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Fragments of building and fence from Chrysostom Monastery found in centre of Moscow

01 June 2018

The monastery’s chambers were rented out in the 18th century. Following demolition, wall and foundation fragments were found buried under the roadway and the pavement.

During improvement work in Maly Zlatoustinsky Pereulok, archaeologists found the stone foundations of one of Zlatoustovsky (Chrysostom) Monastery’s oldest structures, which had existed until the 1930s. Nearby, in Bolshoi Zlatoustinsky Pereulok, they came across part of the monastery’s fence, dating back to the early 18th century. Headstone fragments, coins, slabs and other artifacts were also uncovered.

“The stone foundations belong to one of the oldest monastery structures. In the 19th century, it burned down and a private building was erected on the site. This was the only structure of the monastery that wasn’t destroyed in the early 20th century and has survived to this day. The findings included 17th century stove tiles, Russian coins from the 18th-19th centuries, and a fragment of a 16th century white headstone,” said Head of the Moscow Department of Cultural Heritage Alexei Yemelyanov.

Specialists found remnants of five walls of the monastery in a trench on the pavement of 5/1 Maly Zlatoustinsky Pereulok. According to documents from 1786, the chambers were rented out in the 18thcentury. After their demolition, the alley beside the monastery was expanded, burying part of the building’s walls and foundations under the roadway and pavement.

“There was a piece of the monastery’s fence dating from the early 18th century on Bolshoi Zlatoustinsky Pereulok. Archaeologists found traces of the repairs carried out on the fence in the 19thcentury. They also came across coins from the 18th-19th centuries, as well as items of clothing (lining, buckles), pieces of horse harness (straps), and fragments of ceramic jugs,” Yemelyanov said.

Workers discovered part of the brick wall on a white stone foundation in a trench opposite the driveway to 5/3 Bolshoi Zlatoustinsky Pereulok. Until 1933, the area near the fence housed the gate church of Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth.

“Archaeologists are faced with the serious task of studying the finds. They will identify the value of the coins, and try to ascertain who owned the items and how they got to the site. I hope that this will lead to new and interesting discoveries. In line with tradition, everything found will be passed to the Moscow museums so that all residents will have the opportunity to see the items with their own eyes,” Alexei Yemelyanov added.


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