Holy Spirits Monastery. Holy Spirit Convent

Holy Intercession Convent The Holy Intercession Monastery is located in Moscow, 58 Taganskaya Street. The Holy Intercession Monastery was founded in 1635 by Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich. And the construction was completed twenty years later, in the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, on

The exact date of the foundation of the monastery has not been established. the monastery archives died during a fire in 1732. It is only certain that the Holy Spirit Monastery is one of the oldest Russian monasteries. It was founded at the beginning of the XIV century, during the reign of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Kalita. On the ancient cancer of st. Jacob preserved the inscription, from which it followed that the Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1327, and the cathedral church was built in 1345. The monastery received great fame in the second half of the 15th century, in connection with the transfer of the relics of St. Jacob (1545). Tsar Ivan the Terrible, having great love for the newly-minted saints and miraculous icons, endowed the monastery with arable land and land. In 1613, during the time of troubles, the Holy Spirit Monastery was plundered by gangs of Swedes and Poles.

In 1654, Patriarch Nikon, having founded the Iversky Monastery on Valdai - “Russian Athos”, ordered to transfer the Borovichi shrine to the new monastery. Holy Spirit Monastery, in which a particle of the relics of St. Jacob, was assigned to the Iberian-Valdai. In 1724, the relics of St. blg. Vlk. Prince Alexander Nevsky during the ceremonial transfer of them, at the direction of Peter I, from Vladimir to St. Petersburg. Since 1741, the Borovichi Holy Spirit Monastery was assigned to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. During the First World War, part of the monastery buildings were used as a hospital.

In February 1918, the Borovichi district commission adopted a decision to close the Holy Spirit Monastery, and on April 17 of the same year, the liquidation commission began work. The monastery was closed, its temples were turned into parish, which did not last long. In 1920, silver church valuables weighing more than 16 kg were removed from the churches of the former Holy Spirit Monastery. Soon the churches were closed, almost all signs reminiscent of their cult purpose were destroyed, the bell tower was dismantled, and the ancient monastery cemetery was destroyed. During the Great Patriotic War, on the territory of the former Holy Spirit Monastery, there was a hospital number 3810 for prisoners of war. Later, a military unit was located on the territory of the monastery for a long time.

On September 14, 2000, the Holy Spirit Monastery was returned to the Orthodox Church; in 2002, a golden dome and a cross were erected on the Church of the Holy Spirit.

The stone cathedral church in honor of the Holy Spirit was built in 1676, on the site of two ancient wooden churches. It is the first stone building Borovichi, preserved to this day. This temple, in addition to the main throne, had two additional aisles: on the north side of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, in memory of the ancient church standing on this site, on the south - in honor of the Prophet God of Elijah, in memory of the hermit monks who founded the monastery. After a fire in the 18th century, the cathedral was renovated and narrow aisles were expanded. There were other temple updates. As a result, the cathedral lost its original appearance. Now the temple preserves the elements of classicism architecture. The light drum of the temple, decorated with arches resting on half-columns with interceptions, the dome and cross remained from the original appearance of the temple of the 17th century.

The temple in honor of the holy Rev. Jacob of Borovichi the Wonderworker, built in 1872 from red brick, was warm, two-story. Five chapters adorned him. The central chapter with a large cross was arranged on a beautiful octagonal light drum with a tent-like finish. On one side, the church went out onto the street, which was also named in honor of the Borovichi miracle worker Yakovlevskaya (St. Alexander Nevsky). The temple had thrones: the main one - in the name of St. Jacob Ave., on the south side - in the name of St. blg. Vlk. Prince Alexander Nevsky. At the moment, the chapters have been lost, restoration work is underway.

http://www.borovishi.narod.ru/monastir.html; http://novodev.narod.ru/borovichi.html

Holy Spirit Monastery, contingent, sociable, on the river Mste, at the town of Borovichi. It was founded in 1327. Part of the relics of St. James of Borovitsky is kept here (see October 23). On the day of Pentecost and the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, a procession is carried out from the monastery to the city cathedral, on the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit and October 23 from the cathedral to the monastery.

From the book of S.V. Bulgakova "Russian Monasteries in 1913"

The Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1327 on the right bank of Msta, between two Borovichi graveyards. In 1452, after the reign of Jacob Borovichsky as a saint, his relics, buried near the monastery, were transferred to the Holy Spirit Monastery. Imperishable relics openly rested in the monastery, attracting pilgrims from all over Russia. This brought great glory to the monastery. In 1654, Patriarch Nikon ordered the relics of the righteous Jacob to be transferred to the Iversky monastery being built. Only the ark with a particle of relics (rib) was left in the Holy Spirit Monastery. Somewhat later, Patriarch Nikon started the construction of the Novo-Spirit Monastery on the left bank of Msta, opposite the Holy Spirit Monastery. In 1664, a stone temple was laid in it, bricks for which they began to make here on the territory of the monastery. After Nikon fell into disgrace, the unfinished stone church was dismantled, and the wooden buildings were transferred to the Holy Spirit Monastery. The gateway church of Jacob Borovichi was returned to its old place - this happened in 1673. In 1676 a cathedral church was erected from Nikonovsky brick, which has survived to the present.

