Monastery... Truly an amazing, hidden place. To be honest, going to the Ascension Convent, which is located in the village. Kochergino, Kuraginsky district, I was worried whether I would be intrusive, inappropriately dressed, or whether I would take away the mothers’ precious time, intended for prayer and obedience, with my curious questions.
And let’s be honest: even now, two decades after the end of the era of atheism, life in a monastery seems too harsh and joyless to many ordinary people (how can one not recall the popular proverbs: “to be brought under a monastery”, “to enter someone else’s monastery with its own rules” go"), and the monks appear in the form of strict, reserved, if not strange, people.
However, all these mythical stereotypes collapse if you look at this special world filled with love and invisible light with just one eye...
House of the Lord
The village of Kochergino, hidden from the bustle of the city, is small; only a little over a thousand live here. The Tuba River and mountains are nearby - you can even breathe differently! In this picturesque, rustic, leisurely corner of the Krasnoyarsk Territory is located the Ascension Convent, by the way, the only one in the entire south of the region. The blue domes of the Ascension Church can be seen from afar. Exciting, trembling in the soul - it seems that it is simply impossible to get used to such beauty in Holy Rus'.
We approach the blue gate - the entire territory of the monastery is surrounded by a solid fence. Behind the gate is a narrow path leading to the temple. On its wall there is a sign “Church of the Ascension of the Lord. Built in 1906. Restored and consecrated by His Eminence Anthony, Archbishop of Krasnoyarsk and Yenisei on June 1, 2006.”
When entering the holy place, I was taken aback - the entire floor of the temple was covered with soft carpets! I thought: they’re probably taking off their shoes here... Seeing our confusion, mother from the church shop good-naturedly invited: “ You pass, pass. Baptized? Orthodox? Then venerate the icons, pray, light candles».
The church was deserted, and only the thin voices of the nuns on the choir chanted the glory of God, interrupting the silence. In everything here one could feel a woman’s participation, a caring hand: and this was not only reflected through the decoration, ideal cleanliness, and homeliness of the temple. I simply didn’t want to leave here: I would have sat down and sat there without moving. A parishioner appeared at the church gates: “ Well, here I am in the house of the Lord!“Her words are right to the point!
Second life of the temple
A few minutes later, Abbess Efrosinya, abbess of the Ascension Convent, and novice Galina arrived to meet us. They took us around the territory of the monastery, simultaneously telling us the glorious history of this holy place, and about the difficulties that we have to periodically face.
Voznesensky parish Kochergino opened in 1857, at which time a single-altar church, wooden on a stone plinth, was founded in the village. In 1862, construction was completed, and in 1863 it was consecrated. After 33 years, parishioners turned to the Yenisei Spiritual Board with a request to allow them to build a new stone church to replace the severely dilapidated wooden one. The stone church was founded in 1900, but for various reasons it began to operate only eight years later.
Soviet times did not pass without a trace. In the 30s, the temple was closed, the domes with crosses were removed and a granary was built in it. The last rector, priest Vsevolod Barkov, was arrested and exiled to the camps for 10 years.
The temple received a second life only in 2002 with its arrival in the village. Kochergino of three nuns of the Krasnoyarsk Annunciation Convent, in order, with God’s help, to restore the Ascension Church and build a convent. Nun Elisaveta (Ustalova) was appointed abbess and organizer of the monastery. In 2007, Mother Catherine (Balva), the first abbess of the monastery, was appointed abbess of the monastery, who in a short time restored the Holy Trinity Church in Shalabolino.
It’s hard to even imagine what conditions the nuns had to live in! But what seemed unthinkable, through the tireless prayer of the sisters and the help of the Lord, was done over the course of several years. The temple, plundered and desecrated during the Soviet years, began to shine with its grace! The bells rang throughout the village, awakening faith in people, calling them to God.
