Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is on the steep slopes. Krutitsy Metochion Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krutitsy

The first church of Peter and Paul in the Krutitsky courtyard was built back in 1272 at the behest of Prince Daniil of Moscow. The princely village of Krutitsy stood on ancient routes that were very important for Moscow, leading to Kolomna and Ryazan. Later, when the power of the Tatar-Mongols began to weaken, Krutitsy became the permanent residence of the Bishop of Sarsk and Podonsk. The first hierarch to receive the title of Bishop of Krutitsky was His Eminence Vassian. In the 16th century, with the establishment of the patriarchate in Rus', Bishop Gelasius of Sarsk and Podonsk was awarded the rank of metropolitan; after his death, he found his last refuge at the Krutitsky metochion in the crypt under the current Church of the Resurrection.

In 1612, the militia of Minin and Pozharsky passed through Krutitsy; in the Assumption Cathedral they swore to liberate Moscow from foreign invaders or lay down their heads. Then the courtyard was so plundered by the Polish occupiers that Prince Pozharsky wrote about its “last impoverishment and ruin.”

But the same 17th century became the century of revival and flourishing of the Krutitsy metochion, which became one of the centers of spiritual enlightenment in Russia. Metropolitan Paul II founded a library in Krutitsy, here the monks worked on translating the books of Holy Scripture from Greek into Russian, and later the theological seminary of the Vyazemsky Monastery was transferred here.

Under Bishop Paul, one of the first decorative gardens in Moscow with fountains and strange plants appeared in Krutitsy. In 1665–1689, a new Assumption Cathedral was erected, and the ancient Assumption Church was rebuilt into a large cross chamber. In 1693–1694, the Krutitsky tower and covered passages leading from the metropolitan chambers to the main Assumption Cathedral were built. According to legend, from the windows of this tower the Krutitsa bishops blessed the people gathered in the square, admired the view of Moscow, and also distributed alms to the poor. In 1719, the ensemble was supplemented with embankment chambers. In addition to the priests, the staff of the metochion included keymasters, choristers, psalm-readers, sextons, executors, plowmen, eagle-bearers, pulpit-bearers, and watchmen.

With the abolition of the patriarchate, the right of the Sarsk and Podonsk bishops to be called metropolitans also disappeared. In 1764, the buildings of the Krutitsky courtyard, with the exception of the Assumption Cathedral, were transferred to the military department. For decades, various military units were quartered here. And the Krutitsky Assumption Cathedral was supposed to be a parish church, leaving only one priest from the cathedral ministers.

During the Napoleonic invasion, the churches were destroyed and desecrated, the iconostasis was destroyed, and the frescoes on the walls were damaged. However, even after the expulsion of the enemy and the end of the Patriotic War, the sword of Damocles hung over the architectural ensemble. In 1816, by order of the Moscow commander-in-chief Tolmasov, the conversion of the Resurrection Church into barracks and stables began, and only the intervention of the emperor stopped the dismantling of the temple.

Restoration work was carried out in Krutitsy in 1833–1868 with the participation of famous architects Evgraf Tyurin and Konstantin Ton, but the courtyard never regained its former grandeur. After the Great October Socialist Revolution, persecution of priests began, services in the Assumption Cathedral were stopped, church utensils were looted. The Assumption Cathedral was rebuilt as a dormitory for the Moscow Military District. In 1936-1938, the Church of the Resurrection was rebuilt into a residential building, and a football ground was built on the site of the cemetery.

Only in 1947 did work begin on the restoration of the Krutitsky architectural ensemble, headed by Pyotr Dmitrievich Baranovsky. In the 1960-1980s, the buildings of the courtyard were occupied by various organizations: the Society for the Protection of Monuments, the philatelic department of the Main Book, experimental special scientific and restoration production workshops of the Society for the Protection of Monuments (VOOPIiK), a branch of the State Historical Museum. The Church of Peter and Paul was used as a club for some time. But, in addition to cultural institutions, the Moscow garrison guardhouse was still located on the territory. In 1953, the arrested Lavrentiy Beria was kept there.

