About age-old witnesses of the past–archaeologist, candidate of historical sciences Timur Bobrovsky specially for the PravLife portal.
- How many cave monasteries are there in Ukraine?
- I would say - more than a hundred.
- And how many of them are unknown to the general public?
- I think more than a hundred. (Laughs.) In fact, only a few are known to the general public.
- Is Ukraine unique in this context? Basically, if they talk about cave monasteries, they remember Cappadocia ...
- No, one cannot say that Ukraine is unique in this regard. Of course, Cappadocia is unique, because it deals with underground cities and thousands of cave monasteries. Yes, in Ukraine there are many cave monasteries, but as many as in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, in the Middle East, even in the South of Italy - Sicily, Apulia, etc. There are fewer cave monasteries in France.
The emergence of cave monasteries in one way or another is associated with the spread of Christianity, and most of them appeared after the separation of the Churches in the X-XI centuries. We can say that such monasteries are more characteristic of Eastern Christianity. They arose in those countries that were in canonical communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Therefore, it is difficult to say that we have an incredibly unique situation with cave dwellings in Ukraine.
Cave monasteries of Cappadocia
On the other hand, there is a peculiarity. As a rule, the states where cave monasteries are found, during the XII-XIV centuries, were under the rule of Muslim states, in particular the Ottoman Empire. And, naturally, this made it difficult for the monasteries to function. Therefore, the latest cave monasteries that we know in Bulgaria or Greece date back to the 14th – 15th centuries, and with the fall of the Byzantine Empire, rocky and cave monasteries cease to exist there altogether. Although there is evidence that in the XVI-XVII centuries cave monasteries still appear, but not on the same scale as before.
On our territory, the surge, the revival of the tradition of the emergence of cave monasteries is associated with the wave of the spread of hesychasts - the hesychasts displaced by the Turks moved to new territories, and these new territories turned out to be the territories of modern Romania and Moldova, and later Ukraine and the European part of Russia. From this period, numerous cave monasteries began to appear in our country.
Finally, there is a third wave of the emergence of cave monasteries - it is associated with the peculiarities of the spread of Orthodoxy in the Russian Empire. In the XIX century. - the beginning of the XX century. the so-called folk monasteries appeared. So, on the eve of the 1917 revolution, a large number of cave monasteries arose on the territory of Ukraine and on the territory of eastern Russia.
So, we are witnessing three grandiose waves of the emergence of cave dwellings. The first wave is associated with the Christianization of the lands of Russia (XI-XIII centuries). The second is associated with the spread of hesychasm in the XIV-XV centuries, which, in turn, is divided into two parts, because hesychasm does not take root in our Byzantine form, but is transformed into the institution of old age. We are witnessing the flourishing of the elders in the 16th-17th centuries. And the third wave is the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century.
- You say that most of these cave monasteries are unknown to people ...
- Naturally, the general public is unknown. But those who are engaged in active tourism know a little more than ordinary citizens. They know - as historical, excursion objects.
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
- Is it good or bad? After all, we often see ordinary vandalism, mountains of garbage, etc. Isn't it better to preserve such abodes?
- Sometimes, of course, it is better to mothball, but a significant part of them are still not such objects as the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, that is, dug deep underground. These abodes are located in the rocks. And historical, sacred objects in the rocks cannot be preserved - the rock cannot be covered with earth.
Now most of the cave monasteries in the rocks are derelict. Fewer people get there simply from ignorance, but those who get there can afford to do whatever they want. Probably, such monuments need to be registered, they should be protected at the state level. And it is important to consider how we can use such monasteries. As a rule, they are located in very picturesque places, they are an element of the cultural landscape, often a stunning landscape, where people can come not even for the sake of the monasteries themselves, but to be impressed by everything they see around.
Lyadovsky Useknovensky rocky monastery
- What places of this kind impressed you personally?
- In general, the landscapes of the Dniester and Dniester canyon are very beautiful, where there are several dozen cave monasteries. They are found on the territory of Moldova, and in the middle reaches of the Dniester - Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Chernivtsi regions. These are the Lyadovsky Useknovensky rocky monastery, the Bakotsky Mikhailovsky rocky man's monastery, the Neporotovsky cave monastery "Galitsa" and others. Recently, these sacred monuments have been actively studied by archaeologists. Now there is a project, it is being developed by our archaeologists, historians and their colleagues from Moldova, the purpose of which is to add the cave complexes of the Dniester basin to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Bakotsky Mikhailovsky rocky monastery
Now there are several specialists who are interested in studying these monuments, and they organize special expeditions. And they do it without targeted funding, on a voluntary basis. Despite this, over the past 8-10 years, such expeditions have become regular. Almost every year, archaeologists conduct excavations, record finds, try to understand the purpose of certain objects or structures. In cave monasteries, it is not so easy to establish which room was intended for what, for this you need to carefully analyze everything.
