Yanchin Monastery

Yanchin, or Andreyevsky-Yankin [1] monastery - a female monastery that operated in the XI-XIII centuries. Located in Kiev, in the city ​​of Vladimir. The monastery bore the name of the Apostle Andrew the First Called [2].

The location of the monastery is controversial. Perhaps [3], he was between the Church of the Tithe and the princely palace. M. F. Berlinsky, M. A. Maksimovich , P. G. Lebedintsev , N. I. Petrov believed that the Yanchin monastery was located near the Tithe Church, which, however, was not confirmed by archaeological research. V. A. Bogussevich suggested that the courtyard of the monastery was located in the south-east of the “city of Vladimir” [4]. Yu. S. Aseev [5] and I. Ye. Ivantsov [6] belong to the city of Vladimir as well. N.V. Zakrevskythe monastery is located to the west of the Church of the Three Saints [7]. Perhaps it was located on St. Andrew's Hill, not far from the modern St. Andrew’s Church [8].

School at Yanchin Monastery, which was organized by Anna Vsevolodovna Yanchin Monastery was founded in 1086 (according to another version, until 1070 [9] ) by the Grand Duke of Kiev Vsevolod Yaroslavich. In the monastery Princess Anna Vsevolodovna took over the vows, becoming its first igumen [10]. The first monastery in Rus [11] (according to M. D. Khmyrov — and in Europe [3] ) was founded at the monastery for girls, in which Anna Vsevolodovna “brought together young girls nekoliko, taught writing, such as crafts, singing, sewing, and other knowledge useful to them, but they will understand God's law and diligence from youth, and will kill youth by temperance in youth ” [12]. E. O. Likhachevreports that it is possible to agree with Khmyrova’s statement only if the students were not random nuns or novices, but coming. The researcher does not reject this option [13].

There is an assumption that it was in the Yanchin monastery that Anna Eukraksiya Vsevolodovna ’s sister vowed her hair into a nun [14]. The second wife of Vsevolod (1111) and Anna Vsevolodovna (1112/1113) were buried in the Andreevsky monastery. The son of Vladimir Monomakh Yaropolk (1139) and his grandson Vladimir Andreevich, prince of Brest and Dorogobuzh (1170) were also buried here.

Later, the prior priors of St. Andrew’s Monastery Gregory (1128) and two Simeon (1171 and 1231) are known. According to N.V. Sinitsyna, soon after the death of Anna Vsevolodovna, the monastery could be transformed into a male monastery. Another opinion on this score is held by Ya. N. Shchapov. The researcher points out the possible existence of “mixed” monasteries at that time, where some of the cells were occupied by women, but male monks were appointed igumen who sent church services. Metropolitan Makarii (Bulgakov) indicates that both one and the other options were possible.

The Ipatiev Chronicle reports about the collapse in 1105 of the dome of the St. Andrew's Church of the Yangchin Monastery, and in 1131, about its consecratio n [18]. According to E.E. Golubinsky, it seems that we are talking only about the re-consecration after amendments as a result of a fire, dilapidation, or simply made to improve the church. According to Metropolitan Macarius, the monastery could burn down or suffer badly during the devastating Kiev fire of 1124 (even the outline of the plan was not clarified for the churches of the monastery), and after that it was not renewed.