Monastery is a 2022 Russian drama web series directed and written by Aleksandr Molochnikov. The series tells the story of a Moscow party girl, Maria, who hides from criminals in an Orthodox monastery. The main cast includes Filipp Yankovsky, Nastya Ivleeva, and Mark Eydelshteyn. Other actors include Natalya Kudryashova, Maria Mironova, Svetlana Ivanova, Maria Abashova, and Dzhanik Faiziev. The premiere was on 19 November 2022 on the online cinema platform KinoPoisk. Within the first day, the series set a record with over 250,000 viewers.
On 19 September 2024, the series was officially renewed for a second season.
Contents
Plot
The story follows party girl Maria (Nastya Ivleeva) as she turns to faith. Due to her actions, the wife of a wealthy businessman, Angelina, becomes involved in a high-profile sexual scandal. Fleeing from Angelina's husband’s pursuers, Maria hides in a female monastery under the supervision of Father Varsonofy (Filipp Yankovsky).
In the second season, Yura (Mark Eydelshteyn) moves to Moscow for studies, and Father Varsonofy faces major changes.
Cast
Main roles
Filipp Yankovsky — Varsonofy (Vladimir Shumakov), spiritual father of a male monastery
Nastya Ivleeva — Maria Dyatlova, a party girl who ends up in a monastery while escaping dangerous people
Valeriya Shutovskaya — young Maria
Mark Eydelshteyn — Yura, novice and grandson of Varsonofy
Natalya Kudryashova — Elizaveta, abbess of the female monastery, youngest daughter of Varsonofy (from episode 5 — nun of the female monastery)
Alyona Malakhova — young Elizaveta
Maria Mironova — Patrikeia, nun and assistant to Mother Elizaveta (from episode 5 — abbess of the female monastery)
Svetlana Ivanova — Olga Shumakova, former wife of Varsonofy, mother of Alisa and Liza
Maria Abashova — Angelina Burkova, wife of Nikolai, Maria's friend
Dzhanik Faiziev — Nikolai Burkov, influential oligarch, husband of Angelina
Supporting roles
Artyom Bystrov — Victor, worker
Pavel Vorozhtsov — worker
Leonid Telezhinsky — worker
Dmitry Guryanov & Sergey Borisov — Nikolai's henchmen pursuing Maria
Marina Kaletskaya — Panteleymona, novice, Maria's friend
Yola Sanko — Mother Evdokia
Anastasia Velikorodnaya — novice Nazaria
Anna Shevchuk — novice Agafya
Diana Enakaeva — Alisa, eldest daughter of Varsonofy and Olga, Yura's mother (as a child)
Guest roles
Pyotr Rykov — Sergey, fitness trainer of Angelina
Vladimir Varnava — Sasha, posted intimate video with Maria and Angelina
David Nyamedi — Dju, surfer, friend of Sasha
Oleg Gaas — Kirill, Maria's ex-boyfriend
Valentina Mazunina — parishioner
Kai Alex Getz — Vitya
Aleksey Rozin — Vitya's father
Vasily Bochkarev — elder Mikhail
Ivan Zlobin — Kolya
Evgeniya Dobrovolskaya — Kolya's mother, has Tourette syndrome
Ida Galich — casino visitor
Artur Smolyaninov — Alexey
Elena Koreneva — Maria's grandmother
Igor Mirkurbanov — Peter
Release
The first two episodes premiered on 19 November 2022 on KinoPoisk. The series set a record on its release day with over 250,000 viewers, surpassing projects like House of the Dragon and Rick and Morty (season 5), among others. It topped KinoPoisk’s top-20 list for 2022.
On 24 November 2022, the Russian Ministry of Culture refused the series a distribution certificate "for offending religious feelings".
Production
Before filming, the script was provided to the Russian Orthodox Church but did not receive support. Vladimir Legoyda said that although the idea had moral elements, the Church could not support it as written.
Scenes depicting Maria and Angelina in the Emirates were filmed in Tunisia due to COVID-19 restrictions. Main filming took place at Ferapontov Monastery and Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery.
Reception
Dmitry Kamyshenko (lifehacker.ru) gave the series a negative review, criticizing music and characters.
Bishop Savva of the Russian Orthodox Church criticized the depiction of believers and the series' inaccuracies.
Milena Faustova of the Nezavisimaya Gazeta wrote that the provocative approach and clichés made the series neither interesting nor aesthetically appealing.
Pola Kulikova of Literaturnaya Gazeta commented on the bright portrayal of debauchery and the constructed moral of the story.