In 1809, the Theological School was founded in Borovichi. Until 1859, when a building was built for him in the city center, it was located in the Holy Spirit Monastery. During the First World War, part of the monastery’s buildings were used for the infirmary - the monks looked after the wounded. After the revolution, the monastery was closed. During the Great Patriotic War, the monastery had a hospital for prisoners of war, and after the war a military unit was located.

Currently, the Bishop's Compound is located on the territory of the monastery. Opposite the temple of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the holy well of Mother Superior Taisiya (Solopova), abbess of Leushinsky monastery, who was blessed as a monk here in 1861 and began her spiritual journey, was restored to the apostles, a plaque on the building of the abbot corps reports. Taisin Readings are held annually.

Information: The Legend of Jacob Borovichi. Holy Spirit Monastery. Borovichi 2008; Polevikov A.P. Borovichi is a beautiful city on Mst. - Borovichi, 2006

The spiritual and historical monument of the Borovichi region is the Holy Spirit Monastery. It is believed that it was founded in very ancient times by pious hermit monks who chose a quiet and beautiful place to pray and save their souls. On three sides, a small lowland plain was covered by hills covered with coniferous and mixed forests, which sheltered it from strong winds. From the south-west side, the Msta River carried its waters with a clean and quiet stream, changing its violent temper here. Nature itself in this place seemed to be humbled and silent.

It was not possible to establish the exact date of the foundation of the monastery, because the monastery archives died during a fire in 1732. An inscription was preserved on the ancient cancer of the righteous Jacob, from which it followed that the Holy Spirit Monastery was founded in 1327, and the cathedral church was built in 1345 g.

The monastery was widely known in the second half of the XV century. in connection with the transfer to him of the relics of the righteous Jacob Borovichsky.
Ivan the Terrible, having a penchant for newly-minted saints and miraculous icons, endowed the monastery with arable land and land. This enabled the monastery to build a new cathedral church in honor of the Holy Spirit. The day after Trinity is called Spiritual and is dedicated to the glorification of the Holy Spirit, which gives a person reason and wisdom, helps his heart to love and understand Jesus Christ, and opens the world of spiritual life.

The temple was wooden, with tent architecture. In the XVI century. he had a very rich four-tier iconostasis. His deesis row, besides the large image of the Savior, included nineteen more icons. In the first tier were icons painted in gold, which was a rarity for that time. The temple icon, two icons of the Virgin, the righteous Jacob in life, was painted on gold. Near the cathedral church was built a small warm winter church in honor of the Protection of the Holy Virgin. This temple was famous for the miraculous icon of the Protection of the Holy Virgin, the icons of St. John the Baptist and St. Nicholas. Soon after the relics of St. righteous Jacob at the expense of the donations of the Borovichi, was built gateway wooden church in the name of the saint. The holy gates (the main entrance to the monastery), located in the western part of the monastery, overlooked the river. Mste. Later they were moved to another place, because the water washed away the shore in this place. The main entrance began to be in the eastern part of the monastery, from where the Borovichi cathedrals were visible. The monastery ensemble was supplemented by a bell tower with four bells.

For the few inhabitants of the monastery, a wooden building was built, in which there were monastic cells, a kitchen and a refectory.
In 1613, during the time of troubles, the Holy Spirit Monastery was looted. The monastic architectural ensemble that has survived to our time is a monument of Russian architecture of the 17th-19th centuries.

There were five monastery churches: the cathedral - in honor of the Holy Spirit, the second - in honor of the icon of the Mother of God of Ivers, the third - in the name of the righteous Jacob, and behind the monastery fence - the temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God Tenderness and the temple in the name of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskeva.

A stone cathedral church in honor of the Holy Spirit was built in 1676. on the site of two ancient wooden churches. It was probably the first stone building in Borovichi that has survived to the present. This temple, in addition to the main throne, had two additional aisles: on the north side - the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, in memory of the ancient church that stood on this site, on the south - in honor of the prophet God of Elijah, in memory of the hermit monks who founded the monastery. After the fire in the XVIII century. the cathedral was renovated, narrow aisles were expanded. There were other temple updates. As a result, the cathedral in honor of the Holy Spirit lost its original appearance. The light drum of the temple, decorated with arches resting on half-columns with interceptions, the dome and cross, now lost, conveyed the features of architecture of the 17th century.

