Zadonsk – Monasteries, Springs, Historical Markers

It is not easy to find Zadonsk on a small-scale map: it is hidden in the bends of the Don River in the center of the Lipetsk region, 70 km from the regional center and 100 km from Voronezh. People travel to the city of Zadonsk for exotic sights, miracles, and healing. The unhurried, gentle atmosphere of the city helps one find peace and break out of the frantic cycle of vanity that consumes our lives. There are no tall buildings here; the domes of the Zadonsk monasteries dominate the area. There are three cloisters for a tiny city of 10,000! Day after day, a mysterious work of healing and transforming human souls takes place during church services.

Yu. Demyanov “Lilac May”*

*In this article, we use the stunningly beautiful paintings of Zadonsk artist Yuri Demyanov as illustrations. At the bottom of the article, you will find a link to the artist’s website with a full gallery of his works, any of which can be purchased by contacting him using the specified contact details.

In addition to the monasteries, visitors to Zadonsk have plenty to see. In spring, it is drowning in flowers. In summer – in greenery, and in autumn – in the bright colors of falling leaves. In winter, the streets of Zadonsk city captivate with the charm of snow-covered antiquity. The city’s unique attractions are connected with old, almost fairy-tale times: the Pottery Workshop, the “Antresol” Museum, and the “Kudykina Gora” amusement park.

Yu. Demyanov “Courtyard”

The Zadonsk open spaces are like a portal to the past. For some, it returns them to a distant sunny childhood, and for others, it opens up the spiritual insights of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, the heavenly patron of these places.

About the City of Zadonsk

From its inception, Zadonsk was and remains a city by the Monastery. It appeared here in 1610. This was the apogee of the Time of Troubles: the Poles were in charge in Moscow, striving to destroy Orthodoxy and the independence of Rus’. Patriarch Hermogenes blessed the Moscow monks Kirill and Gerasim to found a new cloister on the Don. They brought a copy of the miraculous icon of the Vladimir Mother of God here. The first church was built in its honor on the left bank of the Don, at the mouth of the Teshovka River. Farmers began to settle near the monks, forming the Teshovka Monastery settlement. The new settlement received city status a century and a half later (September 25, 1779) by decree of Catherine II, who ordered the new city to be called Zadonskaya Slobodka – or, more briefly, Zadonsk.

Zadonsk, old postcard

Saint Tikhon breathed new life into the existence of the provincial town. Retiring from the position of Voronezh Bishop, he lived as an inhabitant of the Zadonsk Monastery for 15 years. The disinterest, self-sacrifice, and universal forgiveness of the Vladyka went beyond generally accepted norms and deeply touched the hearts of the townspeople.

Tikhon of Zadonsk

Monasteries with healing springs grew up in the places of the former bishop’s solitary prayer. The incorrupt relics of the saint, his canonization, and the huge number of pilgrims—all this brought Zadonsk the glory of the Russian Jerusalem. The town prospered—right up to the tragic events of 1917…

Today, about 10 thousand people live in Zadonsk—exactly the same number as in former times. The life of the holy cloisters has revived, the holy springs have flowed again, and pilgrims come here in any weather. The monasteries worth visiting in Zadonsk are:

• The Nativity of the Mother of God Men’s Monastery – in the city center, at 14 Kommuna St.;
• The Mother of God-Tikhonovsky Women’s Cloister – located 3 km from the center;
• The St. Tikhon Transfiguration Women’s Monastery – located 7-8 km from the city.

Zadonsk Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery

For four centuries, the Zadonsk Nativity of the Mother of God Men’s Monastery has stood on the left bank of the Don.

Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery

Two shrines are located here: the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. Since 1610, the copy of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, brought from the Sretensky Monastery, has consecrated the Zadonsk Monastery and glorified it with many miracles:

• In 1692, a fire destroyed all the monastery buildings—only the icon remained safe and sound. This fact amazed the residents. Pilgrims began to flock to the icon; everyone sought to help the revival of the cloister: some with money, some with food, some with their labor.
• In the 1830s and 1840s, cholera raged in Zadonsk twice. It did not bypass the monks, but not one of those who prayed before the holy icon died from the terrible disease.
• In 1861 and 1869, houses in Zadonsk burned again. The icon was brought to the sources of the fire with prayer—and the elements retreated, allowing people to put out the fire.

The Zadonsk fairs, held three times at the end of May, June, and July, were traditionally associated with the feast days of the Vladimir Mother of God. They caused a huge influx of pilgrims and contributed to the development of the monastery.

