The Orthodox women's monastery is located on the right bank of the Oka River in the village of Ababkovo and attracts visitors with its interesting history. It is one of ten monasteries blessed by St. Seraphim of Sarov. Anyone can visit it, as it is quite easy to get there.

History of the Ababkovsky Monastery

The Nikolayevsky Georgievsky Women's Monastery has been delighting people for over two hundred years. In 1818, the pilgrim Lukiya discovered this picturesque spot on the banks of the Oka. Thirty years later, the almshouse was renamed a community, and three years later, a new stone church was consecrated in honor of the Protection of the Holy Virgin. With the support of merchant Akifyev, Mother Palladia, the head of the community, built a hospital with a church, a prosphora bakery, and other buildings. The community grew and strengthened. In 1855, a stone fence appeared around the monastery, inside which houses for clergy, a guesthouse for pilgrims, and various utility buildings were constructed. Later, the community became a third-class monastery.

From 1865 to 1886, a summer cathedral church made of stone with five domes was built. Shortly before the completion of the construction, Mother Evpraksia passed away, but the monastery continued to develop thanks to generous and God-loving people. In 1897, with the support of Pelageya Fedorovna Maksimova, a two-story building for the sisters was constructed, and the construction of a church-parish school began. In 1900, the construction of a winter church with a bell tower started, lasting three years. After the completion of the construction, the altar was consecrated in honor of the Holy Virgin. The architectural appearance of the monastery was finally formed in 1914 when a two-story refectory building was added.

During the Soviet era, the Ababkovsky Women's Monastery went through difficult times. By 1928, it was plundered and closed. After 67 years, prayer once again resounded within its walls. In May 1897, the first graduation of students from the church-parish school took place. In 1905, the monastery received a silver medal at an exhibition of monastic works, awarded by a committee from St. Petersburg. In 1918, all property was transferred to the Pavlovsky Land Department, but the monastery continued to operate. The following year, the monastery was left with only a house, a yard with horses and livestock, and a threshing barn. In 1922, a religious community of 313 people was organized, to which two churches and a house church were transferred. In April 1928, the monastery and community were closed, and all buildings were transferred to an agricultural point. In August, seven buildings and land were handed over to a rest house. The Trinity and Protection churches were blown up in 1930. During the war, the territory of the monastery housed the Leningrad Military Topographic School. After the war and until 1959, there was a pioneer camp on the riverbank. From 1969 to 1983, a correctional colony for girls operated on the monastery grounds. In 1995, the monastery began to revive.

Description of the Ababkovsky Monastery

Today, the semi-ruined buildings are being restored. A new church has been laid, and gas has been supplied. Parishioners, including workers and students, actively help with the restoration. After the renovation of some buildings in 2007, they were consecrated. One of the buildings is intended for orphaned girls under the care of the sisters. Nearby, there is a spring where the image of the Unmade Savior appeared in the 19th century. Work is underway to cleanse the holy lake near the monastery. The sisters believe that bright times have come for the monastery. The beauty of the surrounding nature remains unchanged and breathtaking.

Relics of the Ababkovsky Monastery

The women's monastery always attracts pilgrims, who can see the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with a particle of his relics. The icon was brought to the monastery by Mother Nikona from the city of Bari.

How to get to the Ababkovsky Monastery?

The monastery is located not in the village of Ababkovo itself, but in the settlement of Molodezhny in the Nizhny Novgorod region, on the banks of the Oka River. The settlement is small and rarely mentioned, as it is not on some maps. You can reach the monastery by personal car or public transport.

If driving, from Nizhny Novgorod, head to Vorsma via Bogorodsk, then turn right and go straight to Molodezhny. From Pavlov, you can go directly to Ababkovo, cross the railway crossing, and head towards the monastery. Public transport from Nizhny Novgorod goes to the Ababkovo platform, then you need to walk along the railway to the crossing and about 1.5 km to the monastery. There is no exact address, but it is important to remember that there are two railway crossings in Ababkovo, and you need to cross the one closer to Pavlov. The second leads to the cemetery, and from there to the monastery is about 650 m through the forest.