History of Sviyazhsk. Dormition Monastery
Any cruise along the majestic Volga or a tour of the treasury cities of Russian culture will be incomplete without a visit to Sviyazhsk - a small village in the Zelenodolsk region of Tatarstan, on an island at the confluence of the Schuka and Sviyaga rivers. By the way, the island was far from always here: it was formed only in 1957 simultaneously with the Kuibyshev reservoir, and today it is connected to the mainland by a dam.
The island-town of Sviyazhsk is a place with an ancient history and an impressive concentration of sights. More than 30 objects fit on its territory. cultural heritage, most of which are recognized as monuments of federal significance. The surviving churches and monasteries are witnesses of the events of the past 5 centuries, and the historical and architectural exposition keeps the memory of the lost temples. Popular cruise routes from Kazan pass through the island, and every year more and more discoveries await tourists: Sviyazhsk is actively restored and gradually acquires the features of a full-fledged open-air museum.
A bit of history
Sviyazhsk was founded in 1551 during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. A powerful fortress was assembled in just 4 weeks: the parts were harvested in Uglich and floated down the Volga. This power came in handy a year later: in 1552, during the siege of Kazan, Russian troops were based here.
In the 16th century, the Sviyazhsk fortress was larger than the defensive structures in Pskov, Novgorod and even Moscow.
However, the most dramatic page in the history of Sviyazhsk was the 20th century. In 1918, repressions raged here: Trotsky ordered the execution of every 10th Red Army soldier from local military units who had not driven the White Czechs out of Kazan. In 1928, the Assumption Monastery was transformed into a children's labor commune, then into a colony where prisoners of war were kept during the Second World War, and later into a psychiatric hospital. For decades, political prisoners who fell into government disgrace were exiled to the island.
In the 21st century, Sviyazhsk is literally reborn from oblivion. TO neighboring islands with the poetic name Tatar Griva, a highway was laid, historical monuments were taken under state protection, the number of tourist sites is growing, annual music festivals- in other words, the village comes to life before our eyes.
How to get to Sviyazhsk
The island-town of Sviyazhsk is located 30 km from Kazan, which can be reached by plane, train, bus or boat. Way forward also to be done on land or water. Motor ships regularly depart from the Tatar capital, going to the island for about 2-3 hours. Ticket price - 140 RUB one way, if desired, you can order at the river station sightseeing tour(tickets in both directions plus travel information on board, excursions on the island are paid separately) for 450 RUB. Prices on the page are for October 2018.
Between Kazan and Sviyazhsk established and bus service. Flights from the Central Bus Station depart on Saturdays and Sundays, travel time - 1 hour 20 minutes, tickets - 192 RUB. By train, the road will take a little more than an hour and will cost 84 RUB.
The railway station is not located on the island, but in the nearby village of Nizhniye Vyazovye, from where it is 15 km to the destination by taxi (about 200 RUB) or by bus across the dam.
Another way to get to Sviyazhsk is a trip from Kazan in your own or rented car. Distance between settlements on the highway - about 60 km, you can overcome it in an hour: the roads are good, there are no traffic jams. You have to go along the M7 highway towards Moscow to the village of Isakovo, then follow the signs. Parking is located right at the foot of the hill on which Sviyazhsk stands.
Search for flights to Kazan (nearest airport to Sviyazhsk)
Transport
The island-city of Sviyazhsk occupies a very small area (about 65 hectares), therefore it is not surprising that there is no public transport here: any of the sights is within walking distance. Taxis and buses stop at the foot of the hill, where the village rises, and then the tourist has to climb the metal stairs and walk at least all day long between well-groomed houses, temples and monasteries. The only alternative walking tours - bike tours: you can rent a two-wheeled horse in Kazan for 500-700 RUB per day.
Sviyazhsk beach
Surrounded by water on all sides, Sviyazhsk lives not only in tourism, but also in river fishing. Almost every local resident has a boat: pike and bream bite perfectly on the local shores. Part of the coast is covered with sand and suitable for traditional beach holiday. Of course, the comfort inherent in well-known resorts is still out of the question: there are no amenities here, water activities- Same. However, after exciting excursions along the city streets it is quite possible to sunbathe on a wide sandy strip and even - if you have the courage - to swim in the river.
