Residents of big cities are ready to travel a long way in search of a calm, quiet rest that can restore mental strength and give moments of solitude. However, sometimes wonderful places are located very close to megacities while maintaining their uniqueness, originality and special atmosphere.
History and description of the monastery
80 km from Moscow there is a place that attracts travelers with its picturesque landscape, unique architecture, rich history and its spirituality. Namely, near the village of Novy Byt in the Chekhov District of the Moscow Region, on the high bank of the Lopasnya River, is the Ascension Davidov Monastery.
The monastery was founded in the 16th century by David Serpukhovsky, who came from a wealthy and noble family, which, according to popular legend, was related to the family of the Vyazemsky princes. Daniel, this is the real name of the founder, as a child, he began to study the lives of the saints. Growing up, he thought more and more about monastic service, and at the age of twenty he went to the Borovsky Monastery to the Venerable Elder Paphnutius. Very soon the elder tonsured Daniel as a monk under the name David. David spent about 40 years in prayer within the walls of the Brovsky Monastery. It was only when he was sixty years old that he decided to leave the monastery and found a new monastery.
In 1515, on the desert lands that belonged to Prince Vasily Semyonovich Starodubsky, the Monk David founded a monastery that still exists today. Of course, over a five-century history, the David's Hermitage has changed, declined and revived again.
The first buildings were made of wood and destroyed in 1619 by Lithuanians and Cossacks, headed by Hetman Peter Sagaidachny. It was possible to recover from the damage and continue its activities only by 1625 with the significant support of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, who provided significant benefits to the monastery. In general, the Holy Ascension David's Hermitage had very modest incomes, which was the reason for the frequent transfer of its possessions from one monastery to another. Only the third half of the 18th century can be called a favorable time for the monastery in terms of financial support. However, by the end of the 18th century, problems returned again and a new wave of decline began. In order to support the existence of the desert in 1799, it was decided to introduce a hostel, which contributed to the growth of the brethren and contributed to the flourishing of the monastery, which continued and strengthened in the 19th century.
However, the terrible events of 1917 in the history of Russia left their mark on the activities of the David Hermitage. In October 1929 the monastery was closed and the monks were expelled. In some places the monastery was almost completely destroyed, property was plundered, and shrines were desecrated. And only in 1992, thanks to the efforts of the residents of the village of Novy Byt, work began to restore the monastery's activities, which were completed in full only in 2003, when His Grace Gregory, Archbishop of Mozhaisk consecrated the ancient Ascension Cathedral of the desert with the blessing of Vladyka Metropolitan Yuvenaly.
Guided tours of the monastery, address
When planning to visit the territory of the monastery with an excursion, you need to remember that, despite the historical value, the David's Hermitage is, first of all, a holy place. Therefore, excursion groups are accepted by prior arrangement, and a visit requires compliance with certain rules of conduct and dress. For example, women should have their heads covered and a skirt below the knees, while men should wear trousers. Clothing should be modest, without defiant inscriptions or drawings. Detailed rules can be found on the official website of David's Hermitage www.davidova-pustyn.ru.
You can get to the monastery by laying the directions to the address Moscow region, Chekhov urban district, Novy Byt village, Molodezhnaya street, 7.
Tours are conducted according to the following schedule: daily from 9.30 to 15.00, and on weekends and holidays from 11.00 to 15.00. The duration of such a visit is 1 hour 15 minutes. In order not to get into an unpleasant situation and observe the rules for visiting the monastery, you need to keep in mind that the photo and video filming is done with the blessing of the monastery's abbot.
David's Hermitage is an example of the fact that there is no need to make long journeys in search of unprecedented sights. After all, beautiful places, rich in their history, spirituality, are sometimes very close.