Neporotovsky cave monastery "Galitsa"
- When did the massive exploration of the caves begin?
- The peak of research on cave structures was observed about 15 years ago, then it was possible to conduct a number of studies of Kiev caves. Unfortunately, this period ended due to various changes in the Museum of the History of the City of Kiev. As of today, it is not possible to resume work due to the fact that the department "Kiev underground", whose employees were engaged in the research of the caves in Kiev, was abolished.
Some researchers are working in the Chernigov caves. This constantly operating expedition is trying to cover not only Chernihiv itself, but also the territories adjacent to the city.
Anthony Caves in Chernigov
A good team was assembled and a large circle of works in Crimea was planned, but due to the current circumstances, this project was also suspended. We hope this is temporary.
- What interesting things have brought us the latest studies of cave monasteries? What has been recently discovered?
- In the past few years, our colleagues from Chernivtsi and Kamenets-Podolsk have carried out a number of studies in the Bakotsky St. Michael's Rock Monastery. Clearing cave rooms, fixing petroglyphs, graffiti on the walls. Archaeologists have obtained interesting materials and even, as far as I know, have transferred the finds to radiocarbon analysis in order to obtain dates.
Sketches of the murals of the Bakotsky monastery
The finds of this expedition are very interesting and so far confirm our assumptions that the cave monasteries of the Dniester region date back to the time of the second, hesychast, wave, i.e. their origin does not belong to the Old Russian period. The monasteries of this wave appeared around the 15th century and existed until the 17th-18th centuries, when these lands fell under the protectorate of Poland.
Of the latest discoveries associated with cave monasteries, there was one, without false modesty, great: we managed to first calculate, and then discover, excavate and fix the magnificent complex of the cave monastery on the Zagaytanskaya rock in the suburb of Sevastopol, Inkerman. The most impressive find is a cave church with preserved frescoes from the second half of the 13th century. The ensemble of wonderful, even unique paintings has survived by almost a third.
Due to events in the country, we are unable to continue working on the Zagaytanskaya rock complex. But the temple complex itself is located in a very inaccessible place, it is impossible to get there without special equipment, so there is no need to worry about its safety yet.
Zagaytansky rock complex
- How was the cave temple discovered?
- We calculated it in the process of studying and analyzing various sources. The complex of the Zagaytanskaya rock itself was well known. But its upper tiers were inaccessible due to the collapse of the rock, and no one knew what exactly was there. Of the five churches that, according to various sources, should be located on this rock, four have been discovered and recorded. The fifth was lost. Studying the sources, we figured out the place of the alleged location of the church, went up there and actually found the temple.
We didn't expect the church to have frescoes. It was a pleasant surprise! We made this discovery back in 2005. Research continued there later. It turned out that this is a wonderful cave monastery, which, by the way, also belongs to the second half of the 13th century. If anything, archeology and frescoes point to this period.
And this has its own explanation - at that time certain events were taking place in the Crimea, connected with the crisis in the Byzantine Empire. This church, undoubtedly, is a Byzantine monument, but, possibly, with Trabizond roots.
- What other important work was carried out besides the opening of this church?
- Several years ago, small exploration work was carried out in the Near Caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The results of these works allowed us to look completely differently at the complex of the Near Caves and finally understand the structure and logic of the formation of this complex. In ancient times, it did not look the way it does now. Even the history of its formation is now presented in a completely different way than it was commonly believed.
Caves of the Zverinets Monastery
- That is, everything, by and large, rests on funding problems?
- Not really. No government department wants to take it upon itself. The Institute of Archeology is rather frivolous about this. They do not have specialists in their staff who would be engaged in speleoarcheology. The maximum of their actions is the study of primitive sites in karst caves. There was a Museum of the History of Kiev, the wonderful Elena Vorontsova came - they began to study the Kiev caves, a special department, a shock group was created.
Caves of the Church (Gniletskie)
For ten years we have been able to explore the Zverinets, Gniletsky and Kitaevsky caves in Kiev. We, the collective of the Kiev Underground Department, found caves, cleared them, and carried out excavations. And now these caves are at the disposal of monasteries. Thank God that this is so and the caves are not abandoned, under supervision.
Kitaevskie caves
- Are there still caves in Kiev? There is information, for example, about the caves of the Kirillov monastery ...
- Yes. There is a fairly large system of caves under the St. Cyril Monastery, which is probably a cave monastery. But the problem is that the Kirillovskaya monastery is located in a very serious landslide zone, the caves pass under the foundations. In order to carry out the research, it is necessary to make reinforcements along the way. Moreover, this must be done in a comprehensive manner. It is necessary to strengthen both the landslide zone, the slopes, and what is found inside. There are people who know how to do this. But this is a very expensive process. This is also due to the fact that the Kirillovskaya monastery itself is a unique monument of the 12th century. Therefore, everything is very difficult.
