
Mirozhsky Monastery is a 12th-century Russian Orthodox
monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone ( hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer whic ...
complex in
Pskov,
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...
, famous for its
frescoes, located in the Christ's Transfiguration Cathedral. The name of the monastery is derived from the name of the
Mirozha River, since the monastery is located at the place where the Mirozha joins the
Velikaya River
The Velikaya () is a river in Novosokolnichesky, Pustoshkinsky, Sebezhsky, Opochetsky, Pushkinogorsky, Ostrovsky, Palkinsky, and Pskovsky Districts of Pskov Oblast, as well as in the city of Pskov in Russia. It is a major tributary of L ...
, on the left bank of the Velikaya. The
catholicon of the monastery is one of the two
pre-Mongol buildings which survived in Pskov, and contains the frescoes of the 12th century. The monastery, together with the Transfiguration Cathedral, is part of the ''
Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture'', which became an
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
in 2019.
History
The exact date of the founding of the monastery is not known. Traditionally, it is considered to be the mid-12th century and is associated with the name of
Nifont,
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...
of
Novgorod
Veliky Novgorod ( rus, links=no, Великий Новгород, t=Great Newtown, p=vʲɪˈlʲikʲɪj ˈnovɡərət), also known as just Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the o ...
.
The monastery, located 20 minutes walk from the
Pskov Krom (the other name for
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 (Ru ...
), was one of the cultural centers of the city, comprising library, scriptorium and
icon
An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Catholic churches. They are not simply artworks; "an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion". The most c ...
workshop.
Architecture
The ancient buildings, with the exception of the Christ's Transfiguration Cathedral, have not survived. Now the architectural ensemble consists of:
* Christ's Transfiguration Cathedral (12th–beginning of the 20th century)
*
Prior’s house (16th—19th centuries)
* St Stephen's Church (17th century)
* Dorter, literally “Fraters’ House” (end of 18th—19th centuries)
* Cells (17th—19th centuries)
* Bathhouse (beginning of the 19th century)
* Outer wall (1799—1805)
References
External links
*
photos of the frescoes on Flickrphotos of the frescoes on PicasaMirozhsky Monastery (Pskov)
{{Authority control
Pskov
Russian Orthodox monasteries in Russia
Eastern Orthodox church buildings
Buildings and structures in Pskov Oblast
Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Pskov Oblast