The Goritsy Nunnery is one of the remarkable convents situated near Kirillov. It is 7 km off the city on the bank of the Sheksna river at the foot of the Maura hill. A magnificent view opens up from the hill in summer season - dark-green foliage of forests, green meadows and fields and shiny surface of lakes scattered throughout the place. The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery could be seen in the distance. On the opposite side among the hills and the lowlands the Sheksna river flows. One could catch sight of the white buildings of the Goritsy Nunnery on the left bank of it.
It appears that the Goritsy Convent of the Resurrection was founded by the Moscow princely family in 1544, namely by princess Ephrosiniya, spouse of the last appanage prince Andrei Staritsky (younger son of Ivan III). Paradoxically the cloister turned out to be Ephrosiniya's place of imprisonment. In 1563 Ivan the Terrible exposed the Princess and her son, prince Vladimir Staritsky "as liars". As a result, she was forced to take the veil and was exiled known by the name of Evdokiya. In October 1569 Ivan the Terrible brutally killed Vladimir Staritsky and the members of his family. Soon after it Evdokiya was drowned in the Sheksna river at the order of the tsar. Since then the Goritsy Nunnery situated in a remote district has become the place of imprisonment for spouses and relatives of the noble that fell into disgrace.
Despite some damage the convent has many elements of interest. The Cathedral of the Resurrection set up by princess Ephrosiniya in 1544 is a monumental and stately structure. This building is quite characteristic of its era: northern embroidery on the walls, ceramic balusters and bays, cupolas and altar apses. The external décor of the cathedral is rather austere and laconic in comparison with other temples and churches of the Belozersk district. Thus we can consider it to be erected by the local masters.
Next to the cathedral stands the Side-Chapel. It was built in commemoration of Dmitry, Maria Nagaya's son. The construction of this chapel was finished in 1611. In the same year the bellfry was erected.
All other structures of the cloister - Trinity Cathedral built on the spot of the graves of nuns Ephrosiniya and Yuliania, and the low fence - date back to the first part of the 19th century.
Photos: M.Makarov