Trinity Monastery of Saint Nicholas
Troicko- Nikolsky
Monastery (Троицко-Никольский монастырь) or Trinity Monastery of Saint Nicholas is a Russian Orthodox
religious complex. Its history starts in the 11th century when a wooden
defensive fortress was first constructed on this location. The castle
was reconstructed several times, but after it lost its military use it
was converted into a monastery in 1681. Money to erect new spiritual
center of Gorokhovets were donated by S.N. Ershov. The main monastery
cathedral was completed in 1689. It is unusual in a sense that it is
located on two floors. Bottom first floor contains warm church that was
commonly used in winter. The second floor is held by a summer church
dedicated to Holy Trinity. The structure is covered by five domes that
represent Jesus Christ dome in the center and four domes that represent
four authors of four gospels on all four sides.
In 1710 in the
Northern part of the Trinity Monastery of Saint Nicholas monks
constructed another two story church dedicated to Saint John of the
Ladder. It was completed six years later in 1716. The first story was
reserved as a warehouse while the second floor was added as a church.
The main gate of the Monastery is located on the eastern side of the
wall. A small church was added in the 17th century over the main
entrance. It was dedicated to Holy Virgin Protection. The church has a
small dome and rather a modest facade decorations. Just inside the
monastery a residential area for the monks that dates back to the 17th
century as well.
During reign of the atheist Soviet regime
government attempted to suppress religious in Gorokhovets and all of
Russia. They closed Saint Nicholas Monastery in 1920, while the interior
of the churches were looted and desecrated. The buildings in the abbey
were used as a local movie theatre, warehouse and other purposes. After
the atheist government went kaput Monastery was returned to Vladimir-
Suzdal diocese and in 1993 first monks settled in former living cells.
Today Trinity Monastery of Saint Nicholas is open to the public.
Thousands of Orthodox pilgrims come here annually to pray to relics of
Saint Nicholas, one of the most beloved saints in the country even
though he himself was Greek.
The monastery was founded in the second quarter of the 17th century.
In the charter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich of 1660, it is said that for
the first time the wooden St. Nicholas Church was named in an
unpreserved and undated charter of Tsar John IV Vasilyevich. According
to the scribe book of 1628, the church was burned down in 1618/19 by
"Cherkasy" - Ukrainian Cossacks and Russian "thieves". The monastery
remained wooden until the last quarter of the 17th century, after which
intensive stone construction began.
The main building of the
monastery is the Trinity Cathedral, founded in 1681. Construction
continued until 1689. All other buildings on the territory of the
monastery are adjacent to the stone fence.
In the northern part
of the monastery in 1710, a two-story church of John of the Ladder was
built. Construction ended in 1716.
In the XVIII century the
monastery was surrounded by a stone fence with towers in the corners.
The main gate was in the east wall. A church was built above the gate in
honor of the Intercession of the Virgin. This is a gate church,
classical for the 17th century, with a small dome and modest decoration
of the facades.
Nearby was a building with monks' cells.
Holy Trinity St. Nicholas Monastery was closed in 1920.
In 1993,
monastic life resumed at the Nikolsky Monastery.