St. Barbara Monastery description and photos - Belarus: Pinsk (Topic)

St. Barbara Monastery description and photos - Belarus: Pinsk. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

Pinsk St. Barbara monastery or convent in the name of the Great Martyr Barbara in the city of Pinsk was founded in the 16th century. The first mention of the Varvarinsky Monastery dates back to 1520, when Prince Theodore Yaroslavich and his wife Alexandra Olelkovicheva built new wooden cells for the nuns and donated land holdings.

Hard times came for the monastery after the adoption of the Brest Union. In 1596 the St. Barbara Monastery was converted to Uniatism and transferred to Euphrosyne Triznyanka. The recalcitrant Orthodox nuns who fled from it wanted to establish their new monastery in Pinsk, but in 1635, by order of King Vladislav IV, this was prohibited in Pinsk, and the nuns were ordered to be driven out of the city.

In 1839, in Pinsk, which became part of the Russian Empire, they revived the Varvara Convent again and gave it rich church utensils, relics, and considerable funds. The main shrine of the monastery was the relics (finger) of St. Barbara, placed in a gilded shrine.

In the 19th century, St. Barbara Monastery became a very high-level educational institution for girls. His library consisted of many books, including early printed and handwritten ones. The monastery taught writing, reading, languages, theological sciences, singing, mathematics, handicrafts. In 1858, the former Bernardine church was transferred to the Varvara Monastery, which was specially reconstructed in order to give it Byzantine features. A large dome was installed on it.

During the Soviet era, a hospital was set up in the monastery.

Today the monastery is an active nunnery. The St. Barbara Monastery houses the greatest Orthodox shrine - the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria of Jerusalem. The library has been revived in the monastery, which is now available for adults and children. An educational and charitable center and a Sunday school for children have been organized at the monastery.

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Topic: St. Barbara Monastery description and photos - Belarus: Pinsk.