Kazan Theotokos Monastery in Kazan

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery is one of the most interesting religious sites for tourists, and a very important temple for believers. Its history is inextricably linked with the acquisition of one of the most revered icons and shrines in Russia - the miraculous Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

As the story goes, which was left by the witness of the icon's acquisition, Priest Ermolai (later became Patriarch Hermogenes), in 1579, only 27 years after the capture of Kazan by the Russian troops of Ivan the Terrible, there was a big fire in the city. After the fire, a twelve-year-old girl in a dream appeared to the Most Holy Theotokos, and told her where to look for an icon with her image. On June 8, 1579, a girl found an icon of the Virgin in the ashes on the site of a burned house. The finding of the icon was perceived by believers as a special event. In 1612, the shrine was sent with Russian troops to march to Moscow to fight the Poles, who, with its "support" and "for the sake of its Kazan Icon", won the victory, despite the numerical superiority of the Poles. Since then, this image has become very revered in Russia, and a whole convent complex was built on the site of its acquisition.

Unfortunately, the history of the icon's further movement is very confusing. Many copies (lists) of it have been made, and it is unknown where the original is stored and whether it has been preserved at all. According to the officially recognized version, in 1904 the original icon was stolen from the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery. And although the kidnapper was quickly found, it was not possible to find the icon. According to one version, she was burned by a thief, according to another, she was sold to the Old Believers, and her trace was lost. Today, one of the most revered copies (list) of the icon is located in the Kazan monastery.

During the Soviet years, most of the monastery complex was destroyed, the territory was built up with residential buildings, a tobacco factory was built. In 2005, the Great Church of the Exaltation of the Cross was returned and restored, where today one of the most revered lists (a copy) of the icon is kept - the Vatican List. Now the monastery is being revived, but now as a male, not a female.

Anyone can visit the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery today, including tourists. The temple is not distinguished by special architectural delights, but its strong atmosphere is felt even by people who do not believe. The list of icons is displayed in the temple and is available to all believers and tourists. When visiting, remember that this is not only a tourist place, but also a functioning temple, so you need to behave and dress appropriately.

And we also advise you to look at interesting options for individual and group excursions with reviews on these proven sites:

• 📷 Search for excursions in Kazan on Sputnik8.com
• 📷 Search for excursions in Kazan on Tripster.ru
• 📷 Excursions in Kazan from the tour operator TEZ Tour