The main building of the monastery, the Vladimir Cathedral, is dedicated to the miraculous icon. The huge three-story beautiful church with colonnades was erected in the middle of the XIX century according to the design of the famous architect K. A. Ton. The icon, decorated with pearls and precious stones, is located on the right near the kliros—it is a copy of the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Zadonsk Mother of God Monastery restored according to descriptions. Unfortunately, the original itself was lost during the Bolshevik turmoil.

Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery, Vladimir Cathedral

The second shrine of the Mother of God Monastery is the relics of Tikhon of Zadonsk. He spent the last 15 years of his life in the cloister, retiring after serving as Bishop of Voronezh.

• 1769-1783 – Tikhon lived in the Zadonsk Men’s Monastery, acquiring the gift of unceasing prayer, miracle-working, foresight, and love for his neighbor. He created works that became spiritual food for many Orthodox Christians. Here, in the Zadonsk Monastery, he was also buried under the altar of the Vladimir Cathedral.
• 1846 – during the reconstruction of the cathedral, the body of the servant of God was found incorrupt, and spontaneous popular veneration of his relics began.
• 1861 – the official canonization of Tikhon of Zadonsk took place.
• 1919 – the saint’s relics were taken out of the monastery to Orel.
• August 13, 1991 – the shrine was returned to the Zadonsk Nativity of the Mother of God Men’s Monastery, and miraculous healings, documented by doctors, resumed.

The image of the saint in full height in archpastoral vestments is the only icon preserved in the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery in Zadonsk.

Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery, plan-scheme (source: oldboy.icnet.ru)

The official website of the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery is https://zadonsk-monastyr.ru.

St. Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery

Seven kilometers from the Mother of God Monastery, on a hillside in the forest, the St. Tikhon Monastery is hidden from prying eyes.

St. Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery (photo: sezenovo-mon.ru)

Two hundred and fifty years ago, St. Tikhon called this place “earthly paradise”—he founded a hermitage here, dug a well, prayed, and worked on the book “Spiritual Treasure Collected from the World”. Immediately after Tikhon’s canonization, a new cloister was founded in his honor in the forest wilderness on the bank of the Prokhodnya River. In 1920, the Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery was destroyed, literally wiped off the face of the earth. But 70 years later, life began to flicker in it again. In April 1991, nuns became the inhabitants of the “earthly paradise”. The gate-church of the Transfiguration was the first to be restored, and the cloister received the name: St. Tikhon Transfiguration Women’s Monastery. On its territory there are three churches—the Trinity, the Transfiguration, and the Dormition—and there is a guesthouse for pilgrims and a bathing pool at the Holy Spring.

Yu. Demyanov “Red Summer”

The revival of the monastery was accompanied by miraculous signs that strengthened the spirit of the sisters who labored for the glory of God:

• The cell of St. Tikhon arose in place of a half-ruined turret in the wall. Passing by it in a cross procession once, all the sisters felt a miraculous smell of incense there. It was decided to equip a chapel in the corner tower in memory of Tikhon’s solitary prayer and spiritual labors. The chapel is called the Cell of Tikhon of Zadonsk.
• The Iveron Icon of the Mother of God is an image that arrived at the St. Tikhon Skete from Mount Athos even before the revolution. In the Soviet years, the holy icon served as a door in a cattle yard until it fell into a God-loving family. Members of the family carried the holy relic through three generations and handed it over to the Tikhon Monastery, not suspecting that this was its rightful place. The Iveron Icon is in the Trinity Cathedral—it streams myrrh, heals, and gives childless families the happiness of parenthood.
• In 2000, a Bleeding Crucifixion appeared in the Tikhon Monastery: drops of blood oozed from under the crown of thorns and on the hands pierced with nails. This happened on the day of commemoration of all Russian saints. Today, the miraculous relic is in the Dormition Cathedral of the St. Tikhon Monastery.
• The Stone of Health is a place where many pilgrims pray with hope for healing and receive what they ask for. It is assumed that under the stone is the burial of the incorrupt relics of one of the former inhabitants of the monastery. The stone lies not far from the chapel on the site of the former monastery cemetery.

Today, about a hundred sisters live in the Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery. Thanks to their efforts, the place of Tikhon of Zadonsk’s solitary asceticism has become a true paradise on earth for many hundreds of people.

St. Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery

The official website of the monastery is http://zadonsk-skit.ru.

