Donskoy Monastery
Donskoy Monastery in Moscow is a monument of Russian culture located southwest of Moscow’s city center, near the old Kaluga highway.
It was founded in 1591 and held the status of a stauropegic monastery, meaning it was independent from the local diocesan authority. Between 1591 and 1593, a small church was built on the grounds and was endowed with villages. Later constructions included a refectory (1675–78), a bell tower (1679), and a great cathedral (1684–93), forming an outstanding architectural ensemble. A stone wall was constructed around the complex between 1686 and 1711.
From 1685, the monastery attracted the interest of King Archil II, who was closely involved with Russia’s eastern policies. From that time onward, Donskoy Monastery became a significant center of Georgian settlement in Moscow, and by the early 18th century, it became a burial place for Georgians. In 1705, the well-known church figure and diplomat Archimandrite Lavrenti (Gabashvili) was appointed to lead the monastery. Under his guidance, the monastery’s economy was stabilized, monastic discipline was reinforced, and its cultural activities expanded.
In September 1712, Archil commissioned and consecrated the Church of the Presentation of the Lord (Mirkma), where he himself was later buried along with Queen Ketevan and Princess Darejan (his daughter). After Archimandrite Lavrenti was buried there in 1720, the Georgian pantheon located in the lower level of the main cathedral was expanded. In 1750, Prince Bakar was buried there as well, along with other notable Georgians such as Giorgi Batonishvili (son of King Vakhtang VI). Over the 19th century and beyond, the expanded pantheon and monastery grounds became the final resting place of many Georgian secular and religious figures living in Russia, including Senator and General M. K. Bagration.
The study of the monastery began in the 18th century. In 1792, L. Maksimovich published a description of it. Georgian epitaphs from the site were compiled by M. Brosse, while I. Zabelin, who also oversaw restoration work, devoted a detailed study to the monastery.
In the 1920s, restoration work began at Donskoy Monastery. From the 1930s, special attention was given to Georgian monuments in Moscow by scholars such as I. Javakhishvili, S. Janashia, N. Berdzenishvili, and A. Svanidze. In 1983, between April and November, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Treaty of Georgievsk, a joint expedition organized by the Institute of History, Archaeology, and Ethnography (named after I. Javakhishvili) and the Museum of Friendship of Peoples opened several dozen burial crypts in the Church of the Presentation at Donskoy Monastery. After examination, all remains were respectfully reburied. The excavated burial material is now preserved in the old and current collections of the Georgian National Museum.
Literature: ს ი ხ ა რ უ ლ ი ძ ე ფრ., მოსკოვში ქართველ მოღვაწეთა პანთეონის ისტორიისათვის, «საბჭოთა ხელოვნება », 1981, №12; ტ ა ტ ი შ ვ ი ლ ი ვ., ქართველები მოსკოვში, გამოც. მე-2, თბ., 1959; З а б е л и н И., Историческое описание Московского ставропигиального Донского монастыря, М., 1893; Э с а д з е Б., Летопись Грузии, в. 1,Тфл., 1913.
F. Sikharulidze