As a result of the fire, the holy gates and the church of the righteous Jacob were completely destroyed. In 1792, at the same place, new monastery holy gates were built of brick, and above them the stone church of the righteous Jacob. This temple, built by an oblong quadrangle, was painted inside and out. Its architecture was completed by a stone quadrangular single-tier bell tower with a beautiful metal cross. On it at the beginning of XX century. there were 10 bells, some of them were very ancient.

In 1872, the church of the righteous Jacob was re-consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God of Iver, because the construction of a new magnificent church in the name of St. righteous Jacob in the north-eastern part of the monastery. The icon of the Mother of God of Iverskaya was very revered in Borovichi, because the relics of the Borovichi miracle worker occurred on the holiday of this icon.

Since 1654, the Holy Spirit Monastery was assigned to the Valdai Monastery, built in honor of the Iveron Icon by Patriarch Nikon.
The new church in the name of St. the righteous Jacob the Borovichi miracle worker, two-story, warm, was built of red brick in 1872. The church had a rectangular shape. Five chapters adorned her. The central chapter with a large cross was arranged on a beautiful octagonal light drum with a tent-like finish. On one side, the church overlooked Yakovlevskaya Street (now A. Nevsky Street). The temple had thrones: the main one - in the name of St. righteous Jacob, on the south side - in the name of St. blg. ow Prince Alexander Nevsky. On the ground floor of the temple was consecrated the throne in the name of St. Nicholas.

At this time, a stone fraternal building was built, which was located on both sides of the holy gate. A two-story abbot stone house was erected on the monastery square. It housed bishops', rector’s, and fraternal cells, a kitchen, a refectory, and a bakery. Not far from it was a stone building with services. There were several fraternal cells, a bathhouse, a brewery, a pantry, cellars and cellars. Further, a stone barnyard, a stable, a barn and living rooms for workers were located.
The monastery was surrounded by a brick fence with six towers. Four of them were in the corners of the fence, and two in the middle of the north-east and south-west walls. The southwestern tower overlooked Meta, was especially decorated with murals in memory of the fact that there used to be the main entrance to the monastery and there was a wooden church in honor of the holy rights. Jacob. To date, only corner towers have survived.

In front of the monastery was a large area and a birch grove. Fairs were organized here on the feast of St. Righteous Jacob Borovichsky. Peasants came on horses and brought for sale piglets, chickens, geese, apples, soaked lingonberries, mushrooms of all kinds and other products. Merchants brought their goods. There was a brisk trade.

From 1830 to 1845, great construction work was carried out in the monastery. Material assistance to the Borovichi monastery was provided by Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg Seraphim (Glagolevsky) and Archimandrite Photius, governor of the Novgorod Yuryev Monastery.

During the First World War, part of the buildings of the Holy Spirit Monastery were used under the infirmary. The inhabitants of the monastery looked after the wounded soldiers.

In February 1918, the city district commission adopted a resolution on the closure of the Holy Spirit Monastery and other monasteries of Borovichi district. This was motivated by the lack of buildings in the city for shelter, almshouses and schools. Elderly clergy and monks found it possible to leave at the monastery in an almshouse. Younger and healthier were invited to find another place for themselves in the two-week period. On April 17 of the same year, the liquidation commission began work. She was accompanied by soldiers armed with rifles with bayonets. The monastery was previously surrounded on all sides, and then the liquidation commission began to check the monastery's inventory, interest-bearing securities and cash. Such measures were not accidental. On January 19, when commissars came to the Holy Spirit Monastery to describe the property, believers, having decided that the monastery was being closed, beat these commissars. Two hieromonks, a monk and several parishioners were sent to prison. For the remaining monks were allocated on an iron bed, a stool and a table. Only hieromonk Misail and archimandrite Vladimir were left a little more things.

The Holy Spirit Monastery was abolished, its temples turned into parish, which did not last long. In 1920, silver church valuables weighing more than 16 kg were seized from these churches. Soon the churches were closed, almost all signs that reminded of their religious purpose were destroyed, the bell tower was dismantled, and the ancient monastery cemetery was ruined. During the Great Patriotic War, the hospital was again located on the territory of the former Holy Spirit Monastery. Hospital number 3810 occupied all the premises of the monastery. Russians, Germans, Hungarians, Italians, Poles were treated here ... Later, for a long time, a military unit was located on part of the territory of the monastery, due to which this part of the monastery was preserved.

An event of special importance in the spiritual life of Borovichi was the return of the Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit Monastery. Despite numerous restructures, the ensemble of the Holy Spirit Monastery is still distinguished by the proportionality of its structures and a special architectural appearance. On September 14, 2000, after a 70-year break, believers again entered the ancient shrine, and in the church of St. Righteous Jacob served a moleben by the cathedral of Borovichi priests.

Priest ALEXANDER DUMCHEV, Pokrovsky Cathedral, Veliky Novgorod, Sofia Magazine No. 4 2010

The city of Timashevsk in the Krasnodar Territory is known for the monastery located there - the Holy Spirit Monastery. It is located on the outskirts of the city, but even at its construction, the future abbot said that he would become a "center".

Where is the Holy Spirit Monastery located on the map?

You will find it in the southern district of Timashevsk, where the streets Malo-Vygonnaya and Druzhby intersect. A branch flows nearby - Kirpiltsi.

Sacred Place History

In 1987, Father George accepted the leadership of the Ascension Parish in Timashevsk. Then he wished to build a temple here. To do this, it was necessary to get the territory under construction. Local authorities were in no hurry to allocate land. The priest had to endure many difficulties and oppression on their part.

The way out of the predicament was the acquisition of a house on 15 acres of marshland. There is a legend with this hut: in the XX century, a certain perspicacious holy foolish girl predicted the construction of a monastery on this site.

In the autumn of 1991, the church was completed and consecrated in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Father at that time wanted to go to the place of the previous ministry, but God's will was different. Vladyka Isidor opens a monastery here, ordains him as archimandrite and appoints him governor.

In the monastery there are shrines:

• an ark with particles of 23 holy saints of God;
• svt image list healer Panteleimon brought from Athos;
• icons of the Virgin "Vladimirskaya" and "Burning Cupina";
• a piece of Mamvrian oak brought from the Holy Land.

The story of the "Vladimir" icon

Father Georgy, while he was still serving in the Epiphany Church of the Arkhangelsk Region, the parishioner brought the face of “Vladimir Mother of God” and told the following story:

The grandfather of this woman was a priest. In the 30 years of atheism, when the clergy were massively arrested and the anti-religious struggle was waged, this also affected her grandfather. One evening, the commissars came into the house and ordered him to "pack on the road." The father was bewildered and asked for time for training, he himself turned to the holy corner and began to pray. Everyone noticed how droplets of tears appeared on the image of the Virgin. The commissar was angry, took out a revolver and started firing at the icon, after which he shot the priest in a rage.

Relatives hid the shrine and carefully kept it, passing it from generation to generation. Over time, the grandmother gave her to her granddaughter, and she brought her to church. This image was brought by the archim. George in the Holy Spirit Monastery of Timashevsk. Now it is stored in the temple altar.

About the confessor of the Timashevsk male monastery

Born about. George February 6, 1942 After graduation, he went to obedience to the Transfiguration Monastery in Transcarpathia. In 1961, when the monastery was closed, he left for the Nikolaev region. In 1962, drafted into the army. Upon returning, he went to live in Irkutsk. There in December 1968 he took tonsure with the name of George. Then he was ordained a hierodeacon and followed by a hieromonk. He served first in Murmansk, and then in the Arkhangelsk region. In 1978 he studied at the Moscow Seminary.

To the Krasnodar Diocese of Fr. George came after Metropolitan Isidore, who at that time was still a bishop. He devoted 19 years to the improvement of the “island of spirituality” in Timashevsk. Here he took tonsure in the great schema with the name of Savva. Over the years of his ministry, many changes have occurred - the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord has been rebuilt, economic buildings and four courtyards in nearby settlements have been added.

However, the abbot is better known for his gift of healing with herbs and prayer. He was a herbalist who knew his job well. He studied the art of using the gifts of nature in the treatment of various diseases in his youth, being a novice in the city of Chernivtsi (in Ukraine), on the border with Romania.

There was always a turn to him. People went to receive spiritual and bodily treatment; thousands of people visited the Holy Spirits of the Timashevsky Monastery. The father gave herbal preparations that helped to cure those diseases that the doctors of official, recognized medicine could not cope with.

The life of the monks today

At first, only 12 monks inhabited it. Over time, their number grew to 80. Following the ancient rules of residence of monastic communities, they feed on the labor of their hands.

Today, 400 hectares of land are allocated for the monastery for planting crops. The fraternity bears different obedience. Some are engaged in the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, grains, herbs, while others work in a fraternal refectory, on prosphora, in garages. There is a breeding of poultry, cattle and pigs. Excess products - eggs, milk and meat - are for sale.

During the construction of the church, all the monastic works were carried out by the monks: they painted the temple walls, made wooden carved icon cases. Today, all the splendor of the temple can be seen in the photo.

In 2011, Fr. George went to the Lord, but the monks continue his “work” - they collect herbs and make all kinds of gatherings and teas from various ailments according to preserved recipes. All this is sold in the monastery shop. Those who have tried phyto-collections many times, leave positive feedback about them.

How to get (get there)?

From the train station "Timashevskaya" it is easiest to get here by minibus No. 2, get off at the final stop "Naumenko street". From here it will be necessary to walk about 1 km in a southeast direction.

By car, getting from the center of Timashevsk to the monastery is easy:

Contact Information

• Address: Druzhby Street, 1, Timashevsk, Krasnodar Territory, Russia.
• GPS coordinates: 45.601274, 38.954505.
• Phones: + 7-86130-4-01-24.
• Official site:
• Opening hours: from 4:00 to 19:00.

