Shamordino Convent, Orthodox monastery in Shamordino, Russia
The convent is an Orthodox women's monastery in the Russian village of Shamordino, known for its Kazan Cathedral crowned by fifteen domes. The buildings follow Russian Revival design and surround a central courtyard where residential and service structures are arranged.
Elder Ambrose of Optina founded the monastery in 1884 as a refuge for widowed and unmarried women seeking a contemplative life. After Soviet authorities closed it in 1923, the community returned only after the collapse of the Soviet Union and rebuilt its religious life.
Nuns preserve traditional Orthodox crafts in small workshops, painting icons and embroidering liturgical textiles. The workshops sometimes open to pilgrims who can observe the creation process of these sacred objects.
Pilgrims find accommodations within the monastery grounds designed for stays lasting several days. Visitors should wear modest clothing and can tour the workshops after arranging with the sisters.
Maria Nikolaevna Tolstaya, Leo Tolstoy's sister, spent her final years here as Schema-nun Maria and is buried in the monastery cemetery. Tolstoy himself visited her shortly before his death, linking this place to a turning point in his spiritual life.
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