SAVVIN STOROZHEVSKI MONASTERY

Micha Jelisavcic
John Sloan

Here we have some photos of the --Savvin Storozhevski Monastery at Zvenigorod. The town is about fifty miles west of Moscow on the left bank of the Moscow River. It was the ancient capital of Zvenigorod princes. After the death of Dimitri Donskoy this territory went to the youngest of his four sons, Yuri Dimitryevich. Some say he was the second oldest son. During the 14th century, when the Lithuanians were repeatedly attacking Moscow, a fortified guard and observation post was constructed on the high hill that has a commanding view over the entire river valley and the main road from Smolensk. It is still a beautiful location with open views of countryside that hasn't changed since then. At the end of the 14th century Savva was a member of Sergei Radonezh's circle at the Troitski Monastery. The name, Storozhevski, comes from the mountain's name, Storozhi, During a visit Prince of Zvenigorod Yuri Dmitryevich met Savva and was so impressed with his holiness that he wanted to bring him to his appanage and build him a church and hermitage. The wooden church was built here and named Rozhdenstva Presvayata Bogoroditsi (Nativity of our Blessed Mother). And a small monk's cell was constructed nearby. Soon the word of Savva's holiness spread and more and more monks gathered around him. A stone church was built. The monastery grew gradually as princes and boyars made donations. Here in 1396-1399 on a hill above the river Moskva, which dominates the valley, the area was made into a fortification by earthen ramparts, and a wooden fort with towers. In 1407 in the center of the enclave Yuri built the Cathedral of the Nativity in stone and the bells of the Cathedral served to warn Moscow of the approach of invaders. Presumably this was the reason that the nearby town was named Zvenigorod - the town of bell ringing. This was related to the building of a church called the Transfiguration, built at the same time as the first stone church in the Trinity Sergei Lavra sometime around 1422.
During the 16th century the rulers began annual pilgrimages and also bequested monies for the annoinment of its grounds by the Patriarch to serve as a burial place for the deceased. The lavish decoration of Saint Sava's burial tomb speaks of the importance attached to this monastery thru the ages. The church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1652 by N.V. Sheremet'yeva. Her parents and relatives are buried in the lower chamber. The upper chamber was used for services in winter months. In 1857, this church was restored. A expansive refrectory adjoins it. A gothic style bellfrye with three levels and four towers is also connected to this church. Large bells, one of which weighs 2126 pounds are hung in the bellfrye. The rooms below were dedicated to a library. To the west of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother church is a brick palace. It was completed during the joint reign of Ivan and Peter and refurbished following a fire in 1775. The palace has 11 rooms and is divided in two by an imposing staircase. The palace once had a garden. The over the gate church was consecrated in 1651 in remembrance of the mentor of Saint Sava, Sergei Radonezhskii.

In the 17th century the monastery flourished even more. It became the favorite place of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who was exceptionally religous, and his family. He constructed palaces so that when he would visit he would live with the men in one palace while his wife and her court ladies would ocupy a separate terem palace. His daughter, Sophia, also loved the place and gave funds for construction of the Chruch of the Transfiguration of our Lord. The strel'tsy rebellion of 1682 forced Ivan and Peter Alexeiyevich to seek refuge within its walls. The walls were built from 1650 to 1654. There are six towers. The perimeter length is 375 sazhen. The height is 4 sazhen and the wall thickness is 4 sazhen. Wall frescos in the caverns of the passages leading to the gates depict the life of Saint Sava. Silver guilding adorn the figures on which final touches were done in 1855. Amongst the historical relics on hand are a Bible in the large format of the Moscow printing press of 1644. The tsar Alexei Mikhailovich used a hand written Prayer book to learn how to read.

The area was taken by the Germans during World War II and much damaged. Now the river valley is filling rapidly with the impressive dachas of the new rich from Moscow. And the monastery his being repaired and redecorated to return it to the appearance it had during the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, its most prominent patron.

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