Since 1991, the buildings of the Krutitsa metochion began to be returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. The neglected area was being improved; almost a hundred dump trucks of construction waste were removed from the former cemetery alone. The revival of the spiritual life of the ancient metochion began in April 1992, when the first divine service after a break of several centuries was held in the Resurrection Church. When the temple opened to believers, it did not yet have a roof, and it was only possible to get to the second floor using a construction elevator.

In the Assumption Cathedral, restoration artists discovered ancient wall paintings hidden under a layer of whitewash and paint. The domes were covered with copper, the old crosses were replaced with new, gilded ones. The carved iconostasis of the temple, covered with gold leaf, was made by an artel of Vyatka craftsmen. The artists re-painted the altar and the arch, and icons were purchased from an antique store. The hipped porch and the roof of the Krutitsa passages also needed repairs. A refectory and a parish library were opened in the embankment chambers. New lanterns and benches were installed on the site, but the 19th-century cobblestone street was preserved.

Back in 1991, the Krutitsy metochion was transferred to the disposal of the All-Church Orthodox Youth Movement, which was later transformed into the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church. By decree of Patriarch Alexy, the temples of the metochion and its civil buildings were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Department.

The centuries-old history of the Krutitsky farmstead can be found on the website:
http://www.krutitsy.ru/

You can get here on foot from the Proletarskaya metro station. In the courtyards of Krutitsky Val and 2nd Krutitsky Lane, pre-revolutionary wooden and brick buildings have been preserved.

Krutitsky Val. 1965: https://pastvu.com/p/54720

1st Krutitsky Lane. 1955-1965: https://pastvu.com/p/66740

Arbatetskaya street (leads to the Order Chambers). 1912: https://pastvu.com/p/29817

The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Krutitsy (1665–1689) with the lower church of Peter and Paul, built by Osip Startsev. In 1895, the chapel of St. Sergius of Radonezh was added to the cathedral. The Assumption Cathedral, made of red brick, reaches a height of 29 meters, it is crowned with a traditional five-domed dome, symbolizing the image of our Lord Jesus Christ surrounded by four evangelists. This is the largest building of the Krutitsky ensemble. A covered staircase on pillars leads to the entrance to the narthex; a six-flight hipped bell tower adjoins the temple. An interesting feature of the temple is that the onion domes are also made of brick.

1882: https://pastvu.com/p/20068

1955-1960: https://pastvu.com/p/71564

1965-1968: https://pastvu.com/p/19525

Marked bricks show which buildings were reconstructed

And this is a souvenir from servicemen from the internal troops, demobilization in 1992

The Krutitsky tower and the Resurrection passages (1693–1694), connecting the chambers and the cathedral, are lined on the outside with multi-colored glazed tiles. During the construction of the tower, approximately 1,500–2,000 tiles were used, the manufacturer of which was presumably the master Stepan Ivanov. The Holy Gate is decorated with frescoes depicting the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Savior and some saints. Construction work was carried out under the supervision of the outstanding Russian architect of the 17th century Osip Startsev and stone mason Larion Kovalev.

Krutitsky tower. 1884: https://pastvu.com/p/24574

The Church of the Resurrection of the Word on Krutitsy (Chamber of the Cross), built in the 1650s on the foundations of the early 16th century. The current building of the Church of the Resurrection consists of a basement with the burials of the Krutitsa metropolitans, a basement and an upper tier. The northern chapel of St. Nicholas was built in 1516.

Church of the Resurrection, rebuilt into a residential building. 1985: https://pastvu.com/p/154869

The Metropolitan Chambers (1655-1670) are a two-story brick building with walls 115-120 centimeters thick; an elegant porch dating from 1727 adjoins the southern façade of the building. On the first floor, obviously, there were utility and other service premises, on the second - front and residential premises. The building was restored by P.D. Baranovsky.

The embankment chambers (1719) were used for a long time as military barracks and a place of detention for prisoners. In one of the buildings of the Krutitsky courtyard in 1834, the philosopher Alexander Herzen was imprisoned, arrested for his free-thinking socialist ideas.

