The Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery is located in the west of Zvenigorod on Mount Storozhi at the confluence of the Storozhka River and the Moscow River. The monastery belongs to the Orthodox Moscow Diocese. After its construction in the 14th century, the structure had not only religious, but also defensive significance. Today the holy place is one of the most significant attractions of Zvenigorod and is very popular among pilgrims and tourists.
The territory of the monastery on Yandex.panorama
Excursions
Excursions to the monastery are possible within an organized group by appointment. Tourists are told about the past and present of the architectural ensemble of the monastery. The tourists will visit all the churches (the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God, the Church of the Transfiguration, the Trinity Gate Church), and will visit the Museum of the Tsarina's Chambers, where the exhibitions of the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museums are located. The pride of the exhibition is the boyar's chambers recreated on the basis of documentary sources, which include furniture, decorations, and dishes from the 17th century. Of interest are the beautiful tiled stoves, decorated with multi-colored tiles.
In the Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, you can purchase monastery souvenirs in local shops. By prior arrangement, tourists will be able to try delicious sbiten in the refectory.
On an excursion to the monastery, you should dress appropriately: men should wear trousers, women should wear skirts, with their shoulders covered and their heads covered.
Tsarina's Chambers, © Natalya Traveler
Font in the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery
About 150 m from the walls of the monastery there is a holy spring of St. Sava. It was formed in a deep ravine next to the cave into which Savva went to communicate with the Lord and perform prayers. Later, a monastery was built on this site, and the water in the source was consecrated. Many pilgrims were healed of various ailments after visiting this place.
During the Soviet years, the monastery was destroyed. After World War II, a military sanatorium was located here. The restoration of the monastery was carried out only at the beginning of the 21st century. Now all conditions have been created here for a comfortable visit to the holy place: parking, a toilet, a children's playground, and a cafe. The font is surrounded by trees, there are benches everywhere where you can relax after swimming and enjoy the fresh air in the shade of the trees. On the territory there is a church shop with a large assortment of goods: icons, oils, candles, spiritual literature. Nearby there is a store where you can buy pies and bread prepared in the monastery, sweets, Cahors, non-alcoholic healing balms, bear fat, and herbal preparations.
Font with a holy spring, © Margarita Kushnirenko
Next to the font there is a dressing room, which pilgrims enter before immersion. For convenient descent there is a staircase with railings. The water temperature in the source stays at 4°C all year round, so there are usually few people willing to take a dip. After bathing, you should take with you a bottle of holy water drawn from a source.
Shrines and relics of the monastery
The main shrine of the monastery is rightfully the relics of its founder, St. Savva. They are located in the main cathedral. Also in the monastery there is a Reliquary Cross and reliquary arks with many particles of relics and stones from the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha and other shrines.
The grave of Elder Simeon. People called him “Semenushka”. The righteous man led a pious Christian life and took upon himself the feat of foolishness. Source of St. Savva of Storozhevsky.
Drawing. 5. Source - bath of St. Sava
It is located outside the monastery walls, near the monastery. The monastery was built on the site of a cave dug by Sava himself, where he lived and prayed. Currently, as before, monks live in the monastery. You can get some blessed water at the spring and take a swim in the font.
Story
The monastery was founded in 1398 by the disciple of Sergius of Radonezh, the Monk Savva the Wonderworker, at the request of Prince Yuri Dmitrievich. The first monastery consisted of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and monastic cells. At the beginning of the 15th century, the Nativity Cathedral of white stone was erected; St. Savva, who was subsequently canonized in the 16th century, was soon buried at its entrance.
The monastery buildings were subject to destruction during the Time of Troubles, and then at the beginning of the 17th century as a result of Polish-Lithuanian raids. The monastery began to be revived under the reign of the kings from the Romanov dynasty. In 1650, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich ordered the construction of a new monastery on Mount Storozhe. The new complex included fortress walls with 7 towers, three temples, a royal palace, monastic cells, a refectory and outbuildings. Later, the king often visited the monastery and used it as a summer residence.
Monument to St. Savva, © Natalya Traveler
In the 18th century, the monastery lost its position, and most of its lands were subject to secularization. In the fall of 1812, the complex was under occupation by French troops and suffered a number of destructions. After the victory, the monastery was restored with royal donations.
In 1918, an armed conflict occurred within the walls of the monastery, which resulted in human casualties and the arrest of the governor and clergy of the monastery. Local authorities seized the property of the monastery, including the holy relics of St. Sava, and stopped its work. During Soviet times, the buildings housed a sanatorium, then a museum.
