- Travel route : Church of St. John Chrysostom in Godenovo - Monastery of the Descent of the Life-Giving Cross - Nikitsky Pereslavl Monastery - Nikolsky Pereslavl Convent - Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (12th century).
- Cost of the trip: 1,500 rubles per person (for a group of 12 people or more).
- Check out the full schedule of upcoming pilgrimage trips.
Mother and children
Another touching story that happened today. It clearly shows what miracles the Life-Giving Cross works in Godenovo. Unfortunately, female alcoholism is a dangerous phenomenon and, alas, widespread, it is very difficult to cure. And not only the victims of the phenomenon themselves suffer, but also those around them. A mother of 4 children, who stooped to the point of sending her younger children out into the street to beg, was deprived of parental rights. The children were placed in shelters, and the woman was sent for compulsory treatment by social and medical services. She was very lucky that among the treating staff there was a pilgrim to Godenovo. Stories about the miracles of the Lord inspired the unfortunate patient. Having made every effort and praying to God, she managed to overcome her addiction. And at the first opportunity I went on a pilgrimage. After all, the woman really wanted to get her children back, and only a miracle could help her. During her prayers, the Wonderworker also appeared to her, who explained what to do so that the family could be reunited. Soon after the pilgrimage, thanks to God's help - and only to her! - mother and children found each other.
Years of Soviet power
But let’s return to the story of how the relic was transferred to the village of Godenovo. The Bolsheviks who came to power wanted to take the Life-Giving Cross out of the St. Nicholas Church in order to destroy “a hotbed of obscurantism and religious dope.” However, the crucifix suddenly became literally impossible to lift, although previously it had been taken outside the church more than once. Then, not understanding God’s providence, the Bolsheviks decided to saw it up indoors, despite the fact that they were desecrating a sacred place with their actions. But just as before the tree was not taken by fire, so now both axes and saws were powerless against it. It seemed that the cross was made of the most durable stone. Then the church was simply locked, leaving the relic under the guard of several soldiers. But the parishioners of the temple, worried about the shrine, managed to bribe them. Then the Life-Giving Cross was transported to Godenovo. The miracles of the will of the Lord were also manifested in the fact that only a few believers were able to carry him out - under the cover of night, secretly, and hid him in the Church of St. John Chrysostom.
Mysterious phenomenon
The story of how people found the shrine is mysterious and wonderful, like everything that the hand of God touches. The inhabitants of the monastery keep a detailed chronicle of all the events in which the Life-Giving Cross appears. Godenovo is the second homeland of this great symbol of faith. And it all started back in the 15th century, in 1423. These places have been swampy since ancient times. The largest swamp was called Sakhotsky. Both people and animals tried to avoid it. However, at the end of May 23, it was here that a wonderful vision appeared to the shepherds. A cross with the Savior crucified on it appeared in the air from a column of light. And next to him is Nikolai the Pleasant with the Gospel. And a voice from heaven commanded to immediately build the House of God here, in which the Life-Giving Cross would be located (we repeat, it came to Godenovo later).
Second phenomenon
Much time passed before the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord was again opened for worship in Godenovo. The dilapidated temple and shrine were cared for by sisters from the Nikolsky Monastery near Pereslavl. It is deeply symbolic that within the walls of the church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the 15th century, the crucifix became a symbol of faith, and at the end of the 20th century it returned to the people again in the monastery of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Since 1997, when the Church of St. John Chrysostom in Godenovo was restored and restored, the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord took its place of honor in it. But even then it was difficult to imagine that the shrine, located in a remote provincial outback, would acquire such great fame in modern times and receive all-Russian status. And the arriving pilgrims, with tears of gratitude and trepidation, talk about the visible miracles that happened to them, or about those that they witnessed.
Great Shrine
In the very center of Russia, in the Yaroslavl region, near Pereslavl-Zalessky, there is one of these relics - the Life-Giving Cross. Godenovo is a small village in which the St. Nicholas convent has long existed. In his courtyard there is a temple built in honor of John Chrysostom. It was this church that became the place where in the 30s of the last century the great Life-Giving Cross found its refuge. Godenovo has seen a lot in his time. Since 1794, the domes of its five-domed temple have sparkled in the sky, and the sonorous bells have filled the entire area with crimson bells. From the day it opened, the church did not close, as if invisible forces preserved it in the era of godlessness and difficult days of revolution, wars, repressions, famine, persecution for faith and belief. Signs of antiquity are visible everywhere in the temple. Its walls were painted at the beginning of the 19th century. The skillfully made iconostasis dates back to the same time. The left side chapel of the church is consecrated with the Bogolyubskaya Icon of the Mother of God. On the right on the wall, in a special icon case, fireproof, the Life-Giving Cross is placed. Godenovo has always been very popular among pilgrims. Thanks to the relics kept here, the village is visited annually by thousands of believers and sufferers.