Embankment chambers. 1982: https://pastvu.com/p/147439

The building of metropolitan orders (Order Chambers) of the second half of the 17th century with fraternal and choir cells. Later, the building was occupied by military barracks, called Aleshinsky since 1922. During Soviet times, the chambers were occupied by a garrison guardhouse, which was removed from here in 1996. Now here are the administrative premises of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Many wonderful cultural monuments and attractions can be found in Moscow. Walking through its center, it is worth getting acquainted with many cultural heritage sites and seeing a large number of interesting things. Their history is usually closely connected with the history of the city itself, so it is especially interesting to learn about it. There are many routes in the capital to explore important sights. One of them is the Krutitskoye Compound in Moscow. The article will talk about what kind of object this is, its history and some interesting facts related to it.

Krutitskoye Metochion in Moscow - general information

First, it’s worth figuring out what the Krutitsky Compound is. Firstly, it should be noted that this is a special architectural monument. Secondly, it is a historical monument. It was founded back in the 13th century. Initially, it served as a monastery, and then became a residence where bishops lived. At one time it was even one of the branches of the State Historical Museum. The courtyard is located in the historical center of Moscow, in the Tagansky district. You can often see visitors here, since the Krutitskoye Compound in Moscow includes several objects that are always of interest to people, both local residents and tourists.

Many are interested in the origin of the name of this place. It is believed that the word “krutitsy” means a hill, and this place is located on a high bank just below the mouth of the Yauza. Now it has become clear what the Krutitsky courtyard in Moscow is like. How to get here? This question interests many. It will definitely be considered a little later. This place is known for its beauty. Here you can not only get acquainted with the sights, but also just take a walk and enjoy the incredibly beautiful views.

What objects does the courtyard include?

Thus, we got to know this place a little and reviewed general information about it. Now it’s worth talking a little about what you can see when visiting the Krutitskoye Metochion in Moscow. There are several objects located here, each of which is of separate interest. All these objects are cultural monuments and keep their own history. So, the courtyard includes:

• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Krutitsy (built in 1700).
• Krutitsky tower and Resurrection passages (created in the 17th century).
• Metropolitan Chambers (built at the end of the 17th century).
• Church of the Resurrection of the Word on Krutitsy (erected in the 17th century).
• Corps of Metropolitan Orders and other objects.

Now it has become clear what the courtyard includes, as well as what it is known for. Almost all the buildings located here date back to the 17th century. Watching them and learning their history will be very educational for every person who comes here. Now it’s worth talking in more detail about some of the objects that are of the greatest interest.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Krutitsy

So, it’s worth taking a closer look at this wonderful cathedral. According to some sources, the cathedral existed in the middle of the 15th century, but then it had a different name. At the beginning of the 16th century, the temple was rebuilt and received its modern name. This cathedral became almost central while the Kremlin cathedrals were captured by the Poles.

In 1655, a decision was made to reconstruct the cathedral building and build it in stone. By the end of the 17th century, construction was completed and the cathedral was consecrated. The building is very interesting for its architecture.

However, after the revolution, significant changes took place, and in 1920 the cathedral was closed. It was decided to create living quarters here; as a result, all the paintings that were on the walls of the temple, unfortunately, were painted over. Since the 60s of the 20th century, the temple was used as a production facility, and then moved to the Historical Museum and for some time was its branch.

Since 1993, services have been held here again. Restoration of some parts of the temple is currently underway.

Krutitsky tower

Now it’s worth talking about another important object located in the Krutitsky courtyard. This is an entire part of the entire complex, which consists of elements such as the holy gates, as well as a tower, which is located directly above the gate.

According to legend, the emergence of a monastery in the princely village of Krutitsy on the left bank of the Moscow River was predicted by a local hermit to Prince Daniil of Moscow. The prophecy came true in 1272, when the construction of the wooden church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and the monastery attached to it was completed. The village of Krutitsy, and then the local monastery, got their name because of the coastal hills that stretched from the Yauza to the Simonovo tract and made the river bank so steep. The Krutitsky monastery, under Prince Daniil Alexandrovich, entered the Sarai diocese and, by the prince’s will, became the metochion of the Sarai bishops. Their main residence was in Sarai, the capital of the Golden Horde, and the Sarai diocese itself was established in 1261 by Metropolitan Kirill III of Kyiv. The bishops, in addition to caring for Russian prisoners and converting the Tatars to Orthodoxy with the permission of the khan, carried out a serious diplomatic mission and were a link between Russia and the Horde.

