The Transfiguration Tryhirskyi Men’s Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries of the Zhytomyr region, situated on the rocky bank of the Teteriv river in the village of Tryhiria. Its history spans more than four centuries — from its foundation in princely times, through the union of the 17th–19th centuries, to the revival of 1993. The chief shrine of the house is the wonder-working icon of the Mother of God “Tryhirska”. [1][2]
Briefly about the monastery
- Full name: Tryhirskyi Transfiguration men’s monastery of the UOC. [1][2]
- Address: Tryhiria village, Zhytomyr district, Zhytomyr Oblast. [1][3]
- Founded: end of the 16th — beginning of the 17th century (various sources: 1583 or 1613). [1][2]
- Main shrine: the wonder-working icon of the Mother of God “Tryhirska” (17th–18th century). [3]
- Abbot: Archimandrite Halaktion (Korynchuk). [1]
- Brethren: 9 monks, with novices up to 20 people. [2]
The time of foundation: several versions
Different sources give different dates for the founding of the Tryhirskyi monastery. The synodicon of the house states that it was founded in 1583 by Prince Volodymyr of Zhytomyr. The Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland notes that in 1598 Oleksandr Voronych gave the village of Tryhiria for the upkeep of the monastery. [1][3]
The Records of the Tryhirskyi Transfiguration men’s monastery for 1854 say: “The founders of this monastery in 1613 were the landlords of the Troianiv estate, Mykola and Fedir Oleksandrovych Voronychi, of the Orthodox confession.” [1]
The monastery historiographer A. Malevych, on the basis of the house’s Inventory of 1775, assumes the monastery was founded by Prince Volodymyr Olherdovych, who ruled the Principality of Kyiv, to which Zhytomyr belonged, in 1362–1394. By tradition, the first settlements of hermit monks arose here around 1575. [1][2]
The Orthodox period and the Khmelnytsky era
Having arisen on the principles of strict Orthodoxy, the Tryhirskyi house preserved them for more than a hundred years in extraordinarily hard conditions after the Union of 1596. Historical records mention several attacks and raiding forays by Cossacks against the monastery. In one such foray, on 13 October 1651, the Cossacks mercilessly plundered the house: it was devastated during the Khmelnytsky Uprising. [1][2]
In 1685 a new wooden church of the Transfiguration of the Lord was built. [1][3]
The Uniate period (1723–1839)
From 1723 begins the Uniate period in the history of Tryhiria. Under that very year the first “superior” of the house, Gedeon II Kuzmynskyi, is mentioned. The Union was brought to Tryhiria by Catholics and Uniates of nearby Zhytomyr, Chudniv and Troianiv, as well as by Catholicized Voronychi. [1]
The general decline of the monastery in the Uniate period was reflected even in the small number of its monks: by the middle of the 18th century there were no more than 10. Over 116 years of union, 30 superiors changed here. [1]
Return to Orthodoxy (from 1839)
After the second partition of Poland of 1793, all of eastern Volhynia passed to the Russian Empire, and the monastery came under the Russian government. In the spring of 1839 the Uniates of Zhytomyr and Ovruch districts were joined to the Lithuanian Diocese, headed by Metropolitan Joseph Semashko. [1]
A great role in returning the house to the fold of Orthodoxy was played by the abbot Leontii Skybovskyi, under whose leadership in 1839 the monastery returned to the Orthodox Church. Thanks to him the most stubborn Uniates were gradually transferred to a distant Kursk house, and by 1841 Tryhiria became a purely Orthodox community. [1]
The fruit of Skybovskyi’s labours was a new stone warm church in the name of the Epiphany of the Lord, built in 1848–1852 at the monastery’s expense and consecrated on 27 July 1852 by Arsenii, Archbishop of Warsaw. [1]
According to the staff confirmed on 1 January 1842, the Tryhirskyi monastery was in class II, with 16 members of the brethren. In 1883 (23 October) a church-parish school was opened at the house, at first in a room of the pilgrim house. [1]
The masonry Transfiguration church
From 1854 to 1873 a new masonry Transfiguration church was being built in the monastery. In 1854, on the site of the old Transfiguration church, Archimandrite Leontii began the building of a new stone church, but did not live to see it completed: he died in Tryhiria in 1868, five years before the completion of construction in 1873. Today this church serves as the main cathedral church of the monastery. [2]
The main shrine — the “Tryhirska” icon
The main shrine of the monastery is the wonder-working icon of the Mother of God “Tryhirska”, dated to the 18th century. It is a copy of the Chernihiv-Illinsky icon, painted at the end of the 17th — beginning of the 18th century by an unknown artist. [3]
By tradition, the icon appeared in a stone beside a spring not far from the monastery. Local residents tell many wondrous stories and traditions of incredible miracles and healings that occur through the intercession of the shrine. [3]
Years of persecution and revival
After the revolution of 1917 the monastery suffered persecution and was closed in 1939; the churches of the Epiphany and of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women were destroyed. In 1941 the monastery was opened by the occupation authorities as a parish church and served as a parish until 1990. During this period a secondary school was housed in the monastic building. [1]
In 1990 the beginning of the restoration of monastic life was laid: the building was returned to the church. In 1993 the parish was transformed into a monastery. [1][2]
Present life
Today the hiero-archimandrite of the Tryhirskyi Transfiguration monastery is the Archbishop of Zhytomyr and Novohrad-Volynskyi. The brethren number 9 monks, with novices up to 20 people. Repair and restoration work is under way in the monastery. [2]
Practical information
- Address: Tryhiria village, Zhytomyr district, Zhytomyr Oblast, on the rocky bank of the Teteriv. [1][3]
- Main shrine: the wonder-working icon of the Mother of God “Tryhirska” (18th century). [3]
- Churches: the masonry Transfiguration cathedral (1854–1873), the church of the Epiphany of the Lord (1848–1852). [1][2]
- How to get there: the village of Tryhiria is on the bank of the Teteriv, not far from Zhytomyr. [1][3]
Frequently asked questions
When was the Tryhirskyi monastery founded?
Different sources give 1583 (per the synodicon), 1598 or 1613 (per the Records of 1854); the historiographer A. Malevych dates the founding to the time of Prince Volodymyr Olherdovych (14th century). [1][3]
What is the main shrine?
The wonder-working icon of the Mother of God “Tryhirska” — a copy of the Chernihiv-Illinsky icon of the 18th century. [3]
When was the monastery in union?
From 1723 to 1839, when it was returned to Orthodoxy. [1]
When did the monastery return to Orthodoxy?
In 1839, through the efforts of Abbot Leontii Skybovskyi; by 1841 it became exclusively Orthodox. [1]
When was the house revived?
In 1990 the building was returned to the church, and in 1993 the parish was transformed into a monastery. [1][2]
Conclusion
The Transfiguration Tryhirskyi men’s monastery is a living witness to more than four centuries of the history of Zhytomyr region and Volhynia. From the contested dates of founding (1583, 1613 or the 14th century), through the Uniate “century”, the return to Orthodoxy and the revival of the 1990s, the house on the rocky bank of the Teteriv has preserved its main treasure: the wonder-working icon of the Mother of God and an unbroken tradition of monastic prayer. [1][2][3]