History of the Zilantov Monastery: How the Kremlin grew on a snake mountain. Zilantov Assumption Monastery Through oblivion to revival

Zilantov Monastery, Kazan - the oldest monastery not only in Tatarstan, but also in the entire Volga region. It delights visitors not only with its unique, original beauty, but also with its multifaceted, centuries-old history.

In the long autumn of 1552, Tsar Ivan the Terrible made another campaign against the main city of the then existing independent state, which was called the Kazan Khanate. Thus, he was going to expand the borders of the Russian state, annexing new lands, and open the much-needed Volga trade route to expand trade with various countries.

This campaign, unlike the previous ones, was carefully planned, prepared and ended with the complete victory of the Russian troops, and therefore the complete capture of the city of Kazan. During this battle, many valiant Russian soldiers died, and in memory of them, where the royal camp tent and a small church were erected in the city, Ivan the Terrible founded the Holy Dormition Monastery for men.

After 7 years of the monastery’s quiet existence, the Volga overflowed heavily and the wooden walls of the monastery were in danger of destruction. In order to save the religious shrine and prevent the water from completely destroying it, it was decided to move the monastery to a hill and surround it with a stone wall.

Zilantova Mountain - a dragon lived here

The choice fell on Zilantova Mountain. Its name translates as snake. It received this name for a reason. According to ancient belief, a winged dragon named Zilant once lived at its peak.

By the way, monuments to this beast can often be found on the streets of modern Kazan. And this winged creature flaunts on the city’s coat of arms.

There is an interesting story associated with this dragon, passed down from generation to generation. Once upon a time, a long time ago, the residents of Kazan decided to work together to get rid of numerous snakes on this mountain in order to come here without fear and build their homes here. Using a shamanic-witchcraft method, they carried out an unusual ritual, which was supposed to burn all the snakes in this place.

People burned ordinary snakes, but then something terrible happened.

The people who had gathered on the mountain and were conducting the ritual suddenly felt a monstrous fear and saw in the air some with 2 heads and some with 12 heads. Seized with superstitious horror, they rushed to run in different directions. But can a person escape from a huge winged dragon pursuing him?

There, many died in terrible agony. Among them was one resident whose name was Churil. Without looking back or stopping for a second, he ran for several kilometers. But still he was overtaken and torn into 6 pieces by an air dragon.

But the most amazing thing is that the village of Churilino is currently located about 50 kilometers from Kazan. And next to it there is a ravine, the name of which translates as “6 parts”. So think about it after this - is the dragon a legend or is it true?

Through oblivion to rebirth

History of creation

In the 17th century, the monastery complex included the main Assumption Cathedral and another church in the name of Metropolitan Alexy, as well as the necessary buildings for housing and household needs.

In 1732, a theological seminary began working in the monastery, and a little later - a school. During these years, the architectural ensemble of the monastery already consisted of 4 stone churches. There was a beautiful garden nearby.

In 1823, another memorial temple with a church was erected there in honor of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands. It towered over the grave of all the soldiers who died near Kazan.

Red Terror

With the advent of Soviet power, the monastery, like many or almost all, was closed. On the unclear charge of shooting at Red Guards, which was not supported by any plausible evidence, 10 monks, led by the abbot, were shot.

The assault on Kazan by the Red Guards in 1918 began precisely from Zilantovaya Mountain. Many townspeople left the city in fear. However, the inhabitants of the monastery decided to stay.

On September 10, 1918, the brethren, as usual, served the liturgy and had a meal after the service. It was at this moment that the Red Guards burst into the territory of the monastery and shot all the monks led by Archimandrite Sergius (Zaitsev).

For a long time, on the site of the monastery there were communal apartments, a prison, warehouses, and then a colony.

A few years later, an Orthodox community was organized there. It existed until 1928, and then was liquidated.

And, in the end, the time of general desolation came. For many years, the inactive Holy Dormition Zilantov Monastery in Kazan became a deserted place. Gradually, a garbage dump formed in this abandoned place; the monastery walls were almost wiped off the face of the earth.

Memory of ancestors

In the 30s, the oldest cemetery that existed on the monastery land was also destroyed. The most eminent citizens of the city were buried there. The name “old Russian cemetery” appeared for a long time even in official documents. It was the oldest Russian cemetery in Kazan.

Back in 1529, the body of the Nizhny Novgorod resident John, a holy martyr, who was in captivity of the Kazan Khanate for a long time and accepted death for Christ, was laid to rest here. By the way, according to one version, his grave in this place became the fundamental reason for building a monastery here.