Cyril Church
There is a complex that is easier to explore - the Vydubitsky Monastery. In 2006-2007. we even carried out prospecting work there, unearthed part of the collapsed cell. It is easier to work there, since the caves do not pass under the preserved church, but over the adjacent territory. At the same time, they pass under the territory of the memorial cemetery, which again complicates research.
Vydubitsky monastery
We have one remarkable complex of the 19th century, which probably arose during the last wave of monastic cave-keeping - on Mouselovka, in the area of the former Preobrazhenskaya desert, on the mountain between Goloseevo and Kitaevo. I have not been to this complex, it is "mothballed", but it was opened in the 1970s. Preserved plans, a complex labyrinthine structure. This complex could become a wonderful tourist and pilgrimage monument, but everything has to be done there from scratch.
To revive these monuments, there must be not only the will of the public, but also the will of the state and the city. We really need such monuments, but we need to understand this.
Source in the Preobrazhenskaya desert on the Mousetrap
This applies not only to cave monasteries. Kiev has a huge number of dungeons associated with the life of a medieval city. But this is all the city, for the time being, is not interested - until collapses, failures begin to occur, or construction is started. The builders stumbled upon underground structures several times and even made adjustments to the design, otherwise their structures could collapse over time.
Previously, the function of exploring the caves was taken over by the Museum of the History of Kiev, at the moment it has been reorganized, therefore, I repeat, the Kiev caves are now abandoned.
Sofia Kievskaya
From the latest finds ...
In the fall of 2014, during excavations in St. Sophia of Kiev, we discovered a monastery cellar, most likely from the 17th century. We "mothballed" it, since it was in the month of November, it was impossible to leave it open for the winter. We plan to conduct research in the summer, open and strengthen it. Moreover, the cellar under the foundations of the ancient Russian church, which we studied in the monastery garden, is a multi-purpose work. We study and preserve the underground monument and at the same time avoid the destruction of ground structures.
The cave monastery near Sudak is of great interest not only for numerous tourists who are among the first to visit it, but also for archaeologists and historians who have been conducting research here for almost 100 years. It is the most ancient landmark of the district and one of the oldest in Crimea, so it is not surprising why it is so popular among visitors, capturing the views of scientists.
Its only drawback is that it is badly destroyed and was in a terrible state even at the time of its opening. But this is how man is made - we are most attracted to objects of this kind. Something mysterious and inexpressibly attractive lurks in the ruins that act like a magnet. Well, the described place is just such, not devoid of attractiveness and hidden for centuries from human eyes, keeping many mysteries.
Where is the cave monastery near the city of Sudak?
It is lost among gorges and gorges in the eastern part of the Crimean ridge, at the foot of the region's highest point - Mount Sokol. The ruins of the monastery are located not far from Sudak, as its name implies, revealing itself only 4 km from the city, slightly off the road to.
Foundation history and discovery
The emergence of the cave monastery dates back to the period when the “iconoclasts” movement shook the foundations of the Orthodox faith in the Byzantine Empire. Born as an ecclesiastical dispute over the ownership of creeds, it soon escalated into mass hysteria that swept across the country when fanatical "reformers" destroyed thousands of priceless relics. In the first half of the 8th century, iconoclasm reached the Crimea. The monks of one of the monasteries, saving the shrines from the maddened crowd, fled far to the east of the Crimean Mountains, where they founded a monastery protected by nature in an inaccessible area.
She did not retain any names and details of this event - it is only known that the monks quickly settled down in the new facility and lived as recluses, in fact, having no connection with the outside world. By the time the iconoclastic movement began to decline in the 9th century, the cave monastery near Sudak became a refuge for many admirers of traditional canons and expanded significantly. When the reformation was finally finished, the monks, who became hermits, did not want to leave the place. They had everything they needed - here they felt completely safe from any shocks.
However, when the Ottoman Turks conquered the peninsula at the end of the 15th century, the churches and monasteries of the Crimea were subjected to barbaric destruction. The monastery complex in the region of Sudak, named Georgievsky, did not escape this fate. But nevertheless they did not forget about it - after some time it was rebuilt and re-populated. True, when this happened, it remained a mystery, it is only known that in the 19th century the cave monastery named after St.George the Great Martyr flourished again.
Renewed opening
Despite the extreme seclusion of the monastery, they knew about its existence, but the exact location remained unknown for many years. The opening took place in 1920 as a result of a purposeful search by the Soviet local historian Nikolai Lezin, who found it in ruins and complete desolation, and then, by pure chance, noticing a carved cross in one of the.
The destruction of the shrine was a consequence of the fact that it stood on clay soil, washed out by the roaming water element, and the walls of sandstone - a very unreliable building material - could not withstand the load and collapsed. But there is usually no information about when this happened and what happened to the inhabitants.