Hotels in Sviyazhsk
Most tourists visiting Sviyazhsk stay in Kazan, but if necessary, you can spend the night on the island, where several hotels are open varying degrees comfort. The most fashionable is located in the 19th century Kamenev estate: in double rooms (standard and deluxe) - clean, spacious and beautiful, the interior is stylized as a Russian merchant's mansion. The cost of living is from 3000 RUB per day.
A more democratic option is the Sviyaga hotel with 7 rooms named after fish found in local waters. Staying in "Bream", "Sudak" or "Pike", you should be prepared for minor domestic inconveniences: showers and toilets are only on the floor. But the prices are lower: from 1000 RUB per day for a single room.
The third (and so far the last) hotel on the island is the Pilgrim's House at the Assumption Monastery. Accommodation here is cheap (from 300 RUB per bed), but the conditions are appropriate.
Weather in Sviyazhsk
What to bring
In Sviyazhsk there are several shops and kiosks with souvenirs, some of them are located on the territory of the Horse Yard. Here are exhibited both characteristic household items of the past centuries, and gizmos familiar to the tourist’s eye: magnets with images of local attractions, crafts made of wood and clay, textiles embroidered with patterns.
Excellent honey and sbiten are sold in the yard: you can taste them right at the counter and buy a couple of jars of healthy treats to take home.
Souvenir shops are also open in the Lazy Torzhok historical reconstruction center: they sell all the same handicrafts - clay pots, birch bark figurines, painted plates, and at the same time invite everyone to take pictures in knightly armor and shoot from a crossbow. Best Buys- coins, medallions and horseshoes forged according to ancient technology, as well as traditional Tatar treats - smoked horse meat and chak-chak dessert.
Cuisine and restaurants of Sviyazhsk
With cafes and restaurants in Sviyazhsk, it’s still a little tight: until recently, it was only possible to kill a worm in a buffet at the river station, a snack bar on the central square, and souvenir shops, among other things, offering cult products of Tatar cuisine. But the situation is gradually improving: more original establishments with dishes traditional for the region appear on the island.
Due to the constant influx of tourists, service at three Sviyazh catering points is slow.
For fish soup, shish kebab and other delicacies prepared from fish caught here, you should look into the art cafe " Fisherman's farm”, stylized as an old hut. Hot dishes in the range - from 150 RUB, from pleasant bonuses - an excellent view of the Sviyaga. Good complex lunches for 450 RUB - in the Buyan eatery, named after the dog living on the farm and reminiscent of a typical Soviet canteen both in atmosphere and menu. And at the Horse Yard, guests are waiting for the "Traktir" with interesting interior, waiters in folk costumes and traditional Russian treats like hodgepodge, borscht and baked pike perch. A 3-course lunch will cost from 700 RUB, dinner - from 1000 RUB per person.
Entertainment and attractions
Sviyazhsk is a center of attraction for travelers oriented towards spiritual values, because the main architectural beauties here are temples and monasteries. The island-grad has been claiming to be included in the List for several years. world heritage UNESCO, and it is possible that one day he will be able to win international recognition.
The most famous sight of Sviyazhsk is the current Bogoroditse-Uspensky monastery, the same age as the Kazan diocese, founded in 1555. Until now, the Assumption Cathedral in the Ukrainian Baroque style and St. Nicholas Church with a bell tower 43 m high, open only to monks, have been preserved.
The Mother of God-Assumption Monastery, once considered the richest in the Middle Volga region, today is famous for a complete cycle of frescoes of the 16th century, covering an area of 1080 square meters. m.
The second monastery is John the Baptist, which has now become the courtyard of the Assumption. It began its existence simultaneously with the city, in 1551, and at first served as a convent. Pearl architectural ensemble- wooden Trinity Church: the oldest temple of the Lower and Middle Volga region and the only building that has survived since the founding of Sviyazhsk. A neat log building, erected and consecrated in just one day, resembles a traditional five-wall hut. Nearby are the stone church of St. Sergius of Radonezh and the red-brick Cathedral of Our Lady of All Who Sorrow, built in the Russian-Byzantine style.
There is also a museum in the ancient village - the art and historical-architectural "Island-city of Sviyazhsk". The exposition is located in several historical buildings, the main of which is the Church of St. Constantine and Elena. In the exhibition halls, you can explore the archaeological artifacts found in the vicinity, works of church art and elements of folk life.