The bishops stayed in Krutitsy during their visits to the All-Russian metropolitans and the great Moscow princes, until they moved to the courtyard for good. This happened in the second half of the 14th century. In the wake of changes, the Sarai diocese was renamed Sarsk and Podonsk, and the former Sarai bishops became Sarsk. From that moment, according to the decision of the Moscow Council, the Sarsk and Podonsk bishops became the closest assistants to the All-Russian metropolitans. The Council of 1581 decided that Bishop Gelasius of Sarsk and Podonsk should be metropolitan. Having assumed new powers, in 1591, Metropolitan Gelasius took part in the trial of the murder of Tsarevich Dimitri; it was Gelasius who performed the funeral service for the heir to the throne.

After the death of the young son of Ivan the Terrible, the unrest grew and penetrated into the very heart of Moscow. At this time, at the beginning of the 17th century, the Krutitsky courtyard had to play the role of the cathedral of Russia.

In 1611–1612, people's militias moved past Krutitsy, conveniently located near both land and waterways, towards the Kremlin occupied by the Poles. In the stone Assumption Cathedral of the courtyard, and not in the main Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, the soldiers swore with a kiss on the cross that they would save Rus' or lay down their heads. The history of the schismatic Old Believers did not pass by the Krutitsky courtyard either. Metropolitan Paul II (1664–1676), also known as the founder of the rich library of the metochion, put a lot of effort into subduing the famous schism teachers, among whom were Archpriest Avvakum and Deacon Theodore.

Abolition of the patriarchate

The turning point in the history of the courtyard is the moment when the patriarchate is abolished in Russia and secularization is carried out under the control of Catherine II. Thus, in the 18th century, the Sarsky and Podonsky bishops lost the rank of metropolitans, and the title “Sarsky and Podonsky” itself was abolished. The Krutitsa bishop was transferred to Kazan, and the former Krutitsa diocese came under the jurisdiction of the Synodal Office. Part of the buildings of the metochion went to the military department, and the property of the Krutitsa department went to the Moscow diocese.

The general decline has only worsened since then. The entire courtyard suffered from a devastating fire in 1812, the Church of the Resurrection was especially badly burned. The Commander-in-Chief of Moscow A.P. Tormasov ordered to dismantle the temple and prepare space for the creation of living quarters, but Moscow Archbishop Augustine stood up for the church. He petitioned Prince A.N. Golitsyn about the preservation of the temple, and Golitsyn reported to Emperor Alexander I. The church was saved. Serious restoration of the courtyard was to begin later, at the request of Emperor Alexander II. However, it was not possible to put the courtyard in order for a very long time.

Krutitsy could not escape the sad fate that befell Orthodox churches during Soviet times. Divine services ceased around 1924, the courtyard was subjected to looting, and shrines were desecrated. Almost immediately after the Great Patriotic War, the Committee for Architectural Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR tried to draw up a project for the restoration of the Krutitsky Palace, but failed to cope with this task. In 1964, the main cathedral of the courtyard was transferred to the Society for the Protection of Monuments, in 1968 - to the philatelic department of the Glavkniga publishing house, and in the 1980s, the Society for the Protection of Monuments (VOOPIiK) tried to place experimental scientific and restoration workshops there. The next tenant of the courtyard, by decision of the Moscow City Council of People's Deputies, in 1982 became the State Historical Museum, which uses the temple as a warehouse for exhibits. All this time, in addition to successive tenants, the military department has been managing the territory of the Krutitsky courtyard, using the former monastery walls as a garrison guardhouse.

Serious restoration began only in the early 1990s, after the gradual return of the courtyard to the Russian Orthodox Church. Worship services resumed in 1992. Today, the metochion, in addition to direct religious activities, conducts publishing activities and patronizes the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In the chronicles of the Krutitsky metochion one cannot find a description of the life of the parish; there are no vivid tales of miracles and asceticism. The story of Krutitsa is about something else; it talks about the fickle role of the Church in the life of a changing state.