In 1995, the monastery was restored and opened to believers. Part of Sava’s relics was preserved by the Uspensky family, who transferred them to the St. Daniel Monastery. In honor of the 600th anniversary of the monastery, the relic was returned to the walls of the Savvo-Storozhevsky Monastery. Currently, 30 monks and novices live here. There are theological courses and a library with a reading room on the territory; the monastery supervises an orphanage. Some rooms are still being restored.
Kazan refectory church and Trinity Church, © Katerina Solosyatova
Miraculous icons
The monastery has several miraculous icons with particles of the relics of saints: martyr. Panteleimon, Seraphim of Sarov, Sergius of Radonezh, Savva of Storozhevsky, martyr. Elizabeth, Blessed Matrona of Moscow, St. Spyridon of Trimifunt (with a slipper, brought from the island of Corfu). Information for pilgrims and tourists
Monastery address: Zvenigorod city, Odintsovo district, Gorodok, 5. Monastery telephone numbers: 93-37-978 - reception (code 495), (903)-27-40-121 - pilgrimage service, (963)-64-03-700, (495)-99-29-418 - monastery hotel.
How to get there
You can get to the monastery either by your own transport or by public transport:
- By train from Moscow. Get off at the Belorussky railway station, get to the Zvenigorod station, then take bus No. 51 or 23, get off at the Monastery stop.
- The bus to Zvenigorod runs from the Kuntsevskaya metro station, and then also by regular buses.
- You can get there on your own by entering “Savvinskaya Sloboda” on your navigator.
Where to stay
The monastery has a three-story hotel designed for fifty people. Rooms of different capacities: for one, two, three, four and one room for six people. There are rooms of both economy class and luxury.
The hotel is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Check-in after 17:00 and check-out before 15:00. It is important to have a passport with you, and for children, a birth certificate.
There is no need to pay for children's stay at the hotel; they are accommodated with their parents. It is prohibited to bring animals with you. It is also recommended to make reservations in advance.
Monastery pilgrimage service
For guests of the monastery, the pilgrimage service has developed 2 excursion routes. The first is short and includes an introduction to the architecture of the monastery, visiting temples, fortresses and bell towers. The route lasts 1.5 hours. The second is long and includes not only the monastery, but also the Zvenigorod Kremlin, the monastery of St. Sava and the spring. Those who decide to use the services of the pilgrimage service are advised to contact it in advance.
The pilgrimage service is open daily, except Mondays, from 10:00 to 17:00.
For pilgrims and tourists, the monastery opens at 6:00 and closes after the end of the evening service.
Table 1. Schedule of services at the monastery
| Day | Name of service | Start |
| Weekdays | Midnight prayer, prayer service Hours, Divine Liturgy, Akathist to Savva Storozhevsky All-night vigil | 6.00 7:45 17.00 |
| Saturday | Midnight Office, prayer service Hours, Divine Liturgy, Akathist to Savva Storozhevsky All-night vigil | 6.00 7:45 17.00 |
| Sunday and holidays | Early Liturgy, Late Liturgy, Akathist to Savva Storozhevsky All-night vigil | 6:30 9:30 17:00 |
Bathhouse opening hours: daily from 7.00 to:
- 20:00 in winter;
- 21:00 in spring and autumn;
- 22:00 in summer.
On Monday the bath closes an hour earlier.
Those who decide to visit the holy monastery should not forget that this is a working monastery, which has strict rules of conduct. Clothing and appearance must be as modest as possible (men are prohibited from wearing shorts, women must not wear trousers or bare their heads). You must also behave reverently and modestly. You can only take photos and videos from the outside of buildings.
Compound of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery
The courtyard of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery includes many buildings. The territory is surrounded by high whitewashed walls with 6 towers: Zhitnya, Usovaya, Vodovoznaya, Krasnaya, North-East, North. The latter houses a small cafe, and behind its wall there is an observation deck. There is also a monastery shop not far from the North Tower. The central part of the territory is occupied by the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Trinity Church, the Kazan Refectory Church and the Church of the Transfiguration with a belfry. Near the Zhitny Tower there is the Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich with a first-aid post and a church shop, as well as a cell building. Between the Usovaya and Vodovoznaya towers there is a large Brotherhood building, and across it are the Tsarina’s Chambers.
Scheme of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery
Patronal holidays of the monastery
One of the main holidays of the monastery is the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on September 21st. The remaining dates are associated with the name of the first abbot of the monastery, St. Savva of Storozhevsky
- December 16—the end of the Saint’s earthly journey;
- February 1 - the first discovery of the relics of St. Savva;
- August 23 - the second discovery of the relics of the Saint.
Divine service at the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery
