Temples and monasteries of Yelets. Lipetsk region Temples and monasteries of the Lipetsk Yelets diocese

The history of Orthodoxy in the Lipetsk region goes back several centuries: the appearance of Christianity here traditionally dates back to the period Ancient Rus'. Since the end of the 14th century, the Upper Don region, as a result of endless Tatar raids, turned into a “wild field”. The Orthodox population returned to the territory of the Upper Don in the middle of the 16th century. Since that time, Orthodox churches were built and the first monasteries were founded: Donkovsky Pokrovsky, Eletsky and Lebedyansky Trinity monasteries.

In the 17th-18th centuries, the territory of the Lipetsk region was ecclesiastically subordinated to the Ryazan and Voronezh dioceses, then until 1917, the church history of the region was directly connected with the Tambov, Oryol, Ryazan, Tula and Voronezh dioceses. By the beginning of the 20th century in the region (in modern borders) more than five hundred churches and a dozen monasteries operated, thousands of believers visited local shrines on church holidays and celebrations, a whole host of saints and ascetics of faith and piety were revealed to the world.

The revolutionary upheavals of the early 20th century interrupted the natural development of church life in the Lipetsk region. During the years of atheism, many shrines were destroyed, believers were repressed.

In the mid-1920s, a new stage began in the history of Orthodoxy in the Lipetsk region. In 1926, the Lipetsk diocese was created, the first ruling bishop of which was the holy martyr Uar (Shmarin, +1938). Before his arrest, he ruled the parishes of Lipetsk, Borinsky, Zadonsky, Nizhne-Studenetsky, Krasninsky, Lebedyansky and Trubetchinsky districts. The place of his episcopal service was the Church of the Nativity, now the cathedral of the diocese. In 2000, Hieromartyr Uar was canonized. His cassock, located in the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, is revered by the believers of Lipetsk as a shrine.

After the arrest and exile sschmch. War in 1935, the Lipetsk see was headed by Bishop Alexander (Toropov), who was executed in 1937 on charges of organizing and leading a counter-revolutionary monarchist group. Since then, Lipetsk ceased to be the center of the diocese and became part of the Voronezh see. The remaining districts of the Lipetsk region were still under the omophorion of the Oryol, Tambov, Ryazan and Tula bishops.

The period of the 1930s was a time of severe persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church by the atheistic authorities, a time of confession and martyrdom of thousands and thousands of Orthodox Christians - clergy and laity. So far, more than a thousand victims for their faith are known in the Lipetsk region.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, not a single church was operating in Lipetsk, and the clergy was liquidated, often even in the physical sense of the word. Only during the difficult years of the war and post-war reconstruction did the authorities find it possible to return some churches to believers. The Church of the Nativity of the former village of Studenki, opened in 1943, became one of these in Lipetsk. In 1946, services began in the cemetery Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord in Lipetsk. For many years, only in these two churches thousands of believers from Lipetsk and surrounding areas could pray and receive the Holy Mysteries. In several cities and villages of the Lipetsk region, churches were opened immediately after the war, some of them closed in the 1950s, some are still in operation.

Khrushchev's “thaw” brought new persecution of the Church. It was at this time that the former Ascension Cathedral and dozens of other churches in villages were destroyed in Lipetsk, and the return of churches to believers was suspended.

Throughout the post-war period, the church life of the Lipetsk region was connected with the Voronezh, and since 1954, with the Voronezh-Lipetsk diocese. All these years, only a few churches operated in the Lipetsk region. major cities or selah.

In the late 1980s - early 1990s, the state's attitude towards Orthodox Church. The Lipetsk residents managed to achieve the return of the Nativity of Christ Cathedral, which was followed by the revival of other churches in Lipetsk. Churches in former suburban villages are being restored, and active construction of new ones has begun. A true shrine of Orthodoxy, the Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery has once again become the center of spiritual life, where many Orthodox believers flock.

The spiritual feat of many Russian saints and ascetics is associated with the Lipetsk land - Theophan the Recluse, the Venerable Ambrose of Optina and Silouan of Athos, Blessed Hilarion of Troyekurovsky and John of Sezenovsky, the Hieromartyrs of Bishop Uar (Shmarin) of Lipetsk, the first martyr of the Russian clergy Archpriest John Kochurov and many others.