The appearance of the Krutitsky courtyard

The first Assumption Church was erected in Krutitsy in the 13th century. Today there is no reliable evidence of what the courtyard looked like until the middle of the 17th century - the moment when they decided to rebuild it. In 1700, a new two-story Assumption Cathedral, made of red brick, was completed. In the lower tier there is a warm church of St. the apostles Peter and Paul, and in the upper one there is a summer one with the main Assumption throne. Later, in 1895, the chapel of Sergius of Radonezh was built. The cathedral is crowned with five domes, symbolizing the image of the Lord surrounded by four evangelists. To the right of the entrance to the lower church there is a hipped bell tower adjacent to the building.

Around the same time, the former Assumption Church was rebuilt and re-consecrated in honor of the Resurrection of the Slovuschey (according to V.I. Dahl, “slovuschiy” is “glorified, famous, glorious”; “Resurrection of the Slovuschey” means the Resurrection of Christ). It became the tomb of the bishops of the metochion.

Also in the second half of the 17th century, covered passages were completed that lead from the Metropolitan’s chambers to the Assumption Cathedral, and the Krutitsky Teremok was built nearby. The architect O. Startsev, who worked on the tower, decorated this small building, located directly above the Holy Gate, with extraordinary multi-color glazed tiles with images of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Savior, and some saints. And in 1719, it was decided to supplement the Krutitsky ensemble with embankment chambers.

During the fire of 1812, all three churches were severely damaged. The restoration was carried out in the middle of the 19th century according to the design of the architect E. D. Tyurin. The famous architect K.A. was involved in the work. The tone that created the so-called Russian-Byzantine style of temple architecture. Despite the efforts expended, it was not possible to completely restore the monuments until the 90s of the last century. During the restoration, the surviving paintings of the 19th century were partially revealed, while other paintings were done anew.

There is a very special and amazing place in Moscow - the ancient Krutitsky courtyard.
Once here, you plunge into a completely different world.
A miraculously preserved piece of the past appears before your eyes - ancient Moscow. The brick of the main church buildings, darkened by time, the square paved with cobblestones and pre-revolutionary residential wooden houses - everything here breathes history. It is here, in the Center of the architectural ensemble - the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Krutitsy, built in 1700, that we are baptizing at this moment ( scheduled for 11 o'clock) our lovely child - my granddaughter Veronica.

Front Gate (Teremok)

The most interesting building is the gate Krutitsky Terem, decorated with elegant glazed tiles and openwork stone carvings. Let's go through the front gate. On the reverse side, the Terem is not decorated, but still, the whole ensemble looks amazing.

According to legend, from the windows of the tower, the metropolitans blessed the people gathered in the square, and also distributed alms to the poor. The Teremok and the Holy Gates are lined with multi-colored glazed tiles made by the “sovereign of treasures, master Stepan Ivanov Polubes.” More than 2,000 tiles were used to decorate the tower.
Construction work was carried out under the supervision of an outstanding Moscow
17th century architect Osip Startsev.

Krutitsky courtyard. Teremok - 1693 - 1694 Architect - Osip Startsev. Tiles - Stepan Ivanov.

The Holy Gate was decorated with fresco images of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Savior and some saints. Construction work was carried out under the supervision of the outstanding Russian architect of the 17th century Osip Startsev and stone mason Larion Kovalev.

holy gate

About the Krutitsky Teremok, Moscow scholar P.V. Sytin wrote admiringly: “The Krutitsky Teremok is a wonderful monument of Russian folk art. In its decorative decoration, openwork stone carvings are amazingly combined with colorful tiles. You are amazed at the skill of folk artists! More than two and a half centuries have passed since the construction of the tower, and its tiled decoration is also bright and picturesque, as if it had just come out of the hands of a master yesterday.”

Main Holy Gate with fragmentarily preserved frescoes

A curious court case has been preserved in the columns of the Order Table. It was initiated on February 26, 1694 by the solicitor of the Podonsk Metropolitan, Sidor Bukhvalov, against the stone cases of the apprentice Osip Dmitrievich Startsev and his son Ivan Osipovich. The Startsevs were accused of receiving extra money for valuable tiles,
which they supplied for the cladding of the Krutitsky tower and passages. The Startsevs managed to prove they were right, but it is possible that if not for this trial the entire mansion could have been decorated with tiles. Startsev was unable to complete his work; the work was completed by apprentice mason Larion Kovalev. Today the Krutitsky Teremok is under the protection of UNESCO.

