Biryulevsky Monastery. The suffering of the Berlyuk desert. Unique monastery bell tower

The bell tower of the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery is indeed several meters higher than the 88-meter tall Ivan the Great. But few people know about the monastery itself, more often called the Nikolo-Berlyukovskaya Hermitage. Perhaps the reason is that it stands away from the famous tourist routes - 40 kilometers northeast of Moscow, on the outskirts of the village of Avdotino, on the Vore River. This is not far from Noginsk, which - there are rumors - will return its historical name Bogorodsk in 2018.

The Berliuk Hermitage remembers times of prosperity and oblivion, great disasters and miraculous gains, ascetic service to God and cruel mockery of faith. By the way, returning to the beautiful bell tower: in Soviet times they tried to cut down the cross from it more than once: they cut it with an autogen gun, and even carried out some work from a helicopter. Did not work out. In 1993, the domestic comedy film “Pistol with a Silencer” was filmed here. When, in accordance with the plot, naked women began to run around the monastery’s Trinity Cathedral, the cross fell on its own. Fortunately, it was possible to save it, and now, updated and gilded, it, as before, crowns the bell tower.

However, everything is in order. The history of the monastery began during the difficult times of the Great Troubles for Rus'. In 1606, Hieromonk Varlaam came to these places from the Stromynsky Monastery and brought with him an ancient icon of St. Nicholas (Nicholas the Wonderworker, otherwise known as Nicholas the Pleasant, St. Nicholas - one of the most revered saints by the Orthodox Church, third after the Savior and the Mother of God; by the way, it is revered equally by all Christian denominations). And from the Prechistensky convent, Abbess Avdotya and treasurer Ulyana came to the Vorya River. They all ended up here because their monasteries were destroyed by the Poles. Later, the village of Avdotino, which arose where the abbess settled, began to be called by the name of Avdotya; Ulyana began to live on the mountain, now called Ulyanina, and Varlaam - in the cemetery, where over time he built a Temple in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with the help of benefactors and local residents.

So the first part in the name of the monastery is explained simply: in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, dozens of churches and monasteries were erected throughout Russia at different times. Where did the Berlyuks come from?

It turns out that “berls” are rooks. Nearby there is a “same-rooted” place called Berlino. During archaeological excavations on the Vora in the 70s of the last century, the remains of an oak pier were found here: many centuries ago the river was navigable. And there was also a city built in the 9th-10th centuries: during the excavations, many household items and decorations were found, including even Venetian glass. Where did it come from here, in the Russian wilderness? Or was it not such a wilderness here a thousand years ago?

Starting with a chapel, the monastery gradually grew, going through different times, but it was never particularly famous. But on May 24, 1829, a new countdown of time began in the Berlyukovskaya Hermitage: on this day, the miraculous icon “The Kiss of Jesus Christ by Judas” was found here. Local peasant woman Tatyana Kuznetsova, blind due to a severe eye disease, saw in a dream both the icon itself and its location - in the monastery bakery. They found the icon, served a prayer service, then blessed the water with which the blind woman anointed her eyes - and received her sight!

The icon made the monastery famous. A stream of pilgrims came here for healing, for spiritual insight. The monastic Trinity Cathedral, in which the miraculous image was located, could not accommodate everyone. By the middle of the 19th century, a new cathedral was built - the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (just like the Moscow Cathedral, it was built with donations). There were so many people who wanted to visit the monastery that at the beginning of the last century it was even planned to lay tram tracks 17 kilometers long from Bogorodsk to the Berlyukov monastery - however, the war began, and then the revolution broke out.

It is clear that after the Bolsheviks came to power, the monastery was closed, and all the valuables stored here were confiscated. What happened to the miraculous image of the Savior is unknown. For another two decades there was a slight glimmer of church life here. The last liturgy took place in 1937. 80 monks and 350 workers with their families (workers are people who live and work in the monastery, but do not belong to the brethren) were arrested and exiled. Today the monastery houses an icon with images of priests from surrounding churches who were shot in the 20-30s and much later elevated to the status of holy martyrs.