The spiritual revival in the region is associated with the re-establishment of an independent diocese. By decision of the Holy Synod of May 7, 2003, the Voronezh-Lipetsk diocese was divided into two independent departments - Voronezh and Lipetsk. He was appointed temporary administrator of the Lipetsk and Yelets diocese, who became its ruling bishop on December 26 of the same year. The decision to create the Lipetsk diocese was approved by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in October 2004.

Formed on January 6, 1954 from adjacent areas of the Ryazan, Voronezh, Kursk and Oryol regions. Population - 1,156,221 people. (2017).

Orthodoxy in the Lipetsk region

Since the end of the 14th century, Orthodox churches have been built on Lipetsk soil and the first monasteries have been founded.

In the 17th-18th centuries, the territory of the Lipetsk region was subordinated to the Ryazan and Voronezh dioceses. At first XIX century and until 1917, the church history of individual parts of the Lipetsk region was connected with the Tambov, Oryol, Ryazan, Tula and Voronezh dioceses.

The spiritual feat of Russian saints is connected with the Lipetsk land - Saints Tikhon of Zadonsk, Theophan the Recluse, Hieromartyr Uar (Shmarin), Bishop of Lipetsk.

By the beginning of the 20th century, more than five hundred churches operated on the territory of the Lipetsk region, within its modern borders.

In 1926, the Lipetsk diocese was created, the first ruling bishop was the holy martyr Uar (Shmarin). After his arrest and exile in 1935, the Lipetsk see was headed by Bishop Alexander (Toropov), who was executed in 1937 on charges of organizing and leading a counter-revolutionary monarchist group. From that time on, the Lipetsk department was abolished, its territory became part of the Voronezh department.

By decision of the Holy Synod of May 7, 2003, the Voronezh-Lipetsk diocese was divided into two independent departments - Voronezh and Lipetsk. The decision to create the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese was approved by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in October 2004. Bishop Nikon of Zadonsk (Nikolai Ivanovich Vasin) was appointed temporary administrator of the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese. On December 26 of the same year, by Decree of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, he was appointed ruling bishop.

Over the 10-year period of activity, by 2013, in the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese, the number of clergy more than tripled (382 clergy). 97 parishes were opened, 7 monasteries out of 10 operating, 82 altars were consecrated, 26 churches were built, 28 churches were under construction, 207 deaconal and 199 priestly ordinations were performed. Divine services were resumed in more than a hundred churches, and the number of monastics in monasteries doubled.

Settlements

Shrines of the Lipetsk region

Troyekurovsky Dmitrievsky Illarionovsky Convent

Date of foundation: 1871

Status: valid

Address: Lipetsk region, Lebedyansky district, village. Troekurovo

Convent. It appeared near the cell in which the famous ascetic Elder Hilarion (I.M. Fomin, 1773/74-1853) lived since 1824. Officially opened as a community in 1857, in 1871 it received the status of a monastery. In con. XIX century completely rebuilt in stone (the gate bell tower was built in 1907-1909), by the beginning. XX century one of largest monasteries diocese. Closed in 1923, finally liquidated in 1929-1930. The buildings were transferred to the state farm and were partially demolished. Reopened in 2003.

Notes: The wooden cell of Elder Hilarion was preserved in the monastery until the Soviet years.

Zadonsky Nativity of the Virgin Mary Monastery

Date of foundation: beginning XVII century

Status: valid

Address: Lipetsk region, Zadonsky district, Zadonsk

The Zadonsk Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery was founded by two elders-schemamonks, Kirill and Gerasim, who came from the Moscow Sretensky Monastery, who brought around 1610 a copy of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which later became famous as a miraculous one. The monks founded the first wooden church in the name of the Presentation of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God on the banks of the Teshevka River at the confluence with the Don.

Zadonsky Mother of God-Tikhonovsky Tyuninsky Convent

Date of foundation: 1867

Status: valid

Address: Lipetsk region, Zadonsky district, village. Tyunino

The women's community at the Mother of God-Tikhonovskaya Cemetery Church in Zadonsk arose already at the end. 1810s, but due to resistance from surrounding landowners it received official status only in 1860, and from 1867 it became a monastery. The main buildings were built at the end. XIX century, in 1876-1879 a bell tower was built (not preserved). In 1920 it was transformed into an artel, finally closed in 1930, the buildings were transferred to the collective farm. Returned to believers in 1994, the monastery was reopened in 2002.

