Like a phoenix from the ashes: the Epiphany-Anastasia monastery in Kostroma

The Cathedral of the Epiphany-Anastasiain Monastery is the oldest in Kostroma.

It was built in 1559. One of the biggest donors was Prince Vladimir Staritsky. His royal cousin Ivan the Terrible suspected a relative of treason. The king’s wrath also fell on the Epiphany Monastery.

After that, the main temple of the monastery survived the invasion of the Poles, the death of monks, fires ... And each time he returned to a new life.

In 1918, the monastery was closed, it seemed to many – forever. Services in the cathedral were still going on, but in 1925 they stopped. Here is one of the richest regional archives of the Soviet Union. Tons of documents were saved by Kostroma local historians, brought from institutions closed by the new government, ruined estates, monasteries and churches. But on August 16, 1982, there was a disaster.

The window under the dome was broken: a new building was being built for the archive, waiting for the move, they decided not to glass. They say the boys wanted to see what was down there. Lighted the paper, dropped it. A third of the documents died in the fire. The new building was completed, but the remains of burned papers had to be transported there.

The temple stood in ruins for a long time. But by the beginning of 1991, the efforts of parishioners and with the support of Bishop Alexander (Mogilev) was restored. On the feast of the Cathedral of Kostroma Saints in 1991, after many years of “abomination of desolation”, the first service was held.

The Epiphany Temple is open every day. You can visit it yourself or with a guide on the red itinerary of the daily tour. "Kostroma at 15:15.". And on a VR tour."Flight over Kostroma"You will see how the monastery complex looks from a height.

According to the materials of the scientific consultant of the project “Kostroma at 15:15” candidate of cultural studies Larisa Sizintseva.