Nativity Monastery

source: vladimirgid.ru

Against the background of a typical urban landscape – the gray mass of residential high-rise buildings – you’ll notice the bright white stone walls of the Nativity Monastery. This monastery, without doubt, is one of the oldest in Russia. It was founded in 1191 by the Grand Prince Vsevolod III. It is famous for being the seat of the Head of the Russian Church. The monastery was also a major center of ancient Russian culture; its walls are famous for the 13th -14th- century Laurentian, Trinity and Resurrection chronicles.

Besides, until 1723 the monastery had been the burial place of St. Alexander Nevsky. Later the tomb was moved to St. Petersburg.

Unfortunately, the most ancient buildings of the monastery have not survived. The only buildings you can see there are the Nativity of Christ Church (17th century), the Holy Gate in the north (1607, rebuilt in 1866), monastic and hospital cells, located along the south wall of the cathedral, the home of Archimandrite and monks’ cells in the northern part of the monastery. The monastery began to revive in 1992