Pokrovsky Monastery

The Pokrovsky Stavropegial Women's Monastery is located in the historical center of Moscow and is one of the most visited Orthodox monasteries in Russia. Every day, thousands of pilgrims and tourists come here to venerate the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow, admire the ancient churches, and touch centuries-old history. The monastery combines spiritual significance with architectural value, being a monument of Russian architecture and a place of continuous prayer life.

History of the Foundation and Development of the Pokrovsky Monastery

The Tsar's Foundation of the Monastery in the 17th Century

The Pokrovsky Monastery was founded in 1635 by order of the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty — Mikhail Fyodorovich. The sovereign ordered the establishment of a male monastery in memory of his father, Patriarch Filaret, who reposed two years earlier on the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. It is from this church feast that the monastery received its name. The site chosen for construction was special — previously, there was a cemetery for wanderers and the homeless, known as Bozhedomskoye. Initially, the monastery was even called Bozhedomsky or the Poor House. Active development occurred under the son of Mikhail Fyodorovich — Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who continued the improvement of the territory.

The Flourishing of the Monastery in the 18th-19th Centuries

In the mid-18th century, the monastery acquired an educational function — a theological seminary was opened here, operating for a quarter of a century. The end of the 18th century was marked by generous donations from Moscow merchants. With these funds, wooden buildings were replaced with stone churches, a bell tower and utility buildings were erected. The monastery cemetery became the resting place for benefactors — capital entrepreneurs. The invasion of Napoleonic troops in 1812 became a trial for the monastery. The monastery was almost completely destroyed, and restoration took several years. In the 1870s, the monastery acquired missionary status, becoming a center for training clergy for educational expeditions.

The Period of Prosperity and the Soviet Years

The beginning of the 20th century was the time of the highest prosperity of the Pokrovsky Monastery. Within its walls served 30 monks and lived about 20 novices. On the territory functioned a children's shelter, a charitable institution, and pastoral courses. The 1917 Revolution radically changed the fate of the monastery. The monastery buildings were turned into dormitories, the cemetery was destroyed, and a park of culture was laid out in its place. Most monks were subjected to repression. The last divine service took place in 1929, after which banks, editorial offices, sports halls, and various offices were placed in the monastery buildings.

Revival at the End of the 20th Century

The return of the monastery to the Orthodox Church occurred in 1994. The monastery was revived as a women's monastery. The first divine service after decades of desolation took place in 1995 in the half-ruined Pokrovsky Church. A fateful event was 1998, when the relics of Blessed Elder Matrona of Moscow were transferred to the monastery. From that moment, the Pokrovsky Monastery turned into one of the main pilgrimage centers in Russia.

Architectural Shrines and Churches of the Monastery

The Pokrovsky Cathedral — the Main Church of the Monastery

Initially, on the site of the future monastery stood a small wooden church, built at an unknown time. Documents indicate that in 1655 the church was renovated, probably replaced with a stone structure. In 1810, the church was completely rebuilt, creating a two-story building in the classical style with funds from benefactors under the guidance of Elder Jonah. After devastation by French troops, the church was restored until 1825, when it was reconsecrated. The Soviet period was a severe trial: the first floor was filled with earth, the windows were boarded up. Full reconstruction was completed only in 1999. Today, the Pokrovsky Church is the heart of the monastery. On the first floor, in the side chapel of St. Nil of Stolobensky, is the main shrine of the monastery — the relics of Blessed Matrona of Moscow. Hundreds of believers gather in front of the church every day, forming long queues.

The Resurrection Church and Its History

The Church of the Resurrection of the Word was erected at the end of the 17th century and initially consecrated in the name of All Saints. A century later, a refectory was added to the building. By 1854, the church could no longer accommodate all the parishioners, and it was dismantled to build a new one. The project was created by the famous architect Mikhail Bykovsky, who worked in the Romanesque style. He masterfully incorporated surviving elements of the old church into the new structure — four pillars under the dome and part of the altar wall. The iconostases were decorated with fine gilded carving, the walls were covered with paintings depicting Christ and saints, as well as quotations from Holy Scripture, many of which have survived to this day. After the revolution, the Resurrection Church was closed among the last in Moscow — services ceased in the fall of 1929. In Soviet times, the building was used as a gymnasium. The church was returned to believers only in the early 21st century, and after restoration in 2001, it opened for parishioners. Now it houses particularly venerated icons: the image of Seraphim of Sarov, the healer Panteleimon, and a crucifixion with a particle of stone from Golgotha.

The Church of Peter and Fevronia of Murom

This church is located in the northeastern part of the monastery territory and forms a single ensemble with the pilgrimage hotel. In the 19th century, a small chapel stood on this site, which in Soviet years was used for various needs and finally demolished in the 1980s. The new church was built in 2014 on the old foundation, recreating the appearance of the lost chapel from archival photographs. The building in the traditional Russian style looks authentic and impresses with its elegant decor. The red brick walls are decorated with mosaic images of the Theotokos and the evangelists, and on the altar wall is placed an icon of the holy patrons of family and marriage, Peter and Fevronia of Murom.

