The first Christian monasteries on the lands of the former Kazan Khanate appeared in the middle of the 16th century. To this day, only 4 monasteries have survived in the city - one for women and three for men. The monasteries are not only visited by pilgrims. There are many beautiful architectural monuments in the monastic territories; tourists from different cities of our country from abroad come to see these sights of Kazan.
Kazan Monastery of the Mother of God
Article: Kazan Mother of God Monastery
View of the Kazan-Bogoroditsky Monastery
The place where the famous image of the Mother of God was found in the 16th century is revered by believers throughout Russia. The women's monastery appeared by decree of the Russian Tsar John IV the Terrible, and the girl Matrona became its first novice, who discovered the icon in the city's ashes. A copy of the image of the Mother of God went along with the people's militia to Moscow itself and helped liberate the capital from the Poles.
Before the revolution, the monastery flourished. It had a huge cathedral and a high six-story bell tower. Soon after the arrival of Soviet power, the monastery was closed. Unfortunately, over the course of several godless decades, the monastery has lost almost all of its architectural ensemble.
View of the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God
Since 1994, the monastery next to Kazan Kremlin is being reborn as a men's monastery. Every day, from morning to evening, the territory is open to pilgrims and tourists. The entrance is free. A copy of the famous icon can be seen in the old Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.
Kizichesky Vvedensky monastery
Article: Kizichesky Vvedensky monastery - three centuries of faith and trials
The men's monastery was founded in Kazan at the end of the 17th century. The monastery was built by Patriarch Adrian, therefore it is often called Lavra. At first, the modest monastery occupied a small area between the pine forest and the bank of the Komarovka River. There were outbuildings and three stone churches here.
View of the territory of the Kizichesky Vvedensky Monastery
Thanks to the Kizichesky Monastery, several city toponyms have appeared in Kazan. A dam across the Kazanka River and Kizicheskaya Sloboda were named after him. During the years of Soviet power, religion was not honored, so the ancient monastery was plundered and destroyed.
The revival of the shrine began in 2001, when the monastery complex was handed over to the faithful. Two years later, the authorities of Kazan restored the symbolic grave of the writer's grandfather Leo Tolstoy, the former governor of the city, Ilya Tolstoy, on the old necropolis. Restoration work continues today. Church services are held in the church of St. Prince Vladimir.
Zilantov Assumption Monastery
Article: Zilantov Assumption Monastery - the oldest in the Volga region
General view of the Zilantov Assumption Monastery
One of the oldest Orthodox monasteries in Kazan dates back to 1552. At first, the nunnery was built near the mass grave of the soldiers who died in the capture of Kazan. Then the novices and nuns moved to a new place and settled on Mount Zilantova, 2 km below the Kazan Kremlin.
In the Tatar language, the name of the mountain - Zhilantau is associated with the name of the dragon, which, according to legend, lived on this hill. It is this mythical dragon that can be seen on the coat of arms of Kazan. The main monastery ensemble was formed in the 17th century, but not all monuments and shrines have survived to this day.
Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos (All Saints) of the Zilantov Dormition Monastery
In 1998, when the completely destroyed monastery was given to the female Orthodox community, its revival began. Of the old buildings on the territory, the All Saints Church and the abbot building have survived. Everything else was built quite recently. The ancient monastery is especially beautiful from the Volga and from the railway.
John the Baptist Monastery
Article: John the Baptist Monastery - a picturesque corner of the capital of Tatarstan
Connoisseurs of Russian temple architecture really like the unique ensemble of the male monastery, which is located opposite the Kazan Kremlin. The first wooden buildings were erected on this site in the middle of the 17th century. After a strong fire, the monastery was rebuilt in stone. In the 1920s-1930s, the monastery was closed and turned into a shelter for homeless people, and in 1992 it was returned to the Kazan diocese.
View of the St. John the Baptist Monastery against the background of the Kazan Kremlin
The ancient monastery is so picturesque that all of its churches have the status of objects of cultural heritage of Russia. Of particular interest to tourists are the high baroque bell tower, the graceful five-domed Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary into the Temple, as well as the fraternal and archimandrite buildings built of white stone.
The rector is the ruling bishop, therefore the residence of the Kazan archbishop is located here. There is a hotel with a refectory on the territory, and a huge cracked bell stands in front of the bell tower. Services in the monastery church are held twice a day - at 8:00 and 16:00.