The abandoned monastery, like many others, has housed a psychiatric tuberculosis clinic since the middle of the last century. This cannot be called anything other than mockery and mockery of the authorities: they say that believers are fools, and even contagious... your place is on the reservation. But one of the enterprising head doctors of this hospital, which, by the way, belongs to the Moscow healthcare system, successfully rented out apartments to her patients - who still had them.

Since 2002, negotiations between the Moscow Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and the capital's departments began regarding the return of the territory and buildings to the monastery. Two years later, the first service was held here, and since 2006, the Nikolo-Berlyukovskaya Hermitage again became officially considered a monastery. All patients were transported to Khimki. Those of them who wished to confess and receive communion were able to do so. So we touched God - finally...

To say that the monastery was then in a terrible state is to say nothing. But everything somehow came together and united for him to be reborn.

Firstly, serious state support, without which restoration would simply be impossible: within the framework of the Federal Target Program “Culture of Russia 2012 – 2018”, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation allocated serious funds to the monastery (by the way, over the years of the program’s implementation, more than 50 churches and monasteries have already been restored all around Russia). Today, the bell tower and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior have been almost completely renovated. Almost the entire altar in the Temple is ready: the monastery buys icons for it for a lot of money from the icon painters of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Secondly, the energy of the abbot of the monastery, abbot Evmeniy (Lagutin), who calmly and confidently leads its revival (by the way, the first education of Father Evmeniy, who was born 49 years ago seven kilometers from the Berlyukovskaya Hermitage, is the Bauman Institute. This is where it is necessary for any repair and restoration, engineering knowledge, professional understanding of any technical matter).

But on the territory of the monastery there are five more abandoned churches, not to mention residential and outbuildings. Now the renovation of the Trinity Cathedral, where the hospital catering unit was located, is beginning. It’s still scary to even go there... We need money, and a lot of it. The monastery has donors and givers. Some are famous - for example, Olga Ostroumova with Valentin Gaft. JSC Shchelkovokhleb allocated funds for the purchase of bells for the bell tower. And there are those who help generously, but do not want to talk about themselves.

One of the churches waiting for its revival is a cave one. Yes, yes, cave! The caves in these parts are very ancient, of miraculous origin. They have long been inhabited by elder schema-monks who chose for themselves the strictest rules of Mount Athos, which presuppose almost round-the-clock prayer. In the 19th century, the idea of ​​a strict, ascetic lifestyle was very popular in the monastic environment. In 1865, a cave temple in the name of St. John the Baptist was built here. For him, at the famous Kasli plant, a gilded cast-iron iconostasis weighing 180 pounds was made (cast iron - because metal lasts much longer underground than wood).

In 2007, it was possible to begin research work on the site of the cave temple - it was a huge garbage dump. The goal was to save the unique iconostasis. Everyone went to work: from the rector and the brethren, to the parishioners and residents of the village of Avdotino. And then an amazing view opened up of the iconostasis standing on the church floor, of the entire cave temple, and of the underground passages. To date, the underground caves that served as homes for hermit monks have been partially opened and cleared, and the cast-iron iconostasis has been raised. Ahead lies the work of its restoration and the revival of the entire amazing temple.

There is another unique place in the monastery: the Romanov Walk of Fame, which began to be created in 2011. Today on the alley there are busts of Russian emperors Paul I, Alexander I, Alexander II, Nicholas II. Nearby there are signs telling about the deeds of representatives of the imperial dynasty, about great victories, about the times of prosperity of the Russian Empire. By the way, many of the abbots of the monastery at various times corresponded with members of the Romanov dynasty; Hegumen Evmeniy is a member of the council of the Moscow regional branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society.

Katerina ★★★★★

(30-05-2016)

Holy place! Thankful!
We visited here on May 29th and were so happy. Mother Cherubima, a nun, told the touching story of the monastery and its revival. The refectory is wonderful! Delicious pies, awesome potatoes, Ivan tea is very tasty. I bought everything for myself.
The refectory is located behind the Walk of Fame, where there are monuments to the rulers of the House of Romanov.
The lower underground temple was impressive, damp, cold....and prayerful.
I really liked the abbot of the monastery Evmeniy. An open priest, very tactful, I met him on the way from the refectory. Grace!
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I want to return to this monastery again.

Elena ★★★★★

(19-03-2016)

There is such a priest in this monastery that in 2-3 years the entire territory will turn into paradise. God bless you!