The urban development of Sviyazhsk can also be considered an independent attraction. It does not shine with luxury, but it allows you to imagine in detail what the Russian hinterland was like some 100-200 years ago. A vivid example of local architecture is the manor of the merchant Kamenev built in the 19th century and recently restored on the central square.
Sviyazhsk for children
To the little guests of Sviyazhsk, weary long excursions, you will surely enjoy visiting the Horse Yard, built in the 17th century and turned into a full-fledged ethnographic complex. Here you can ride a horse (and, if you wish, in a carriage), buy original souvenirs and dine in a tavern.
More more fun for kids and adults - in cultural center"Lazy Torzhok", stylized as a real medieval city. In the weapons, blacksmith and pottery workshops, you can watch the work of craftsmen and try yourself in a new craft, compete in archery accuracy and try on carefully recreated armor. And on weekends, interactive jousting tournaments are held here - spectacular open-air shows.
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On February 12, 1550, Tsar Ivan IV of Moscow laid siege to Kazan. The siege lasted eleven days, with many dead on both sides. On February 25, the king retreated. Returning home, the Russian troops stopped on the right steep bank of the Sviyaga. Here, Ivan IV liked the forested island “Round Mountain”, which, towering above the Volga, made it possible to control river routes, roads and Kazan itself.
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The tsar decided to build a fortress town here, which would help him capture the capital of the Kazan Khanate. He instructed the military engineer, clerk Ivan Vyrodkov, to draw up drawings of the fortress and begin construction, but not at the chosen place, but in the Uglich forests, in the patrimony of the boyars Ushatykh. All winter, a thousand kilometers from Kazan, they cut down a city with walls, towers and churches. In the spring of 1551, after a trial assembly, all the buildings were dismantled, loaded onto ships, and floated to the mouth of the Sviyaga.
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The city was founded on May 24, 1551. The top of the mountain was hastily cleared of the forest, but it turned out that the material brought was enough for only half of the city, the rest had to be cut from local wood. An unprecedented case in the history of architecture - in four weeks on the Round Mountain, washed by the Sviyaga and Pike rivers, a whole wooden fortress city with powerful oak walls, golden-domed churches, painted huts, high towers and bell towers grew up. The city was named in honor of the founder Ivan-gorod, later they began to call " New town Sviyazhsky”, and soon the short name Sviyazhsk was fixed - from the Sviyagi River.
For almost 500 years of its history, Sviyazhsk has experienced a lot: ups and downs, poverty and wealth, fame and obscurity, reverence and desecration…
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The powerful fortress after the conquest of Kazan turns into a large administrative and commercial city, where foreign embassies and foreign merchants arrive. Later, Sviyazhsk is a monastic town where life is simple, quiet and filled with grace, then it is a county town of the Kazan province, which in 1781 established its coat of arms - the shield depicts a city sailing on a ship, and under it are fish. This is a tribute to the miraculous construction of the city, brought from the Uglich forests. After the revolution, Sviyazhsk is plundered, desecrated temples, which housed prisons and correctional institutions ...
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Cathedral of the Nativity Holy Mother of God, early 18th century
Today the fortified city is being revived. As in the old days, the traveler is greeted by white-stone monastery walls, golden domes of churches, as before, people live here, perhaps the descendants of those who created this fabulous miracle, whose name is Sviyazhsk. hospitable island visited by many tourists from all over the country.
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And immediately on the high coast of the island we are met by a modest White church with a low bell tower - the Church of Constantine and Helena, built in the 16th century. It is visible from all sides and surprisingly harmoniously fits into the natural environment of the island. This is the only posad church preserved in Sviyazhsk. Once it separated the upper part of the city - the fortress and the lower part - the settlement, where artisans lived.
And on the site of the border there was the Christmas Gate - the main entrance to the city. On both sides of the Rozhdestvensky Gate was the main Town Square. From the side of the settlement on the square there was a guest yard and shops. Trading rows descended to the Sviyaga River, there was a pier where ships with goods moored. Fairs were held annually on July 8 and September 25 (old style) on the day of patronal feasts in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Sviyazhsk.
The city was known for its merchants, who built wonderfully wooden and stone houses here for everyone. The first floor is a bakery, trading shops, shops, the second floor is living quarters for the merchant's family.
