旅人る - Tabibito
Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery
An old venerated monastery for men, located near Volokolamsk in Moscow oblast, 100 km northwest of Moscow. In 15-17th centuries it used to be a fortress defending the distant frontiers of the capital and has powerful walls and nine sharp-coned stone towers.
Green glazed tiles on the towers.
Pier with an open-air baptistery used for Christmas diving.
Assumption Cathedral (1688-1696).
The ruins of a 76-meter bell tower, which was blown up in 1941 by the retreating Red Army, so that the Nazi Germans would not use it as a lookout point (you could see Moscow from the upper floors).
The monastery is very cat-pleasing. Lots of cats inside.
And outside too.
At the entrance to the monastery, they collect money for the feline brethren. Interestingly, if more donations are made for cats than for the monastery fund, will that be a big sin?
Church of the Epiphany with a refectory chamber, i.e. monks dining room (beginning of the 16th century).
Old tombs were reused during soviets. Some of them bear the inscriptions "motor" and "zaporozh[ets]", so they were probably stored in a car garage.
More towers.
In short, this is one of the few Russian monasteries in which it is pleasant to walk and where photography is not forbidden.
The Skete of All Saints. Located in the wood in 1 km southwest from the monastery.
The skete church was built at the well, which, according to legend, was dug by the founder of the monastery himself, Joseph Volotsky.
Where to stay (as of May 2022): the monastery has a hotel for pilgrims, but it is unlikely that you will be allowed there if you are not an Orthodox pilgrim.
Where to eat: there is a small cafe where you can buy mediocre Russian pies. Usually Russian monasteries have delicious pastries and kvass, but judging by the reviews, this is not the case.
What to buy: instead of buying something here, you can buy high quality food for cats in advance.
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