New Jerusalem Monastery, near Moscow
New Jerusalem Monastery is located on the river Istra not far from Moscow. It was founded in 1656 by Patriarch Nikon of Moscow, who patterned the monastery after Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Tsar Alexis dubbed the monastery "New Jerusalem" after visiting the site and seeing the resemblance.
The monastery was destroyed by the Germans as they retreated from Moscow during World War II. Much of the compound has been restored, although the work is still in progress.
Today, New Jerusalem is a functioning monastery and a monument of a great architectural and cultural value. Orthodox worshippers come to pay their respects as well as drink from the nearby spring that is said to be holy.
Quick Facts
| Location: | Banks of the river Istra, 60 km west of Moscow |
| Train: | New Jerusalem or Istra station (monastery is between the two) |
| Hours: | Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00am to 5:00pm |
| Cost: | Free admission |
| Tip: | The train ride to New Jerusalem is very scenic and the journey makes a nice country break from Moscow. |
More Information
- Moscow's New Jerusalem Monastery – Epinions user review (calls it "one of Russia’s most intriguing landmarks")
- New Jerusalem – Nikon: Patriarch of Moscow
- Reviews of New Jerusalem Monastery - TripAdvisor
- Nikon – Catholic Encyclopedia
Travel Resources
- Moscow Interactive Map - Sacred Destinations
- Moscow Travel Forum - TripAdvisor
- Moscow Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor
- Moscow Car Rentals - AutoEurope
