Pavlo-Obnorsky Monastery
Encyclopedia
Pavlo-Obnorsky Monastery is a Russian Orthodox monastery
founded by Pavel of Obnora in 1414. The monastery is located in the selo of Yunosheskoye on the bank of the Nurma River, a tributary of the Obnora River
, in Gryazovetsky District
in the southern part of Vologda Oblast
, Russia
. In the 17th century, this was one of the most influential monasteries in Russia. The monastery was abolished in 1924 and reestablished in 1994. As of 2011, it was one of the four acting monasteries in Vologda Oblast.
of the monastery was Alexios, a disciple of Pavel, and Pavel himself never took any formal role in the monastery. Some of the icons by Dionisius
, one of the most famous Russian icon painters, were made in the monastery and have been preserved in the Tretyakov Gallery
in Moscow. In 1538, the monastery was destroyed by Tatars. It was rebuilt, and the existing ensemble of the monastery was formed in the 16th-18th centuries. The idea was to build an image of New Jerusalem
. To this end, two artificial hills were erected, one with a church and another one with a chapel. The monastery was abolished in 1924. The buildings were used to host a school, an orphanage, and a sanatorium
. It was reestablished in 1994 as a metochion
of the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery. In 2003, the Pavlo-Obnorsky Monastery became an independent entity.
and the cells. The Trinity Church, built between 1505 and 1516, has been demolished.
The ensemble of the monastery, as well as separate buildings, are protected as cultural monuments of local significance.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
founded by Pavel of Obnora in 1414. The monastery is located in the selo of Yunosheskoye on the bank of the Nurma River, a tributary of the Obnora River
Obnora River
Obnora is a river in Vologda and Yaroslavl Oblasts of Russia. It is a right tributary of the Kostroma River. It is 132 km long, with a drainage basin of 2,440 km².The town of Lyubim is situated by the Obnora....
, in Gryazovetsky District
Gryazovetsky District
Gryazovetsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Gryazovetsky Municipal District...
in the southern part of Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. In the 17th century, this was one of the most influential monasteries in Russia. The monastery was abolished in 1924 and reestablished in 1994. As of 2011, it was one of the four acting monasteries in Vologda Oblast.
History
The monastery was founded by Pavel of Obnora. Pavel was looking for a remote place, and the area in the 15th century was covered by dense forests. The rules of the monastery, established by Pavel, were very strict by Russian standards. The first hegumenHegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
of the monastery was Alexios, a disciple of Pavel, and Pavel himself never took any formal role in the monastery. Some of the icons by Dionisius
Dionisius
Dionisius was acknowledged as a head of the Moscow school of icon painters at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. His style of painting is sometimes termed "the Muscovite mannerism"....
, one of the most famous Russian icon painters, were made in the monastery and have been preserved in the Tretyakov Gallery
Tretyakov Gallery
The State Tretyakov Gallery is an art gallery in Moscow, Russia, the foremost depository of Russian fine art in the world.The gallery's history starts in 1856 when the Moscow merchant Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov acquired works by Russian artists of his day with the aim of creating a collection,...
in Moscow. In 1538, the monastery was destroyed by Tatars. It was rebuilt, and the existing ensemble of the monastery was formed in the 16th-18th centuries. The idea was to build an image of New Jerusalem
New Jerusalem
In the book of Ezekiel, the Prophecy of New Jerusalem is Ezekiel's prophetic vision of a city to be established to the south of the Temple Mount that will be inhabited by the twelve tribes of Israel in the...
. To this end, two artificial hills were erected, one with a church and another one with a chapel. The monastery was abolished in 1924. The buildings were used to host a school, an orphanage, and a sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
. It was reestablished in 1994 as a metochion
Metochion
In Eastern Orthodoxy, a metochion is an ecclesiastical embassy church, usually from one autocephalous or autonomous church to another. The term is also used to refer to a parish representation of a monastery or a patriarch....
of the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery. In 2003, the Pavlo-Obnorsky Monastery became an independent entity.
Architecture
The ensemble of the monastery was pretty much neglected after the monastery was abolished in 1926. The restauration works started in 1990s. The ensemble consists of- The Assumption Church (1867);
- The Resurrection Church, built in 1862 as a sketeSketeA Skete is a monastic style community that allows relative isolation for monks, but alsoallows for communal services and the safety of shared resources and protection...
about 300 metres (984.3 ft) from the monastery complex; - The wooden Chapel of St. Pavel of Obnora (contemporary);
- The wooden Chapel of St. Pavel of Obnora at the spring (contemporary);
and the cells. The Trinity Church, built between 1505 and 1516, has been demolished.
The ensemble of the monastery, as well as separate buildings, are protected as cultural monuments of local significance.