Mother of God-Tikhonovsky (Tyuninsky) Monastery

The location of this cloister is also connected with the name of Tikhon of Zadonsk, who was fond of a spring in the forest wilderness, 3 kilometers from the Zadonsk Monastery. The spring was ennobled and arranged by the hands of the saint—it is the main shrine of the women’s cloister. In 1814, a domestic church was built here in honor of the “Life-Giving Spring” icon. In addition to this church, the Tyuninsky Monastery complex (the name comes from the landowner—the owner of these lands in the 17th century) includes the majestic Ascension Cathedral, the Church of Alexander Nevsky, a four-tiered bell tower, and a pilgrim’s house. 30 sisters live in the monastery, led by Abbess Arsenia.

Mother of God-Tikhonovsky (Tyunsinsky) Monastery

The official website of the Tyuninsky Monastery: http://tunino.ru.

Holy Trinity Women’s Monastery

The beginning of the fourth monastery in Zadonsk was laid by a hospice for the care of infirm pilgrims who came to venerate the shrines of Zadonsk. In 1860, a church in honor of the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” icon was built at the community of sisters of mercy. The maiden community received the status of a monastery in 1888. The cloister was popularly called “Skorbyashchenskaya” until the church of the Life-Giving Trinity was erected, which became the patronal feast for the monastery. The Holy Trinity Women’s Cloister existed until 1929. The only building remaining from the former women’s monastery is the 5-domed Church of the Life-Giving Trinity (Trinity Cathedral)—an architectural monument of the XIX century. This is the only place in Zadonsk where newlyweds are crowned and children are baptized.

Church of the Life-Giving Trinity

Divine Services in the Zadonsk Monasteries

The main event for which pilgrims travel to Zadonsk is the divine service, the sacraments of Confession and Communion. The schedule of services for each monastery and church in Zadonsk has its own peculiarities.

Schedule of services in the Zadonsk monasteries:

Tip. In all the monasteries of Zadonsk, you can order treby (prayer requests): commemoration for health and repose, forty-day prayers, molebens with akathist and water blessing, and the unceasing Psalter. It is more convenient to arrange them on the monastery’s website than to stand in a long queue and lose precious time during the pilgrimage.

Holy Springs of Zadonsk

All the holy springs on the territory of the Zadonsk monasteries have healing power.

1. The oldest spring in Zadonsk gushes from under the ground near the southern wall of the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery in the city center. Probably, the first inhabitants of the Teshovskaya settlement drew water from here. In the XIX century, a church in honor of the “Life-Giving Spring” icon was built over the well. During the turmoil, atheists destroyed the temple and tried to wall up the well. Today, we see the futility of their efforts: spring water flows in a continuous stream. Bathing takes place in the pool both in summer and winter. On holidays and Sundays, molebens for health are served in the “Life-Giving Spring” church at exactly 1:00 PM.
   

   Spring near the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery in Zadonsk
2. Two kilometers north of Zadonsk, a spring beloved by St. Tikhon once gushes from under the ground. He arranged a well at the site of the spring, and later a church was erected here in honor of the “Life-Giving Spring” icon, and the Tyuninsky Monastery grew up. In 2003, parishioners built a pool with their own funds—the water in it is soft and warm, and bathing is especially…
3. The Holy Spring of the St. Tikhon Transfiguration Women’s Monastery is located in the forest wilderness, 7 km from the city. A beautiful chapel was built over the spring, and a comfortable bathing pool was installed. The water is cold (5°C) and clean.

Other sights of Zadonsk

Since the time of Catherine II, Zadonsk has been built strictly according to plan, with the orientation of streets along the cardinal directions. The Teshovka River bed divides the city into 2 parts: Northern – Dvoryanskaya (Noble) and Southern – Meshchanskaya (Burgher). The longest streets of the city run parallel to the Don from south to north: Karl Marx Street (formerly Dvoryanskaya Street) and Krupskaya Street (formerly Sobornaya Street). The main churches of the city occupy dominant heights, reflecting the development of the city from south to north.

The Dormition Cathedral (15 Uritskogo St.) is the center of the Burgher settlement; the Zadonsk fairs were held on the Market Square in front of the cathedral.

Here also stands the famous “Golden Lenin,” pointing with an energetic gesture at the magnificent ensemble of the Mother of God Monastery (14 Kommuna St.).

Following Karl Marx Street from the monastery, we see the blazing Trinity Cathedral (85 K. Marx St.), and further on the horizon rises its double—the Ascension Cathedral in Tyunino (beginning of K. Marx St.).

The city is located in the most beautiful corner of the Lipetsk region. Here, the Don River is full of water and beautiful. It is home to the most picturesque nature reserves in Russia: the Galichya Gora, the Vorskla, the Verkhny Don, and others.

