2. Cathedral of Our Lady of Smolensk (Smolensky Cathedral)
3. Transfiguration-Gate Church
4. Bell Tower
5. Bell Tower Prokhorov Chapel
6. Prokhorov Chapel
7. Images and text: InternetIvan Rebroff :Ave MariaAdriana
8. The Novodevichy (New Maiden) Convent, also known as
Bogoroditse-SmolenskyMonastery, is situated in the south-western
part of the historic town of Moscow, closeto the Moscow River. The
Convent territory is enclosed within walls and surrounded bya park,
which forms the buffer zone. The park is limited by the urban
fabric of the cityon the north and east sides. On the west side, it
is limited by the Moscow River, and onthe south side there is an
urban freeway. The north-west shore of the lake offerspicturesque
panoramas that are important for the perception of the ensemble.The
convent dates back from the 16th century (1524) when it was founded
by TsarVasily III as a means to commemorate the
Muscovite-Lithuanian War through whichthe Russians managed to
capture the city of Smolensk from Lithuania. The constructionwas
meant to serve both as a religious site and as a fortification. The
original structuredid not survive the passage of time, so the
building that stands before the beholderdates from a later period,
more exactly from the 1680s. This marks the year when themonastery
was subjected to massive restoration work.
9. The monastic complex comprises several churches. The most
relevant one is the Cathedralof the Virgin of Smolensk. This
follows the architectural style of the Cathedral ofAssumption,
located in Kremlin, and consists of five colossal domes, an
outstandingiconostasis which comprises 84 wooden piers, to which
are added 16th and 17th centuryicons. The Church of Assumption is
located to the right of the aforementioned cathedraland the Church
of St. Ambrose is located at the back. The Gate-Church of
Trasfigurationis situated at the entrance of the convent and it is
representative for the Moscow Baroquearchitectural design. The
southern gate is guarded by the Gate-Church of theIntercession, an
edifice consisting of three cupolas and a red and white faade. The
BellTower (1683-90) is 72 m high in five tiers. It is built from
red brick in Moscow Baroquestyle, using white-stone decorative
elements. The convent has a number of residential andservice
buildings, many along the walls.The Necropolis of the Convent was
initiated in the 16th century. The cathedral served asburial place
for women of the tsarist and ruling families. The cemetery around
the cathedralwas used for nobility and honourable citizens. In
1898-1904, a new cemetery wasestablished outside the south wall, a
burial place of the most eminent Russianintellectuals, and
political and military figures.After the October Revolution, in
1922, the Convent was closed, and it became the Museumof
emancipation of woman. It was later reorganised as the historical
and art museum of TheNovodevichy Convent. At present this is
affiliated to the State Historical Museum ofKremlin. Since 1980
Novodevich Convent is a residence of a Metropolitan, and in 1994
anunnery has again been introduced there.In 2004, it was proclaimed
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.