Danilov Monastery

Danilov Monastery, also known as Svyato-Danilov Monastery, is a significant Russian Orthodox monastery situated on the right bank of the Moskva River in Moscow. Its origins are traditionally traced to the late 13th century, with claims that it was founded by Prince Daniel of Moscow, son of Alexander Nevsky. Prince Daniel is said to have taken monastic vows shortly before his death in 1303 and to have been buried at the site, leading to the Russian Orthodox Church venerating him as a saint.

History and Development

The monastery's early history is marked by relocation; Daniel's successors moved the monastery to the Kremlin, leaving only a graveyard at the original location. In 1560, Ivan the Terrible initiated its re-establishment by inviting monks to settle there again. The monastery played a role in military events, notably being fortified as a camp in 1591 during the approach of Crimean khan Kaza Giray's armies and experiencing damage in 1610 during the Time of Troubles. By the early 17th century, it was enclosed by a brick wall with seven towers.

Throughout the centuries, the number of resident monks varied, with records showing 30 monks in 1710 and a decline to twelve by 1764, though it rose to seventeen by 1900. Notable figures, such as the Greek scholar Nikephoros Theotokis, resided there in their later years. An almshouse for elderly women, later converted for clergymen and their widows, was established in 1805. The monastery was ransacked by the French army in 1812, though its treasury had been moved prior to the occupation.

In the latter half of the 19th century, the Danilov Monastery cemetery became the final resting place for many prominent Russian figures, including writers, artists, and scientists. However, most of these remains were later transferred to Novodevichy Cemetery during the Soviet era.

20th Century and Revival

Following the October Revolution, the monastery was closed in 1930 and repurposed by the NKVD as a reception facility for detained children. It remained the last monastery in Moscow to be closed. A pivotal moment occurred in 1983 when Danilov Monastery became the first in Moscow to be returned to the Moscow Patriarchy. It was subsequently restored in 1988, and since then, it has functioned as the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church and the official residence of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'.

Architecture and Bells

The surviving structures include 17th-century defensive towers and walls, the main church (katholikon), and the Neoclassical cathedral of the Holy Trinity. The Baroque gate church and belltower of St Simeon Stylites are also notable. The katholikon is architecturally distinctive, being the only building in Moscow to feature two separate churches above a ground-floor church, dedicated to the Holy Fathers of the First seven ecumenical councils. Its lower temple was built as a church dedicated to the Intercession.

A unique aspect of the monastery's history involves its bell set. When closed in the 1920s and 30s, the bells were purchased by American industrialist Charles R. Crane and donated to Harvard University. Following calls for their return in the 1980s, the 18 bells were repatriated to the Russian Orthodox Church between 2007 and 2008, with replacements cast in Russia for Harvard.