The first mention of the Vyazhishchi Convent of St. Nicholas in chronicles is connected with the year 1411, but its name appears both in the Charter of 1391 and in the hagiography of Archbishop Evfimy of Novgorod. It is known that the first wooden church of St. Nicholas and monastic cells were built on this site in the late 14th century. They were arbitrarily erected by monks Ignatius, Euphrosyne and Galaktion, who for some time even argued with local peasants because of them.
The heyday of the monastery, the expansion of its lands, and the construction of stone cathedrals is associated with the name of Archbishop Evfimy, an influential church and political figure. Under him, the monastery was as rich as the Yuriev, Khutyn and Antoniev monasteries.
At the same time, a book-writing workshop was established there: it produced a service book with miniatures made in 1438–1441 which has been preserved to this day. After the death of Evfimy in 1458, believers miraculously healed from ailments at his grave and at his chains. In 1549 the archbishop was canonized.
The monastery had to go through hard times: the Livonian War, the pestilence, the Oprichnina (a state policy implemented by Ivan the Terrible that included mass repressions), and the invasion of the troops of Stephen Báthory. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, monasteries were considered a source of income and were subject to all kinds of duties and taxes.
During the Swedish invasion of the 17th century, the monastery was looted, the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker collapsed (as the Novgorod inventory of 1617 reports).
In the late 17th century, construction works actively began on the territory of the monastery and an entirely new architectural ensemble was formed. The St. Nicholas Cathedral, a refectory, the churches of the Annunciation and St. John the Theologian, and a gallery, erected during that period, have survived to our time.
In 1920, the monastery was closed, most of the buildings were handed over to a collective farm. The monastery underwent new challenges during the Great Patriotic War. From 1964 to the 1990s, restoration works were carried out there, which had to be interrupted from time to time.
Presently, the Vyazhishchi Convent of St. Nicholas is a stavropegic monastery, it is directly subordinate to the patriarch.
Its unique feature is the tiles that decorate literally everything: the gallery, porches, wall niches, doors and windows, parapets, refectory, and drums of the domes.
The painting was created by Vladislav Fyodorovich Bulganin, a native of the Ryazan region, a graduate of the Ryazan Art School and Vera Mukhina Leningrad Higher School of Art. Since 1988, he has been living and working in Veliky Novgorod. He actively participates in city, all-Russian and international exhibitions and plein-air sessions.
The heyday of the monastery, the expansion of its lands, and the construction of stone cathedrals is associated with the name of Archbishop Evfimy, an influential church and political figure. Under him, the monastery was as rich as the Yuriev, Khutyn and Antoniev monasteries.
At the same time, a book-writing workshop was established there: it produced a service book with miniatures made in 1438–1441 which has been preserved to this day. After the death of Evfimy in 1458, believers miraculously healed from ailments at his grave and at his chains. In 1549 the archbishop was canonized.
The monastery had to go through hard times: the Livonian War, the pestilence, the Oprichnina (a state policy implemented by Ivan the Terrible that included mass repressions), and the invasion of the troops of Stephen Báthory. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, monasteries were considered a source of income and were subject to all kinds of duties and taxes.
During the Swedish invasion of the 17th century, the monastery was looted, the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker collapsed (as the Novgorod inventory of 1617 reports).
In the late 17th century, construction works actively began on the territory of the monastery and an entirely new architectural ensemble was formed. The St. Nicholas Cathedral, a refectory, the churches of the Annunciation and St. John the Theologian, and a gallery, erected during that period, have survived to our time.
In 1920, the monastery was closed, most of the buildings were handed over to a collective farm. The monastery underwent new challenges during the Great Patriotic War. From 1964 to the 1990s, restoration works were carried out there, which had to be interrupted from time to time.
Presently, the Vyazhishchi Convent of St. Nicholas is a stavropegic monastery, it is directly subordinate to the patriarch.
Its unique feature is the tiles that decorate literally everything: the gallery, porches, wall niches, doors and windows, parapets, refectory, and drums of the domes.
The painting was created by Vladislav Fyodorovich Bulganin, a native of the Ryazan region, a graduate of the Ryazan Art School and Vera Mukhina Leningrad Higher School of Art. Since 1988, he has been living and working in Veliky Novgorod. He actively participates in city, all-Russian and international exhibitions and plein-air sessions.