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Walking along the streets of Sviyazhsk, it is impossible not to admire the wooden lace in which merchant houses. Bizarrely shaped balconies, intricate architraves, graceful entrance gates - all this creates a unique image of a Russian town. Here, every house, every building has its own history. And the further we move along a narrow path deep into the island, the further we plunge into the depths of centuries, at a time when Sviyazhsk was, above all, a spiritual center. And here we have the Holy Gates - the entrance to the territory of the female John the Baptist Monastery.
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author Alexander Rachuk
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Sophia Church, late 18th century.
Excavations and restoration on the island continues to this day.
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And here interesting place built for tourists. Ethnographic complex - Lazy Torzhok. Here you will be introduced to the traditions and way of life local residents. The name "lazy" came from the fact that there was a market in the old days, but they traded somehow slowly and lenovo. Not at all in the rules of a market economy.
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Pretty impressive and colorful place
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Here are folk crafts for you. A real blacksmith makes his product right in front of you.
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But the guys are preparing for the reconstruction of the historical battle.
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The total weight of the simplified armor is 15-18 kg.
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On the left side is a warrior of the Russian principality in a mask, and on the right is a warrior of the Tatar Khanate. The guys immediately warned us that the fight was not staged and they would do their best to reconstruct it according to historical canons.
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In the course were swords and shields and legs and head. The warrior of the Moscow principality won.
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It was interesting to turn the elements of combat armor in the hands. In the museum, everything is under glass, and here, although a replica, it is accessible.
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A separate pavilion where they learn to shoot from a bow and crossbow. I tried to "shoot" with a crossbow, but in my opinion everything flew into milk. Gotta get used to it.
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We go out to the embankment and go towards the monastery.
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The most ancient building of the monastery is a wooden Trinity Church - the only structure that has survived to this day from those that were cut down near Uglich and delivered to the mouth of the Sviyaga in the spring of 1551. For almost five centuries, the history of this church has been a witness to many events that took place in Sviyazhsk. Fires and time spared her, and now she is a unique example of ancient Russian architecture. The shape of the Church of the Holy Trinity resembles a cross - a symbol Christian faith facing east. Inside the church is more like a village hut. Wooden benches, massive doors, calm lighting, the aroma of unpainted wood create an atmosphere of home comfort. All the bustle of the outside world suddenly recedes. One gets the feeling that after long aimless wanderings, you have finally returned to a place where you are loved and expected, where everything will be understood and forgiven, warmed with affection and care.
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This is the peculiarity of the Russians wooden churches. A felled tree seems to continue to live here - it warms in winter and gives the desired coolness in summer. The feeling of something native, close enhances the subtle, barely perceptible smell of candle wax, which is soaked through the ancient walls. The simple decoration of the church is complemented by a four-tiered carved iconostasis, striking in its beauty. The Royal Doors are decorated with icons depicting the Annunciation and the Evangelist Apostles. Attention is drawn to the bright clothes of the saints and Latin inscriptions - alien to the Orthodox church. The origin of the iconostasis has not yet been established and is one of the mysteries of the Trinity Church.
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The youngest temple of the John the Baptist Monastery is the Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow". It was laid down in May 1898. The architect Malinovsky built it in the false Byzantine style common in those years. Decorated with a majestic dome, the cathedral still towers over the ancient monastic buildings. Anyone entering it, the temple strikes with a huge interior space. Sunlight enters through the many windows that adorn the dome and arched ceilings of the cathedral. In the center of the temple, the sun's rays meet and bestow God's grace on everyone who enters from open heart and pure soul.
On the territory of the John the Baptist Monastery, the cells where nuns have long lived attract attention. Simple and unhurried was their life in the monastery. The modest decoration of the cells: a narrow bed, a table, a beveled lectern, helped to renounce worldly concerns and fully devote oneself to serving God. A little further away is the building of the abbess - a simple building that served as the home of the mother superior of the monastery.
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In the center of the monastery is the Sergius Church - the first stone building on the territory of the monastery. The thick walls of the temple are lined with hewn white stone.
The building has two floors. Below were the cells for the monks, and above the church. At the temple there was a refectory, where the parishioners waited for the beginning of the service, treated themselves. The pilgrims who came to the monastery from afar on the days of great holidays were also accommodated there, this part of the temple was also used for funeral rites and for reading royal decrees.