November 23, 2015, the Bell Tower was consecrated! Worth it, beauty! They vacated the hospital, completely. It immediately became more spacious, but apparently there was even more work - the area of ​​the monastery has increased! The Avenue of the Kings has expanded to Pavel. In the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, it’s also nice to look at (however, there is only the central part in the iconostasis), especially at the design of the Icon of the Kiss of Jesus Christ by Judas. Well, in the Church of the Archangel Michael in the basement, it’s the most comfortable place. It’s worth looking at the changes! For a change for the better - 5!

Igor ★★★★★

(4-12-2014)

I came to the monastery for the first time in 2008. Now I try to come to the liturgy every Sunday. Previously, only the lower temple was open. Amazing place. Once you've been there, you don't want to leave.

Avtodor ★★★★★

(2-07-2014)

I recently found out about this monastery and stopped by. As of July 2014, the bell tower is completely covered in scaffolding and is undergoing active restoration. Once the restoration is complete it will be very beautiful. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior without scaffolding, the lower church was opened. The area is quite well-groomed, there is a small refectory with tea and pies. Not the most famous monastery in the Moscow region, but definitely worth a visit.

The monastery is being actively restored. There are services in the church and there are many parishioners. At the entrance to the monastery territory and up to the temple, the Walk of Fame of the Romanov House is filled with busts of representatives of the dynasty, with explanatory plaques. The bells are still not on the ground. The bell tower has not even begun to be restored. It is amazing in its height. According to local residents, they cannot resolve the territorial dispute - part of the monastery buildings is still occupied by a psychiatric hospital.

The place is very pleasant, quiet, calm, majestic. The road is good, the nature around is simply amazing, especially now, in the fall. It’s just a pity that the monastery itself is being restored, and, apparently, very slowly. The temple, for example, has been restored since 2004 (judging by the inscription on it) and it is still in the forests. Most of the area around the temple is occupied by some kind of building materials. This gives you the feeling that you’ve come to a friend’s dacha who is having renovations done. But you can admire the beautiful bells that still stand right in the yard. ... continuation src="/jpg/plus.gif">

And, most importantly, take a walk along the opposite bank of the Vori River, there is a wonderful forest and the best view of the monastery.

★★★★★

(13-09-2012)

The monastery is being restored, and there is a holy spring nearby in the forest. Beautiful nature. It is a little depressing that there is still a psychiatric hospital next door to the monastery since Soviet times...

Evgesha83 ★★★★★

(23-08-2011)

Yes, really beautiful places. The height of the bell tower (105 meters) is amazing.
Behind the monastery there is a cemetery, and in the cemetery there is a chapel. Near the chapel, two entrances to the underground “labyrinth” were dug. When you come down, the spirit is mesmerizing. Brick walls and marble floors. To go to the “dungeon”, bring along walkie-talkies and flashlights, and it would also be a good idea to take oxygen cylinders with you; after walking a hundred meters underground under the cemetery, it’s already hard to breathe.
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description with diagram.

Valery ★★★★★

(6-07-2011)

We often visit this temple. The attitude of the temple servants towards the parishioners is impressive. Very kind, friendly and, against the backdrop of Moscow churches, humane. Lighted up my car. To the question: how much does this service cost? I received an answer - how much will you give. And in Moscow churches they announced 5-15,000 rubles. I gave as much as I could. I received gratitude and now, whenever I am there, I try to donate as much as possible and do it with joy.

The most impressive thing for me was even the not yet restored bell tower. Beautiful! Otherwise, the monastery is now a construction site. The church is being restored, the foundation is being laid for some new building. Near the fraternal building, an old iconostasis is leaning barely noticeably against the wall. You won't notice it right away.

Tatyana ★★★★☆

(11-04-2011)

We visited the monastery again on 04/09/11. Indeed, restoration is proceeding very slowly. So far, only one church and a powerful bell tower have been given to the monastery. The church has so far been renovated only on the outside; services are held in the basement.

The monastery is huge in area and is in a state of constant restoration. The bell tower is visible from afar, and when they put a cross on it, it was very noticeable. I drive past it all the time. I’ve also been to Voskresensky many times and walked around the church grounds.

