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I am continuing facts about Russia rubric. One of the beautiful monasteries of the 16th century, the Donskoi Monastery, was built in 1591 by the order of Boris Godunov. The monastery was built in honor of the Donskaya Icon of the Mother of God. It was believed that this icon brought luck and victory the Grand Prince of Russia. Before any battle Russian troops paraded the icon, as it was believed that it gave victorious spirit to soldiers. The icon was left in the chapel until the battle was over and Tatars were defeated. Donskoi Monastery was built n the very place of the chapel.

But later during the century the monastery was robbed and abandoned. Only in the 17-18 centuries it was brought to life again. New fortifications were made during the reign of Peter the Great. In the 18-th century the monastery became a very popular burial place. Many princes and other members of the royal family ere buried there.

After the revolution of 1917, the monastery was closed, so it resulted in eviction of monks from the Donskoi Monastery. By 1929, the monastery became the Museum of Atheism. Bolsheviks turned the monastery into prison, where many prominent people of the time were imprisoned, among them the orthodox patriarch Tikhon. After his death the fire destroyed the monastery, only the Donskaya Icon of the Mother of God was not touched by the fire.

In 1934 Russian museum of Architecture was open in the Donskoi Monastery in order to prevent the monastery from being fully destroyed by the Bolsheviks. You can visit this monastery on when you sail on Russian river cruises. Please feel free to ask questions about Russia vacation packages and I will be glad to help you.