Believers and benefactors of Minusinsk, Abakan, Krasnoyarsk and nearby villages helped not only in the restoration of the temple, but also in the construction of a cell building for nuns, and in the renovation of a building for pilgrims, which today can accommodate up to 55 people! And the small needs of the monastery do not go unnoticed by parishioners and donors. Whoever - with labor or money - contributes their small share to the life of the monastery in the name of the Lord. Mother Euphrosyne thanks everyone who helped in the restoration of the temple and in the construction of the women's monastery.
Today the refectory for pilgrims and the sacristy are in very poor condition. The one-story wooden house built in 1960 has never been renovated. Everything here - floors, walls, roof, heating - requires urgent intervention! And if possible, it would be nice to build a new building altogether - light, spacious, without holes, mold and with proper heating.
Two sections of this house are no longer residential, not heated. You can’t close the refectory: dressed warmly, the nuns prepare food for pilgrims in such difficult conditions.
Any building materials, cement, money will be very helpful! Even the smallest help (be it gloves, buckets, brushes) is important and tangible for the nunnery.
Monk - warrior of Christ
By the way, the Ascension Convent is a favorite place for many pilgrims. They come from all over Siberia, both young and old! A special peak occurs in the summer, when people go on vacation. As novice Galina said, once there were so many of them that there were not enough places in the building for pilgrims. " We spent the night on the floor in the church,” Galina recalls. “Everyone had such joy: to rest in God’s house!”»
On this frosty spring morning, two pilgrims were working on the territory of the monastery, removing snow that had fallen in large quantities at night. Both are frequent guests of the monastery. What brings them here, beyond the high fence from worldly life?.. “There’s no other way - they’re drawn to it,” says Larisa. “There, in the world, there is vanity, problems, here there is calm, grace, the soul comes to life.” The second one immediately suggested: “ Would you like to work with a broom? It seems that you are sweeping away the snow, but in fact - sins from your soul».
Mother Euphrosyne explains: pilgrims perform a variety of obediences, and the main thing in the daily routine is prayer. " This is how the monastery lives - in work and prayer, and also in fasting and deprivation».
The nuns get up early in the morning and begin the new day with prayer, then strictly fulfill the obediences given by the abbess of the monastery. They don’t eat meat here at all, there is no entertainment either, every step is taken with a blessing. Spending time talking is not encouraged. In a word, life in a monastery is burdened with rigors that not everyone can handle. Therefore, to become a nun, you need to endure time and resist worldly temptations and temptations. This is followed by the adoption of vows: non-covetousness (renunciation of property), chastity (celibacy) and obedience (absolute obedience).
“A person can become a monk only by divine calling,” says Mother Euphrosyne. - A monk is a warrior of Christ who has left the world with all its worries and temptations, seeking salvation from God through unity with Him. The monks pray for people, for the whole world, and the power of their prayer is great. The Lord hears requests and fulfills them.”
But, despite all the asceticism and difficult life of the nuns, it would be hard to call them joyless and withdrawn. Their eyes glow with kindness and mercy, a gentle smile never leaves their face, everything - in their gaze, movement, every word - is filled with wisdom, calmness, and love. They say about such people: “ The hand of God touched them».
A precious gift to people
The nuns of the Ascension Convent especially reverence Saint Seraphim of Sarov and the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery. " Diveevo is a grapevine, and our monastery is its small branch"says Mother Euphrosyne.
Parishioners know many miracles that occurred through the prayers of saints. And first of all, this is the healing of the sick, even in cases where there was practically no hope left.
The Ascension Monastery also houses the relics of saints - a precious gift to help people. These are particles of the relics of the holy saints of God: St. Seraphim of Sarov, St. Luke of Voyno-Yasenetsky (many people were healed through prayers to Him), St. Great Martyr Catherine, Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker (helps those who have stumbled in life). Particles of the relics of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom were donated, to whom they pray for family well-being, the relics of thirty Kiev-Pechersk saints, the wives of Diveyevo - the Venerable Martha, Alexandra, Helen, blessed Pelageya, Paraskeva and Maria and the venerable confessor Matrona.