In addition to the burials of clergy, there were family crypts of the townspeople; governors, major generals, and princes were buried there. The necropolis of Kazan became the last refuge for Pushkin’s brother, L.N. Tolstoy’s uncle.

The hand of the giver will never fail

Olga Alexandrova-Gaines, a well-known philanthropist of the city of Kazan, who was buried in that graveyard, deserves a special story. A very rich woman, she worked for a long time with children in an orphanage, taking care of them not only as part of her job, but, indeed, replacing the children’s own mother.

Olga Alexandrova-Gaines used her own funds to buy furniture, books and other things the children needed. And later, again, with her own money, she built another shelter for orphans. The philanthropist did a lot for the city, donating a large sum to the city treasury and donating the building of the Passage, which belonged to her personally.

Carved wooden monuments of rare beauty adorned some of the graves. When in Soviet times this cemetery was going to be demolished and razed to the ground, one tombstone cross was considered a work of art, and that is why it was not destroyed, but, as the greatest value of the 18th century, was transferred as an exhibit to the National Museum of the city.

There he is now. Surprisingly, time, almost 300 years, has not destroyed the beauty created by people from wood. Photos of this cross adorn not only the pages of pre-revolutionary books, but also guidebooks to Kazan today.

Our days

In 1998, the monastery was returned to the church, and it began to be revived, but as the Assumption Zilantov Convent in Kazan. Now this is the only women’s monastery on the territory of the Kazan diocese.

The Zilantiev Monastery now looks very rich: new churches and buildings for nuns. The area is very beautiful and well-groomed.

For some reason I remembered my recent trip to a very similar one, located in the village of Lesnoye not far from Sochi. This monastery also began its existence quite recently: in 1999. Very beautiful temples are also being built here, and the territory is being developed.

But inside the temples it is deserted, there are no tourists or pilgrims. Silence and tranquility all around. True, I was there on a weekday. Perhaps it is busier here on Sundays and holidays...

Here is the plan of the modern Zilantov Monastery in Kazan.

Let's now take a walk together through this amazingly beautiful women's monastery.

Monastery territory

To get to the monastery, pilgrims have to climb a small hill where the monastery bell tower is installed.

Near the main gates on the right and left there are icons of the Heavenly Archangels: Michael and Gabriel, and in the bell tower there is the St. Michael’s Gate Church.

On the flowerbed located here there is an inscription that the monastery is 460 years old.

Entering the territory of the Zilantievsky Monastery, the first thing you see are beautiful bells. Only for some reason now they are below, on a kind of pedestal. Perhaps over time they will find their place on the monastery belfry.

There are several temples located on the territory of the convent. Currently, there is the Vladimir Church, consecrated in 2004.

This amazingly beautiful building with a sky-blue dome is located to the left of the entrance to the monastery. Vladimir Church is open during the day. You can freely come here, pray, light candles.

The Vladimir Church was built on the very spot where the church previously stood, consecrated in honor of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, the Wonderworker. The previous temple stood here for more than 200 years: from 1720 to 1928.

And on September 10, 1918, in the refectory of this particular Alekseevsky church, Archimandrite Sergius and the monastery brethren were shot.

Now a memorial cross has been erected behind the Vladimir Church in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives for the Orthodox faith and the Fatherland.

In the center of the monastery stands the snow-white Trinity Church, consecrated in 2006. It became an exact copy of the cathedral of the same name, located in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Near the Holy Trinity Cathedral there is a large monastery square. On a weekday it was completely empty. But on holidays it can be especially crowded here.

If you stand on the square facing the Trinity Cathedral, then on the left there will be a snow-white church of the holy martyrs Adrian and Natalia.

And on the right is also an unusual and very beautiful Assumption Cathedral, once called All Saints Cathedral.

Its painting is made in a unique style of writing on gold. That's very beautiful! The Faceted Chamber in the Kremlin of our Moscow is painted in the same style.

Behind the All Saints Cathedral there is another Small Bell Tower, rising surrounded by a wide variety of flowers.

In general, the territory of the Kazan Zilantov Women’s Monastery is very clean and well-equipped. There are numerous flower beds around the temples and sister buildings. All this looks amazing in combination with the heavenly golden temples.

Where is it, how to get there

“Snake” - Zilantovsky Monastery is located at the address: Kirovsky district of Kazan. Arkhangelsky lane, house 1. It is very close to the center: just a couple of kilometers from the Kazan Kremlin.

Come! The monastery gates are open for visits daily from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Divine services in the Zilatov Assumption Monastery are held daily. The morning service begins at 7:30 and the evening service at 16:00. On Sunday morning Liturgy is served at 8:40.

