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Kostroma. Ipatiev Monastery. Trinity Cathedral photo by Alexxx1979 –

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Ipatiev Monastery

A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone.

A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which may be a chapel, church or temple and may also serve as an oratory or in the case of communities anything from a single building housing only one senior and two or three junior monks or nuns to vast complexes and estates housing tens or hundreds.

Depending on the location, the monastic order and the occupation of its inhabitants, the complex may also include a wide range of buildings that facilitate self-sufficiency and service to the community. One of such complexes is the Ipatiev Monastery located in Kostroma.

Kostroma is a cosy and hospitable Russian city with a unique atmosphere and Russian empire spirit. Standing on the banks of the Vola and Kostroma Rivers, it boasts a lovely environment and numerous historical sites. One outstanding of them is the Ipatiev monastery.

Ipatiev Monastery is located in Kostroma Oblast of Russia. It is a very important Russian Orthodox ministry that played an important role in both the local and the entire Russian history. Here are the top 10 outstanding facts about it.

1. The Monastery was founded around 1330

This is a photo of a cultural heritage object in Russia, number photo by Anton Zelenov –

The Ipatiev monastery situated in Kostroma was founded around 1330 by a Tatar convert. The main theory considers Tatar Murza Chet, baptized as Zachary, to be the founder of the Ipatiev monastery.

The legend says that Chet was miraculously cured of a disease by a vision of the virgin Mary and Saint Philip and Saint Hypatius. He decided to build the monastery as a sign of gratitude. However, some historians state that the monastery was founded in 1275 by Yaroslavich but declined together with the Kostroma Principality after his death.

In this case, the monastery could be not entirely built but only revived by Murza Chet.

2. The Ipatiev Monastery is situated  on a River bank

Kostroma. Ipatiev Monastery photo by Alexxx1979 –

The main attraction of Kostroma City, the Ipatiev monastery, is situated at the bank of the Kostroma River just opposite the city of Kostroma. Its white stone walls with towers and the domes of the cathedral look very picturesque against the backdrop of amazing landscapes.

3. The monastery’s original structures were made of wood

Portrait of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich photo sourced from

As usual during the early medieval period, the original monastery structures, including the main church (Sobor), were made of wood. In the mid-16th century, Dmitry Godunov built the first masonry version of the cathedral, severely damaged in 1649 from an explosion of gunpowder stored in the Cellar.

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, Mikhail鈥檚 son, assented to rebuilding in 1650.

4. Ipatiev monastery prohibited entry with a weapon

Image by ArsAdAstra from

In the several years of chaos and anarchy that came to be known as Russian troubled times, the Ipatiev Monastery played an important role in Russian history. Many women, the elderly and children abandoned their urban housing and moved to monasteries.

Since these were Christian complexes, no one was supposed to enter the Ipatiev monastery with a weapon, thus many thousands of Russians flocked here. Among them were members of the Aristocratic families, a young man Mikhail Romanov who later became a Russian tsar.

5. The monastery was known as the 鈥渃radle for the Romanovs鈥�

Michail Romanov photo sourced from

After the death of Boris Godunov in 1605, Russia was consumed by a devastating period of social disorder, civil war and foreign interventions, particularly by Polish forces. In early 1613, the monastery gave refuge to a young Mikhail Romanov (1596- 1645) and his mother, as marauding bands and Polish cavalry roamed the countryside.

Despite the peril, Mikhail crowned the Romanov Dynasty’s first tsar in July 1613. Since the autumn of 1612, Mikhail lived here with his mother, the nun Marfa. Here he learned about his election to the kingdom.

On March 14, 1613, the Trinity church of the monastery held a solemn rite of vocation to the kingdom of Mikhail Romanov and with this began the three-hundred-year history of the last tsarist dynasty.

The monastery museum presents Mikhail and his mother’s personal belongings, including icons, crosses, the gospel and other relics.

6. The monastery received substantial donations from the Romanov dynasty

The election of Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov to the kingdom photo by Aleksey Kivshenko –

After Mikhail descended to power as stability returned to Russia under his Rule in the 17th century, the Ipatiev monastery received substantial donations acknowledging its role in the dynasty鈥檚 accession.

7. The monastery became a museum complex after Romanov鈥檚 appointment

Kostroma. Ipatiev Monastery photo by Alexxx1979 –

The monastery has the Trinity cathedral (1652), the belfry (1603- 1605), the episcopal house (18th century), the cells (18th century) and the Romanov palace (16th century). Now it is the museum complex Ipatievsky monastery.

8. The Ipatiev Monastery was disbanded in 1917

The Ipatiev Monastery was disbanded after the October revolution in 1917. It has been a part of the historical and architectural and historical preservation, but recently the authorities decided to return it to the orthodox in 1991 despite strong opposition from museum officials.

On December 30, 2004, the government of Russia signed an order to transfer the monastery to the Kostroma Diocese.

9. The Monastery has a library called Ipatievsky chronicles

Photo by Roman Kraft on

In honour of the founder, the ancestors of Chet, assembled a great library called Ipatievsky Chronicles. The monastery is still one of the main sources of information about ancient Russia.

10. The Ipatiev Monastery is considered a tourist attraction

Image by Raman Oza from

All presidents of the Russian Federation visited this monastery. Nowadays, the Trinity-Ipatiev Monastery is considered a tourist attraction. Although it even houses exhibitions of the church’s historical and Archeological museum, all the temples are functioning and still hold services, requiring visitors to observe the dress code.