The Holy Spirits Monastery Timashevsk made the spiritual center not only for monks, but also for all who come here. Services are held daily in it; on Thursday, an akathist is read before the image of the same “Vladimir” icon. In conclusion, we offer a video about this monastery, enjoy watching!

Holy Spirit Monastery (Vilnius)

Vilensky Holy Spirit Monastery was formed at the turn of the XVI-XVII centuries. After the conclusion of the Union of Brest in 1596, the previously existing Orthodox Vilensky Holy Trinity Monastery was ruled by Basilian Uniates. The brethren began to be expelled from the monastery, which by 1609 gradually formed a new monastery at the Holy Spirit Church built in 1597. The printing house, school and almshouse were transferred here from the monastery taken away by the Uniates. Among the inhabitants of the new Holy Spirit Monastery were monks from other Orthodox monasteries captured by the Uniates. The first abbot of the monastery was Archimandrite Leonty (Karpovich), known for his confessional feat: in 1610 he was imprisoned. The monastery was originally subordinate to the Patriarch of Constantinople. But since 1686 - in the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarch. The main See of the monastery cathedral is consecrated in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The cathedral has two limits: the right - in the name of the apostle and evangelist John the Theologian, the left - in the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsars Konstantin and Elena. Below, under the main altar of the cathedral, there is a cave church in the name of the holy Vilnius martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius, who were canonized at the end of the fourteenth century. Metropolitan Joseph of Vilna and Lithuania (Semashko) was buried in the cave church († November 23, 1868).
Currently, ten inhabitants live in the monastery:
  1. Archimandrite Ephraim (Iodo)
  2. Archimandrite Hermogenes (Klimov) - the economy of the monastery
  3. Abbot Anthony (Gurinovich) - Dean of the monastery
  4. Hieromonk John (Kovalev)
  5. Hierodeacon Meletius (Grushchenko)
  6. Hierodeacon Tikhon (Fokine)
  7. Hierodeacon Nikita (Vasiliev)
  8. Monk Bogdan (Kalashnik)
  9. Monk Eustathius (Nikulin)
  The monastery is governed by Metropolitan Vilensky and Lithuanian Chrysostom.
  Monastery Address:
  Vilnius, 10 Ausros Wartu St.
  Tel Monastery: + 370-5-212-78-81
  Source: http://www.orthodoxy.lt