I have been observing the restoration in the monastery for many years, because... I often pass by. She walks very slowly. I visited this place for the first time on a tour. The architecture is interesting, there are also positive changes. The main temple has been almost restored; in its basement, a warm temple with brick vaults has been created from scratch, very interesting from the point of view. technical and architectural solutions. A cross was installed on the bell tower several years ago, but the work on its restoration has hardly moved forward.

Yulia Albertovna ★★★★★

(6-09-2010)

Yes, it’s really beautiful! We go there very often! There’s a refectory there at the monastery, very tasty kvass and honey, and you can also buy milk (cow’s, goat’s), sour cream there. The water at the source is just great!!! I recommend it to everyone, (heals feet)

Natalia ★★★★★

(17-04-2008)

We love visiting this monastery when passing through. A strong impression is left by the suddenly opening view of the monastery walls and (of course) the bell tower, if you drive from the highway.
Perhaps, when everything is restored, it will also be beautiful, but, in my opinion, now it is its “unrestored brick” state, the grass and young trees growing on the bell tower that give the monastery complex a special charm. Characteristically: on the wall next to the bell tower there is a sign “Caution, bricks are falling.”
By the way, about the source...

Forty-two kilometers northeast of Moscow, on the banks of the Vori River, Nikolo-Berlyukovsky is located, which, along with most of the holy monasteries of Russia, has experienced both periods of prosperity and years of desolation. Both the anger and mercy of those in power were clearly reflected in his fate. And today, when the people have woken up after decades of atheistic madness, people again need him as the guardian of their primordial spiritual values.

The first monks on the Vore River

There is an opinion among historians that the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery originates from caves dug here by the first monks who came here in the 12th-13th centuries. Despite the fact that in the Russian lands, cave dwelling, due to climatic conditions, was the lot of only a relatively small circle of the most ardent ascetics, examples of this monastic feat can be found throughout our history.

It has been established that in ancient, even pre-Christian times, there was a pagan temple on the shore, and the first inhabitants of the monastery, having settled in these places, erected two churches in the place of the idols they had defeated - in the name of St. John the Baptist and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of Myra. In this regard, the history of the foundation of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra involuntarily comes to mind, where the first buildings were erected on the site of idols thrown into the Dnieper waters.

Hieromonk-fire victim

The place chosen was not far from the village of Berlino (in subsequent years Avdotino), so the monastery they founded was initially called St. Nicholas Berlin Hermitage. Its history began to actively develop after the appearance of Hieromonk Varlaam in these parts, who came here at the beginning of the 17th century, when the Russian land was engulfed in the fire of the Time of Troubles. Previously, he was a resident of the Stromynsky Assumption Monastery, located near the village of Fryanovo, but devastated by the Poles and burned by them in 1603.

It is interesting to note that it was after its appearance in historical documents of that era that the monastery began to be called the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery. Researchers have no definite opinion about the origin of this name. Popular rumor connects it with the name of a certain robber named Berliuk, who hunted in these parts and then repented, which means “wolf”, or simply “beast”.

Whether this legend has any real basis is unknown, especially since attributing the founding of monasteries to former repentant villains has become part of the folk tradition. An example of this is the famous one, also allegedly founded by the robber Opta.

The beginning of the monastic community

About how Father Varlaam began his monastic service on the banks of the Vori, only fragmentary information has been preserved, which was brought to us by documents of that era. However, it is known that soon after the ascetic dug for himself an earthen cell and, having settled in it, devoted himself to fasting and prayer, other monks from ruined monasteries began to come to him, and with them laymen who wanted to devote their lives to serving God. Gradually the number of desert inhabitants began to increase.

It is also known that one day two venerable elders appeared to Father Varlaam - Abbess Evdokia, who headed the nearby Assumption Monastery of the Baptist, and her treasurer Juliania. They brought an ancient icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker as a gift to the monastery.

For this holy image, Elder Varlaam and the brethren erected a wooden chapel, cut from the trunks of a pine forest spread around. Residents of the surrounding villages soon learned about the appearance of the shrine and began to come to the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery in large numbers. Very soon, through prayers in front of the image, miracles began to happen, and many sufferers received healing.