Temples of the Lipetsk region

Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" (Veshalovka)

The warm stone church of the Icon of the Mother of God was founded in 1768 by the owner of the Guards estate, Captain Yakov Afanasyevich Tatishchev (1725-1806). The church was built and consecrated in 1794. According to the church, the village was called Znamensky.

The author of the project for the Church of the Sign was the then young architect Vasily Ivanovich Bazhenov (1737-1799). During the period of work on the project of this church, he was not yet a member of the Masonic lodge in Russia, therefore the opinion of a number of researchers that there are many Masonic signs and symbols in the architecture of the temple is considered erroneous.

Address: 398505, Lipetsk region, Lipetsk district, village. Hanger

Directions: About 30 minutes by car from Lipetsk.

Church of Demetrius of Thessalonica (Berezovka)

In 1891, the Temple of Demetrius of Thessalonica was built in Berezovka - in memory of the Russian soldiers who fell on the Kulikovo Field. It was erected at his own expense by a major entrepreneur and philanthropist Yu. S. Nechaev-Maltsev.

The design of the church was carried out by the architect A. N. Pomerantsev. There is information that the temple was painted by V. M. Vasnetsov, and the mosaics were performed by the St. Petersburg master V. A. Frolov. The church had columns in the Moorish style. The metal structure of the roof, choirs and stairs were made according to the drawings of engineer V. G. Shukhov.

Today, the paintings and mosaics have not been preserved; the unique three-tent belfry of the temple has been destroyed. Dmitrievskaya Church was abandoned until the beginning of the 21st century. In 2008, its restoration began, first of all it was planned to build a roof of patinated copper.

Address: The village of Berezovka, Dankovsky district, Lipetsk region.

Directions: From Dankov to the northwest there is a road to Kulikovo Field, passing through Berezovka. There, on the left side near the road, stands the Church of Demetrius of Thessalonica.

Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God (Balovnevo)

Built in 1797-1823. A number of researchers consider V.I. to be the author of the project. Bazhenova (1738–1799). The temple represents a rare type of volumetric-spatial composition of early classicism - a two-bell church with a two-tier light drum. In particular, the Trinity Church on the estate of Field Marshal P.A. belongs to a similar type. Rumyantseva Troitskoe-Kainardzhi, whose project was authored by I.E. Grabar was associated with the name of V.I. Bazhenova.

Architect: IN AND. Bazhenov

Address: With. Balovnevo

Directions: From Dankov about 20 km.

Where to stay

Pilgrimage house at Lebedyansky Holy Trinity Convent

Operating since 2005.

Designed for 25 seats. Accepts pilgrims and workers. Provides hot meals.

Address: Russia, 399610, Lipetsk region, Lebedyan, st. Studencheskaya, 12

Operates at the monastery: Lebedyansky Holy Trinity Convent

Social hotel at the St. Dmitrovsky Troekurovsky Hilarionovsky Convent

13.04.2013 15568

In 2006, the Lipetsk Regional Local Lore Society and a team of authors: A.Yu. Klokov, A.A. Naidenov. and Novoseltsev A.V., a wonderful book was published “Temples and Monasteries of the Lipetsk and Yeletsk Diocese. Dace". The enormous work on researching the history of Yelets church life, which was carried out by the authors of the book, was financed by the administration of the Lipetsk region with the blessing of His Eminence the Most Reverend NIKON, Bishop of Lipetsk and Yelets.

However, the book went on sale in Yelets itself only in 2008, and even then in limited quantities. The publication's circulation was only 5,000 copies. I ordered my copy and purchased it in one of the online stores in Moscow in 2009 for 1,600 rubles.

The book continued a multi-ton series of studies and publications telling about the history Orthodox churches, monasteries and chapels that once existed and exist today on the territory of the Lipetsk region within the jurisdiction of the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese, as well as about shrines, saints and ascetics of the Lipetsk land. This volume is a popular science essay on the history of all parish, house, cemetery and monastery churches and chapels that were ever located on the territory of modern Yelets. The book provides information about the construction and future fate temples, their architectural features and interior decoration, shrines and remarkable events in their history, people who built and decorated Yelets churches, who glorified them with their ascetic life, clergy and clergy of Yelets churches.

