The Novospassky Monastery Male Choir

A winner of International Choir Competitions in Hungary in 1991 and in Poland in 1994 the Novospassky Monastery Choir has gained a great admiration during its public appearances at home and abroad. 16 singers, all professional musicians are led by Leonid Baklushin, who has continued Igumen Mitrofan's work in developing the choir and bringing it to its high artistic level.

The choir is regularly performing during official ceremonies at the Patriarch’s Residence, White House and Kremlin.

Choir’s repertoire includes ancient monastery music and sacred music of Russian composers of XVIII-XX centuries.

Novospassky Monastery in Moscow

Moscow's Novospassky Monastery, situated not far from the Kremlin, is one of the most significant church sites in the capital. Among the oldest church structures in the city, the Monastery dates back to the XIIIth century when it was founded on the site of Kremlin. The name “Novospassky” (Savior on a New Place - The New Savior) came later when the Monastery was relocated to a hill by the Moskva river.

From its beginning the Monastery hosted Russian princes, and later czars and their families. In XVIIth century Romanov’s family took personal interest in the Monastery’s affairs and a special sepulcher was built in the Monastery as a final resting-place for Romanovs and their ancestors.

The Monastery had also a strategic military significance, serving as a fort first, in 1618, when Poland invaded Russia, and later in 1633 and 1634. Clergy at the Monastery used crosses to bless those who joined the troops of Minin and Pozharsky opposing the Polish invaders.

Until 1589, Novospassky Monastery fell under the direct jurisdiction of the Russian Metropolitans, and thereafter by the Patriarchs of Russia. Between 1575 and 1586, Russia's first patriarch, Job, served as head of the Monastery. Patriarch Job was later canonized a saint. Patriarch Nikon succeeded Job in leading the Monastery from 1646 to 1649. Under Patriarch Nikon, Novospassky prosperity was at its highest. At this time the Transfiguration Cathedral was decorated. Metropolitan Philaret Drozdov, canonized in 1995, headed the Monastery between 1816 and 1820. As a result of the leadership of these saints, Novospassky Monastery was elevated from Metropolitan to Patriarchal jurisdiction.

Novospassky Monastery knew both times of prosperity and disaster. During the war with Napoleon in 1812, the Monastery was looted and set ablaze. By 1917, Novospassky was closed. Once a place of worship, the communists converted the Monastery into a concentration camp, then a prison for women, and finally a camp for war prisoners. Later, Novospassky housed KGB archives.

In 1991 this famous Monastery was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church and monastic life resumed once again. At present some twenty monks and novices live and work in the Monastery under the superior Archbishop Alexei. The Novospassky Monastery is under the direct jurisdiction of the supreme head of Russian Orthodox Church - Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexei II.