In 1693-94. The Krutitsky tower and covered passages leading from the metropolitan chambers to the main Assumption Cathedral were built.

In ancient times, all the hills lying on the left bank of the Moscow River, starting from the Yauza River up to the Simonovo tract, were called “Krutitsa”. The name of this area most likely came from the steep bank that the Moscow River has here.
The Krutitsa courtyard traces its history back to 1272. The courtyard then played a very noticeable role in the life of Russia. At the beginning of the 17th century, during the so-called Time of Troubles, when the Moscow Kremlin was occupied by the Poles, the Assumption Cathedral of the Krutitsky Metochion served as a cathedral. It was here that all the church hierarchs of Moscow were at that time.

The heyday of the Krutitsy metochion is associated with the name of Metropolitan Paul II (1664–1676), the most educated man of his time, patron of the sciences and arts. Kirion Istomin, a contemporary of Metropolitan. Paul II, wrote about him like this: “Through his providence, the house of the Most Pure Mother of God established the Krutitsky dispensation and enriched, just as I had impoverished all the bishop’s houses before, which was now abundant, the bishop’s house was equal to and superior to others.”

Bishop Paul made a lot of efforts to eradicate the schism, trying to persuade the well-known schism teachers of that time - Archpriest Avvakum and Deacon Theodore - to humility. At the same time, he paid a lot of attention to the education of the clergy and founded a wonderful library of the Krutitsky courtyard. In 1665–1689, simultaneously with the construction of the new Assumption Cathedral, the ancient Assumption Church was rebuilt into a large cross chamber. The former chapel in the name of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra the Wonderworker was turned into a house church.

The extensive construction and improvement of Krutitsy under Metropolitan Paul II turned this corner of Moscow, according to contemporaries, into “a kind of paradise.” In the eastern part of the courtyard, a magnificent garden was built - one of the first decorative gardens in Moscow, in which fancy plants were complemented by “water cannons” (fountains), the water for which was provided by springs. There was a small vegetable garden adjacent to the garden.

Over the years, the Krutitsky courtyard was one of the centers of spiritual enlightenment. For example, in the second half of the 17th century, the courtyard turned out to be the place where work was carried out to translate the books of Holy Scripture from Greek into Russian.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Krutitsy

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Krutitsy (historical name -
Small Assumption Cathedral in Moscow). Built in 1680-1690.

The current “new” building of the Assumption Cathedral has two floors. The lower tier with the warm church of St. The Apostles Peter and Paul was built in 1667–1689. and consecrated on June 29, 1699. According to some information, the consecration was performed by Patriarch Joachim. Construction work was carried out under Metropolitan Barsanuphius (Chertkov), who was buried in the southern part of the lower church. The upper (summer) church with the main Assumption throne was built in 1700. The chapel of St. Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh, was built in 1895.

The Assumption Cathedral has a height of 29 meters from the ground to the apple of the cross and is completed with a traditional five-domed structure, symbolizing the image of our Lord Jesus Christ surrounded by the four evangelists. It is built of red brick and is the largest structure of the Krutitsky ensemble.

A covered staircase on pillars leads to the entrance to the narthex. An interesting feature of the temple is that the onion domes are also made of brick. On the right side of the entrance to the Peter and Paul Lower Church, a six-span hipped bell tower adjoins the temple. Even at the end of the 19th century, there were powerful bells here, one of which, a small one, was cast in 1730.

The main chapel is in honor and memory of the Dormition of our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary (celebration on August 28). Built in 1700
Chapel in the name of St. Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh and All Russia, Wonderworker (celebration on October 8 and July 18). The chapel was built in 1895.