KLOKOV Alexander Yurievich- Chairman of the Lipetsk Regional Local Lore Society, member of the Public Chamber of the Lipetsk Region, Lipetsk.

NAYDENOV Andrey Anatolievich- Head of the State Directorate for Security cultural heritage Lipetsk region, head of the historical section of the Lipetsk regional local history society, secretary of the Commission for the canonization of saints of the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese, Lipetsk.

NOVOSELTSEV Alexander Vasilievich— architect, member of the Union of Architects of Russia, member of the Union of Writers of Russia, advisor Russian Academy architecture and construction sciences, Yelets.

The book uses documents and photographs from the collections of RGIA, RGADA, IIMK RAS, State Historical Museum, GNIMA, GALO, GAOO, LOKM, EKM, the database “New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia” of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Humanitarian University (Moscow), the archive of the magazine’s editors “Bulletin of Church History” (Moscow), personal collections of the authors, as well as V.A. Zausailova, R.A. Grigorieva, A.V. Okuneva, Archpriests V. Romanov, P. Lyudaev and N. Donenko, Priest S. Dorofeev, V.A. Dushichkina, A.K Kozyavina, L.A. Moreva, Yu.M. Migunova, N.A. Butyagina, S.V. Kabanova.

• Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Argamachya Sloboda
• Temple of the Holy Princes Michael of Tver and Alexander Nevsky - Grand Duke
• Notes
• Name index

The book about the churches and monasteries of Yelets became a worthy continuation of the series, the publication of which was undertaken last year through the joint work of the Lipetsk and Yelets diocese, the administration of the Lipetsk region and the public association - the Lipetsk Regional Local Lore Society.

Yelets is not only second in population and economic potential locality Lipetsk region. This is the oldest city in the region, the glorious pages of its past are forever inscribed in the history of our entire country. Picturesque location, well-preserved city planning structure, a large number of historical and cultural monuments make Yelets a real pearl among the cultural heritage of the Lipetsk region. This is all the more relevant in view of the active development tourism opportunities region and the creation of a special economic zone of the tourist and recreational type “Elets” on the territory of the city.

Ancient Yelets with its dozens of temples and chapels, among which stand out the original architectural masterpieces— The Ascension Cathedral, the Grand Ducal Church, the ensemble of the Znamensky Monastery are capable and should become a true center of tourism, both cultural and pilgrimage. The leadership of the region is doing a lot to ensure that Yelets churches and monasteries regain their original appearance, which amazed all guests of Yelets with its beauty and charm back at the beginning of the 20th century.

But, in addition to the “physical” restoration of the Yelets shrines, we all face one more important task. We are talking about all possible assistance to the spiritual revival of our fellow countrymen. Therefore, the publication of books such as “Temples and Monasteries of the Lipetsk and Yelets Diocese” - the fruit of cooperation between the state, church and society - will serve as another basis for the revival of national culture and the preservation of historical memory, without which full-fledged movement forward is impossible.

O.P. Korolev, head of the administration of the Lipetsk region

Blessed city of Yelets. The very mention of this evokes truly holy feelings in us. ancient city, rightfully considered one of the spiritual centers of Lipetsk land. The silhouettes of numerous churches of God have long become the personification of Yelets itself, and its entire history is literally permeated with evidence of God’s Providence and the deeds of a whole host of holy saints.

Tradition attributes the founding of Yelets in its current location to the blessing of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, who visited the city in 1357 on his way to the Horde. Our other great saint, Tikhon of Zadonsk, who sincerely loved Yelets, perhaps more than other cities, was a comforter and mentor for many residents of Yelets during his retirement at the Zadonsk Mother of God Monastery. Since ancient times, the Yelts themselves were famous for their piety and zeal for the temples of God, fidelity to the foundations of the Orthodox Faith, meekness and mutual consent. All this allowed Saint Tikhon to call Yelets “New Zion” and again and again, at the behest of his heart, to come to the inhabitants who deeply revered him and find spiritual relief and tranquility among the virtuous Yelets residents. A significant number of saints and ascetics of faith and piety are connected with Yelets with their lives and exploits. And all of them, in one way or another, left their bright mark on the history of Yelets churches, monasteries and chapels, the number of which at the beginning of the 20th century “New Zion” could compete with many provincial cities of Russia. All this became the subject of a new study by secular historians A.Yu. Klokova, A.L. Naydenov and A.V. Novoseltseva.