Of. website of the Lithuanian Diocese.
  Vilnius Holy Spirit Monastery.
  Vilnius city, Ausros-Wartu street, 10-3. With a general spiritual orientation, each monastery has its own traditions associated with its history. The Vilnius Holy Spirit Monastery has been serving in Lithuania for almost 400 years among Lithuanians and Poles, the vast majority professing Catholicism. The monastery walls are adjacent to the church of St. Theresa, and this is seen as a symbol of the difficult past of the monastery, associated with the dramatic history of Orthodoxy in the Western Territory. The Holy Spirit Monastery continues to testify to the truth of Orthodoxy to the world and pray for it.
  With a common spiritual orientation, each monastery has its own traditions associated with its history. The Vilnius Holy Spirit Monastery has been serving in Lithuania for almost 400 years among Lithuanians and Poles, the vast majority professing Catholicism. The monastery walls are adjacent to the church of St. Theresa, and this is seen as a symbol of the difficult past of the monastery, associated with the dramatic history of Orthodoxy in the Western Territory. The Holy Spirit Monastery continues to testify to the truth of Orthodoxy to the world and pray for it. Vilna was founded at the beginning of the 14th century by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas (1315 - 1340), who made Lithuania a powerful principality.
  Gedimin’s son Olgerd, according to some sources - baptized, according to others - a pagan, was married to Vitebsk princess Maria Yaroslavna, and after her death - to Juliana, daughter of the Tver prince. Apparently not without the influence of the princesses, Orthodoxy continued to spread in Lithuania. And, as it was in the Ancient Church, true faith was affirmed by the blood of martyrs.
The confessor of Princess Maria Yaroslavna, presbyter Nestor secretly baptized three close princes, giving them the names John, Anthony and Eustathius. Upon learning of this, the pagan priests demanded their punishment. Olgerd, even if he wanted to, could not defend the courageous confessors - he had to reckon with popular beliefs. On April 14, 1347, Anthony was hanged in a frontal place on the outskirts of the city, in an oak grove, where criminals were executed. Nine days later, John, brother of Anthony, was executed. Soon the same fate befell their relative Eustathius. Local Christians buried the bodies of martyrs in the church of St. Nicholas in Vilna, one of the first Orthodox churches in the city. Two years later, Christians, using the patronage of Olgerd’s second wife, Juliania, asked for a prayer for themselves a hill - the place of execution of saints. Here was built a wooden church in the name of the Holy Trinity. Her throne, according to legend, was located on the site of an oak tree, on which martyrs suffered for the confession of the Holy Trinity. Their bodies were also transferred to this church. 27 years after the death, the Martyrs of Vilna at the initiative of the Patriarch of Constantinople Philotheus (1354 - 1355, 1364 - 1376) were numbered. In 1374, particles of their relics were solemnly transferred to the church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. He compiled the service and life in Greek. Apparently, the hieromonk Cyprian (future Metropolitan of Kiev), who visited Lithuania in the 70s of the 14th century, brought the news of the martyrs to Constantinople.
  Between 1354 and 1374, the Vilnius martyrs were glorified in the Russian Church at the initiative of Metropolitan Alexy, apparently not without the participation of Patriarch Filofei, who confirmed Saint Alexy at the Metropolitan Department. However, Metropolitan Alexy himself visited Lithuania, albeit under tragic circumstances: Olgerd kept the hierarch captive for almost two years because of a dispute over the Kiev pulpit, on which the prince of Lithuania placed his supporter. It was then that the saint could learn about the feat of the holy martyrs. A noteworthy evidence of the early veneration of the Martyrs of Vilna in Russia and in Byzantium is their depiction in the so-called "great saccos" of the Metropolitan of Moscow Photius (1410 - 1431), which is now kept in the Armory of the Moscow Kremlin.
All-Russian veneration of saints was established at the Cathedral of 1549, under the Metropolitan of Moscow Macarius. In the sixteenth century, their relics were transferred to the Holy Spirit Monastery and placed in a predaltar cave; in 1826 they were open to worship. During the First World War, in view of the threat of the capture of Vilna by the Germans, the relics of the Vilnius martyrs were transferred to Moscow, to the Donskoy Monastery. They were returned to the Holy Spirit Monastery on July 26, 1946.
  In 1387, under the son of Olgerd Jagailo, Catholicism was declared the dominant religion in Lithuania. From this time begins the struggle of Orthodoxy for existence. Those who refused to convert to Catholicism were tortured, deprived of their property, and threatened with death. For a more successful catholicization of the population in Lithuania, as in the entire Western Territory, a union was introduced. Since 1569, when Lithuania and Poland united in the Commonwealth, the influence of Catholicism became predominant due to the influence of the Jesuits on the Orthodox youth and, above all, by attracting them to their “colleges”, which were distinguished by a high level of teaching. In the cities that had self-government, to which Vilna belonged, according to Magdeburg Law, guild brotherhoods of artisans and other societies were created, uniting people by interests. In 1585, in Vilna, at the Holy Trinity Monastery, the Orthodox Brotherhood arose and by 1588 finally formed, the task of which, in addition to religious and educational goals, was to protect Orthodoxy. The brotherhood consisted of several hundred people, among whom were representatives of the aristocracy, and artisans - shoemakers, tailors, furriers.
