Ascension Convent, known as the Starodevichy Convent or Old Maidens' Convent until 1817 (russian: Вознесенский монастырь, ''Voznesensky monastyr''), was an Orthodox nunnery in the
Moscow Kremlin
The Kremlin ( rus, Московский Кремль, r=Moskovskiy Kreml', p=ˈmɐˈskofskʲɪj krʲemlʲ, t=Moscow Kremlin) is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow founded by the Rurik dynasty. It is the best known of the kremlins (R ...
which contained the burials of grand princesses,
tsarinas, and other noble ladies from the Muscovite royal court.
It is believed that Ascension Convent was founded in 1389 next to the
Saviour Gates of the Kremlin by
Dmitry Donskoy
Saint Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy ( rus, Дми́трий Ива́нович Донско́й, Dmítriy Ivanovich Donskóy, also known as Dimitrii or Demetrius), or Dmitry of the Don, sometimes referred to simply as Dmitry (12 October 1350 – 1 ...
's widow,
Eudoxia Dmitriyevna
Eudoxia of Moscow (russian: Евдокия Дмитриевна, ''Yevdokia Dmitriyevna''), with monastic name Euphrosyne (1353 – 1407), was a Grand princess of Moscow and wife of Dmitry Donskoy.
Biography
Eudoxia was a daughter of Dmitry Konst ...
, who would take the veil there. The foundation stone for the cathedral was laid in 1407, just before her death. Eight years later, the cathedral was gutted by fire and then rebuilt in 1467 by princess
Maria of Borovsk, wife of
Vasili II of Russia
Vasily Vasiliyevich (russian: Василий Васильевич; 10 March 141527 March 1462), also known as Vasily II the Blind (Василий II Тёмный), was the Grand Prince of Moscow whose long reign (1425–1462) was plagued by the ...
.
Sixteen years later the convent was again damaged by fire and then restored in 1518–1519 to a design by
Aloisio the New. This church was completely rebuilt in 1587–1588, when a new five-domed structure, mirroring the nearby
Archangel Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Archangel (russian: Архангельский собор, Arkhangel'skiy sobor) is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It is located in Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia between the G ...
, was erected. It was a major monument to embody the conservative architectural approach of
Boris Godunov
Borís Fyodorovich Godunóv (; russian: Борис Фёдорович Годунов; 1552 ) ruled the Tsardom of Russia as ''de facto'' regent from c. 1585 to 1598 and then as the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. After the end of his ...
's circle (''illustrated, to the right'').
Among those buried in the cathedral vault were
Sophia Vitovtovna
Sophia of Lithuania (1371–1453), also known as Sofia Vitovtovna, was a Grand Princess consort of Muscovy by marriage to Vasili I of Russia. She was regent of Muscovy during the minority of her son from 1425 to 1434.
Life
She was the daughter ...
(wife of
Vasili I
Vasily I Dmitriyevich ( rus, Василий I Дмитриевич, Vasiliy I Dmitriyevich; 30 December 137127 February 1425) was the Grand Prince of Moscow ( r. 1389–1425), heir of Dmitry Donskoy (r. 1359–1389). He ruled as a Golden Horde ...
),
Sophia Paleologue
Zoe Palaiologina ( grc-x-byzant, Ζωή Παλαιολογίνα), whose name was later changed to Sophia Palaiologina (russian: София Фоминична Палеолог; ca. 1449 – 7 April 1503), was a Byzantine princess, member of ...
(wife of
Ivan III
Ivan III Vasilyevich (russian: Иван III Васильевич; 22 January 1440 – 27 October 1505), also known as Ivan the Great, was a Grand Prince of Moscow and Grand Prince of all Rus'. Ivan served as the co-ruler and regent for his bl ...
), several wives of
Ivan the Terrible
Ivan IV Vasilyevich (russian: Ива́н Васи́льевич; 25 August 1530 – ), commonly known in English as Ivan the Terrible, was the grand prince of Moscow from 1533 to 1547 and the first Tsar of all Russia from 1547 to 1584.
Iva ...
, Grand Duchess
Eudoxia Alexeyevna (daughter of
Alexei Mikhailovich
Aleksey Mikhaylovich ( rus, Алексе́й Миха́йлович, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪtɕ; – ) was the Tsar of Russia from 1645 until his death in 1676. While finding success in foreign affairs, his reign saw several wars ...
), and tsarina
Maria Vladimirovna (first wife of
Mikhail Feodorovich
Michael I ( Russian: Михаил Фёдорович Романов, ''Mikhaíl Fyódorovich Románov'') () became the first Russian tsar of the House of Romanov after the Zemskiy Sobor of 1613 elected him to rule the Tsardom of Russia.
He ...
).
