info
photo:
Novodevichy Convent. Chapel Prochorovich
notes:
In the fire of 1812 the convent was nearly mined. At the beginning of September numerous French soldiers were billeted here, and shortly afterwards Napoleon himself visited the place on horseback. Without dismounting he looked round at the convent, gave orders for the Church of John the Baptist to be blown up, and then departed. On the night of 8 October the French troops were preparing to retreat. Before leaving, these uninvited guests stuck lighted candles on the wooden iconostases and threw them on to the floor where they had scattered straw everywhere. In the cellar of the Smolensky Cathedral the nuns discovered open barrels of powder with smouldering fuses. With only seconds to go before a terrible explosion, the nuns managed to put out the fuses and prevent a fire in the convent.
New Maiden Convent was closed in 1922. The nuns were evicted from their cloisters, and the premises used as `the Museum of Women`s Emancipation`, which later became transformed into the historical and cultural museum `New Maiden Convent`. In the 1920s the well-known artist Tatlin - a futurist - acquired a studio in the convent bell-tower. It was he who designed the giant III International Tower, which luckily for Moscow was never built. It was from the bell-tower that Tatlin released his flying machine, the `Letatlin`, which was supposed to be operated by the muscle power of the newly-emancipated man.
In the convent`s old rooms of the 17th century the renowned architect Pyotr Baranovsky lived for nearly 50 years. It is thanks to him that many monuments of Russian culture were saved from destruction.
Since 1964 the official residence of the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomensky has been located in New Maiden Convent.
published:
Wed 9 Feb 2005 22:29
comments (15 from 22)
mircea grumaz
#2
Wed 9 Feb 2005 22:53
wonderful, thanks for explanation of Moscow monastic
Jose Antonio Moreno
#3
Wed 9 Feb 2005 22:55
Wonderful!!!
I like this picture!!!
Excellent perspective and nicely lighting.
Congrats Eugene and thanks for the notes.
miguel
#6
Wed 9 Feb 2005 23:16
Beautiful light and framing. Nice documentation too, as usual. Regards eugene.
Regina Lopes
#8
Wed 9 Feb 2005 23:57
Lovely imagen and another good report.
Wonderful composition with excellent notes!
A great work!!!
Congrats!
Warm regards!
luquesio melo
#11
Thu 10 Feb 2005 01:22
Excellent work Eugene!What a beautiful light you capture here! Thanks for your help with the notes.
A V E
#14
Thu 10 Feb 2005 08:28
ochen interesnie istoricheskie fakti! i zamechatelnaya fotografiya krasivaya kompaziciya i obaldenniy svet proskalzivaet cheres vetki dereviev ato vse delaet fotku unekalnoy!
Carmikel C
#15
Thu 10 Feb 2005 08:29
Beautiful and well made picture. Really great light and wonderful colors. Interesting and well told story.
Regards