After the discovery of the ruins of the monastery, a group of Moscow archaeologists led by the outstanding Soviet scientist Professor Fomin conducted excavations here for a long time. As a result of hard and painstaking work, they completely cleared the foundation of the temple and three caves-cells from the debris - everything that remained from the impressive complex of cave structures.
Visit to the ruins of a cave monastery
The monastic ruins are located in an inaccessible, rugged area - the road to them is rather difficult to call a pleasure walk. But if we take into account the enthusiastic reviews of those who have visited it, then we can conclude that it is this difficult and sometimes exhausting path that is a striking feature of its visit. For enthusiasts, it seems small, 
but a spectacular adventure, because throughout the entire route there are stunning landscapes that alternate along the way.
During a fascinating journey, you have to go through narrow paths over an abyss, where sea waves beat far below, along mountain slopes, then climbing up, then actually sliding down the descent. And not far from the monastery, the eyes of travelers are enchanted by the source of Anastasia, beating from the depths of the earth, breaking through a crevice in the rock.
The monastery itself near Sudak is presented to the viewer by three preserved caves-cells, cutting into the slope. Inside, consider the low vaulted ceilings that were painted in antiquity, as indicated by the remains of paint and small fragments of plaster. Here you will also see preserved benches, shelves for storing books, carved into the rock, the remains of windows and steps. In one of the caves, one can see the remains of a dilapidated front wall made of sandstone blocks.
How to get (drive) from Sudak?
You can get to the area where the described attraction is located by a minibus connecting the bus station of Sudak and Novy Svet. You will need Cape Monastyrsky, stop at the "Observation Deck" (at the Memorial Stone to the Hero-Paratroopers).
By car, you can get to the cave monastery yourself as follows:
Tourist notes
- Address: Cape Monastery, Sudak, Crimea, Russia.
- GPS coordinates: 44.831745, 34.926746.
A visit to the cave monastery underneath will be an unforgettable experience, even if after it there is no material evidence such as video or photos. The impressions that remain after such a mini-trip are not able to convey photographs or video files, however, as it is impossible to express them in words - this is something special.
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Today we will go on an unusual journey, a journey not only through the most beautiful places of Russia, but also through its history, through the secrets of its mysterious Russian soul. Cave monasteries of Russia - amazing creations of nature and human hands On the territory of our country, cave monasteries arose over the centuries from the 10th to the 19th centuries: in Kiev, Volyn, Chernigov, Kharkov, Voronezh, Kursk, Tambov, Nizhny Novgorod, Penza, Moscow, Petersburg, Pskov provinces and enjoyed special respect and love among the people for the antiquity and holiness of the places, for the strict way of monastic life. From the very beginning of the foundation of the very first Kiev-Pechersk Cave Monastery, they were the most favorite place of pilgrimage, people from all over Russia were drawn here ...
Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery, Voronezh Region
Wonderful mountains - otherwise you can't say about these places! On a low plateau above the floodplain of the Tikhaya Sosna River, in some places, there are chalk "outliers" or "divas" that gave the name to this entire picturesque area. Small Divas and Big Divas - two monastic complexes located at a distance of 2 km from each other, began their history according to some sources in the first half of the 17th century, according to others, monks began to settle here in the 14-15th century. And in 1851, not far from the Malye Divas complex, in the vicinity of the Selyavnaya settlement, a peasant began to dig caves, two years later the peasant Shatov came to his aid, soon the caves they dug were added to the Divnogorsk monastery complex, and the "diggers" themselves were included in the fraternity ... If we turn to church chronicles and legends, the first caves were dug by the Greek monks Iosaph and Xenophon, who fled from Sicily during the period of persecution of the Orthodox Church and brought here an icon of the Mother of God, who showed them the place for a cave church. The official date of the foundation of the monastery is considered to be the first written mention, dating back to 1653.
Having got here, to be honest, all the historical details, you simply throw into the background, captured by the extraordinary beauty of Divnogorie, its special atmosphere, unique architecture and the spirit of tranquility hovering over the confluence of the Don and Quiet Pine. In Soviet times, the Assumption Monastery was plundered, the library was destroyed, and the monks were shot. During the Great Patriotic War, the occupants organized a military hospital within the walls of the monastery, which in the post-war period was reorganized into a tuberculosis sanatorium
The Holy Dormition Divnogorsk Monastery is also a museum-reserve, and if you can move around the adjacent territory completely freely, then you can get to the cave Church of the Sicilian Icon of the Mother of God only with a group excursion. At the entrance to the church there is an icon of the Sicilian Mother of God, kept in a glass chamber at constant temperature and humidity. Around the church, a long tunnel has been cut down for the procession of the cross, which, forking, opens the passage to the second level, where the monks' cells were located.
On the other side of the chalk plateau, there is the active Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery and the cave church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, which is still under reconstruction.