Relics are taken out during Sunday and holiday services. You can venerate the relics of Father Seraphim at any time, as they are kept in the temple. As the Monk Ephraim the Syrian said, “dead saints act like living ones: they heal the sick, drive away demons, for the grace of the Holy Spirit is always found in holy remains.”
The icon of the Matrona of Moscow, which was consecrated on the relics of the blessed saint, also has great power. Through the prayers of believers, she has already revealed many cases of miracles. Holy Matronushka helps both in family life and in resolving seemingly hopeless, difficult situations. People in whose lives, at the request of their souls, great miracles have occurred, bring Matronushka gifts, but most importantly, having come into contact with God’s grace, they become parishioners of the Ascension Church, faith appears in their soul, and therefore love and true joy.
If you feel a desire to join church life, visit holy places, touch shrines, come to the Ascension Church! It is located only 50 kilometers from Minusinsk! Moreover, the occasion is now more than suitable: a great holiday is approaching - Bright Sunday of Christ.
Address of the Ascension Convent: Kochergino village, st. Sovetskaya, 21. Phone: 8-950-961-95-72, 8-902-013-18-75.
Tatiana BELYAEVA
With proper funding, a new cathedral in the center would be built in 3 years. The designer is confident that if there was money, within six months the cathedral could begin to be built. Photo:07/30/2019 NGS24.Ru This celebration also marks the patronal feast of the Norilsk memorial church in honor of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, which is located on the square near the Norilsk Department of Internal Affairs on Begichev Street, 9a.
29.07.2019 Polar truth This happened during the celebration of the holiday of Russian culture on Karaulnaya Hill, dedicated to the Day of the Baptism of Rus'.
07/29/2019 1-LINE
Employees of the Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in Norilsk, members of the Public Council and clergy took part in the Divine Liturgy in the memorial church in honor of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.
07/29/2019 Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation On July 28, events dedicated to the Day of the Baptism of Rus' were held in Nazarovo. On this day, a festive service took place in the Church of the Intercession in the city of Nazarovo, a procession of the cross took place through the streets of the city,
29.07.2019
Defense Ministry of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Nazarovsky
Photo admkrsk.ru In Krasnoyarsk, on Karaulnaya Hill, for the first time, a holiday of Russian culture was held, dedicated to the Day of the Baptism of Rus'.
29.07.2019
Our Krasnoyarsk region
In 1857, Voznesensky parish was opened in the village. Kochergino. The parish included the population of several nearby villages: Shoshino, Murino, Taskino, Zherlyk and Bely Yar. In the same year, a single-altar Ascension Church, wooden on a stone plinth, was founded in the village.
In 1862, construction of the Holy Ascension Church was completed.
In 1879, the church building was repaired; this church existed at least until 1906, when the stone one began to function. Thus, the real stone Ascension Church is the second church built on the territory of the village of Kochergino.
In 1896, parishioners turned to the Yenisei Spiritual Board with a request to decide to build a new stone church to replace the severely dilapidated wooden one. Having received permission, the parishioners began preparing building materials.
The Church of the Ascension was founded in 1900. The construction was carried out by the residents of Kochergino and nearby villages. In 1901, construction was interrupted, although the building was erected to the eaves. The completion of the church continued in 1905-1906: the church was whitewashed inside and out, bars and frames with glass were inserted into the windows, the roofs were half covered with iron.
Only in 1908, after the building was finally equipped inside and an iconostasis was placed in the temple, the church was consecrated with the antimension sent, and it began to operate.
In the spring of 1913, an iron structure on a stone foundation was built around the church.
The fence, the construction of which began in 1908, but was later suspended due to lack of funds.
In the 30s, with the advent of Soviet power, the temple was closed, the domes with crosses were removed, and, as was customary then, a granary was built in it. The last rector, priest Vsevolod Barkov, was arrested and exiled to the Kolyma camps for 10 years.
