Russian libraries: The Pskov Regional Universal Scientific Library hosts the exhibition “Warrior, artist, monk”

8 July 2014
Source: Pskov Region authorities’ website

July 8, 2014 in the department of regional literature of the Pskov Regional Universal Scientific Library opened an exhibition of literature to mark the 100th anniversary of Archimandrite Alipy, governor of the Pskov-Caves Monastery from 1959 to 1975, under the title "Warrior, artist, monk".

Archimandrite Alipy - Ivan Voronov – was born July 28, 1914 in a peasant family in a village near Moscow Tarchikha. In 1927 he moved to Moscow, where he graduated from high school. Since 1933, he worked on the construction of the metro and also studied at the art studio of the Moscow Union of Artists.

During the Great Patriotic War he worked first in Moscow factory №r 58, and then he went to defend the capital with weapons in their hands. Leaving the front, he took the sketchbook. So, with a rifle in his right hand, with a sketchbook in the left, he went from Moscow to Berlin. "In one of the most terrible battles Ivan made ​​a promise to God after a victory to leave the monastery.

Ivan Voronov was awarded the Order of the Red Star, medals "For Courage", "For Military Merit" and many others.

Returning after the war in Moscow, Ivan gave an exhibition of his wartime work, joined the Association of Artists in Moscow.

In 1948, working in the open air, he was captivated by the beauty and originality of the Trinity Sergius Lavra, first as an artist, and then as a monk of laurels when he decided to devote himself to the monastery. For ten years he worked over the restoration of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, using all their skills and abilities.

In July 1959 by the Decree of the Holy Synod he was sent to the Pskov-Caves Monastery.

His skills as a professional artist, restorer, iconographer, allowed Archimandrite Alipy allowed to successfully cope with difficult restoration of the monastery in 60s of the XX century, to revive the traditions of iconography and spiritual monastic life.

Archimandrite Alipy passed away in March 1975.