The first stone building of the monastery

As the number of pilgrims who wanted to venerate the miraculous icon and heed the instructions of Elder Varlaam increased, the monastery’s hitherto meager treasury was replenished. Several years passed, and with donations from pilgrims and contributions from the boyars who visited the monastery, a stone church was erected on the site of the former chapel, consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

In 1710, since the monastery (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) did not yet have official status by decision of the diocesan leadership, the temple received the status of a metochion of the Moscow Chudov Monastery, and several monks, led by abbot Pohomius, arrived from the capital to serve in it, as well as for the general arrangement. This was a significant step towards recognition of the monastery by the Moscow Patriarchate.

The patriarchal order to establish a new monastery came seven years later, and, having received official status, the hermitage was removed from the jurisdiction of the Chudov Monastery. History has preserved the name of the first, he was Hieromonk Diodorus, who devoted twenty years to serving God within the walls of the monastery entrusted to him.

Abbot dissident

In 1731, he was replaced by Hieromonk Josiah, who enjoyed great authority among the princesses Maria and Theodosia - the sisters of the late Tsar Peter I. The fate of this faithful son of the Russian Orthodox Church was tragic. He had the courage to openly oppose the policies of Empress Anna Ioannovna, who ruled in those years.

As is known, the decade of her reign was characterized by the dominance of foreigners in all government structures and the general pro-Western orientation of politics. Being a patriot of Russia, Father Josiah was not afraid to publicly denounce both the empress herself, who trampled on national interests, and her corrupt officials. For his dissent, he was exiled to an eternal settlement in Kamchatka, where he soon died, unable to withstand its harsh climate.

Seditious Monastery

Many monks also fell into disgrace, according to denunciations received by the Secret Chancellery, who “favourably listened” to their abbot. True, the sentence against the brethren was not so severe, and the authorities limited themselves to deporting them to other monasteries. However, since then the monastery itself (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) began to gradually decline. In Russia, secular power has always had priority over ecclesiastical power; it is natural that a monastery, tainted by political sedition, could not count on the support of the Holy Synod.

First abolition of the monastery

The position of the monastery did not change for the better in subsequent reigns. Moreover, in 1770, under Catherine II, who, as is known, pursued a policy of secularization, that is, taking away church lands, the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky monastery was completely abolished, and the Nikolsky Church located on its territory received the status of a parish church.

Only after nine years, thanks to numerous appeals from local residents and representatives of the clergy, by decree of the Moscow Spiritual Consistory, the monastery (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky) regained its rights. However, the former free-thinking of his brethren was not in vain - the monastery received the status of a provincial desert, that is, it was deprived of any material support from the church authorities and had to exist solely at the expense of its own resources. At that year, there were eight such superfluous monasteries in the Moscow diocese.

Under the patronage of Metropolitan Platon

Hieromonk Joasaph was appointed rector of the revived monastery - a man who was not only deeply religious, but also possessed extraordinary economic and business acumen. He managed to earn the trust of the outstanding church figure of that time, Metropolitan Platon (Levshin), who enjoyed great influence at court, and, thanks to his support, received a blessing and, importantly, funds for the construction of a new church in honor of the Holy Trinity. When the construction was completed, Metropolitan Platon personally consecrated it, and made a significant contribution of liturgical books and various utensils.

A century of active construction of the monastery

After the death of Abbot Joasaph in 1794, the monastery continued to expand. Throughout the 19th century, various buildings for both liturgical and economic purposes were erected on its territory. In 1835, the foundation stone of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior took place, which later became the architectural center of the monastery complex.

In addition, the most notable buildings are: the gate stone church built in 1840 in honor of Basil the Great, as well as the bell tower erected in 1851, onto which a bell weighing more than a thousand pounds was raised. In addition, two years later the brethren solemnly consecrated a new stone church, built with donations from the merchant F. F. Nabilkin.

Unique monastery bell tower

The end of the 19th century was marked by the construction of the most grandiose structure for which the Nikolo-Berlyukovskaya hermitage became famous throughout Russia. The monastery managed to find funds and opportunities for the construction of one of these buildings. This structure, built according to the design of the Moscow architect Alexander Stepanovich Kaminsky, is unique both as an architectural monument and as a bold engineering project.