The Monastery Bell Tower

The exact date of the appearance of the first belfry in the monastery is unknown, but documents from 1763 confirm the existence of a stone structure with eight bells and a clock. By the end of the 18th century, the bell tower was completely rebuilt — a three-tiered building with a spire reached 32 meters in height. In 1926, the bell tower was blown up, and restoration became possible only after the monastery was returned to the church. The laying of the first stone took place in 1999, and in 2002 the renewed three-tiered belfry was consecrated. On the first floor today there is a church shop, and the bells, cast according to ancient Russian traditions, are distinguished by their powerful and melodious sound.

The Holy Spring

The water-blessing chapel is one of the youngest structures of the monastery, recreated from preserved pre-revolutionary photographs. Inside is a stone structure with a tap from which pilgrims draw holy water. The water is believed to have healing properties, as it is consecrated at a moleben at the relics of Matrona of Moscow.

Blessed Matrona of Moscow — the Main Shrine of the Monastery

The relics of Saint Matrona are the main reason why thousands of pilgrims come to the Pokrovsky Monastery every day. Matrona Dmitrievna Nikonova was born in 1881 in the Tula Governorate blind, but during her lifetime she became famous for the gift of foresight, healing, and wise advice. After her repose in 1952, people constantly came to the blessed one's grave at the Danilovskoye Cemetery for help and consolation. In 1998, the relics were transferred to the Pokrovsky Monastery, and a year later Matrona was canonized. Believers come to the saint with various requests:

• for healing from illnesses
• for help in family matters
• for resolution of difficult life situations
• for the granting of children
• for blessing on marriage

The relics of Blessed Matrona rest in the Pokrovsky Church in a shrine, to which long queues of pilgrims form daily. On ordinary days, waiting can take 2-3 hours, and on holidays and Sundays the queue stretches for the whole day.

Metochions of the Pokrovsky Monastery

The Metochion in Troitsa-Lykovo

Since 2013, the temple complex in the former noble estate of Troitsa-Lykovo in the Strogino district has been a metochion of the monastery. The territory is distinguished by its picturesque location on the bank of the Moskva River and includes a park, an Orthodox school, a refectory, and two churches. The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity is a monument of Naryshkin Baroque of the 17th century, recognized in 1935 as a world architectural monument, which saved it from destruction. Today, the restored building delights with an abundance of sculptural decor. Services are held once a year on Trinity, but on weekends the church is open for visits. The Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos was built in the second half of the 19th century. After the revolution, it housed a boarding school, hospital, club, and canteen. The half-ruined church was returned to the church in 1989, fully restored, and now daily services are held here.

The Metochion in the Village of Markovo

The suburban metochion in the village of Markovo arose around the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, built in 1680. The red-brick building in the pseudo-Russian style was distinguished by rich decor and luxurious interior, but after the revolution it was closed and looted. In 1998, the abbess of the Pokrovsky Monastery saw the half-ruined church and appealed to the patriarch with a request to organize a metochion. The nuns restored the building for more than ten years. Today, on the territory of the metochion there are a residential building, a shelter, an apiary, a farm, and a greenhouse, and services are regularly held in the church.

Practical Information for Visitors

Opening Hours of the Monastery

The Pokrovsky Women's Monastery is open for visits daily:

• Monday-Saturday: first services start at 7:30
• Sunday: services from 6:00
• Church shops operate from 8:00 to 20:00

On major church holidays, the schedule may change. On patronal feast days, the monastery is visited by up to 50 thousand pilgrims, so large crowds should be expected.

How to Get to the Monastery

Monastery Address: Moscow, Taganskaya Street, 58. Nearest Metro Stations:

• “Marksistskaya” — 10-15 minutes on foot or one bus stop to “Bolshaya Andronyevskaya Street”
• “Krestyanskaya Zastava” — 10 minutes on foot or one stop by surface transport
• “Proletarskaya” — about 1 km on foot

Public Transport Stops: “Bolshaya Andronyevskaya” and “Abelmanovskaya Zastava” (buses and trams).

Recommendations for Pilgrims

1. To visit the churches, observe the Orthodox dress code: women — headscarf and modest clothing, men — long trousers
2. On weekdays, queues are significantly shorter than on weekends and holidays
3. On weekdays, free 30-minute guided tours of the monastery territory are held
4. Photography inside churches is allowed only with blessing
5. There is a refectory for pilgrims at the monastery
6. In the church shop you can purchase icons, candles, books, and other church items

What to See Near the Monastery

• The Church of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom at the monastery walls
• Tagansky Park of Culture and Leisure under the monastery walls
• Tagansky Children's Park with a water area and Fairy Tale Theater
• The 17th-century necropolis on the monastery territory

The Significance of the Pokrovsky Monastery for Orthodoxy

The Pokrovsky Stavropegial Women's Monastery occupies a special place among Russian monasteries. The stavropegial status means that the monastery is under the direct management of the Patriarchate due to its exceptional spiritual significance. Every day, more than three thousand pilgrims visit the monastery; on Sundays and holidays this number increases to 25 thousand, and on patronal dates it reaches 50 thousand people. The monastery operates a shelter for girls, a publishing house of religious literature and video products, and the “Pokrovskaya” pilgrimage hotel. The monastery has become the center of veneration of Blessed Matrona of Moscow and a place where thousands of people find spiritual consolation and help. Many come here from afar, traveling hundreds of kilometers, to pray at the relics of the saint and feel the special grace-filled atmosphere of the ancient monastery. The Pokrovsky Women's Monastery organically combines the functions of an active monastic community, a pilgrimage center, and an architectural monument, representing enormous value for Orthodox culture and the history of Russia.