However, the prosperity of the Krutitsa metochion, which reached significant proportions under Metropolitan Paul, was unstable. At times, due to the oversight of some bishops or due to various disasters (fires or military conflicts), the Krutitsky bishop's house reached extreme poverty and even ruin. In 1612, during the Polish invasion, Krutitsy was plundered so much that Prince Pozharsky wrote that the Church of the Most Pure Mother of God on Krutitsy was “in the last state of impoverishment and ruin.”

Throne in honor and memory of St. The Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul (celebration July 12).

In 1737, the Trinity fire that raged in the capital did not spare Krutitsy. According to some reports, the Assumption Cathedral Church, the Krutitsky Teremok and some other buildings were badly damaged in its fire. Due to damage to the tower, its tiled roof was replaced with an iron one, the damaged faces of the saints were whitewashed with lime, and one of the passages in the holy gates was blocked. The tower remained in such a disfigured state until restoration in 1868, when the city government ordered to give it its original appearance.

The Krutitsa courtyard reached its greatest prosperity in the 17th century. Then the following were erected: two-story metropolitan chambers (1665 - 1670s), the basement of the old Assumption Cathedral became the lower tier of those erected in 1672 - 75. premises of the Cross Chamber (metropolitan's reception room), which in the 1760s. was rebuilt into the Church of the Resurrection of the Word. A house church of St. was built above the chapel of the old cathedral. Nicholas.

Adjacent to the tower on the right is the Metropolitan Chamber - the palace of the Krutitsa metropolitans.
The Metropolitan Chamber (Palace of the Krutitsa Metropolitans) is a two-story brick building measuring 27.25x12.35 meters - built in 1655. The thickness of the walls of the first floor reaches 120 cm, on the second floor - up to 115 cm.

Adjacent to the southern façade of the building is an elegant porch, restored in the 20th century. On the first floor, obviously, there were utility and other service premises, on the second - front and residential premises.

Metropolitan Chamber (fragment)

The revolutionary events of October 1917 and the subsequent years of civil war, famine and devastation, of course, did not contribute to the preservation of the monuments of the Krutitsky courtyard. Moreover, the policy of the godless government was aimed at the systematic eradication of religion, and as part of this anti-church course, many “religious buildings” were abandoned and even destroyed.

Temple of the Resurrection of the Word

Located to the right of the Metropolitan Chambers. The church building consists of a white stone basement of the 15th century with the burials of the Krutitsa metropolitans, a basement of the 16th century and an upper tier of the mid-18th century. The northern chapel of St. Nicholas was built in 1516. Today the church houses the Museum of Pilgrimage to Holy Places. Archbishop of Moscow Augustine (Vinogradov) (1766–1819), who visited the Church of the Resurrection in the 19th century, noted that inside it was “painted with the splendor characteristic of the temple of God and painted with wall paintings.” In 1812, the church burned down, but the paintings remained.

Assumption transitions

Assumption passages connecting Terem and the Small Assumption Cathedral,
decorated with single tiles

After the cessation of services in the church of the Krutitsky courtyard (not earlier than 1924), church utensils were looted, sacred images on the walls were covered over time, and the tombstones in the Church of the Resurrection were partially broken. In the second half of the 1920s, the Assumption Cathedral was transferred to the Moscow Military District for hostel use.

Archways in the bell tower. Fruit trees come almost close to the ancient walls. In spring, during the flowering of cherries and apricots, it is especially beautiful here.

In surviving photographs from the 1940s. The Krutitsky courtyard looks extremely neglected. The Assumption Cathedral is deprived of crosses on its domes, the icon paintings on the walls are badly damaged, and the plaster has completely crumbled in places. In the courtyard of the palace itself, laundry is hung, which indicates the existence of housing stock in the courtyard. The Church of the Resurrection, disfigured beyond recognition and rebuilt into a residential building, presents a terrible sight.

In 1947, by order of the Committee for Architectural Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the preparation of a project for the restoration of the Krutitsky Palace began. However, despite the restoration, the church life of Krutitsa froze. This went on for decades, with “tenants” changing one after another. In 1964, the Assumption Cathedral was transferred to the Society for the Protection of Monuments; in 1968, the philatelic department of the Main Book was located here. The Church of Peter and Paul was used as a club for some time. In 1966, the Krutitsky Palace was recognized as an object subject to museum use.