A special mention should be made of the Zadonsk Museum “Antresol” (Mezzanine), located in a mansion of a wealthy merchant. The museum keeps the atmosphere of the past, with things from the 19th and 20th centuries collected by residents. The exhibits are related to the life of merchants, priests, peasants, and workers of Zadonsk. A special room is dedicated to the history of the Zadonsk monastery. The museum organizes themed parties and master classes on applied art.

There are many attractions near Zadonsk:

• Kudykina Gora – an amusement park 15 km from the city. The park features the “Scythian Fortress,” the “Head of the Zmey Gorynych” (a three-headed dragon), a children’s town, and an ecological farm.
• Forest Park – a hotel complex with rope routes, a summer cafe, a playground, and an entertainment zone 2 km from the city.

Accommodation in Zadonsk

For pilgrims, the monastery provides accommodation (for a small fee or donation).

• In the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery, accommodation is provided in the pilgrim’s house (men).
• In the St. Tikhon Transfiguration Monastery, lodging is offered for a night in the pilgrim’s house (women).

Accommodation options in Zadonsk include:

• Mini-Hotel “U Tikhona” (Near Tikhon): a new mini-hotel in the city center, 300 m from the Nativity of the Mother of God Monastery. It offers comfortable rooms, free parking, and breakfast (for an additional fee). The cost of a room for two is from 2000 rubles.
• Hotel “Zadonsk”: an old city hotel at 23 Lenin St., with renovated rooms. It has a cafe, parking, a barbershop, and a billiard room. The cost of a standard double room is from 1500 rubles.
• Mini-Hotel “Chastny Vizit” (Private Visit): 3 km from the center, a mini-hotel in the village of Tyunino. It has a cafe, a kitchen for self-cooking, a terrace, and parking. The double room price is from 1500 rubles.
• Forest Park: a hotel complex in the forest 2 km from the city. It offers rooms and cottages, a cafe, a sauna, a rope park, and a tennis court. Prices start from 2500 rubles.
• Manor in Tyunino: comfortable apartments with a kitchen and a TV, 2 km from the center. There is a cafe and a shared kitchen. Double room price is from 1800 rubles.

A note to pilgrims. Pilgrims (both men and women) can spend the night for free only in the social guesthouse of the Mother of God Cloister. All other accommodation options will not allow you to enter the monastery territory at night.

How to Get There. Voronezh-Zadonsk Excursions

Organized bus excursions from Voronezh to Zadonsk are attractive because they take little time. Travel options offered:

1. Pilgrimage – visiting three Zadonsk monasteries and bathing pools. The advantage of such a trip is its educational nature, a general acquaintance with the main shrines of the Zadonsk land, and the opportunity to swim in the pools and collect water from the holy springs. However, within the framework of a one-day trip, it is very problematic to gain spiritual benefit from the monastery service and prepare for Confession and Communion.
2. Combined trips combine a brief inspection of the monasteries in the first half of the day and an entertainment program after lunch: the safari park “on Kudykina Gora,” the rope routes of Forest Park, the Galichya Gora Nature Reserve, and others.

Yu. Demyanov “Lilac by the House”

How to get there independently

By car, the journey from Voronezh to Zadonsk takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, or a little more if you are delayed by traffic jams on the Don highway (M-4).

You can get to Zadonsk by bus from the Voronezh Central Bus Station (7 trips daily), or by bus from Lipetsk. The journey takes 1 hour 40 minutes.

The Zadonsk bus station is located in the city center, 500 m from the Mother of God Monastery.

The fastest way to get there is by taking any route bus from Voronezh towards Lipetsk, Tula, Moscow, or Yelets, which makes a stop at the Zadonsk turn. The bus driver will stop near the post of the traffic police, from where you can walk to the bus station (1 km).

Another option is to take a taxi from Voronezh (the journey will cost from 1500 rubles). You can also rent a car for a day.

When traveling from Moscow, you can take a bus or train to Lipetsk, and then a bus from Lipetsk to Zadonsk (70 km). By car, you need to drive along the Don highway (M-4) until the turn-off according to the sign. The Zadonsk monasteries (Nativity of the Mother of God, Tyuninsky) are within walking distance of the bus station, but you will have to walk for about an hour and a half to the St. Tikhon Cloister. You can always order a taxi, but walking around this city is much more pleasant than driving.

As we have already mentioned, the article uses photos of some paintings by the famous Zadonsk artist Yuri Demyanov. We recommend getting to know his work in more detail on his official website. Even better—visit Zadonsk and see both the city and the paintings live! If you have already been to Zadonsk, share your impressions in the comments below.

Yu. Demyanov “Winter on the Outskirts”