Old-Golutvin monastery in Kolomna

One of the oldest monasteries founded by St. Sergius of Radonezh

Bogoyavlensky Staro-Golutvin (Epiphany Old-Golutvin) monastery is an Orthodox monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church on the outskirts of Kolomna. Located near the confluence of the Moscow river, the Oka. Founded in the late XIV century. Current. Since 1993, is the restoration of the monastery.

In the years 1995-2012 several buildings of the monastery were occupied by the Kolomna Orthodox theological seminary.

Name

There are several interpretations of the name:

• Given the name of the area, Golutvino, which, in turn, is derived from the old-russian word "golutva". It is used to signify forest clearing, that is, cutting along the forest road from the city to the Oka ferry. Perhaps Golutva also means a river without forest.
• The name of Golutvino can also occur from the ancient Russian word golydba, which meant the robbers of the tribe of Goliad, who came to this region along the river Oka from the banks of Protva river on the border of Moscow and Vladimir regions.

The prefix Old- in the name of the monastery appeared in the late XVIII — early XIX century when it was abolished the Kolomna eparchy. To save the Bishop's house in Kolomna (where the government was going to stage a military barracks), the Metropolitan of Moscow Platon (Levshin) ordered to move there the monks of the Golutvin monastery. Therefore Novo-Golutvin Holy Trinity monastery was formed, in obedience to which consisted of deserted Old-Golutvin and Bobrenev monasteries.

The history of the monastery

One of the many monasteries resulting from the selfless activities of St. Sergius of Radonezh. The first Abbot is considered a disciple of Sergius, Gregory of Golutvino. He became an abbot of the newly-formed monastery by order of Kolomna Bishop Gerasim.

Monastic legends say that under the leadership of St. Sergius was chosen not only a place of the monastery, but also laid the first temple in honor of the Epiphany. Today in the basement of the Epiphany Church of the monastery you can see the remains of the original foundation of the temple, called "the stones of the monk". According to the legend, when there was a need in the well, Sergius indicated the place to the brethren, where the source started. It acted until the first half of the XX century, when after closing the monastery the source was buried and later concreted by the authorities. Until the closing of the monastery in 1929 in the monastery kept relics associated with the name of the Saint: his staff, pectoral cross, vestments.

In connection with the raids of the Tatars the construction of a monastery on the river Oka had military value and it strengthens the link in the defensive line of the monasteries. This, in turn, served as the future development and strengthening of the monastery.

XV century

In XV century the monastery increasingly towered, increased their well-being and strengthened the monastic life. Winter founded the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh. It had a high basement, various utility rooms: brotherly one-pillar refectory, a kitchen, and Globodera. Built the bell tower between Sergius and Epiphany churches (dismantled in the late XVIII century).

The monastery had possessions in Moscow (Golutvinsky Sloboda), in 1472 Prince Yuri donated to the monastery village of Horns and Maluku.

1480 — visit to the monastery by Grand Prince Ivan III, before the uprising against the Tatar Khan Akhmat (standing on the Ugra river).

The XVI century

Significantly increasing the welfare of the monastery. The monastery is visited by Tsar Ivan the terrible. Contains a rich library.

XX century

In April 1912, the Abbot of the monastery, a year before his death (1 [14] April, 1913), was appointed the revered elder Barsanuphius of Optina. The monastery was closed in 1929. Transferred to the Moscow diocese in 1994; since December 1994, resumed regular services. In 1995, the monastery transferred to the Moscow eparchial spiritual school, later transformed into the Kolomna Orthodox theological Seminary.

XXI century

In October 2012 the historic fraternal building East, West of the hotel building and several others were transferred to Kolomna Seminary under the jurisdiction of the monastery.

Buildings

• Bogoyavlensky Cathedral (the main temple) — built on the site of the old stone Cathedral dates back to the early XVIII century;
• Sergius Church and the adjacent rectory building — refers to the first half of the XIX century;
• the Eastern building (former fraternal body), with bell tower (height 46±1 m) and the gate Vvedensky temple (early nineteenth century);
• West building (a former hotel for pilgrims) (early nineteenth century);
• a number of outbuildings;
• wall with towers — large (late XVIII century) and Mala (first half of XIX century);