You can get here by trolleybuses 3, 4 and 10. Or by minibuses passing through the Kirovsky district. Cars can enter Zilantova Gora only from the Admiralteyskaya Sloboda railway station.

Entrance coordinates: 55.80794, 49.05862.

There is a small parking lot right next to the bell tower, but it is probably intended only for monastery transport. Therefore, it is better to leave the car at the bottom and walk up the small hill to the Zilantov Monastery.

There is information on the monastery’s website that on Sundays you can get here by free bus. It departs from the River Technical School stop at 8:15 and 8:30. And you can return back to the city from the Zilantov Monastery at 10:50.

You can also come here by taxi. By the way, a taxi in Kazan is very inexpensive: in the city it only costs from 60 to 150 rubles, depending on the distance. A very convenient way to travel, especially if several people gather.

So come, in any way convenient for you!

Look at the location of the Holy Dormition Zilantov Monastery in Kazan on the map (click “+” to zoom in or “-” to zoom out).

The city of Kazan has many accommodation options to stay for a few days. It’s very easy to rent an apartment or room on the service, or book a hotel through the service.

My trip to the Kazan Zilantov Monastery took place on July 25, 2017. Other sights of Kazan and its environs, where I was able to visit, are on this map. And their detailed description can be viewed.

Zilantov Holy Dormition Monastery is a monastery located in Kazan on Zilantovaya Mountain, more than 2 kilometers below the Kazan Kremlin along the old bed of the Kazanka River.
The monastery was founded by John IV on October 15, 1552 after the capture of the city, and was built on the site where the royal tent and camp church stood and where Russian soldiers killed under the walls of Kazan were buried. In 1559, the Volga flood washed away and destroyed the monastery walls, after which the monastery was moved to the top of the mountain.
The Moscow royal couple took a close part in the restoration of the monastery in its new location. Tsar John Vasilyevich and Tsarina Anastasia donated 400 rubles (a very significant amount according to the monetary system of that time) for the monastery building, and Tsarina Anastasia, in addition, donated an entire iconostasis for the monastery church.


An old photograph of the Zilantov Monastery - almost the entire complex of the monastery was destroyed.

The name of the monastery is associated with legends about the mythical creature Zilant.

There are many legends about Zilant Mountain. Here is one of them.
“One day the khan ordered to bring to him a girl who loudly reproached him, the founder of the city.
- Why are you scolding me, beauty?
“Oh, great founder of the city, you don’t know how hard it is for women to carry water so far.” I wish we could move the city closer to the water.
“There is a convenient hill closer to the water, but there are a lot of snakes and wild pigs there,” objected the khan.
“Can’t the Great Khan’s sorcerers cope with this?” - said the girl.

Khan decided to move the city to the hill where the Kremlin now stands. But this place was inconvenient, as it was filled with snake nests. People were frightened by the snake's whistle and avoided the hill. Over the winter they brought a lot of brushwood and straw up the mountain, and in the spring, when the snakes crawled out onto the straw, they set it all on fire.

The fire destroyed all the snakes, large and small. But one winged serpent rushed after the hero, who set fire to the straw. The snake overtook the hero near the village of Churilin, near a ravine, which in Tatar is called Alty-kutar, and in Russian - Kutarka, and tore it into 6 parts. Later, the burnt snake settled on Mount Dzhilantau, from where it flew out at night towards the Kazan fortress and struck fear into its inhabitants.”

The monastery guard said that the bells were old and had been preserved in their time. And they look like new ones.

The main ensemble of the monastery was formed in the 17th century. It contained the Assumption Cathedral (1625), a temple in the name of Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow (1720), the Church of All Saints (1681, rebuilt in the 1890s), the Holy Gate with a hipped bell tower on the southern wall (1897), jagged white stone walls (1822), many residential and outbuildings, incl. The abbot's corps, which has survived to this day (1808).

Church of Vladimir Equal to the Apostles

Attached to the monastery is a monument-temple with a church in the name of the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, built over the mass grave of soldiers who fell near Kazan. In its present form, the new church was consecrated on August 30, 1823 by Archbishop Ambrose.

On this site, from 1720 to 1923, there was a temple honoring St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, the Wonderworker. On September 10, 1918, Archimandrite Sergius and the brethren of the Zilantov Monastery were shot in the refectory of this church.

