The St. Nicholas Convent of Arzamas is located in the city center on Cathedral Square. The monastery is located in a picturesque location, on the slope of a hill descending from the square to the banks of the Tesha River. Numerous flower beds have been built among the temples and cell buildings, which makes the monastery very beautiful.
St. Nicholas Monastery was founded in 1580, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible. He gave Arzamas to his son Fyodor Ioannovich, and he paid great attention to the development of monasteries in the city. In 1555, the Transfiguration Monastery was founded here. In 1580, a local resident, Feofilakt Yakovlev, built a wooden church at his own expense and a new monastery was created around it. It was originally a men`s monastery.
In the 17th century, St. Nicholas Monastery experienced a period of prosperity. Stone temples were built here, which became the architectural gems of the city. However, in the 18th century, due to the church reforms of Catherine II, the monastery was abolished and its property transferred to the state. The restoration of the monastery began only in the 19th century, when it was transformed into a convent.
St. Nicholas Monastery is known for its beautiful temples. The main church of the monastery, St. Nicholas Cathedral— was built in 1683. It is a majestic building in the Russian Baroque style, with high domes and rich decor. The cathedral is the oldest building of the monastery and has retained its original features to the present day.
Another significant temple on the territory of the monastery is the Church of the Epiphany, built in 1811. This temple is made in a classical style. Ancient frescoes and an iconostasis of artistic value have been preserved inside the church. A bell tower was built near St. Nicholas Cathedral in the 19th century. Its height is more than 50 meters, and it is one of the tallest buildings in Arzamas.
During the Soviet period, the monastery, like many other churches, was closed, but not destroyed. Its buildings were used for various household needs, which led to their partial destruction. However, in the 1990s, the revival of the monastery began. In 2022, extensive restoration work was carried out, restoring the monastery to its original appearance.
Today, St. Nicholas Monastery continues to play an important role in the spiritual life of Arzamas and the Nizhny Novgorod region. Worship services are regularly held on its territory, as well as a Sunday school for children and adults. The monastery attracts pilgrims and tourists with its shrines, among which the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is revered, as well as the revered icon of the Holy Virgin Mary Deliverance from the troubles of the Suffering.