A significant event in the life of the brotherhood was the arrival in Vilna in July 1588 of the Patriarch of Constantinople Jeremiah, who approved "this brotherhood pleasing to God." At the same time, the Patriarch issued a letter to the Brotherhood of the Life-Giving Trinity, in which he ordered him to have a school in the fraternal house for teaching Greek, Latin and Russian languages, as well as a printing house for printing scripture books. Many wealthy members of the fraternity gave him homes and lands, which made it possible to invite the best teachers in the Western Territory to school and build their own temple. Toward the end of 1594, alarming rumors began to appear about the preparation of a union with Catholics and sad news about the treason of some Orthodox hierarchs. When the rumors were confirmed, it was the members of the Trinity Brotherhood who began to express concern. School preacher Stefan Zizaniy was especially jealous, who revealed all the secret ideas of the initiators of the union. In 1596, Zizanius was excommunicated by the bishops who planned the union. The king confirmed the condemnation. War has been declared. The oppression of a number of Orthodox priests and the seizure of land from some churches and fraternities followed. At a council in Brest in 1596, all eight representatives from the Vilnius Orthodox Brotherhood spoke out against the union. In turn, the Uniate bishops issued a decree on the deprivation of dignity and the curse of bishops who rejected the union: Lviv Gideon (Balaban) and Przemyslsky Michael (Kopystensky). So the division of the Western Russian Church into Orthodox and Uniate was accomplished.
  The Orthodox found themselves in a difficult situation. After the death of Metropolitan Michael (Rogoza), Metropolitan Ipatiy Potsey, an active supporter of the union, became his successor. In Vilna, they waited for him to begin to introduce Catholicism, and decided to take a desperate step: they took to the Trinity Monastery hitherto hiding Stefan Zizania, who was not slow to deliver a sermon that did not differ in content from his earlier bold anti-Uniate speeches. The enraged Potse ordered to seal the temple and admonish the Orthodox. The Orthodox suggestion was made so decisively that Zizan had to be saved through a chimney.
A huge role in the defense of Orthodoxy was played by the publishing activity of the Vilna Brotherhood. Many books and brochures have been published outlining Orthodox doctrine. Uniates knew the power of the printed word. Potsey released the book "Harmony" with slander against Orthodoxy. In response, the famous member of the Brotherhood Meletiy Smotrytsky, whose grammar of the Slavic language was subsequently studied by many generations of seminarians and gymnasium students, published the essay "Antigraphs". At this time, one of the Orthodox tried to make an attempt on the life of Metropolitan Hypatius (Potsey), but the Uniate Patriarch remained unharmed. The attempt only aggravated the situation of the Orthodox, and in the end, in 1609, the Trinity Monastery and the churches in Vilna were taken from them. The Vilna Brotherhood lost many of its members, who joined the union. The brotherhood moved to the Church of the Holy Spirit, built in 1595, transferred the remnants of their property and the printing house. But the publication of the next polemic book of Meletius Smotritsky "Frinos" served as an occasion for closing the printing house, and its workers were imprisoned. Among them was proofreader Longin (monk Leonty) Karpovich, who later became the first rector of the Holy Spirit Monastery.
  The Holy Spirit Monastery, apparently, arose immediately after these sad events - around 1609, the fraternity at the monastery also became known as the Holy Spirit. Archimandrite Leonty (Karpovich) introduced a communal charter into the monastery and regulated the life of the brethren. Meletiy Smotrytsky became his successor. In 1633, the famous Peter the Grave became the metropolitan of Kiev, and it became easier for the Orthodox to breathe throughout the Western Territory.
  At this time, the monastery and the brotherhood were helped by its permanent patrons, Lavrenty Drevinsky, Prince Bogdan Oginsky, the tradesman Semyon Azarich and many others. In the end, in the middle of the 17th century, 17 male and 2 female (Vilensky and Minsk) monasteries were subordinated to the Holy Spirit Monastery. The monks, the bishops, were often elected rectors of other monasteries. Thus, the importance of the monastery in the Lithuanian part of the Kiev Metropolis increases significantly.
  Immediately after the voluntary accession of Little Russia to Russia in 1654, a war between Russia and Poland began and the Western Territory was between two fires. The war with the Swedes brought even greater ruin. And when in 1655 the Russian troops entered Vilna, they saw an almost empty city. Since that time, Vilna has lost the significance of the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
After the Poles again occupied Vilna in 1661, breaking the eight-month siege of the Russian garrison under the command of Prince Myshetsky, who preferred death to captivity and was buried in the Holy Spirit Monastery after execution, the situation of the Orthodox in the city worsened again. They began to accuse the Holy Spirit Monastery of treason, of aiding Moscow, etc. The monastery became impoverished by the brethren. But with her, however, the school continued to exist. Among the significant events of the second half of the 17th century, it is worth noting the arrival in the monastery in 1677 of a Chernigov preacher, later Saint Dmitry of Rostov. Here in the Holy Spirit Monastery, he delivered two sermons.
  From 1702 to 1708, inclusively, four times Swedish and two times Russian troops occupied Vilna. From 1708 to 1710, famine raged in the city, which claimed the lives of almost 30 thousand people, then almost as many died from a pestilence.
  The monastery enjoyed the support of Peter I, who gave the monastery the granted letters and privileges. During the terrible fire of 1749, the Holy Spirits monastery completely burned down. Only the little girl’s church remained. The Russian government released 6,000 rubles to renew the church. It is interesting to note that according to the list of 1765, 40 Orthodox men and 27 women remained in Vilna. After 30 years, this number has almost halved. In such circumstances, the activity of the monastery seems all the more important. The last brutal abuse of the monastery was done by the Poles in 1794, robbing him and committing violence against the rector - eighty-year-old elder George, almost the only monk who remained in the monastery. The revival of the monastery begins on August 11, 1794, when Vilna became a Russian provincial city. The Holy Spirit Monastery was identified as a full-time second-class monastery with a corresponding salary. In 1797, the monastery was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Minsk and Volyn Job. By this time, there were 13 monks in the monastery, and four of them lived and served in monasteries subordinate to the Holy Spirit. In 1833, at the request of Archimandrite Holy Spirit Monastery of Plato (Rudinsky) and at the request of the Vilnius Governor-General Prince Dolgorukov, the monastery was transferred to the first class, which entailed an improvement in its material condition. The synod allocated the necessary funds, and in 1896, with the blessing of the Archbishop of Minsk Smaragd, the Holy Spirit Church was rebuilt according to the model of the Orthodox church, since it had previously looked like a church.