Its height is eighty-eight meters, and on top it was crowned with a cross, cast by master Shuvalov from red copper and weighing more than six hundred kilograms. All construction was carried out with voluntary donations from the capital's merchants Samoilov and the Lyapin brothers.

Second abolition of the monastery

In 1920, the anti-religious campaign undertaken by the new authorities reached Avdotino. The Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery was closed, most of its buildings began to be used for various economic needs, and the main church was turned into a parish church. A year later, intensifying atheistic activity, the authorities banned religious processions, and in 1922 they confiscated valuables.

All silver utensils were requisitioned, including vessels, frames for icons and liturgical books, as well as pectoral and altar crosses. The last time the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the church was in February 1930. Throughout the subsequent period, until the beginning of the nineties, the buildings of the monastery were used for purely economic purposes.

Revival of the monastery

The beginning of the revival of the monastery should be considered the autumn of 1992, when a religious community was created and registered at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. However, restoration work in it took considerable time, and the first liturgy was served only in 2004. This event marked the beginning of a new historical period into which the Nikolo Berlyukov Monastery entered. The schedule of services that appeared on his door after a long break became the first sign of the coming spiritual renewal. At the same time, the temple, bell tower and part of the monastery territory were officially transferred to the newly formed community.

An important stage in the revival of the monastery was the decision of the Holy Synod, adopted at its January 2006 meeting. According to his decree, the church, which had previously operated as a parish church, was again transformed into the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky monastery. Photos of the monastery, returned to believers after sixty years of abuse, are presented in the article. They speak for themselves.

Works started in the monastery

There is still a long work ahead to restore everything that was so mercilessly destroyed, and it has already begun. Soon after the monastery was given official status, a fifteen-meter dome topped with a gilded cross was raised to the top of the bell tower. Once again the symbol of Christ’s atoning sacrifice shone over the monastery.

In 2011, the brethren of the monastery began to implement a unique project - the creation of the “Romanov Walk of Fame”. According to the authors' plans, monuments to representatives of the dynasty that ruled Russia for three hundred years should be erected on it. Today, the first four monuments have been erected in this memorial, created as a tribute to the memory of the Romanovs.

Church services, which in previous years attracted thousands of pilgrims to the Nikolo-Berlyukov Monastery, have also been fully restored. The schedule of services of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior generally corresponds to the schedule established for most churches. On weekdays, midnight, matins and hours begin at 6:00, Divine Liturgy - at 8:00, vespers - at 17:30. On holidays, the schedule may change, but this can be found on the monastery website.

Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery - how to get to it?

Despite the fact that the builders and restorers of the monastery still have a lot of work to do, one can already see a significant number of pilgrims coming here not only from Moscow and nearby cities, but also from all over the country. For those who wish to visit the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery, we inform you that the address is: Moscow region, Noginsk district, Avdotino village. You can get to it by bus No. 321 from the Shchelkovskaya metro station to the stop in the village of Avdotyino. Another option: by electric train from Yaroslavsky station to Chkalovskaya station, and then by the same bus No. 321.

The central television channels and newspapers did not mention this “hurricane prank” in hot pursuit: in the village of Avdotino, a hurricane toppled the cross on the bell tower of the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery - one of the tallest bell towers erected in our area.

Her “height” is 88 meters. 7 meters more than the famous Ivan the Great in the Kremlin! This giant began to be erected in the monastery in the summer of 1895 “with the sum of 30,000 rubles donated by the Moscow merchant Fyodor Nikitich Samoilov.” The design of the bell tower in the Russian style was carried out by the famous architect Alexander Kaminsky. In the lower of the four tiers of the brick “high-rise” there were gates for the main entrance to the monastery, and the uppermost tier was crowned with a gilded dome with an eight-pointed cross. All work on the new belfry was completed in 1899.

The almost 90-meter beauty performed its immediate functions for only two decades. Soon after the revolution, Nikolo-Berliuk was closed. Its churches were destroyed, service buildings were adapted for the needs of a special hospital “with a psychiatric bias”... However, for decades, gilding was preserved on the bell dome and on the cross: it was too difficult for the “recyclers” to get to such a high level in order to “nationalize” the precious metal.

