Goritsy (Russia)

Goritsy is a Volga River cruise port and village famous for the Goritsky Monastery of Resurrection (an orthodox female convent run by nuns). The convent is approx 15 km (9 ml) north of Kirillov. The other "monastery" river cruise port in Russia is Makarievo.

Goritsy is located on the left bank of Sheknsna Reservoir. The village is famous for its four picturesque mountains (Maura, Nikitskaya, Gorodok), of which Nikitskaya and Gorodok became islands after the construction of Sheksninskoe Reservoir. Maura;s highest elevation point is 185 m above water level. On top of the mountain there are a huge boulder and the Pillar Cross,

Goritsky Monastery was founded in 1544 by Princess Efrosinya Khovanskaya-Staritskaya (wife of prince Andrey Staritsky, youngest son of Grand Prince Ivan III(. In 1563, Princess Efrosinya organized a plot against the Grand Prince in order to throne not the royal son (still a baby) but his own son Prince Vladimir. After the plot failed. she was exiled in her own monastery in Goritsy. In 1569, Prince Vladimir (and the whole Staritsky family) were killed, while Efrosinya was drowned in the river. In the monastery also lived the fourth wife of Tsar Ivan the Terrible (Anna Koltovskaya / queen Darya) and the widow of Ivan IV Maria Nagaya.

During the Polish–Muscovite War (1605-1518) the defenseless monastery was destroyed by the invading Polish-Lithuanian troops, and many nuns were killed. At different times, the convent housed between 40 and 700 nuns. In 1932 it was closed, and many nuns were repressed, some were shot.

Goritsky Monastery became operational again in 1999. Currently 10 nuns live permanently here. Parts of the monastery are opened for religious purposes. There are ongoing works to restore monastery's dilapidated buildings in which participate Russian volunteers as well as foreign students.

Goritsy cruise terminal

Goritsy tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Goritsky Monastery