The Trinity Cathedral of the monastery is an exact copy of the cathedral of the same name of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

In 1640-1642. In the monastery, the Suzdal Bishop Joseph, a native of Ukraine, exiled on charges of heresy, lived in exile. In 1732-1740 the monastery housed the Kazan Theological Seminary, and from 1740 the New Epiphany School. Later, both educational institutions moved into their own buildings. In 1829-1850 The abbot of the monastery was Archimandrite Gabriel, the author of the first multi-volume history of philosophy in Russia.

There is a cross installed on the territory of the monastery. The inscription under the cross reads: “In memory of the soldiers who gave their lives for the Orthodox faith and the Fatherland, novices who voluntarily and resignedly raised the cross of obedience, and all known and unknown Orthodox prayer books and righteous people, monastics and laity, whose prayer feat holds up this world.”

A beautiful view of the monastery opened both from the Volga and from the trains of the railway that laid past the monastery in 1890. In 1918, it was here that the White Czechs installed their guns.

Previously, it had a monastery and a parochial school, located near Zilantova Mountain outside the walls of the monastery and housed in a one-story wooden building on a stone foundation. About forty boys studied at the school, up to half of whom were Chuvash, who lived in the school premises at the full expense of the monastery. The school was consecrated and opened on September 17, 1909 under the care of Archbishop Nikanor (Kamensky) of Kazan and the diligence of the rector of the Zilantov Monastery, Archimandrite Sergius.

At the beginning of the 20th century. The Zilantov monastery was experiencing its heyday. In 1909, it was headed by Archimandrite Sergius (Zaitsev), under whom the number of brethren increased to 34 people. When Kazan was occupied by the White Czechs in August 1918, on Zilantovaya Mountain, almost in front of the entrance to the monastery, the White Czechs installed two guns, from which they fired at Raskolnikov’s destroyers, who were bombarding the ancient city. The military operations that took place in close proximity to the walls of the holy monastery could not but affect the normal course of monastic life, already disrupted by the decrees of the Soviet government.

In the center of the monastery is the Trinity Cathedral, a copy of the Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. They say that Ivan the Terrible himself ordered that measurements be taken from the Lavra Cathedral, however, such a temple was never built, and the Assumption Cathedral, erected in stone in 1625, was simply similar to the Lavra Cathedral. It was destroyed in 1929 and in 2002 a temple was erected here, consecrated in honor of the Trinity.

Along the wall of the monastery there is a small bell tower, which is called the “Zilantov candle”.
The bell tower is open, you can climb to the very top.

On September 10, 1918, the White Czechs left Kazan. Red troops burst into the city. Ten monastics of the Zilantov Monastery, led by the archimandrite, were shot without trial on unclear charges of shelling Red Guards.

For some time the monastery was inactive, but soon an Orthodox community was formed on its basis. The community existed until 1928, and then was liquidated. The monastery cemetery, which had the burials of eminent citizens, was destroyed in the 30s.

In 1998, the monastery, destroyed almost to the ground, was transferred to the Kazan diocese. A women's monastic community is located here. Currently, through the efforts of the monastery’s patron Natalya Vladimirovna Devyatykh, general director of the Zarechye JSCB, the Assumption Cathedral, the abbot’s and sister’s buildings with the house church of Adrian and Natalia have been restored, a bell tower, the Trinity Cathedral and the baptismal church of St. equal to book Vladimir, the painting of the temples has been completed.

The Assumption Cathedral of the Zilantov Monastery is the oldest.

The monastery has its own library (pictured).

The largest church of the monastery is in the name of the martyrs Adrian and Natalia, with a sister building located next to it.

The ensemble on Zilantova Mountain itself was almost wiped off the face of the earth (except for the All Saints Church - 1681, rebuilt and acquired its modern appearance in the 1890s, and the Rector's building - 1808).
The former monastery has now been revived as a convent.

The monastery began to be revived as a convent at the beginning of the 21st century. The surviving Rector's building and the Church of All Saints were restored, and the gate bell tower with St. Michael's Church was re-erected.

Zilantov Monastery is one of the oldest in Tatarstan. Initially there were three stone churches in the monastery. The first is the cathedral, in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary; the second - in the name of All Saints with the chapel of Sts. Apostles Paul and Peter, where the ancient icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk and the revered large iconographic image of the martyr John of Kazan, buried, according to legend, on the site of the Zilantov Monastery, were located. The third church, near the eastern monastery wall, was dedicated to St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow. In addition to these three churches, a church in honor of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands was also assigned to the monastery.

In 1836 and 1839, the Zilantov monastery was visited by Emperor Nicholas I and Tsarevich Alexander, the future Tsar-Liberator Alexander II.

In the 1930-1950s, the NKVD prison was located on the territory of the monastery.