Kostomarovsky Holy Savior Convent Voronezh Region
According to legend, these places, 2 thousand years ago, struck with their extraordinary beauty and some amazing light of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, who indicated that the top of one of the chalk mountains should be crowned with a stone cross and a monastery was founded at its foot.
The big cave Church of the Savior was built in three stages: in the XII, XVI-XVII and XVIII-XIX centuries. The vaults of the temple, which can accommodate up to two thousand people, are supported by 12 chalk columns, and monastic cells for hermits who communicated with the brethren and pilgrims only through narrow windows are carved in its walls. Previously, the temple could be used as a fortification in case of a siege, had a secret passage and a well. After the revolution, the Spassky monastery was closed, but was reopened during the Patriotic War, although after the war an unjustifiable event took place - in 1958 the monastery was closed, the caves were blown up and flooded with water, and the building where the nuns lived was doused with diesel fuel and set on fire ...
The second time the Holy Savior Women's Convent was opened only in 1997. It is often called "Russian Palestine". There is also Golgotha with a cross on top, Mount Tabor, Kidron and Gethsemane. There is also one absolutely amazing place here - the Cave of Repentance. A long corridor leads to the cave, the vault of which becomes lower and lower, small ceramic icons are embedded in the walls, and candles once burned in its niches, illuminating the path of the penitents to the elder's cell, to which they were already approaching in deep repentance. And on the mountains near the monastery of the mountains, an amazing herb grows - incense, brought here from Athos, if you rub it lightly between your fingers, you will hear a delicate aroma of incense ....
Trinity Scanov Monastery, Penza Region
At the foot of Mount Plodskoy (Gorodok) there is a three-level cave complex with a healing spring of the Kiev-Pechersk miracle-workers Theodosius and Anthony and the Trinity-Scanov monastery. The founder of the cave monastery was Arseny II, who retired from the world to an underground cell in 1826, later (1866-1880) several more hermit monks came here, who built a stone church and a chapel at the entrance to the cave. From the main entrance to the monastery there is a long passage inland - more than 2.5 km to the lowest level of the cave (according to legend, there were 7 of them) to a spring with the purest water.
In the 30s of the last century, the church and the chapel were destroyed, and the cave was literally dismantled into bricks, as a result of which the lower tiers collapsed. Therefore, today the labyrinth of underground structures and cells has only three tiers and a length of about 600 meters. Over the past 10 years, active work has been carried out to restore the lost parts of the cave, which originally surpassed in length the famous caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
Visiting the monastery is possible both independently and accompanied by a novice.
Belogorsk Resurrection Monastery, Voronezh Region
The Belogorsk Resurrection Monastery was opened in 1882 in the Ostrogozhsky district of the Voronezh province. The monastery was founded on the site of the Belogorsk caves, which had existed since 1796. According to legend, the caves were dug by the Cossack Maria Sherstyukova and the peasants Ivan Tishchenko and Andrey Vasilchenko.
According to incomplete data, there are still many cave monasteries in Russia, perhaps we suck many of them close to you and the most interesting journey awaits you literally at the doorstep: the Gethsemane and Chernigov sketes (1844, 1847) at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in the Moscow region , Sarovskaya Assumption Monastery (1700) in the Tambov Region, Molchanskaya Christmas-Bogoroditskaya Sofroniev Hermitage (XIII century) in the Kursk Region, Pechersky Ascension Monastery (1330) in the Nizhny Novgorod Region founded by St. Dionysius, Trinity-Nikolsky Kholkovsky Monastery (1620) in Kursk in the Kursk Region, Shatrishchegorsky Transfiguration Monastery (1652).
Cave temple structures also exist in the St. John the Theologian monastery in the Ryazan region, in the town of Staraya Ladoga and in the Tula region. The caves with the Church of Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves were opened under the Kremlin hill in Tobolsk.
One of the most beautiful monasteries in Russia cannot be ignored -
Pskov-Pechersky monastery in the Pskov region
According to legend, the founders of the monastery were people from the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. The God-made caves have been known to the locals since 1392, and the first church of the Assumption of the Mother of God here was consecrated in 1473. Today, there are six churches in the monastery, not counting the cave Voskresensky, where the service is performed only for the brethren: Uspensky, Sretensky, in the name of the Archangel Michael, in the name of the prince. Cornelia, Nikolsky and Pokrovsky. Surprisingly, the monastery was never closed, although this threat constantly hung over it. Many old legends and modern legends are already associated with this amazing place. Today, access to the caves is open to the public only when accompanied by a monk by prior arrangement; the entrance to the monastery is free. In the caves of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, time seems to stop, being there for more than an hour, it seems that no more than 10 minutes have flown by.
For the sake of such places, we save money, take vacations, apply for visas, buy expensive tickets and fly ... Or you can just get into the car and, forgetting about the queues at visa centers and turbulence, drive several hundred kilometers along the highway. Welcome to Divnogorye - a small corner of our vast country, where dizzying panoramas, chalk mountains, canyons and a unique Orthodox church carved into the rocks await you ...