The situation changed in post-Soviet times. In the fall of 1992, a church community was registered in one of the Avdotya churches. Then some of the old buildings were returned to the Russian Orthodox Church for the revival of the monastery here. However, in the “heavenly office” in relation to the bell tower of the newly equipped Nikolo-Berlyukov monastery, some mistakes were clearly made: in the summer of 1994, during a storm, the top of this belfry was torn off along with the cross.

The bell tower stood decapitated for more than 10 years. Only in August 2006, during the restoration work that had begun, the sparkling gilded “onion” with a cross was again installed on the bell tower. But this symbol of Orthodoxy remained in its place only until this spring. On May 29, the misfortune repeated itself: a strong hurricane struck again and dropped the cross. (As indicated in the old reference book, the height of the cross together with the “apple” is 12 arshins (about 8.5 meters), and the weight is 38 poods (more than 600 kilograms).

Specialist architect-restorer Natalya Knyazeva commented on the situation for MK:

In 2006, during the restoration work carried out at that time, the cross together with the dome (their total height is about 15 meters) was lifted and installed using a helicopter. A similar option is possible now. Another way is to build so-called remote scaffolding. In any case, the entire complex of restoration work will require considerable costs.

In the Moscow region, on the border of the Shchelkovo and Noginsk districts, on the banks of the Vorya River there is the village of Avdotino. Around 1606 it was here that the Berlyukovsky Monastery (Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery).

In those distant years, the lonely wanderer monk Hieromonk Varlaam, according to legend, was the founder of the monastery. He built a chapel and placed in it an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. later he was joined by two old women - Avdotya (the village was named after her) and Ulyana (Ulyana Mountain near the village) ...

Photo 1.

After the end of the Time of Troubles, Varlaam rebuilt a stone temple in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Varlaam rested here.
In the 1700s, the monastery was assigned to the lands of the Moscow Chudov Monastery and several families of monastery peasants were sent to live and live.

Photo 2.

They are the ones who build horse and cattle yards on the territory. A new church is being built at their expense.

Its name - Berlyukovsky- the monastery received it from a hermit who was rampant in the area, nicknamed Berlyuk (Biryuk) for his bestial appearance. It was he who, after the death of Varlaam, had power over the inhabitants of the monastery. Berliuk was a “bandit” for a long time, but only once did he kill the “wrong” merchant, for which he would have been quickly caught and...

Photo 3.

The history of Berliuk is not truly known. It is only known that they helped him escape from prison, in which he was languishing awaiting execution, for telling and decreeing a cache of looted treasures...

Photo 4.

Whether for a long time or for a short time, the hermitage existed “neither waver nor waver,” until in 1779 Archbishop Plato headed the hermitage. He invited Elder Luke as abbot, who upon arrival and seeing the surrounding reality was so upset that he did not live in his cell, but settled in the village next to the monastery - Avdotino...

Photo 5.

Hieromonk Joseph was quickly appointed in his place. He turned out to be an active comrade and away we go! A flowering garden, the Holy See Cathedral, abbots' and brethren's cells, premises for pilgrims, and many master's buildings. Construction is in full swing!

Photo 6.

Joasaph died at the monastery. He was buried within the monastery fence. His brother, Nikolai, steadfastly took up his cause. He completed the stone fence and erected a refectory.

Photo 7.

After the death of Plato, the monastery was headed by Metropolitan Philaret. Under him, a stone five-domed church was built in the name of Christ the Savior. A single-domed church with a hipped dome was erected in the name of All Saints. later a church was built in the name of St. Basil the Great over the Holy Gate.

Photo 8.

After 1917, the Nikolo-Berlyukovsky Monastery housed a psychiatric hospital, which remains there to this day. In 1993, the authorities refused to return the well-preserved monastic ensemble of the Church. In the same year, a cross was torn from the monastery bell tower by a storm, which was not removed even under Soviet rule.

Photo 9.

By the way, the great Russian writer M. Yu. Lermontov often visited his beloved at the Nikolsko-Timonino estate. Having once visited the Berlyukovskaya hermitage with her, he wrote the poem “In Voskresensk”, referring to the village of Voskresensk not far from the monastery ( By the way, I’ll tell you about him in the next LiveJournal report). Mikhail Yuryevich made the following note to this poem: “Written on the walls of Nikon’s home.”

Photo 10.

Thank you for your attention, as well as the informative reading on the resources.