A new book about the shrines of Yelets, continuing the series “Temples and Monasteries of the Lipetsk and Yelets Diocese”, will become a true encyclopedia of the church history of the second cathedral city of our diocese.

Nikon, Bishop of Lipetsk and Yeletsk

From the authors

The second book in the series “Temples and Monasteries of the Lipetsk and Yelets Diocese” is dedicated to Yelets, the oldest and most historically and culturally interesting city in the Lipetsk region. The ancient merchant Yelets - an outpost city of the Russian land on the border with the steppe, famous for its warriors and ascetics, many churches and monasteries - is now the second cathedral city Lipetsk diocese. Yelets is one of the main centers of Orthodoxy in our region, the focus of many areas of its spiritual life. To get acquainted with its church history, to learn and understand the past of Yelets churches and monasteries, the asceticism of their builders, ministers and benefactors means in many ways to learn the very history of the church in our region, the depth of faith of our ancestors, who glorified the Lord with all their hearts and performed spiritual deeds in His glory, at the same time they spared no effort and money to build and decorate more and more temples of God. The authors of the book saw this as their main task, wanting to complement, clarify and, if possible, develop the works of their predecessors.

The history of Yelets shrines has attracted the attention of many researchers since the mid-19th century. Then one of the first local historians of Yelets - mayor, and then chief of police, Colonel Nikolai Aleksandrovich Ridinger, in his book “Materials for the history and statistics of the city of Yelets” (Orel, 1865) devoted a significant part of his work to them.

Another Elchan resident, merchant and local historian Yegor Ivanovich Nazarov, published a number of articles on the history of some city churches, as well as the Znamensky and Trinity monasteries in the “Proceedings of the Oryol Scientific Archival Commission” (Oryol, 1895).

Hieromonk of the Zadonsk Mother of God Monastery Geronty (Kurganovsky) in 1894 and 1895. published two books dedicated to the Yelets monasteries - “Historical and statistical description of the Yeletsk Holy Trinity third-class male monastery” and “Historical description of the Yeletsk Znamensky nunnery, which Stone Mountain”, in which he described in detail the history of the monasteries themselves, their churches and attractions, the most famous abbots and abbess, and ascetics.

Teacher of the Oryol Theological Seminary Gabriel Mikhailovich Pyasetsky in the book “History of the Oryol Diocese and Description of Churches, Parishes and Monasteries”
(Orel, 1899) devoted significant space to the church past of Yelets. And in the first volume " Historical description churches, parishes and monasteries of the Oryol diocese”, published by the Oryol Church Historical and Archaeological Society (Oryol, 1905), a separate article is devoted to each temple in Yelets, containing extensive historical and statistical information. The last major work in the study of the church past of Yelets before 1917 was the publication in 1911 by the Yelets newspaper “Voice of Order” of the book by Alexei Konstantinovich Voskresensky “The City of Yelets in its Present and Past”, in which the author collected all the most important and interesting from previous publications with the addition of information from the clergy registers of Yelets churches for 1909. Unfortunately, the clergy registers did not survive the cataclysms of the 20th century, which makes the book by A.K. Voskresensky is especially valuable. The above works, with all their shortcomings due to their reliance on the “legendary” history of Yelets and a narrow range of historical sources, have a number of undoubted advantages.

They contain documents that have not survived to our time, or testimonies of direct eyewitnesses to many events in the church history of Yelets.

A new stage in the study of Yelets shrines was the work on the topic in our time by Yelets architects and local historians Viktor Petrovich Gorlov and Alexander Vasilyevich Novoseltsev. Their books “The Ascension Cathedral in Yelets” (Lipetsk, 1992), “Elets Was Built for Centuries” (Lipetsk, 1993), “Temple of the Icon of the Yeletsk Mother of God” (Lipetsk, 1995) and “The Grand Ducal Church in Yelets” (Elets, 2005) in greatly supplemented and clarified the history of a number of Yelets churches and monasteries, greatly facilitating the task of the authors of this publication.