Divnogorie - there is no better name for these places. The mountains are not high at all. The plateau rises above the floodplain of the Tikhaya Sosna River by only 100 meters. The hill is almost entirely composed of chalk, in some places chalk pillars-remnants stick out from the ground, it is their locals who call them "divas", and hence the whole area got its name - Divnogorie.
The monks came to Divnogorie a long time ago, but when exactly is not known for certain. According to local historians, the first monks could have settled here in the period of the 14-15th centuries. According to church tradition, the first caves were dug by the Greek monks Iosaph and Xenophon, who fled to this region from Sicily during the period of persecution of the Orthodox Church by Catholics. According to legend, they brought with them an icon of the Mother of God and she showed them the place for the construction of the cave church. The first written mention of the monastery dates back to 1653, this date is the official date of the foundation of the Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery.
To be honest, I don't want to go into historical details, which are always very inaccurate and, often, controversial. I came to these places just to admire the amazing nature and unique architecture ...
Upon entering the territory of the museum-reserve, you will be greeted by a very cute traditional Russian courtyard in absolutely perfect condition. In general, it should be noted that the entire territory of the reserve is well-groomed and everything is very organized. There is a cozy cafe and, what is important and surprising, clean toilets.
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Climbing the steps to the cave Church of the Sicilian Icon of the Mother of God, I saw an amazing panorama of the valley of the Don and Quiet Pine rivers ...
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You can get to the church itself only with a guide as part of a group tour, which costs 240 rubles. You should definitely visit it. Inside the church is completely renovated, there is lighting. At the entrance you will be greeted by an icon of the Sicilian Mother of God, which is kept in a glass chamber, where the temperature and humidity are kept constant. The church itself is cool, even on the hottest summer day.
The middle part of the church (nave) is a cross, however, I could not see it without a guide's advice. A long tunnel has been cut around the church so that a procession can be made. At some point, the tunnel forks and, turning the corner, we found ourselves on the steps leading to the second floor of the temple. It was there that the monks' cells were located.
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Walking through the reserve itself was also a pleasure, especially the views of the chalk canyon ...
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On the other side of the Cretaceous plateau, there is the Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery, which is in operation.
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Next to the Assumption Monastery there is also a cave church of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Unfortunately, it still has a long reconstruction process ahead of it. In Soviet times, the Assumption Monastery was plundered by the Red Army, the library was destroyed, and the monks were shot. During the Great Patriotic War, the Nazis organized a military hospital within the walls of the monastery, and later the Soviet authorities turned it into a tuberculosis sanatorium. Unfortunately, the "guests" of the sanatorium considered it their duty to mark their walls, so that all the caves are scratched with the names of the "heroes" ...
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Just above the church there is a small ruined bell tower carved out of a chalk pillar by monks ...
A visit to Divnogorie gave me a lot of positive emotions. I was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness of the reserve, the friendliness of the staff and the organization in general. There is a complete feeling that I have visited some kind of European museum, but this is all at our home - in Russia! Great!
Separately about the roads. From Moscow to Voronezh and further to the turn to Liski there are about 600 kilometers of a beautiful two-lane highway. From the Don highway to the town of Liski, there is a very picturesque road with an ideal surface. And only the last 10 km a piece of a broken road awaits you.
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If you do not know how to spend the weekend, then take the children, jump in the car and forward to Divnogorie. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are almost ideal places for camping with tents. Only, please, take all the garbage with you later and do not burn fires anywhere. This is our Motherland, let's keep it clean.
Detailed information about the Divnogorye Museum-Reserve, as well as how to get there, you can visit
Inkerman cave monastery
First, in the 6th century, a fortification erected by local tribes appeared on the right bank of the Chernaya River on a high rock. Later, when the influence of the feudal principality of Theodoro strengthened in this part of the Crimea, at the end of the Northern Bay, at the mouth of the Chernaya River, the seaport Avlita was founded, and to protect it, Prince Alexei of Mangup rebuilt the ancient fortification, turning it into a fortress Kalamita. Here, under the protection of a formidable fortress, approximately in the 8th-9th centuries, a cave monastery arose. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, Crimea passed into the possession of Orthodox Byzantium.
The caves served the first monks as housing and utility rooms. Temples were also built in caves, an altar, a throne, and benches were carved out of stone. All rooms were connected by stairs carved into the rock. Located next to a large trading port, the monastery lived comfortably.
The origin is associated with the cult of St. Clement, who was a Roman bishop in the years 92-101. Clement was exiled by Emperor Trajan for preaching Christianity in a quarry near Chersonesos. It was here in 101 that Clement was killed. A year after the death of the saint, it was possible to acquire his relics, which were initially kept near Chersonesos. After the capture of the Kalamita fortress by the Turks in 1475, the monastery gradually fell into decay. The fortress was renamed Inkerman, which gave the name to the city that emerged here. Since the 18th century, the city has belonged to Russia.
