Monastery of John the Evangelist is an active monastery of Russian Orthodox Church. It is located in the village of Makarovka in the urban district of Saransk. The monastery is situated on the territory of the Makarov churchyard, which existed since the beginning of the 18th century. It was founded in 1994. There is the residence of the Metropolitan of Saransk and Mordovia.
History
The monastery is located on the land which has been belonged to the boyars Polyansky since the 17th century. Makar Artemyevitch Polanski, who served in Moscow, became master of this land in 1686, and then he moved to Saransk from Moscow. After that, the churchyard was founded there. In 1704, John the Evangelist cathedral was built, and later it became the sanctuary for Polyansky for two years. After the revolution, the churchyard lost all secondary elements: the wall, the corner towers, Znamenskaya church and Saint Michael the Archangel church. Only John the Evangelist cathedral and the bell towers left. Later restorers rebuilt the destroyed objects. Nowadays, the manor-temple ensemble in Makarovka is the most interesting architectural sign in Mordovia.
Architecture
John the Evangelist cathedral
Cathedral was built in 1704. Shrines of the cathedral: especially revered icon of Saint John the Evangelist,the arks with particles of the holy relics of the Kiev Pechersk reverend fathers and locally venerated saints of Mordovia. The Cathedral is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Mordovia.
Bell Tower
The churchyard in Makarovka is enclosed by a fence, and the bell tower built in the fence, representing the main gates. The bell tower was supposedly built in the 1720s - 1730s. The total height of the bell tower is 36 meters. External decor is fairly simple and, like the cathedral, has some elements of the XVIIth century.
Winter Church of Michael the Archangel was consecrated in 1702, demolished in 1935. It was restored according to the drawings in the 1970s, it housed the museum. It was re-consecrated on November 21, 2002. The men's hospice was attached in 1763 near the church.
Znamenskaya church
Znamenskaya church was built in the 1800s. Its structure adjoined the fence. In 1930 the church was demolished and then rebuilt in 1970. Since 1991 the worship is conducted there.
Source flows out of the hill near St. Nicholas Church, which was built a few years ago. This wooden church was built on a hill. The water in the spring is healing and consists of silver cations. The spring water tastes soft, long lasting freshness. A lot of monks, who labored in the monastery, had prayed at the holy spring and it was sanctified by their prayers, the water from it healed people of various diseases.
The relics of the holy fathers of the Kiev Caves are kept in two arks in the monastery.
Makarovskaya hotel
The hotel of the missionary-pilgrim center was opened near John the Evangelist cathedral. It is located in the new building. The total number of seats is designed to accommodate 100 people. On the ground floor there is a refectory with a large hall for 120 people and a small hall for 50 people. The hotel works round the clock.