The main sources for the book about the temples of Yelets were materials from the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts (Moscow), the Russian State Historical Archive (St. Petersburg) and the State Archive of the Lipetsk Region. Unfortunately, the archive of the Oryol spiritual consistory was almost completely destroyed in Soviet time. Its pitiful remains are now stored in the State Archives Oryol region. Among the surviving documents, only a few relate to Yelets. It is painful to realize what a huge layer of invaluable information about the construction, consecration and decoration of Yelets churches, the activities of their clergy and clergy, church elders and benefactors, the everyday life of parishes, the solemn and significant moments of the parish life of Yelets we have lost irretrievably.

Serious assistance in the work on the book, especially in view of the lack of clergy registers of Yelets churches, were the publications of the Oryol Diocesan Gazette, published from 1865 to 1918, as well as issues of the Proceedings of the Oryol Scientific Archival Commission and the Oryol Church Historical and Archaeological societies that saw the light of day at the beginning of the 20th century. Interesting historical and statistical information was gleaned by the authors from “memorable books” and address calendars of the Oryol province for 1868-1917. and “Reference book on the Oryol diocese for 1903”, various pre-revolutionary publications dedicated to the Oryol province and diocese, the city of Yelets. Newspapers of the 1900-1930s, previously underestimated by researchers, became an invaluable source on the church life of Yelets.

The post-war stage of the church history of Yelets is presented on the basis of the archives of the Oryol-Sevskaya (1944-1954), Voronezh-Lipetsk (1954-2003) and Lipetsk and Yeletsk (2003-2006) dioceses, authorized by the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Council of Ministers of the USSR for Oryol and Lipetsk regions, private meetings of clergy and parishioners of Yelets churches, media publications, oral testimonies of direct participants in the events. Full list The sources and literature used are given in the notes at the end of the book.

As in the first volume, in this edition each of the churches of Yelets is presented in a separate essay, placed in the book depending on the purpose of the temple in the church life of the city and the time of its creation. After the cathedral, parish, house and cemetery churches there are essays about the monasteries and chapels of Yelets. Essays on temples that were built at a relatively later time, but are “successors” of more ancient churches, are located immediately after the article on their predecessors. As an appendix to the history of each temple, the most complete lists of its clergy and clergy from ancient times to the present are given. To the essays about the Yelets monasteries - respectively, lists of abbots and abbess of these monasteries. For the first time and most full list Yelets bishops - vicars of the Oryol diocese.

The preparation and publication of this book as part of a multi-volume series conceived by the authors dedicated to the history of churches and monasteries, saints and ascetics, church life and shrines of the Lipetsk region, took place thanks to the regional target program “Development of Civil Society” and the understanding of the need for such a project by the head of the administration of the Lipetsk region Oleg Petrovich Korolev and the regional Council of Deputies, headed by its chairman Pavel Ivanovich Putalin. We joyfully say “God bless” our Bishop - His Eminence, the Most Reverend Nikon, Bishop of Lipetsk and Yeletsk - whose blessing to continue our work served us with great spiritual support in working on the book. We again thank the head of the public relations department of the administration of the Lipetsk region, Anatoly Nikolaevich Larin, and his employees, A.A., for their help. Bykova, L.V. Nazarov and L.Yu. Loshkarev. And also the secretary of the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese, rector of the Nativity of Christ cathedral Lipetsk Archpriest Vasily Bilchuk.

The authors express their gratitude for the selfless help and materials provided to Archpriests Vasily Romanov and Peter Lyudaev, Hegumen Mitrofan (Shkurin), Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov (St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Humanitarian University, Moscow), Archpriest Nikolai Donenko (Crimean Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church), Priest Sergius Dorofeev (Voronezh and Borisoglebsk diocese), Priest Mikhail Zharkov (Oryol and Sevsk diocese), Alexander Ivanovich Gamayunov, Renita Andreevna Grigorieva, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Zausailov, Alexey Kuzmich Kozyavin, Viktor Anatolyevich Livtsov, Nikolai Nikolaevich Valuysky, Alevtina Vitalievna Okuneva, Viktor Petrovich Gorlov , Valery Borisovich Polyakov, Yuri Ivanovich Churilin, Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich Dushichkin, Valentina Vasilievna Titova, Vadim Vladimirovich Dronov, Eletsky specialists local history museum, employees of the MBA and reference and bibliographic departments of the Lipetsk Regional Universal scientific library, management of NEKS-info LLC (Lipetsk). Special thanks to Viktor Anatolyevich Beshenov, who provided the authors with significant assistance in preparing the list of clergy and clergy of Yelets churches.

