Bogorodichny Shcheglovsky Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Tula, Russia.
Bogorodichny Shcheglovsky Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in Tula, Russia, made up of several religious buildings set within a walled compound. The complex holds the Cathedral of the Theotokos Galaktotrophousa, the Church of Nikandr of Pskov, and a bell tower that rises above the courtyard.
Construction began in 1859 with funds from the Moscow merchant Vasily Makarukhin beside the 19th-century bishops' residence in the Shcheglovskaya grove. The Cathedral of the Theotokos Galaktotrophousa was consecrated on 8 September 1864, and the monastery was formally approved on 30 September 1868. Closed in 1921, it was returned to the Orthodox Church on 2 November 1990 and reopened on 18 July 1991.
The monastery is the only one in Russia named after the icon of the Mother of God "Mlekopitayelnitsa" (the Nursing Mother). Its founder, the Moscow merchant Vasily Ivanovich Makarukhin, moved into the monastery in 1880 and took monastic vows as Varsonofy a few days before his death in 1890; he lies buried in the left side chapel of the main cathedral. His nephew N. F. Musatov ran the monastery from 1894 until 1915 and built the Alexander School for poor children and a monastery hospital.
The monastery is an active religious site, so visitors are expected to dress modestly before entering the grounds. Checking the official website ahead of time is a good idea to confirm opening hours and any restrictions during services.
The cathedral is dedicated to the Theotokos Galaktotrophousa, an image of the Virgin Mary nursing the Christ child, which is a rare dedication for a main church in Russia. This choice of patron gives the monastery a devotional identity that sets it apart from most Orthodox monasteries in the Tula region.
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