Novodevichy Convent - Новоде́вичий монасты́рь

Novodevichy Convent (Новоде́вичий монасты́рь), also known as Bogoroditse-Smolensky Monastery (Богоро́дице-Смоле́нский монасты́рь), is probably the best-known cloister of Moscow. Its name is sometimes translated as the New Maidens' Monastery. It was founded in 1524 Unlike other Moscow cloisters, it has remained virtually intact since the 17th century. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The oldest structure in the convent is the six-pillared five-domed cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of Smolensk. Extant documents date its construction to 1524–1525; yet its lofty ground floor, magisterial proportions, and projecting central gable are typical of monastery cathedrals built in the time of Ivan the Terrible. Most scholars agree that the cathedral was rebuilt in the 1550s or 1560s. Although the cathedral is a focal point of the convent, there are many other churches dating from the 1680s.

The Novodevichy Convent was known to have sheltered many ladies from the Russian royal families and boyar clans, who had been forced to take the veil. In 1922, the Bolsheviks closed down the Novodevichy Convent (the cathedral was the last to be closed in 1929) and turned it into the Museum of Women's Emancipation. By 1926, the monastery had been transformed into a history and art museum. In 1934, it became affiliated with the State Historical Museum. Most of its facilities were turned into apartments.

In 1943, when Stalin started to make advances to the Russian Orthodox Church during World War II, he sanctioned opening the Moscow Theological Courses at the convent. Next year the program was transformed and became the Moscow Theological Institute. In 1945, the Soviets returned Assumption Cathedral to the believers. In 1994, nuns returned to the convent. Some of the churches and other monastic buildings are still affiliated with the State Historical Museum. In 1995, religious services resumed in the convent on patron saints’ days.

This postcard came from Sasha (17 July 2014) Postcrossing.