We are experiencing huge gratitude to our family and friends, whose participation and understanding greatly contributed to the creation of this book.

Temples and monasteries of the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese. Dace. —Lipetsk: LOKO, 2006. - 512 p.

At the time of the formation of the diocese (in 2003) carried out their activities on its territory 3 monasteries: Zadonsky Nativity-Bogoroditsky Monastery, St. Tikhonsky Transfiguration Convent and Mother of God-Tikhonovsky (Tyunina) Convent. All three monasteries are historically connected with the name of St. Tikhon, Bishop of Voronezh, Zadonsk miracle worker. Over the ten-year period of activity of the Lipetsk and Yeletsk diocese, the restoration of diocesan monasteries was carried out at a rapid pace.

In Zadonsk Nativity of the Virgin monastery The appearance of all 7 churches has been restored, and services are held in two of them. The residential buildings of the monastery have been restored, hotels, warehouses and production facilities have been built, the territory of the monastery has been landscaped, and the restoration of the monastery fence has been completely completed. More than 400 monks strive and work in the monastery. They are engaged in restoration work, cultivating 600 hectares of arable land, spiritually nourishing not only the townspeople, but also thousands of pilgrims who come to the monastery from all over Russia and from abroad. The monastery helps in the restoration of 13 churches and 7 monasteries of the diocese.

The St. Tikhon's Transfiguration Convent has been completely restored. A new refectory was built, new outbuildings were erected.

In the Mother of God-Tikhonovsky (Tyunina) convent, 2 monastery churches, sister buildings, a bell tower, a monastery fence, industrial workshops and outbuildings were restored.

In the first year of the diocese's activity, in 2003, 3 monasteries were opened and registered with the justice authorities: Assumption Monastery in the city of Lipetsk, Peter and Paul Monastery in the Chaplyginsky district, St. Dimitrievsky Troekurovsky Convent in the village. Troekurovo, Lebedyansky district.

Over a ten-year period, in the St. Dimitrievsky Troekurovsky convent in the village of Troekurovo, Lebedyansky district, the following was restored: a temple in honor of the Great Martyr. Demetrius of Thessaloniki, the bell tower, the monastery fence, the restoration of the Vladimir Cathedral, the Elias Church and the construction of the refectory are underway. In the Holy Dormition Monastery, construction is underway of a fraternal building with a house church in honor of the martyrs. War, Bishop of Lipetsk.

Restoration of the Peter and Paul Monastery is underway at the Peter and Paul Monastery cathedral church, monastery fence, Holy gates of the monastery.

In 2004 The Holy Synod blessed the opening and restoration of the almost completely destroyed Znamensky convent in the city of Yelets. Over the 8 years of activity, the monastery has been completely restored and landscaped. The Znamensky and Nikolsky monastery churches, a bell tower, a refectory, and cells were built, and the majestic monastery fence was restored. Near the walls of the monastery, a bathhouse was built on the site of a holy spring in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring.”

By decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2005 Another monastery was opened. The parish of the Annunciation Church in the village of Ozhoga, Volovsky district, Lipetsk region, was transformed into the Annunciation Diocesan Convent. The women's monastic community, which existed here even under Soviet rule, was transformed into a monastery thanks to the labors and prayers of its founder, Schema-Archimandrite Seraphim (Mirchuk). At the time of the opening of the monastery, there were 36 monastics in the monastery, of which 19 monastics. By 2012, 48 monastics labored in the monastery, 25 of them in the Great Schema.

By decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2006 The Holy Trinity Convent opens in the city of Lebedyan. At the moment, the Trinity Cathedral and the majestic monastery fence have been completely restored in the monastery, and the restoration of the Assumption and Ilyinsky churches of the monastery has begun.

In 2010 Another monastic monastery was opened - St. John of Kazan Convent in the village. Sezenovo, previously destroyed during the years of Soviet power. In 2007, the relics of the confessor and founder of the St. John of Kazan Sezenovsky Convent - Blessed John of Sezenovsky, a locally revered ascetic of piety - were found. By the beginning of the opening of the monastery (in 2010), it was restored lower temple Trinity Cathedral, where services are held and the relics of Blessed John of Sezenov are located. The restoration of the Holy Gates of the monastery has begun.