ASYLUM  2011-2013

I first came to this place in the winter of 2010, at first I did not realize that the walls of the ancient Orthodox monastery were a psycho-neurological asylum. There are many of them in Russia, this one located near Kirillov is special. Once this was the cloister of the Nil Sorskiy Monastery, known and venerated saint in the land of Vologda, during the soviet era it was abolished just like many other churches and monasteries, and the monks were expelled from their quarters. In the 1930's there was located a county jail, and later а home for the disabled. In 1961 the monk cubicles were converted into wards for the mentally ill. In 2006 domes and crosses were placed anew on top of the gate roof of the Intercession Church.There is an interesting story about the relics of Nil Sorskiy. During the dining room renovation, located within the monastery, under the old floor were found the remains of two people. After scientific analysis the remains were proved to be those of the saint.