Near the village of Pod'yablonnoe, on the right bank of the Oka River, lies the Nikolaevsky Ambrose Dudin Monastery. Not long ago, it was in ruins, but thanks to the efforts of parishioners, it has been restored and is now open for visits.

History of the Foundation of the Ambrose Nikolaevsky Dudin Monastery

The exact date of the foundation of the Ambrose Nikolaevsky Dudin Monastery in the Nizhny Novgorod region is unknown. However, the Laurentian Chronicle mentions a monastery on the Oka, founded by Andrei Bogolyubsky during his campaigns to the Volga between 1169 and 1174. The monastery in the Nizhny Novgorod district is also mentioned in 1445. It is known that from the 15th to the 16th centuries, it had estates on both sides of the Oka. Ivan the Terrible signed a charter granting the monastery ownership of the village of Chentsovo. Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich granted the monastery the village of Poltso, the Gniletsky mill, the Skorobogatov desert, and lands measuring 3685 fathoms.

About 1300 people lived on the monastery grounds. Some engaged in plowing, while others were responsible for the household. The monastery stood by the river for about 500 years. Sergius of Radonezh stopped here during his visit to Nizhny Novgorod. In the monastery, one can see the Gospel written at his behest. In 1677, Tsar Fyodor Alexeyevich signed a decree incorporating the monastery into the patriarchal house. Later, it became a Synodal house monastery. Under Catherine II, the monastery was abolished due to lack of funds for maintenance and lost all its property. The Assumption Church on its territory continued to operate almost until the October Revolution.

After the arrival of Soviet power, the monastery was destroyed, and the Assumption Church was closed and looted. In 1920, the icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker disappeared. The monastery remained in ruins for a long time, and the bell tower was dismantled for bricks. Restoration began in 2000. Thanks to sponsors and specialists, in July 2007, the first monks settled in the monastery. This happened with the blessing of the Nizhny Novgorod Archbishop. Since then, a hieromonk from the Annunciation Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod comes here once a week to conduct services.

At this time, a large cross weighing about 2 tons was installed near the monastery, delivered by helicopter. It was the largest cross in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The monastery grounds were enclosed with a wooden fence, and a staircase was built on the slope for convenient access. The monastery is now almost fully restored and open to all who wish to visit. There is security at the entrance to maintain order. Entry in shorts and a tank top is prohibited, and women are advised to cover their heads with a scarf.

Description of the Ambrose Nikolaevsky Dudin Monastery

In the 18th century, the monastery was a small complex with a three-meter stone fence. In the center stood the Assumption Church, next to which was an altar in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker, built in 1677. Above the Holy Gates was a church in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.

The monastery grounds also included the Ilyinsky Church, notable for being heated and used in winter. It had an altar in honor of Basil the Blessed, located above the refectory. Near the Assumption Church stood the bell tower, the oldest building of the monastery. Under one roof were the bakery, cellar, kitchen, storeroom, archimandrite's cells, and brotherly cells.

Relics of the Ambrose Nikolaevsky Dudin Monastery

On the monastery grounds, there are sources of holy water. One is dedicated to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, and the other, to Sergius of Radonezh, who, according to tradition, blessed it. Both sources are considered healing and help with stomach ailments.

How to Get to the Ambrose Nikolaevsky Dudin Monastery?

The male Ambrose Nikolaevsky Dudin Monastery is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region, in the Bogorodsky district, near the village of Teterugino. It operates daily, and tourists can visit it any day. Guests can attend the morning service, confess, and have breakfast in the refectory. You can reach it by personal car, taxi, or public transport. From Nizhny Novgorod, you need to go to Bogorodsk, which is 11 kilometers from the monastery. Then you should pass through the villages of Shvarikha, Trest'yany, and Pod'yablonnoe. There are signs along each section of the route, so the road is not complicated. From the last village, you will need to walk about two kilometers. At the end of the path, there is a platform from which you can descend the stairs into the monastery courtyard. You can also take a tour from Nizhny Novgorod by bus, departing at 7 AM.