Novodevichy Convent, Orthodox convent in Khamovniki District, Moscow, Russia
Novodevichy Convent is an Orthodox women's monastery in the Khamovniki District of Moscow, standing on a hill above the Moskva River. The compound features fortified walls with towers, several church buildings, residential wings, and a freestanding bell tower that form a cohesive ensemble.
Grand Prince Vasili III founded the monastery in 1524 after reclaiming Smolensk from Lithuanian rule. Over the centuries, it became a refuge for women from royal and noble families, including several tsarinas.
The name derives from the recapture of Smolensk, a city dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God of Smolensk. Visitors today see Orthodox worshippers attending services and pilgrims who pause before the icon screens to light candles.
The complex is accessible daily, with opening times varying by season. The adjacent cemetery can be visited after exploring the churches and monastic buildings.
In 1812, Napoleon's army tried to blow up the convent, but the nuns saved it from destruction. Leo Tolstoy set a scene in War and Peace under its walls, and in Anna Karenina Levin meets Kitty at the skating rink on Maiden's Field just outside.
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