The upper and lower temples housed a warehouse for exhibits. Some premises of the metropolitan chambers were intended for organizing exhibitions. Despite all this, a significant part of the courtyard was used by the military department. Until the beginning of 1996, the Moscow garrison guardhouse was located here. It is known for certain that after Stalin’s death in 1953, his assistant L.P. Beria was kept in custody for 24 hours in the Krutitsky casemates.

Since 1991, a significant part of the premises of the metochion has gradually been returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. With the blessing of Patriarch Alexy, the courtyard was given patriarchal status.

The revival of the spiritual life of the ancient metochion began in April 1992. Shortly before the holiday of St. Easter - April 29, 1992 - the first divine service after a break of several centuries was held in the temple. Intensive construction work began. By the time of the opening of the temple, restoration was far from complete. The temple did not have a roof or dome; it was possible to get to the second floor only with the help of a special construction elevator. There was a lot of dampness inside the temple, there was no floor, and builders were located in the sacristy room. To allow believers to enter the Church of the Resurrection, a temporary wooden staircase was built on the south side. Part of the floor was hastily laid with bricks before the services began. A temporary wooden iconostasis was built in the temple from a frame and plywood.

By the decision of the Council of Bishops in 1997, it was decided to turn the Krutitsy metochion into an exemplary youth center of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2000, the VPMD was transformed into the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church. By decree of Patriarch Alexy, the temples of the metochion and its civil buildings were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Department.

Wooden houses of the 19th century

In 2003–2004 The domes of the Assumption Cathedral were covered with copper, and the old crosses installed in the mid-twentieth century by P. D. Baranovsky were replaced with new ones covered with gold. At the same time, the civil structures of the courtyard were renovated - houses No. 11 and 13 on Krutitskaya Street.

He predicted to the prince that there would be a temple and a bishop's house here. Subsequently, the prince built a monastery here, and about a year the Greek Bishop Varlaam, the first Krutitsky bishop, settled here. Probably, after his death, Bishop Varlaam’s residence was turned into a metochion for the arrival of the Sarai bishops to Moscow. At first they stayed here when visiting the All-Russian Metropolitans and Grand Dukes of Moscow.

The Russian princes did not forget the Krutitsa courtyard with their favors. John Ioannovich the Red, who received the label for the great reign in the year, in his spiritual charter of the year bequeathed a significant contribution “to the Holy Mother of God on Krutitsy, in memory of himself.” Perhaps he was even the patron of the courtyard and the founder of its Assumption Church: from his will it is clear that he provided monetary contributions to only three churches, and the Assumption Church on Krutitsy is named the first among them. The holy noble prince Dimitry Donskoy repeated a similar order in his spiritual letter of the year.

Its location played an important role in the prosperity of the Krutitsky courtyard: the proximity of the water (Moscow River) and land (Nikolo-Ugreshskaya road) highways. Heading to the Horde, the Moscow princes often traveled along the Nikolo-Ugreshskaya road. The nearby Simonov and Novospassky monasteries played their role, attracting numerous pilgrims.

Since the 1450s, the Sarsky Vladki settled in the courtyard for permanent residence. Thus, the Krutitsy metochion became the see of the vast Sarsk, and then Krutitsy, diocese and the seat of the closest assistants to the primates of the Russian Church.

The Vladimir chronicler reports that in the year Krutitsky Bishop Dosifei laid the stone Assumption Church on the courtyard. The new building began to be erected in the second half of the 17th century. The Assumption Cathedral has a height of 29 meters from the ground to the apple of the cross and is completed with a traditional five-domed structure. It is built of red brick and is the largest structure of the Krutitsky ensemble. A covered staircase on pillars leads to the entrance to the narthex. An interesting feature of the temple is that the onion domes are also made of brick.

The temple is two-tiered and the main one, the Assumption throne, is located in the upper tier, built in the year. The lower tier with the warm church of the apostles Peter and Paul was built in - years and consecrated on June 29 of the year. However, according to some sources, the consecration was performed by Patriarch Joachim. Construction work was carried out under Metropolitan Barsanuphius, who was buried in the southern part of the lower church. The chapel of St. Sergius of Radonezh was built in the year.