Several times officials, realizing that it was of historical value, decided to restore it. In the 60s of the last century, money was allocated and builders began work. But the funds were only enough to erect forests. For a long time, residents of the area looked at them with hope, but the restoration of the historical monument ended there
On July 5, 2002, on the day of remembrance of the holy martyr Eugene, Bishop of Samosat, with the blessing of Archbishop of Krasnoyarsk and Yenisei Anthony to the Kuraginsky land of the Krasnoyarsk Territory in the village. The first three nuns from the Holy Annunciation Monastery in Krasnoyarsk arrived in Kochergino to restore the Holy Exaltation Church with God’s help and build a women’s monastery at this temple. With the blessing of the Bishop, nun Elisaveta (Ustalova) was appointed abbess and organizer of the first sisterhood.
On the evening of July 20, 2002, on the eve of the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God of Kazan, Mother Elizabeth and nun Olympias served the first festive service of the Resurrection of Christ and the Kazan Icon with an akathist.
Since 2005, a tradition has emerged to annually go to the Feast of the Ascension in a religious procession from the Spassky Cathedral in Minusinsk to the Holy Ascension Church in the village of Kochergino.
On June 1, 2006, Archbishop Anthony led the solemn festive Divine Liturgy with the rite of consecration of the temple. On the day of the consecration of the temple, a miracle appeared in the sky - a rainbow around a cloud.
In February 2007, Priest Igor (Kornatovsky) was appointed confessor to the monastery by Decree of His Eminence Bishop Anthony.
In October 2007, Mother Catherine (Balva) was appointed by a bishop's decree as the abbess of the Holy Ascension Monastery, with the assignment of responsibilities for the restoration of the Holy Trinity Church in the village. Shalobolino. Former mother Elisaveta (Ustalova) was appointed abbess of the Holy Annunciation Monastery in Krasnoyarsk.
On June 5, 2008, the monastery celebrated the 100th anniversary of the temple. The festive service was led by Vladyka Anthony, Archbishop of Krasnoyarsk and Yenisei. Mother Catherine was ordained by Vladyka Anthony to the rank of abbess.
On July 28, Orthodox Russians celebrated the Day of the Baptism of Rus'. In the Kuraginsky district, the celebration of this memorable date was especially solemn and large-scale: in the Ascension Monastery Church in the village of Kochergino in honor of the feast of the Baptism of Rus', on the day of remembrance of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir and the 15th anniversary of the revival of the monastery in Kochergino, the Divine Liturgy was performed by Metropolitan of Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk Panteleimon.
Visit of the Metropolitan. Divine Liturgy
Among those praying at the liturgy were the nuns of the Ascension Monastery, led by Abbess Euphrosyne (Gorbacheva). Present at the service were: Head of the Public Relations Department of the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Roman Barinov, Head of the City of Minusinsk Dmitry Merkulov, Chairman of the Council of Deputies of the Kuraginsky District Lyubov Zaspo, Chairman of the Council of Deputies of the Ermakovsky District Vladimir Forsel, representatives of local government, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
In total, about 250 believers from the cities of Krasnoyarsk and Minusinsk, from Kuraginsky, Ermakovsky, Minusinsk and other regions gathered in the temple. At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Vladyka Panteleimon led a prayer procession from the Ascension Church to the monument to those who fell during the Great Patriotic War.
Elena Mosyagina, head of administration of the Kocherginsky village council:
- For the first time in the territory of our village we are celebrating three major holidays at once: the Day of the Baptism of Rus', the 15th anniversary of the revival of the monastery and Village Day. That is why many guests came to us: clergy, artists, parishioners. It is clear that every visit of the Metropolitan is a big event both for the Kochergin residents and for all residents of the region. We look forward to it with special impatience and joy; communication with the Bishop is a real holiday for all believers. Of course, we paid a lot of attention to preparing for the village celebration: we came up with an interesting concert program and organized courtyards. The main event here will be honoring residents with an active lifestyle, young families, long-lived people, and expressing gratitude to combatants involved in the patriotic education of youth. We live in a beautiful village with a rich history, we do everything to make it better, the life of the Kocherga residents more interesting. I wish all my fellow countrymen unlimited happiness, love, compassion and prosperity.