In 1850, the monastery was revived and received a modern double name - after the name of the city and in honor of St. Clement.
In 1867, the cave church of St. Martin the Confessor. In 1895, in memory of the salvation of the royal family in a train accident, the church of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon was built.
Since 1924, the temples of the monastery began to be gradually closed. In 1931, services ceased in cave churches, the monastery was finally closed, its property was transferred to the Sevastopol Museum Association.
Since 1991, a gradual revival of the monastery began, temples and cell buildings were restored.
Holy Dormition Cave Monastery
The main monastery shrine, the icon of the Virgin, belongs to the images of the Odigitria (Guidebook) type. In the monastery, the icon is also called Panagia (All-Holy). At the end of the 18th century, the icon was transferred to the city of Mariupol. Nowadays the list of the icon is kept in the monastery.
Other shrines of the monastery are the icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos, copies of the icons of the Theotokos of Three Ruins and Kiev-Pechersk.
The monastery was founded by Byzantine icon-worshiping monks no later than the 8th century. In the XIII-XIV centuries it ceased its activity for some time, then in the XIV century it was revived. Having escaped defeat during the Turkish invasion in 1475, the Assumption Monastery became the residence of the Metropolitan. However, the financial situation of the monastery was disastrous, which made it necessary to seek help from the Moscow grand dukes and tsars. From the 15th to the 18th centuries The Assumption Monastery was the main stronghold of the religious life of the Orthodox population of Crimea.
In 1778 the Christian population left the Crimea. Natives of the Greek village of Mariampol, which existed at the foot of the Assumption Monastery, moved to the city later known as Mariupol.
Since 1781, the monastery operates as a parish church headed by a Greek priest.
In 1850 the monastic community was renewed with the establishment of the Assumption Cave Skete. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were five churches on the territory of the monastery: the Assumption cave church, the cave church of St. Mark the Evangelist, the church of St. Constantine and Helena, the cemetery church of St. George the Victorious, St. Innokenty of Irkutsk. In addition, several fraternal buildings were built, the abbot's house, houses for pilgrims, fountains and an orchard were arranged, where the Gethsemane chapel was built in 1867. More than 60 monks and novices lived in the monastery. There was a courtyard in the city of Simferopol and St. Anastasia, located in the valley of the river. Kachi.
In 1921 the monastery was closed by the Soviet authorities. The property of the monastery was plundered, the monks were shot.
During the Great Patriotic War, a military hospital was located here. On the territory of the monastery there is a mass grave of Soviet soldiers. After the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944, a neuropsychiatric dispensary was located on the territory of the monastery.
There are three legends regarding the founding of the monastery.
According to the first, an icon of the Virgin was found by a shepherd on the site of the monastery, which, when transferred to a new place, each time returned to the rocks, where it was found. People realized that it was necessary to build a temple here and, since the acquisition took place on August 15 (the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin), they named it the Assumption.
The second legend says that an evil serpent attacked the inhabitants of the area. Once, after fervent prayers to the Mother of God, people noticed a burning candle on one of the rocks. Having cut through the steps to it, the inhabitants found an icon of the Mother of God and a dead serpent lying in front of her.
The third legend believes that the icon of the Mother of God, discovered on the rocks of the gorge, was transferred there from a Byzantine monastery near Trebizond.
In 1993 it was returned to the Orthodox Church. 4 of the 5 monastery churches, cell buildings, the abbot's house, the main staircase, the bell tower have been restored, a water source has been equipped.
Chelter-Marmara cave monastery
The Chelter-Marmara cave monastery is conveniently located on the rocky cliffs of the Chelter-Kaya "lattice rock", near the village of Ternovka (Balaklava region). The Chelter-Kaya rock rises above the Shulskaya and Kara-Kobinskaya valleys, immersed in greenery. On the western side of Chelter, you can see four tiers of caves, and an Orthodox cross is erected on its top. The word "Chelter" is translated as a lattice, and "Marmara" was previously the name of a medieval village located at the foot of the mountain.
Researchers believe that the Christian monastery was founded here at the end of the 18th century. However, the first hermit monks could live in caves long before its foundation.
A rather steep and rocky path leads up to the foot of Chelter-Kaya Mountain, surrounded by thickets of a thorny tree, juniper and cotoneaster. On the way, you can also come across a relict turpentine tree and wild cherries. The trail itself is dotted with time-whitened clay shards left over from monastic amphorae and pythos. Today, there are more than 50 caves in the Chelter-Marmara cave monastery. These are numerous cells, utility and utility rooms, a refectory, and four churches. In ancient times, they were all connected by beautiful wooden balconies, stairs and galleries.