People's Worship
On June 11 every year, the Day of Worship of the Shrine is celebrated. People flock here from all over Mother Russia, from Ukraine and Belarus, and even from far abroad.
Pilgrims head to the monastery in advance to see the Life-Giving Cross in Godenovo. How to get to your destination faster depends on the route and type of transport. If you are leaving from Moscow, it will be about 200 km to Godenov. First, you should arrive in the town of Petrovsk (this is 180 km from the capital), and then to the temple itself - another 15 km. By public transport - railway, buses - choose this route: Moscow-Petrovsk. There you need to change to a local bus/minibus and go towards the village of Priozerny all the way to Godenov. If you travel by personal transport, follow the signs. In Petrovsk, focus on the direction to the Chrysostom Church and then follow the signs to Godenovo. It is simply impossible to get lost here. And any local resident will be happy to show you the way, because this is for the glory of the Lord!
Tales of the Cross
In 1933, the Life-Giving Cross was transferred to Godenovo. When the Chrysostom Church was opened, we already wrote. Now the story will concern the movement of the relic. People could see more than once that this Cross is not simple. When the St. Nicholas Church burned, he was found on the ashes completely untouched by the flames. It was as if the Lord was guarding His Sign, saving it for all those in need. The very history of miracles begins not only with the appearance of the Cross, but also with the voice of the Almighty, who warned: “Whoever comes to the crucifixion with faith and prayer will receive healing and will become a witness of many glorious and unusual deeds done in My name and for the sake of St. Nicholas "
After this, a whole series of signs actually happened - from the drying up of the swamp and the formation of a convenient river, on the banks of which the first St. Nicholas Church was built, to the miraculous rescue of the crucifix from the fire. All these events were recorded by the monks in a special book. Unfortunately, it burned down, but many other records and ancient scrolls were preserved - evidence of the past. In particular, when a thanksgiving prayer was held in honor of the fact that the cross had survived, “the blind received their sight, the lame began to walk upright, the sick became healthy.” A similar thing happened in Godenovo. The Life-Giving Cross, when it was open for worship, showed everyone its miraculous power.
First hand stories
It is very interesting and instructive to listen to those who saw the Life-Giving Cross in Godenovo. The reviews of those who prayed before him are filled with sincere awe and delight. So, from year to year a gray-haired man comes to worship. He walks with a slight limp. It turns out that at one time he served in Afghanistan and was seriously wounded. The doctors saved his life, but they could not restore his movement. A wheelchair, helplessness and complete dependence on others - that was the verdict. This still young guy went through despair, thoughts of suicide, and alcohol before he turned his thoughts to God.
One day he dreamed of Saint Nicholas, who showed him the way and said that his salvation was Godin’s Cross of the Lord. The unfortunate disabled person turned to his relatives and with difficulty convinced them to take him to the shrine. And a miracle really happened. The guy served his service in a wheelchair. And after the prayer service, with the help of his relatives, he got back on his feet. And he began to slowly return to duty. Now he comes every year to places where he found faith in the Lord, health and himself.
Nikolaevsky Pogost
Residents of the surrounding area, fearing to disobey, immediately set to work. Moreover, overnight there was no trace left of the swamp; the ground turned out to be dry and suitable for construction. The wooden church was erected quite quickly and was named Nikolskaya - in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The area around it began to settle in - the village of Nikolsky Pogost appeared near the church. Later it was renamed Antushkovo. And the Life-Giving Cross was displayed in the temple - it was moved to Godenovo already in the 20th century. St. Nicholas Church survived several fires, until in 1776 a large stone church with 3 altars was built in its place - the main one in honor of the Cross, as well as two in honor of St. Nicholas and the Intercession of the Mother of God. And already in the first quarter of the 19th century, they decided to build a monastery around the church in Nikolsky Pogost. By that time the parishioners numbered more than one and a half thousand people.