In 1839, a significant event took place in the religious life of Lithuania: 700 thousand Uniates returned to Orthodoxy. This happened thanks to the efforts of the Archbishop Joseph of Vilnius and Lithuania (Semashko), a great admirer of the Vilnius monastery and a prayer book for the Lithuanian region.
  In 1850, the Bishop proceeded to the glorification of the holy martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius. At his own expense, he arranged a convenient, sloping, hitherto existing, descent into the cave where the relics of the martyrs rested. Built a church in the cave. Icons for the altar were painted by academician Khrutsky. The cave church was consecrated on April 14, 1851 in the name of the holy Martyrs of Vilna. Through the efforts of the Bishop and on the donations of the parishioners, a bronze, hammered, clad cancer was built, in which on April 14, 1852 the relics of the martyrs were placed. While setting up the church, Archbishop Joseph prepared a stone coffin for himself in the cave and covered it with a cast-iron board with the inscription: “Remember, Lord, your servant Saint Joseph. Holy martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius, pray to the Lord for me, sinful, 1850.” There he was buried in 1868.
  The activity of archimandrite Plato (Gorodetsky) also belongs to the same period. He carried out huge restoration work in the monastery. In 1844, the Annunciation Church was turned into a monastery refectory and the holy gates were built. On June 4, 1845, Archbishop Joseph consecrated the main chapel in the reconstructed Church of the Holy Spirit. The monastery has acquired a modern look.
  On August 6, 1865, according to the approval of the charter by Metropolitan Joseph, after the liturgy, the Vilnius Holy Spirit Brotherhood was solemnly opened again, which ceased to exist in 1796. Now his goals are charity and the promotion of public education.
  After the death of Metropolitan Joseph, Archbishop Makarii (Bulgakov), later Metropolitan of Moscow, author of the multi-volume History of the Russian Church, became the archimandrite of the monastery. Since 1945, the Holy Spirit Monastery, from 1922 to 1939 located on the territory of Poland, is again part of the Vilnius Diocese. He, as in previous years, carries out his main work - prayer, which is the basis of the life of a monk. In Russia, they always believed that the monk’s prayer holds the world and that her native land is protected by her strength.
During the years of militant atheism, the monastery resisted. She even noticeably improved. In 1959 - 1960, steam heating was equipped in the Church of the Holy Spirit, in 1976 the entire monastery complex was connected to the city heating system. In 1982, under Archbishop Victorin (Belyaev), the chapel of St. John the Theologian was restored and consecrated in the main church, at the same time an elevator was installed on the bell tower, as well as the fraternal building was improved. Under Metropolitan Vilensky and Lithuanian Chrysostomos, the Church of the Holy Spirit was thoroughly updated. In 1996-1997, major repairs were made to the floor of the main temple, the wooden beams were replaced with metal, and the floor itself was laid with ceramic tiles. At the same time, they expanded the cave church and made two entrances and exits to it. Inside and outside the church building was redecorated. In July 1997, the 400th anniversary of the monastery was widely celebrated in honor of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the 650th anniversary of the death of the holy Martyrs of Vilna. On anniversary days, the diocese was visited by Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II. In the Holy Spirit Church, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church performed an all-night vigil with the nine heads of the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church and the local clergy, and the next day - the liturgy. In prayer for a visit to the Holy Spirit Monastery, the Most Holy donated the eucharistic vessels to the monastery. On behalf of the brethren of the monastery and the entire Orthodox community of Lithuania, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Vilnius and Lithuania presented the icon of the holy martyrs Anthony, John and Eustathius as a gift to His Holiness.
  In 1993, a holy library of spiritual literature was opened in the Holy Spirit Monastery. Now it has about 13 thousand volumes. On Sundays, the monastery holds meetings of clergy with the laity, talks on faith, watching audio and video materials. Over the past few years, the monastery has been providing free lunch to approximately thirty needy people daily. In the monastery there is also a small hotel for the reception of pilgrims.
  On the territory of the monastery in the newly rebuilt building are the administrative structures of the Vilnius diocese: the “Archbishopric” - the office of the diocese and the “Orthodox economy &”, which are in charge of property matters, including the return of property owned by the diocese until 1940. Here is the residence of the ruling bishop -; Metropolitan Vilensky and Lithuanian Chrysostomos, sacred archimandrite of the Holy Spirit Monastery.
As of February 15, 2004, the monastic brotherhood included: 3 archimandrite, 1 hegumen, 1 hieromonk, 1 hierodeacon. Divine services are held daily in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit. A liturgy is served in the cave church every Saturday, followed by a litany in memory of St. Joseph Semashko. And on Sundays, the akathist to the holy Vilnius martyrs is read in the main church of the Holy Spirit. All holidays and Sunday liturgies in the church are held with the participation of the festive cathedral choir under the direction of the long-term leader, Honored Art Worker of the Republic Leonid Adamovich Murashko. Two choir choirs — the monks and the laity — participate in the services.