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This is how the ensemble of the St. John the Baptist Convent has survived to this day. And in the southern part of the island, travelers can see, perhaps, the most famous Assumption Monastery in Sviyazhsk.
It was founded in 1555 by Archbishop Gury. Two unique monuments from the time of Ivan the Terrible have been preserved here - the Assumption Cathedral and the St. Nicholas Refectory Church.
The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1560 from white stone. The temple was built by Pskov masters with the participation of Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryai. A small temple delights with the harmony of lines. Fanciful architectural details give the Assumption Cathedral airiness and lightness. It seems that we have before us a fabulous tower, descended from a painting by an unknown artist.
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Immediately after the construction, the Assumption Cathedral was painted inside and out. Unfortunately, the exterior painting of the temple has not been preserved. But the interior of the cathedral makes an indelible impression, and for a long time remains in the memory of anyone who once opened a heavy door and found himself under the vaults of an ancient temple. Amazing, fantasy world frescoes excites with its splendor, it breathes from them distant antiquity. The caring hands of an unknown master breathed life into them, it seems that human suffering, dreams, joys and experiences are not alien to them.
The artists who painted the Assumption Cathedral drew plots for their colorful compositions not only from canonical books, but also from the Apocalypse and apocryphal legends (the story of the first people in paradise, etc.). On the dome we see the image of the god Sabaoth. Dressed in white robes, shimmering with transparent pink and light green tones, Sabaoth sits on a golden throne on two pillows - green and red. He creates, blessing everyone with both outstretched hands. The fiery red circle behind the throne symbolizes the "impregnable light" in which the Lord lives.
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The blue band around the circle represents the sky and is filled with images of cherubs and two-winged angels. The footstool on which the feet of the creator rest, as well as the legs of the throne, also stand on a blue stripe. Looking at this image, you involuntarily recall the lines of Holy Scripture: "Heaven is my throne."
A little lower, the seven Archangels and the Guardian Angel appear. This heavenly host is the keepers of the Lord's throne. They have been given the right to mediate between heaven and earth.
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On the walls of the Assumption Cathedral you can see interesting frescoes dedicated to the theme "Days of Creation". The artist develops the plot of the painting, moving along the wall from left to right, following sunlight. One gets the impression of involvement in the events depicted by the ancient master. Bright colorful frescoes tell us about the creation of the world - step by step, day by day, in the same sequence as the Lord did.
Many frescoes are dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the lives of saints, the apostles, biblical events and, of course, the life of the Virgin Mary. The temple fresco “Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary” strikes with the richness of colors, brightness, clarity of lines.
She tells us about the last journey of the most holy woman in Orthodoxy, the Virgin Mary. It is in honor of this event that the Assumption Cathedral was consecrated.
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There is also a fresco in the temple telling about the overthrow of Satan and his army, which is a rare image for Orthodox churches. Fallen angels cast down from the sky fly, unnaturally bent, head down.
You can talk endlessly about the splendor of the interior decoration of the temple. But only once, having seen it with your own eyes, you can feel the attractive power of ancient frescoes.
The temple painting of the Assumption Cathedral is understandable and close to everyone. Some, looking at bright, memorable images, are strengthened in their faith, others, for the first time Orthodox church, involuntarily freeze, experiencing sacred awe and reverence for the extraordinary power of the talent of the ancient masters, who managed to convey to us the majestic beauty of the interior decoration of the House of God. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the Sviyazhsk frescoes: after all, this is the only complete cycle of murals of the 16th century that has almost completely survived to this day.
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Reluctantly leaving the Assumption Cathedral, we find ourselves in the monastery courtyard, where we can see the St. Nicholas Church - the oldest stone building in Sviyazhsk. It was founded in the autumn of 1555 almost simultaneously with the Assumption Cathedral. A year later, the construction was completed. It was necessary to build this small church, because the newly founded monastery urgently needed a room for church services, and the construction of the Assumption Cathedral, which had begun, could not be completed quickly due to the large amount of work.
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A bell tower was erected next to the church. Exactly this tall building Sviyazhsk has a height of 43 meters. A steep staircase leads upstairs, along which the ringer once hastily climbed to breathe life, fill it with strength, and make five heavy bells speak. The bells called the monks to prayer, announced the end of the service, glorified the name of God. Their merry chime, long-drawn-out, mournful voice or disturbing tocsin brought joy, sadness or news of a fire to the inhabitants of the monastery walls.