The convent was also used as a residence for royal fiancees prior to the wedding. It was there that Ivan IV's widow,
Maria Nagaya, greeted
Marina Mnishek
Marina Mniszech, ( pl, Maryna Mniszech; russian: Марина Мнишек, Marina Mnishek, ) also known in Russian lore as Marinka the Witch ( 1588 – 24 December 1614) was a Polish noblewoman who became the Tsaritsa of Russia during the Time ...
, who would spend there a few days before her wedding with Nagaya's purported son,
False Dmitry I. In 1634,
Michael I of Russia
Michael I ( Russian: Михаил Фёдорович Романов, ''Mikhaíl Fyódorovich Románov'') () became the first Russian tsar of the House of Romanov after the Zemskiy Sobor of 1613 elected him to rule the Tsardom of Russia.
He ...
commissioned a new convent church to be built and dedicated to his patron saint,
Michael Maleinos
Saint Michael Maleinos ( el, Μιχαήλ Μαλεΐνος, –12 July 961) was a Byzantine monk who commanded great respect among Christians of Asia Minor. He was the brother of general Constantine Maleinos and uncle of Nikephoros Phokas, who ...
. A
belltower
A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...
next to this church was constructed in the late 17th century. The Church of Michael Maleinos used to be home to a rare
sculpture
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable ...
of
St George
Saint George ( Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...
, made by
Vasili Yermolin
Vasili Dmitriyevich Yermolin () (? – died between 1481 and 1485) was a Russian architect and sculptor.
Vasili Yermolin is known to have been a merchant, contractor, and head of an artel of the Muscovite builders. In 1462, he restored the old pa ...
and installed there in 1808.
In 1721, the convent was renovated on behest of
Peter the Great
Peter I ( – ), most commonly known as Peter the Great,) or Pyotr Alekséyevich ( rus, Пётр Алексе́евич, p=ˈpʲɵtr ɐlʲɪˈksʲejɪvʲɪtɕ, , group=pron was a Russian monarch who ruled the Tsardom of Russia from t ...
. In 1737, it was damaged by fire and again renovated by the order of
Anna Ioannovna
Anna Ioannovna (russian: Анна Иоанновна; ), also russified as Anna Ivanovna and sometimes anglicized as Anne, served as regent of the duchy of Courland from 1711 until 1730 and then ruled as Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740. Much ...
. During the
Patriotic War of 1812
The French invasion of Russia, also known as the Russian campaign, the Second Polish War, the Army of Twenty nations, and the Patriotic War of 1812 was launched by Napoleon Bonaparte to force the Russian Empire back into the continental blo ...
, the
sacristy
A sacristy, also known as a vestry or preparation room, is a room in Christian churches for the keeping of vestments (such as the alb and chasuble) and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.
The sacristy is usually locate ...
of Ascension Convent, with the Icon of the Virgin
Hodegetria
A Hodegetria , ; russian: Одиги́трия, Odigítria ; Romanian: Hodighitria, or Virgin Hodegetria, is an iconographic depiction of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary) holding the Child Jesus at her side while pointing to him as the source of s ...
, painted by
Dionisius
Dionisius (russian: Диони́сий, variously transliterated as ''Dionisy'' or ''Dionysiy''; also Dionisius the Wise; c. 1440 – 1502) was acknowledged as a head of the Moscow school of icon painters at the turn of the 15th and 16th ...
in 1482, was moved to
Vologda
Vologda ( rus, Вологда, p=ˈvoləɡdə) is a city and the administrative center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the river Vologda within the watershed of the Northern Dvina. Population:
The city serves as a major transport hu ...
. A two-storey
almshouse
An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) was charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the medieval era. They were often targeted at the poor of a locality, at those from certain ...
was added in 1823. But the most important 19th-century addition was the Church of Saint Catherine, built to a fanciful
Neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...
design by
Carlo Rossi (''illustrated, to the right'').
By 1907, the monastery had a
mother superior, 62
nun
A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...
s and 45
lay sisters. Ten years later, the ancient buildings were damaged by artillery fire during the
October Revolution
The October Revolution,. officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. in the Soviet Union, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key mom ...
. In 1929, the convent complex - including the majestic 16th-century cathedral - was dismantled by the
Soviets
Soviet people ( rus, сове́тский наро́д, r=sovyétsky naród), or citizens of the USSR ( rus, гра́ждане СССР, grázhdanye SSSR), was an umbrella demonym for the population of the Soviet Union.
Nationality policy in ...
in order to make room for the
Red Commanders School, named after the
All-Russian Central Executive Committee
The All-Russian Central Executive Committee ( rus, Всероссийский Центральный Исполнительный Комитет, Vserossiysky Centralny Ispolnitelny Komitet, VTsIK) was the highest legislative, administrative and r ...
.
