in Russia. Its design heralded that of Ivan the Great Bell Tower in the Moscow Kremlin. During the Time of Troubles, Joseph Volokolamsk Monastery was actively engaged in helping the government of Basil IV in his struggle against Ivan Bolotnikov's rebels. The Polish hetman Roman Rożyński lost his life besieging the monastery in 1611. After the siege, the monks captured a lot of Polish cannons, which were later used for festive fire works. Re-construction At the end of the 17th century, the monastery was reconstructed in the fashionable Naryshkin style. The new walls, completed by 1688, featured nine sharp-coned towers of stone. A golden-domed church was built over the main gates to the monastery in 1679. A church of similar design was added in 1682 to the spacious refectory, currently the oldest building in the complex, dating from 1504. The new Assumption Cathedral replaced the old one between 1682 and 1689. Its exterior was elaborately decorated with coloured tiles, and a marvellously carved iconostasis was installed in the interior. Recent history After the October Revolution of 1917, Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery was turned into a museum. The Soviet authorities destroyed all the bells and took most of the icons to Moscow. During World War II, the Nazi army seriously damaged the cloister and blew up its famous bell-tower. Although the churches have been subsequently restored, the bell-tower remains a major loss sustained by Russian art during the war. Gallery Other burials Malyuta Skuratov References External links Article on the monastery featuring many photographs. Russian Monastic Culture - openlibrary.org abstract of a book about the history of the monastery in the 16th century Russian Orthodox monasteries in Russia 1479 establishments in Europe 15th-century establishments in Russia Buildings and structures in Moscow Oblast Christian monasteries established in the 15th century Museums in Moscow Oblast Religious museums in Russia Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Moscow Oblast