The land of the Monastery Island in Kalyazin has been transferred to the ownership of the Russian Orthodox Church. The land was transferred to the Tver Diocese for the reconstruction of the church and historical complex of the Holy Trinity Kalyazinsky Monastery, which was once the heart of the spiritual life of the region.
"For almost four years, a lot of difficult work has been carried out on the transfer of the Monastery Island to the Tver Diocese, on the site of which the Trinity Makarievo-Kalyazinsky Monastery used to be located. The work on the transfer of the island to the Church has been successfully completed largely thanks to the Governor of the Tver Region, Igor Mikhailovich Rudena," said Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver and Kashinsky.
The ownership documents were handed over to Hieromonk Ambrose (Zhelyabovsky), rector of the Episcopal metochion of the former Holy Trinity Makariev Monastery in Kalyazin.
"The transfer of the Monastery Island to the Tver Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church is an important step towards the spiritual restoration of our land. It is a holy place that connects the history, architecture and spiritual life of Russia. We pray that prayers will not stop at this place and as many people as possible will have the opportunity to visit here," said Hieromonk Ambrose (Zhelyabovsky).
The monastery Island is the beginning of the history of the city of Kalyazin and is of great importance for Russian Orthodox culture. The island is located on the Volga River, not far from the coast, and is known for its location and connection with the history of the Trinity Monastery.
Founded back in 1434 by St. Macarius of Kalyazin, the Trinity Monastery became the cradle of the city of Kalyazin. The monastery enjoyed the special attention of the Russian sovereigns, among whom were Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Peter I, Catherine II and Alexander II, which testifies to its significant role in the spiritual and political life of the country.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the monastery was a magnificent complex that included: the monumental Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the refectory crowned with the Sretensky Church, the gate church of St. Macarius, the warm Assumption Church, the 60-meter four-tiered bell tower, the cells for the brethren and the hospital building with the Alekseevskaya Church. The total length of the stone walls surrounding the monastery was 700 meters.
In 1920, the monastery was closed, and the buildings were used by various institutions, including a recreation center and a museum of local lore. However, in 1939, in connection with the construction of the Uglich reservoir, the monastery was blown up. Most of the buildings were destroyed, leaving only the foundations of some structures.
Today, a chapel dedicated to St. Macarius of Kalyazinsky is located on Monastyrsky Island, where divine services have been held daily since 2021. It is located in the southeastern tower of the former Trinity Monastery, restored according to ancient drawings.
A complete restoration of the Trinity Monastery complex is planned, despite the fact that most of its buildings have been irretrievably lost. The island continues to attract tourists and pilgrims due to its historical significance and picturesque location on the Volga River.