Some of the icons of Ascension Convent were made over to the
State Tretyakov Gallery
The State Tretyakov Gallery (russian: Государственная Третьяковская Галерея, ''Gosudarstvennaya Tretyâkovskaya Galereya''; abbreviated ГТГ, ''GTG'') is an art gallery in Moscow, Russia, which is considered th ...
and State museums of the Moscow Kremlin. The
iconostasis
In Eastern Christianity, an iconostasis ( gr, εἰκονοστάσιον) is a wall of icons and religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. ''Iconostasis'' also refers to a portable icon stand that can be placed a ...
of the Ascension Cathedral was moved into the
Cathedral of Twelve Apostles (also in the Kremlin), while the tombs of the Muscovite royalty were transferred into an annex of the
Archangel Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Archangel (russian: Архангельский собор, Arkhangel'skiy sobor) is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It is located in Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia between the G ...
, where they reside to this day.
Contemporary development of the area
In the 1990s, work began on the study of the tombs of grand duchesses and tsars. It was possible to find relics of
Eudoxia of Moscow
Eudoxia of Moscow (russian: Евдокия Дмитриевна, ''Yevdokia Dmitriyevna''), with monastic name Euphrosyne (1353 – 1407), was a Grand princess of Moscow and wife of Dmitry Donskoy.
Biography
Eudoxia was a daughter of Dmitry Kons ...
and to restore a sculptural portrait of
Sofia Palaiologina from the skull.
In 2004 research on burial in the underground chamber near the
Archangel cathedral
The Cathedral of the Archangel (russian: Архангельский собор, Arkhangel'skiy sobor) is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It is located in Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia between the G ...
has passed. The further studying of materials passed in laboratory premises.
In 2016, the
Kremlin Presidium
The Kremlin Presidium (The Administrative Building of the Kremlin, russian: Административный корпус Кремля, Administrativnyy korpus Kremlya), also denominated Building 14 (russian: 14-й корпус), was an edifice w ...
was dismantled and archaeological excavations were carried out at the opened site. For the first time, opportunities for the large-scale archaeological study of such a vast section of the
Kremlin Hill
Kremlin Hill (Russian: Кремлёвский холм 'Kremlyovskiy kholm'' former name Borovitsky Hill - Боровицкий холм 'Borovitskiy kholm'' also known as Borovitskiy Cape - Боровицкий мыс 'Borovitskiy mys'' is one ...
and the hidden layers of the cultural and spiritual heritage of the XII - early XX centuries were opened. Researches were carried out by the Institute of the Archaeology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS; russian: Росси́йская акаде́мия нау́к (РАН) ''Rossíyskaya akadémiya naúk'') consists of the national academy of Russia; a network of scientific research institutes from across t ...
. In May of the same year, upon completion of the excavation, a park was laid out.
In the
Archangel Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Archangel (russian: Архангельский собор, Arkhangel'skiy sobor) is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It is located in Cathedral Square of the Moscow Kremlin in Russia between the G ...
, the
Moscow Kremlin Museums opened a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of the Ascension Monastery, a new tourist route introducing Muscovites and visitors to the capital to the history of the ruined shrines.
Possible restoration
In August 2014, Russian president
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
suggested an idea for restoring Ascension Convent and
Chudov Monastery
The Chudov Monastery (russian: Чу́дов монасты́рь; more formally known as Alexius’ Archangel Michael Monastery) was founded in the Moscow Kremlin in 1358 by Metropolitan Alexius of Moscow. The monastery was dedicated to the mi ...
. However, due to archaeological work which began in December 2015 and the lack of
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...
's approval of the restoration, the restoration of Ascension Convent is currently unplanned. During archaeological work, experts have managed to find a foundation of
Chudov Monastery
The Chudov Monastery (russian: Чу́дов монасты́рь; more formally known as Alexius’ Archangel Michael Monastery) was founded in the Moscow Kremlin in 1358 by Metropolitan Alexius of Moscow. The monastery was dedicated to the mi ...
and Ascension Convent.
References
External links
Account of the convent (from the Moscow Kremlin Museums website)Account of the cathedral (from the Moscow Kremlin Museums website)
{{coord, display=title, 55, 45, 9, N, 37, 37, 13, E
Monasteries in Moscow
Russian Orthodox monasteries in Russia
Former religious buildings and structures in Russia
1389 establishments in Europe
14th-century establishments in Russia
1929 disestablishments in Russia
Moscow Kremlin
14th-century Eastern Orthodox church buildings
Carlo Rossi buildings and structures
Convents in Russia
1917 fires in Europe
Buildings and structures demolished in 1929
Burial sites of the House of Romanov
Burial sites of the Rurik dynasty
Burial sites of the House of Dolgorukov
14th-century churches in Russia
Demolished buildings and structures in Moscow