On the upper platform of the belfry hang 10 bells donated by the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant, the largest of which weighs 7.4 tons.

No less famous is the Zilantovsky cemetery of the monastery. The cemetery occupied the entire eastern half of the mountain and was an integral part of the holy monastery. It was part of its centuries-old history, the glorious past of the monastery and was the source of many donations - contributions to the monastery for the funeral of the soul.
This is the oldest Russian cemetery in Kazan. Here in 1529 the holy martyr John was buried. Later, a new Russian cemetery appeared: where all the soldiers who fell near Kazan in 1552 rested in a huge mass grave.

Many residents of Kazan expressed a desire to be buried on the “holy mountain at the house of the Most Holy Theotokos” and, during their lifetime, made wills in favor of the Assumption Monastery. For others, relatives contributed to the funeral. The deceased brothers of the holy monastery were also buried here. The cemetery was very small in size, like most Russian monastic necropolises, but at the same time it was considered one of the holiest places not only in Kazan, but throughout the entire diocese.

Not only outside the monastery walls, but also inside the fence itself there were many burials - they filled all the spaces free from buildings. Pre-revolutionary photographs literally show a forest of crosses at the altar of the Assumption Cathedral. During the restoration and reconstruction of the monastery, human remains are found constantly and everywhere: at the foundations of buildings, under the roots of trees... truly, the entire monastery stands on bones, and only by realizing this, you gradually begin to understand its special role and the holiness of this place.

At the monastery necropolis, commoners were buried to the southwest of the monastery (opposite the railway track). This part of the graveyard was destroyed in the 30s and 40s of the 20th century. Most of Zilantova Mountain was cut off by earth-moving equipment, because... sand, soil, and crushed stone were needed for construction work.

The other, elite part of the cemetery, where eminent townspeople and persons who made contributions to the monastery were buried, was located either on the territory of the monastery or to the northeast of the monastery. There, in the family crypt, the honorary hereditary citizen of Kazan, Ivan Ivanovich Alafuzov, was buried. At the monastery cemetery there were family tombs of famous Kazan merchants Alexandrovs, Tikhomirovs, Kondirins, Krasheninnikovs, Shmagins, Moiseevs, and the Marquises de Traverse.

It is Zilant that is depicted on the coat of arms of Kazan. The main ensemble of the monastery was formed in the 17th century. On a high mountain, outside the walls, there was the Assumption Cathedral (1625), a temple in the name of Alexy Metropolitan of Moscow (1720), and many residential and outbuildings. A beautiful view of the monastery opened both from the Volga and from the trains of the railway that laid past the monastery in 1890.

In 1640-1642. In the monastery, the Suzdal Bishop Joseph (Kurtsevich) (d. 1642), a native of Ukraine, lived in exile; he was removed from the see and exiled on charges of heresy. However, ten years later, under Patriarch Nikon, his views were accepted by the church. Joseph's grave, located in the Assumption Cathedral, has not survived.

In 1732-1740 the monastery housed the Kazan Theological Seminary, and from 1740 the New Epiphany School. Later, both educational institutions moved into their own buildings. In 1829-1850 The abbot of the monastery was Archimandrite Gabriel (Vasily Nikolaevich Voskresensky) (1795-1868) - a scientist-philosopher, author of the first multi-volume history of philosophy in Russia. At the beginning of the 20th century. The Zilantov monastery was experiencing its heyday. In 1909, it was headed by Archimandrite Sergius (Zaitsev), under whom the number of brethren increased to 34 people. In August 1918, Kazan was occupied by the White Czechs, and guns were installed on Zilantovaya Mountain (as the dominant one) (against the will of the monastics). On September 10, 1918, the White Czechs left Kazan. Red troops burst into the city. Ten monastics of the Zilantov Monastery, led by the archimandrite, were shot without trial on unclear charges of shelling Red Guards. For some time the monastery was inactive, but was soon inhabited by nuns. The female monastic community existed until the early 20s, and then was liquidated. The monastery cemetery, which had the burials of eminent citizens, was destroyed in the 30s. in 1998, the Zilantov Monastery complex was transferred to the Kazan diocese. A women's monastic community is located here. Currently, through the efforts of the monastery’s patron Natalya Vladimirovna Devyatykh, general director of the joint-stock commercial bank Zarechye, the external facade and dome of the Church of All Saints and the abbot’s building with the house church have been restored, the bell tower and the Church of St. equal to book Vladimir and Trinity Cathedral.

(Zhuravsky A.V., Lipakov E.V. Orthodox churches of Tatarstan. - Kazan, 2000.)