Novodevichy Convent and Cemetary, Moscow

"The Convent provides an example of the highest accomplishments of Russian architecture with rich interiors and an important collection of paintings and artefacts." –UNESCO World Heritage

"One of the most beautiful Moscow convents." –MoscowCity.com

"A cluster of 16 sparkling domes behind turreted walls." –Lonely Planet

"A quiet walk through this cemetery is most rewarding." –The Economist

Located near the Moscow River, Novodevichy Monastyr (New Maiden's Convent) is a peaceful retreat from the bustling city. Sights includes a beautiful 17th-century convent complex and a cemetery where many of the country's most famous writers, poets, politicians and public figures are buried.

History of Novodevichy Convent

The Novodevicy Convent was founded in 1524 by Tsar Vasily III (1479-1533) to commemorate Moscow's capture of Smolensk from Lithuania. That it was intended to serve not only as a religious institution but also as a fortress is evident from its strategic location and strong wall with 12 battle towers. Until the 20 th century, the convent marked Moscow's southern edge.

Having been founded by the tsar, it enjoyed an elevated position among the many monasteries and convents of Moscow and became a convent primarily for ladies of noble birth. It was also used as a prison for rebellious royals, including Peter the Great's half-sister and his first wife.

Little remains of the original structure. Most of the current building dates from the 17th century, when the convent was significantly rebuilt and enhanced.

Exploring Novodevichy Convent

Within the convent complex are several churches. The most important is the huge five-domed Sobor Smolenskoy Bogomateri (Cathedral of the Virgin of Smolensk), dedicated in 1525 and built by Alexei Fryazin. It was closely modeled after the Kremlin's Cathedral of the Assumption and contains a spectacular iconostasis with 84 wooden columns and icons dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. According to legend, during the War of 1812 Napoléon had ordered the cathedral dynamited, but a brave nun managed to extinguish the fuse just in time.

To the right of the cathedral is the Uspensky Tserkov (Church of the Assumption). At the entrance to the convent is the Preobrazhensky Tserkov (Gate Church of the Transfiguration), widely considered one of the best examples of Moscow Baroque architecture.

Exhibits throughout the convent display such treasures as: rare and ancient Russian paintings, both ecclesiastical and secular; woodwork and ceramics; fabrics and embroidery; and a large collection of illuminated and illustrated books decorated with gold, silver, and jewels.

The ornate belfry towering above the convent's eastern wall rises 236 feet and consists of six ornately decorated tiers. The structure is topped by a gilded dome that can be seen from miles away.

Novodevichy Cemetary

Novodevichy Cemetery (Новодевичье кла́дбище) is the Moscow's third most popular tourist site. It has a park-like ambience, dotted with small chapels and large sculpted monuments. The cemetery was built next to the Novodevichy Convent immediately upon the convent's completion.

The cemetery was first used primarily as a burial place for Moscow's feudal rulers and church officials. Later it came to be used for Russia's intellectuals and merchants, while in the 20th century, it was the burial place for many of the Soviet Union's most well-known citizens. Today, the cemetery holds the tombs of Russian authors, playwrights, and poets, as well as famous actors, political leaders, and scientists. More than 27,000 are buried at Novodevichy.

Some of the famous Russians buried there are:

Nadezhda Alliluyeva-Stalin, (1902–1932), "First Lady" of the Soviet Union
Pavel Belyayev, (1925–1970), cosmonaut
Georgi Beregovoi, (1921–1995), cosmonaut
Sergei Bondarchuk, (1920–1994), actor/director
Boris Bruinov, (1922–1997), actor
Valery Bryusov, (1873–1924), writer
Mikhail Bulgakov, (1881–1940), playwright and author
Nikolai Bulganin, (1895–1975), statesman
Anton Chekhov, (1860–1904), writer
Georgi Chicherin (1872–1936), statesman
Fyodor Chaliapin, (1873–1938), opera singer
Ilya Ehrenburg, (1891–1967), writer
Alexander Fadeyev, (1901–1956), writer
Nikolai Gogol, (1809–1852), writer
Raisa Gorbachev, (1932–1999), "First Lady" of the Soviet Union
Sergey Ilyushin, (1894–1977), aircraft designer
Nikita Khrushchev, (1894–1971), statesman
Peter Kropotkin, (1842–1921), Russia's foremost anarchist
Alexander Lebed, (1950–2002), soldier and politician
Lev Davidovich Landau, (1908–1968), Nobel laureate in Physics
Isaac Levitan, (1860–1900), painter
Vladimir Mayakovsky, (1893–1930), poet
Vyacheslav Molotov, (1890–1986), politician
Nikolai Ogaryov, (1813–1877), writer/poet
David Oistrakh, (1908–1974), violin virtuoso
Aleksandr Oparin, (1894–1980), scientist
Boris Polevoy, (1908–1981), writer
Sergei Prokofiev, (1891–1953), composer
Valentin Serov, (1865–1911), writer and artist
Dmitri Shostakovich, (1906–1975), composer
Vasily Shukshin, (1929–1974), writer, actor
Konstantin Stanislavski, (1863–1938)
Andrei Tupolev, (1888–1972), aircraft designer
Vasili Ulrikh, (1889–1951), military judge

The nearby Novodevichy Pond is also lovely. In the winter this is a favorite place for skating and sledging. Brass ducks by the pond were given by Barbara Bush "to the children of Russia" but later stolen by thieves. They have since been replaced.

Visitor Information for the Novodevichy Convent and Cemetary

Address:	1 Novodevichy proyezd, Moscow, Russia
Location:	Krasnaya Presnya, Moscow
Phone:	095/246-8526 or 095/246-2201
Metro:	Sportivnaya
Hours:	Museum: Thurs.-Tues. 10-5; Convent: daily 10-6; closed last Mon. of month.
Cost:	30R
Tip:	Try to catch a Russian Orthodox service in the church. Women should cover their heads before entering.

More Information on the Novodevichy Convent and Cemetary

Novodevichy Monastyr - Fodor's Online Travel Guide
Novodevichy Cemetery and Pond – Economist Cities Guide Moscow
Novodevichy Convent: Off the Beaten Track - Lonely Planet
Novodevichy Convent - MoscowCity.com
Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent – UNESCO World Heritage
Photographs of the Novodevichy Cemetary