk from the Kremlin. The smallest of the Moscow monasteries – the most important spiritual center of Orthodoxy, has the status of Stavropegial, that is, subordinate to the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The Sretensky Monastery, dating back 6 centuries, is inextricably linked with the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the history of Moscow.

The emergence of the Sretensky Monastery
The emergence of the Sretensky Monastery began with a miracle. In 1395, the Turkic commander, conqueror Tamerlane, who conquered half of the world’s population, invaded Russia. A cruel khan who knows no pity, ruined Ryazan and Yelets – a similar fate awaited the young Moscow principality. A mortal threat looms over Russia. The Moscow prince Vasily with the army came to meet the 400-thousandth army of the conqueror, but the forces were unequal, there was no hope of victory.

Patriarch Pimen during a divine service.

Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God
On August 26 (September 8), 1395, all of Moscow, headed by Metropolitan Cyprian, gathered on Kuchkovo Pole (that was the name of the place where Bolshaya Lubyanka Street is now). People came out to meet the Vladimir miraculous icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and ask God for intercession and protection from the troops of the invincible and cruel Amir Tamerlane.
In Moscow, the advance of the Mongol army was watched with alarm. In the face of imminent danger, Prince Vasily and Metropolitan Cyprian called for the help of the Most Holy Theotokos. The clergy was sent to Vladimir to bring to Moscow the main Orthodox shrine of Russia – the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. A nationwide fast was announced in Moscow – a manifestation of deep repentance prayer.

Cell cases

After the Liturgy and prayer service performed in the city of Vladimir, the clergy, accompanied by the people and the princely warriors, carried the image of the Mother of God from Vladimir to Moscow in a procession with great honors. The procession lasted 10 days.
The next day, a messenger from Prince Vasily rode up to Moscow with the news that the enemy army had unexpectedly left the borders of Russia, as if someone was driving him. It was the Mother of God who heeded the fervent human pleas, and the miracle happened. In his tent, Tamerlane had a vision: the dignified Wife ordered him to leave the borders of Russia, and the invincible Tamerlane was afraid of the Great Protector of Christians.

Sretensky Monastery
The surviving frescoes of the Sretensky Cathedral. They have recently been restored


Staropigialny monastery

Parishioners and contributors of the Sretensky Monastery
The ensemble of the monastery was created for six centuries, the monastery remembers and honors those who helped the monastery to survive and develop:

Tsars Alexey Mikhailovich and Fedor Alexeevich.
Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya.
Princes Khovansky.
Princes of Mosalsky.
Princes of Vadbolsk.
Princes Prozorovsky.
Golokhvostov nobles.
Voikov nobles.
The noblemen Bakhmetevs.
Noblemen Goncharovs.
Milyutin’s merchants.
Merchants Milyukovs.
Merchants Lukhmanovs.
Luxurious decoration inside

Cathedral of the Meeting of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

The temple is open to everyone

The Sretenskaya Theological Seminary, a higher educational institution of the Russian Orthodox Church, operates at the monastery. The Sunday school for children is taught about Orthodox traditions and the Sacraments, they study the Gospel and help them grow spiritually. Educational courses for adults “Orthodoxy”, the Russian Center for the Study of the Shroud of Turin and the online store “Pravoslavie.Ru”, as well as the publishing house and store of Orthodox books “Sretenie” attract the attention of many parishioners.

Sretensky Monastery
The parishioners of the Sretensky Monastery and the flock of Russian parishes abroad are confessed by priests

Sretensky monastery today
Now in Sretensky Monastery there are 50 inhabitants, whose main business is prayer. The monastery has 20 priests and 250 seminarians. Hundreds of parishioners gather at the monastery for festive services.
The Sretenskaya Theological Seminary, a higher educational institution of the Russian Orthodox Church, operates at the monastery. The Sunday school for children is taught about Orthodox traditions and the Sacraments, they study the Gospel and help them grow spiritually. Educational courses for adults “Orthodoxy”, the Russian Center for the Study of the Shroud of Turin and the online store “Pravoslavie.Ru”, as well as the publishing house and store of Orthodox books “Sretenie” attract the attention of many parishioners.
Sretensky monastery is famous for its choir. The first “big” choir consists of professionals of the highest level. He sings at solemn events and services in the monastery, as well as in the Assumption and Annunciation Cathedrals in the Kremlin. The second choir consists of theological seminary students and is almost in no way inferior to the “big” choir. He sings at services in the monastery, at concerts in our country and abroad. The monastery has a choir consisting of parishioners.

The territory of the Sretensky Monastery is an oasis of silence and spiritual beauty in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Moscow center.

Sretensky Cathedral on the eve of the return of the Church