From the lower tier of the bell tower, through the underground passage, there was an exit to the bank of the Sviyaga. Who used this secret passage? Maybe those unfortunates who, by the will of fate, ended up in an “earth prison” to pacify and correct disobedient monks and who somehow managed to get out of there and resort to the help of the Sviyazh brothers? Or maybe, using a secret passage, the monks could notice the enemy army approaching Sviyazhsk in time and, having warned the brethren, prepare for defense ... The true purpose of this passage is still one of the mysteries of the Assumption Monastery.
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And on the territory of the monastery we can see a lot more interesting buildings: fraternal cells, rector's chambers - permanent and summer, hospital cells. These buildings live their own special life, each building here has its own history. We can touch the silent, cool stones and seem to be transported several centuries ago, to the times when the Assumption Monastery flourished, ranked seventh in the list of 1105 monasteries of the Russian Empire.
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A significant part of the territory of the monastery was occupied magnificent garden- a symbol of paradise. In the summer heat, he gave the desired coolness to the inhabitants of the monastery. It was possible to take a break from everyday worries in a beautiful gazebo covered with wood chips and decorated with carved details. And in autumn, the garden gave rich harvests, being a source of food for the monastic brethren. The garden served the same purpose, where there was a greenhouse for growing early vegetables and seedlings.
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A little further away you can see the old monastery cemetery. For many years, the inhabitants of the monastery found peace here. This cemetery became the last refuge for the martyrs who died in Sviyazhsk in the post-revolutionary period. Those years were a difficult test for the wonderful island of Sviyazhsk and its inhabitants. The destruction of temples, desecration of ancient shrines, constant arrests and executions are one of the sad pages in the history of the island. But, despite this, Sviyazhsk managed to preserve its originality - the appearance of an old Russian town with golden domes of white stone churches, slender bell towers, intricately decorated with merchants' houses.
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Today, the ancient shrines of the island - the city of Sviyazhsk - are being revived. Since 1997, the Assumption Monastery began to operate again. The brethren, led by the rector Father Cyril, took responsibility for the reconstruction of the temples and buildings of the monastery, which are architectural gems Sviyazhsk.
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Surrounded on all sides by water fairy island like a magnet attracts travelers. A man who once set foot on a holy, full unsolved mysteries the land of Sviyazhsk, will forever keep in memory that special atmosphere of something sublime, indestructible, which, as it were, envelops the island, turning it into a miracle city.
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And here is the Grad Sviyazhsk small rocket ship, built at the Zelenodolsk Plant named after A. M. Gorky, armed with Caliber missiles
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historical text sources:
Sviyazhsk is both the name of an island and a rural settlement. Sviyazhsk is located in the Zelenodolsk region of the Republic of Tatarstan, at the confluence of the Schuka and Sviyaga rivers.
Our trip to Kazan has come to an end and it's time to move home to Samara. We made this trip in our own car, so we planned to see as many sights as possible along the way. We went to Kazan through, and we will go back through Sviyazhsk, Ulyanovsk and Dimitrovgrad.
Sviyazhsk on the map.
Sviyazhsk, how to get there?
The first question that arises when planning a trip to this glorious island city is: “How to get there?”
Kazan - Sviyazhsk.
Since Sviyazhsk is located 60 kilometers from the capital of Tatarstan and the third capital of Russia - Kazan, we will consider options for how to get to Sviyazhsk from Kazan:
Sviyazhsk bus.
From the "Southern" bus station of Kazan every day at 8-40 leaves for Sviyazhsk scheduled bus. Price 150 r. On weekends at 9-00 there are additional buses from the “Central Bus Station”. (price 170 rubles) - back at 14-00. On the road 1-30.
Sviyazhsk ship.
A comfortable motor ship also runs from Kazan to Sviyazhsk, though only from May 1 to the end of September. Since 2011, a renovated river station has been operating on the island.
Every day at 8-20 from Kazan river port the passenger ship departs. It takes more than two hours to sail, but in this option you are guaranteed magnificent landscapes of the Volga, as well as the opportunity to see the sights of Tatarstan from the water, such as the Holy Ascension Monastery and the Temple of All Religions. The cost of such pleasure is only a little more than a hundred rubles.