Nina Prokopenko, Baidovo:
- This is my first time here, I really liked both the village and the church. The liturgy made a particular impression - majestic, heartfelt. On this day I cannot help but remember the period when people destroyed temples and banned religion. I believe that this has had a tragic impact on the lives of many Russians; we have lost our moral guidelines and stopped honoring the holy commandments. We need to correct our mistakes; today’s holiday is clear proof that we have learned the lessons of the past. I believe that we need to pay as much attention as possible to our youth, to educate them from early childhood as true Christians.
Valentina Shilova, Marinino:
- It's a pity that I didn't come here earlier. Both the decoration of the temple and the place where it is located are incredibly beautiful. It feels like all this beauty was created by very caring and hardworking hands. But the main thing is that here you can be alone with your thoughts and relax your soul. After today's service, there was a feeling of spiritual cleansing and joy. I think that everyone who wants to experience the same emotions should visit here.
Raisa Chernova, Kochergino:
“We always look forward to the arrival of the Metropolitan as if it were a holiday. We have a very good church, here they will baptize, marry, confess, support, help in difficult times... But when the service is led by the Metropolitan himself, a special solemnity is felt. I'm glad that there is such a temple in our village.
Valentina Sarycheva, Kochergino:
- We always have a lot of people at services, especially on Saturday and Sunday, but today there’s simply nowhere for an apple to fall in the church. This is very good, because the more people come to church, the more often they visit the holy place, the less time will be left for all sorts of outrages.
Congratulations on the triple holiday
After the completion of the Divine Liturgy and procession of the cross, guests and participants of the holiday were treated to a theatrical performance. Groups from various cultural institutions in the region performed creative performances for the audience. The main stage of the event was the congratulatory addresses of the honored guests of the holiday.
His Eminence, in particular, said:
We live in a big country, the sun never sets on it. Here everything was created by the Almighty for the happiness of man, and he is obliged to preserve and take care of his land, his home, his yard, his name, his family and his tribe. Today, in one of the songs, words were heard about historical truth: about how Prince Vladimir realized the importance of uniting the people into a common powerful force. Since then, authorities have changed, kings and princes have come and gone. But the Lord has always protected our country, so you too - take care of our people.
Lyubov Zaspo, Chairman of the District Council of Deputies:
More than a thousand years ago, Prince Vladimir decided to baptize Rus'. Through the labors of our ancestors, the construction of Orthodox churches and monasteries began. Over the centuries-old history of our country, Orthodoxy strengthened the courage and spirit of our soldiers and was a stronghold for making the most important government decisions. And now we are developing, feeling the strength of the spiritual foundation. On this significant day, I wish all of us spiritual development and strengthening of moral principles.
Roman Barinov, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory:
Unfortunately, today, not far from the place where Prince Vladimir made his historical choice, terrible and wild things are happening: Banderaism is being revived there, and a distortion of history is being observed. And here, in Siberia, in Kochergino, we made a religious procession to the place where the names of those who gave their lives for our peaceful sky and existence are immortalized. We are also celebrating the 15th anniversary of the revival of the monastery. Once upon a time in the 20s, our people, locals whose minds and souls were affected by filth, destroyed churches, but today representatives of government and the church stand on the same stage. And our joy is one. And I really want to believe that we were able to preserve the good won by our ancestors for many centuries.
In continuation of the celebration, Bishop Panteleimon awarded Bishop's diplomas, letters of gratitude and memorable gifts to those awarded for their work for the benefit of the Russian Orthodox Church and assistance in the formation and development of the Ascension Convent.
