The monastery was founded in the 15th century by the Princes of Dmitrov to serve as their burial ground.
The central cathedral is one of the oldest stone structures remaining in the Moscow region.
The monastery was famously visited by Ivan the Terrible during his campaigns.
During the Soviet period, the monastic buildings were repurposed as a local museum and offices, which saved the architecture from total destruction.
The monastic complex is situated within the earthen ramparts of the ancient Dmitrov Kremlin.
Borisoglebskiy Muzhskoy Monastyr' is an active 15th-century Orthodox monastery located in the historic core of Dmitrov, Russia. It serves as a male monastic community and centers around the Boris and Gleb Cathedral, built in the early 16th century. The complex features a distinct combination of early Moscow-style architecture and later 19th-century additions. The cathedral walls hold significant murals and iconostasis elements representative of the period's religious art. The monastery was closed during the Soviet era and underwent major restoration work following its return to the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1990s. It remains a functioning site for daily liturgical services and communal monastic life. The grounds are enclosed by traditional stone walls and several gate churches.
From the crest of the earthen ramparts looking down into the monastery courtyard.
Visit the surrounding earthen ramparts for an elevated view of the monastery's roofline.
Check the monastery's official website or notice board at the entrance for schedules of daily liturgies.
Maintain a quiet demeanor as this is an active site of worship, not merely a museum.
Avoid speaking loudly or using mobile phones while on the monastery grounds. Do not attempt to enter restricted monastic living quarters.
Visitors must dress modestly; men should remove hats, and women are encouraged to wear headscarves and skirts. Photography of the clergy and during services is strictly prohibited.