You can also combine bus route With river walk. Take a bus to Vasilyevo, and then transfer to a boat.
Also on weekends excursion routes more expensive (moving 200-300 rubles) with a tour of Sviyazhsk (400-500 rubles)
Kazan - Sviyazhsk train.
One option is to take the train. There is a small ambush here. Railroad station Sviyazhsk is located 14 kilometers from the island of Sviyazhsk. In this option, you will need to take a taxi.
Schedule of electric trains, trains Kazan - Sviyazhsk.
The stone fence of the monastery built in the 18th-19th centuries, stretching for 1 km, resembles the Kremlin wall and gives the monastery the appearance of a fortress. Has a majestic look gate church Ascension of the Lord. Free entrance to the monastery is carried out through it.
The church of Herman of Kazan and Mitrofan of Voronezh adjoins the fence and the fraternal cells. The church does not make a strong impression, since in the course of several significant reconstructions it lost covered stairs and porches, baroque window frames, and at the beginning of the 20th century. was completely disassembled. The modern building was recreated according to old drawings, descriptions and photographs.
Assumption Cathedral, Sviyazhsk.
The main building in the monastery. The Assumption Cathedral was founded in 1555 and built in the style of the Pskov cathedrals, using elements of the Moscow style. The cathedral was to become luxurious and majestic. The temple was built from white hewn stone for 4 years by a master from Pskov, presumably under the guidance of Postnik Yakovlev and Ivan Shiryai, who had previously worked on the creation of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
In the 18th century, the temple was rebuilt in the Baroque style: it was then that 12 “kokoshniks” appeared and the shape of the dome changed.
The interior decoration retained the features of the 16th century, including rare, well-preserved frescoes from 1561. The only one in the world, for example, is a fresco depicting St. Christopher with a horse's head.
Assumption Cathedral - Holy place, since Herman of Kazan often served in it, and his cell was located at this cathedral. It is in it that the relics of the great saint are located.
The Rector's (Bishops') building was built in the second half of the 17th century and is a rare example of a residential building of that era.
The monastery school was built in the late 17th - early 18th century. Just like in the Rector's House, in Soviet times a psychiatric hospital was located here.
Sviyazhsk prison.
The fraternal building, built in the late 17th - early 18th century, served as a prison in the early 20th century, and then in 1953-94. closed mental hospital.
Since 1928, a children's commune was located in the monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin, which was transformed in 1938 into correctional facility per 200 juvenile prisoners. Since 1943, prisoners of war have been placed here.
During the period 1937-48. political prisoners are placed in Sviyazhsk, executions are organized, as a result of which 5,000 people died. Since 1960, the correctional institution was again reorganized into a correctional labor colony.
Let's finish the sad things and move on to entertainment, but this is already outside the monastery.
Excursions Sviyazhsk.
In Sviyazhsk you can visit interesting excursions:
pedestrian "From fortress to empire";
"History of the miracle city", including walking tour around the island with a guide, as well as a visit historical museum and Trinity Church;
"The Tale of Sviyazhsk", which includes a tour of the museum halls, the Trinity Church and entertainment event"Shooter fun";
excursion “Listing through the past of Sviyazhsk…” – with additional participation in master classes in craft shops;
"Shooter fun" - interactive tour, which provides an opportunity to try on historical costumes, shoot from ancient bows and crossbows, etc.
On the picture - Historical building, Horse yard built in the 17th century. Now there is an ethnographic center with a craft settlement where you can forge a horseshoe, mold pottery and much more.
You can come to Sviyazhsk for just a few hours, as in our case, or you can come for a whole day or even for several days. Then there will be an opportunity to visit the most interesting programs and even learn horseback riding at the Horse Yard!
For children, the program "On the island of Buyan ..." is held, including a walk, an excursion to the museum, master classes and an interactive historical game with elements of reconstruction in the Skazka leisure center.
For adults and children of all ages, the Heroic Strength game event is suitable, where two teams fight each other in historical costumes with ancient weapons, as well as in intellectual competitions.
Applications for excursions are accepted by e-mail: [email protected]
Sviyazhsk is a venue for many cultural events. Since 2009, the festival of music named after F.I. Shalyapin, since 2010 - a tournament in shooting from ancient weapons (bow and crossbow).