It is worth adding that the archpastoral visit of Metropolitan Panteleimon of Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk to the Minusinsk deanery lasted several days. On July 27, the ruling bishop held an evening service at the Ascension Convent; on July 28, in addition to the liturgy and religious procession, the metropolitan took part in the celebration of the Day of the Village of Kochergino; on July 29, he visited the southern regions of the region; on July 30, he served the liturgy in the Church of the Holy Spirit and conducted the rite of consecration of the KGBU " Kuraginsky district hospital.
Polina Lebedeva
Deanery: Minusinsk Purpose: Monastic churches Address:
662921, Krasnoyarsk region, Kuraginsky district, village. Kochergino, st. Sovetskaya, 21
The Ascension Convent was founded in those places in the south of the region where before the revolution there was the Intercession Convent, and after the revolution there was a monastery, closed by the godless authorities in 1929, after the arrest of the nuns and their confessor, the holy martyr Bishop Amphilochius (Skvortsov). The founding of the monastery here was of particular importance in connection with the dominance of the Vissarion sect in the south of the region, drawing the indigenous population into its ranks.
July 5, 2002, on the day of remembrance of the holy martyr Eugene, Bishop of Samosat, with the blessing of Archbishop of Krasnoyarsk and Yenisei Anthony (Cheremisov) to the Kuraginsky land of the Krasnoyarsk Territory in the village. The first three nuns from the Annunciation Monastery in Krasnoyarsk arrived in Kochergino to restore the Ascension Church with God’s help and build a women’s monastery at this temple. With the blessing of the Bishop, nun Elisaveta (Ustalova; now schema-abbess Ambrose) was appointed abbess and organizer of the first sisterhood. In 2003, the monastery was established.
On June 1, 2006, Archbishop Anthony led the solemn festive Divine Liturgy with the rite of consecration of the Ascension Church. In February 2007, by Decree of His Eminence Bishop Anthony, Priest Igor (Kornatovsky) was appointed confessor to the monastery. In October 2007, Mother Catherine (Balva) was appointed abbess of the Ascension Monastery.
On June 5, 2008, the monastery celebrated the 100th anniversary of the temple. During the festive service in the monastery church, Archbishop Anthony of Krasnoyarsk and Yenisei elevated Mother Catherine to the rank of abbess.
In 2010, the decoration of the Ascension Monastery Church was generally completed.
Monastic life is carried out in accordance with the Charter, divine services are performed daily, in addition, the monastery church functions as a parish church.
ASCENSION (MONASTERY) TEMPLE S. KOCHERGINO
Voznesensky parish Kochergino was opened in 1857, at the same time a single-altar church, wooden on a stone plinth, was founded in the village. Its construction was completed in 1862, and in 1863 the church was consecrated. In 1879, the church building was repaired. In 1896, parishioners turned to the Yenisei Spiritual Board with a request to allow them to build a new stone church to replace the severely dilapidated wooden one.
The stone church was founded in 1900. Construction was carried out by the residents of the village. Kochergino and nearby villages. In 1901, construction was interrupted, although the building was erected to the eaves. The completion of the church continued in 1905-1906: the church was whitewashed inside and out, bars and frames with glass were inserted into the windows, the roofs were half covered with iron. Only in 1908, after the building was finally equipped inside and an iconostasis was placed in the temple, the church was consecrated with the antimension sent, and it began to operate. In the spring of 1913, an iron fence on a stone foundation was built around the church, the construction of which began in 1908, but was later suspended due to lack of funds.
In the 30s, with the advent of Soviet power, the temple was closed, the domes with crosses were removed, and a granary was built in it. The last rector, priest Vsevolod Barkov, was arrested and exiled to the Kolyma camps for 10 years.
Several times officials, realizing that it was of historical value, decided to restore it. In the 60s of the last century, money was allocated and builders began work. However, the funds were only enough to erect scaffolding, and this was the end of the restoration of the historical monument. A new page in the history of the temple opened only in 2002, with the arrival in the village. Kochergino nuns of the Krasnoyarsk Annunciation Convent.
Based on materials from the archives of the Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media and the Minusinsk Deanery of the Krasnoyarsk Diocese