Moscow, December 17, 2024
Photo: mbrsm.ru
On December 15, 2024, celebrations were held at the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Convent in Moscow commemorating the 635th anniversary of the repose of the monastery’s founder, Schemanun Martha (born Princess Maria of Serpukhov, wife of Prince Andrei of Serpukhov—the younger son of St. John Kalita).
The service was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Theognost of Kashira, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism and abbot of Donskoy Monastery. He was assisted by a number of Moscow clergy, the monastery reports.
The service was attended by a number of abbesses of other monasteries, and other Church and public representatives.
After the Divine Liturgy, a memorial service was held for the monastery’s founder, Schemanun Martha.
Following the service, His Eminence Metropolitan Theognost read out the greeting of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, which detailed the life of Mother Martha.
After a festive meal, there was a screening of Lyubov Akelina’s film Princess Maria of Serpukhov: A Mother’s Feat. Before the screening, His Grace Bishop Alexei of Solnechnogorsk, abbot of Moscow’s Danilov Monastery, addressed the participants with a pastoral word, noting the family ties and spiritual unity between the lineage of Prince St. Daniel of Moscow and John Kalita and Princess Maria of Serpukhov.
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The life of Schemanun Martha from the greetings of Pat. Kirill:
The God-pleasing life of the princess, who founded one of Moscow’s stavropegial monasteries with the blessing of St. Sergius of Radonezh and ascended to the highest degree of monastic life, her selfless service to God, neighbors and fatherland, her obedience to her spiritual mentor and the upbringing of her hero-son—Prince Vladimir Andreevich the Brave—can serve as a model of perfection in the Gospel commandments for both monastics and laity.
Having been widowed at the age of 23 and possessing great wealth, Princess Maria didn’t enter into a second marriage, but dedicated her life to prayer and charitable activities, excelling in virtues and raising her son. She supported her nephew—the holy and Right-believing Grand Prince Dimitri Donskoy and his wife St. Euphrosyne (Eudokia) of Moscow in the beautification of the first-throned city of Moscow. Princess Maria took direct part in Moscow’s restoration after the fire of 1365 and the construction of the first white-stone Moscow Kremlin. She gave up her own son, letting him go on all military campaigns, and together with other mothers and wives prayed for victory at Kulikovo Field while the attack of the reserve regiment of Prince Vladimir the Brave determined the outcome of the battle. Princess Maria and Vladimir Andreevich the Brave helped bring the grand princely family and many people closer to their spiritual father St. Sergius, whose Holy Trinity Monastery was located on their lands. They contributed to the subsequent veneration of the abbot of the Russian Land and the building of monasteries for the salvation of many souls.
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Photo: pravm.ru
The Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos Convent was founded in 1386 to commemorate the victory at Kulikovo Field by Princess Maria Ivanovna of Serpukhov, mother of Vladimir Andreevich the Brave, a hero of the Battle of Kulikovo, with the participation of St. Dimitri Donskoy and St. Euphrosyne (Eudokia) of Moscow. St. Sergius of Radonezh was the monastery’s first spiritual father.
In 1525, Vasily III’s wife Grand Princess Solomonia Saburova—later St. Sophia of Suzdal—took her monastic vows in the monastery. After the fire of 1547, the monastery was restored by Tsar Ivan the Terrible and Tsarina Anastasia Romanovna. In 1812, during Napoleon’s invasion, the monastery was preserved from fire and pillaging. In the early 20th century, the monastery was served by Holy Martyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) (who laid the foundation and performed the great consecration of the refectory church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God) St. John of Kronstadt, Holy Martyr Paul Preobrazhensky, and Archpriest Sergius Molchanov. In 1922, the monastery was closed.
One of the monastery’s sisters—Venerable Martyr Tatiana (Besfamilnaya)—was canonized as a New Martyr. In 1989, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. On July 19, 1993, on the feast of the Synaxis of Radonezh Saints, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church officially reestablished the monastery.
Currently, the monastery has 4 active churches, and one other still undergoing restoration. On November 16, 1995, His Holiness Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the great consecration of the Chapel of the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. On November 7, 2010, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the great consecration of the refectory church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. On September 9, 2014, Abp. Theognost of Sergiev Posad celebrated the great consecration of the Church of Holy Martyr Eugene of Chersonesus.
The monastery runs a Sunday school for children aged 4-17. In 2010, a free three-year women’s Church singing school was opened. There is also a social charity center that helps large families and the homeless. Since 2011, the monastery has hosted youth organizations and a Sunday School for adults. Students of the singing school and participants of Orthodox youth meetings undergo liturgical practice in one of the monastery’s churches.
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