SECRETS OF THE MEDIEVAL MONASTERY

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS and PRICE LIST

	The Mauritian Institute, the Center of Medieval Spirituality and the Tallinn City Museum have put together a set of programs for tourists – SECRETS OF THE MEDIEVAL MONASTERY - which contains: 1) main program; 2) special programs; 3) additional programs of choice. Up until December 31, 2005 there will not be a VAT added to the prices.  The prices of additional programs include VAT.

Main program

„SECRETS OF THE MEDIEVAL MONASTERY“ is a program that introduces the Dominican Monastery in Tallinn by exhibiting parts of the building that have firmly stood the test of time and are of great historical interest. As confirmed by art historians (E. Tool-Marran, The dominican monastery in Tallinn, p. 49), „rooms still remaining from the three-winged Claustrum can be found in the east wing where the most specific and also the most important rooms of the monastery – Sacristy, chapter room, dormitory for monks, prior's living quarters, library, refectory, etc. – were located.“

The program in the Dominican Monastery starts in the eastern courtyard (entrance from Müürivahe St.), illuminated by candles and torches. The singing of monks can be heard. A tour guide, dressed in medieval garments, greets the guests and invites them on a historical journey into the world of the medieval monastery.

The guests are led to various rooms that the monks co-habited, including the dormitory, eastern cloister, Sacristy and chapter room (convention hall). The living quarters of prior Mauritius and the old library – Librarium Mauritanum, have been renovated just for the program and are open to the public for the first time.

The tour guide speaks of the spirituality of medieval monasteries, and the principles of monkhood. Cheerful stories of rivalry between popular preacher monks and heads of the church provide a deeper insight into the central role of the monastery in medieval Tallinn. While viewing the library and the prior’s quarters, Mauritius is introduced as the charismatic first scholar in Estonia. The importance of the Dominican order in the educational life of medieval universities is revealed. Light shines upon dramatic events – monks fighting for Tallinn’s right to have a school.

On the way from the eastern cloister to the Sacristy the architectural beauty of the monastery is studied. The tour guide reveals the tradition of knights in Harju - Virumaa to hold certain festivities for men, guarded by the silent walls of the monastery. In the Sacristy guests have the opportunity to taste monastery liqueur and take a closer look at the creation of ashlar craftsmen from ancient Tallinn, the collection of whose works will soon be enlarged by the City Museum.

In the dormitory the visitors are prepared to enter the spiritual energy field of the chapter room. Candles handed out to the guests and the extraordinary acoustics of the room enable more sensitive visitors to experience the room's energetic power and, through that, get a deeper feel of the significance of mysticism in the medieval monastery.

Note: If additional programs are pre-ordered, there may be changes in the duration, starting or ending times of the program. Starting and ending times may depend upon whether singers or musicians are pre-ordered or if the guests would like to start or end their tour by visiting the Katariina passage.

• Main program fee – 120-150 €.
  If there are more than 20 members in a group, there is an additional charge of 3 € per person starting from the 21st member.

• The choir of monks – 120-140 €.
  Approximately 10-15 minutes of gregorian chants delivered by singers in monk garments (2-3 performers) brings to the fore the extraordinary acoustics of the chapter room.

• The duration of the program is 35-50 minutes.

Special programs

Special programs are perfect for those who have a deeper interest in entering the spiritual atmosphere of the medieval monastery. The programs contain introduction of the monastery quarters that makes up in the main program.

Special program fees apply to groups with up to 25 members. If there are more than 25 members in a group, there is an additional charge of 5 € per person starting from the 26th member.

”Meeting the Great Inquisitor” – a unique journey into the medieval world of uncompromising discovery of Truth with a demonstration of necessary instruments. Duration of the program 45-60 min. Price – 220-300 €.
”Meeting the Crusader” – introducing clerical orders of knighthood. Orders of knighthood in medieval Tallinn. Duration of the program 45-60 min. Price – 220-300 €.
”Meeting prior Mauritius” – Mauritius (from the 13th century), the prior of the monastery and a student of Albertus Magnus, lights a candle of spirituality in the hearts of the guests. Insights into cloister schools and gothic spirituality. Entering the mystic energy room. Duration of the program 45-60 min. Price – 220-300 €.
”A mystic evening at the monastery” - a meditative, soul cleansing program with spiritual guides. Singing, texts that purify the soul. The monastery, illuminated especially with candles and torches, symbolizes the battle between light and shadow and the victory of light in the human spirit. Price depending on the duration of the program 450-700 €.

Additional programs

Additional programs complement and bring color to the main and special programs, making the tour in the monastery’s medieval environment even more spirited and memorable. Additional program prices include VAT and will not be subject to change starting from October 1, 2004.

• Early music ensemble Rondellus:
  
  20 min – 220 € + VAT18%
  40 min – 300 € + VAT18%
  60 min – 370 € + VAT18%

• Saltatores Revalienses, ensemble of historical dance. By request, Rondellus performs together with Saltatores Revalienses who can instruct willing members of the audience in old dances. The latter has been a very cheerful and successful undertaking. Dancer fees are added to Rondellus fees as follows:

  Duration	2 dacers (1 pair)	4 dancers (2 pairs)
  20 min.	220 €	370 €
  40 min.	300 €	440 €
  1 hour	370 €	500 €

  
  

• Gregorian chant performed by Vox Clamantis (up to10 people)
  10-15 min - 370 €+VAT 18%

• Early music ensemble Hortus Musicus – fees and performances on the basis of special agreements.