The lower tier of the monastery consists of sixteen isolated caves. There are also two large caves, which are natural grottoes connected to each other by a doorway. Grooves were cut on the walls of the caves and traces of bolts were preserved, which indicates their use as cattle corrals. In some rooms, you can find characteristic cuttings on the floor intended for hearths. The lugs on which the lamps were hung are clearly visible on the ceiling and walls.
The caves, located from the second to the fifth tier, are a single complex with a common passage. A staircase with steps carved into the rock leads to it from the very foot of the mountain. The 32-meter columned hall, the vault of which rests on five powerful columns, can be considered the hallmark of the monastery.
And today there is a functioning cave monastery of the Monk "Sava the Sanctified" here, attracting hundreds of pilgrims from different parts of Ukraine.
Shuldan cave monastery
The Shuldan (Echoing) Monastery is located to the north of the village of Ternovka of the Sevastopol City Council in the cliffs of the Sheldan cliff overhanging the Shul Valley. It consists of two cave temples and their accompanying rooms, in total up to 20, which are located in two tiers.
For a long time in the Crimean literature the opinion dominated that Shuldan, as well as other cave monasteries, was founded in the 8th - 9th centuries. icon-worshiping monks who fled to the Crimea from the central regions of Byzantium during the period of iconoclastic rule there. However, as a result of the research carried out, it turned out that cave monasteries in Crimea appeared at a later time, not earlier than the 10th - 11th centuries, and their highest flowering occurred during the principality of Theodoro (second half of the 14th - third quarter of the 15th centuries).
There are two construction periods in the monastery. The original Christian cult complex in the Shuldan rock could have arisen in the 13th - 14th centuries. Most likely it was small in size. On the site of the present church there was an earlier one with a baptismal adjoining to it from the south. In the period of Theodoro, probably not earlier than the end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th centuries, the monastery was rebuilt, the temple expanded, and a new baptistery appeared. Considering the proportions of the temple (see below) and the presence of a high place, the monastery was not the last in the church hierarchy. It is possible that it was one of the residences of the Gothic Metropolitan, Shuldan is located a few kilometers from the capital of the principality of Theodoro - Mangupa. Apparently, in the XIV - XV centuries. the rest of the monastery premises were also created. Since the end of the 15th century, after the capture of Crimea by the Turks, most likely, the complex practically did not function, and its premises were used by residents of a neighboring village for keeping cattle.
The most significant monuments of Shuldan are two cave churches. The main temple, located in the first tier, measuring 7 x 3.3 x 3.65 m, is an elongated rectangle in plan. The altar part is horseshoe-shaped. At the base of the walls of the apse, a two-stage syntron with a high place in the middle was carved out. In ancient times, the walls of the temple were painted with frescoes, which have now been lost. To the north, the church is adjoined by a chapel of irregular shape, and to the south - a rectangular baptismal chamber with a rounding in the eastern part.
In our time, the monastery is being restored by monks. Residential cells, outbuildings are equipped and the main temple is open for visiting. The monastery is visited not only by pilgrims (they are provided with guest cells for the night), but also by tourists.
On the plateau of Mount Shuldan, a chapel tower was erected, the dome of which sparkling in the sun is clearly visible from the road. You can get from the monastery to the plateau using the stairs built by the monks. An observation deck has been made in the tower. From which the panorama of the Shul Valley opens.
Chelter-Koba cave monastery
The monastery was founded by icon-worshipers in the 8th-9th centuries and existed until 1475, when the Turkish army invaded the Crimea and captured the principality of Theodoro. The monastery bore the name of Saint Theodore, it is preserved in the name of the rock. There are 22 caves of various sizes and purposes. These are monks' cells, some of them very small with low ceilings; warehouse caves, housekeeper's chambers, a large refectory and, most importantly, a cave temple.
The Orthodox have always been sensitive to the choice of the site for the monastery. Not the ostentatious severity of conditions, but harmony with nature and its Creator, internal and external beauty were and remain the ideals of the monastery monastery.
There is a temple at the monastery, which is located in a large natural grotto with an area of more than 150 sq. meters. The grotto has a rounded shape, tapering to the east and west. For the altar, a special rectangular recess was carved out here, in the walls of which niches were placed. It should be understood that only traces of the former greatness of the monastery have survived, only the rocky walls of the caves. In ancient times, the caves were partitioned off from the outside with stonework, which protected the monks from bad weather and the invasion of uninvited "guests" who wandered in the vicinity for the purpose of profit. The caves were connected by a whole chain of wooden beams and passages, balconies. The Tatars, noticing their traces, gave this place the name Chelter-Koba (chelter means "lattice", "lace"; koba - "cave").
140-meter grotto leading to a life-giving water source. One should approach him, which nourished monks many centuries ago, should be with great reverence, for through him we unite with the holiness of the ascetics of the Church of former times.
In January 2001, the ancient monastery was visited by Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea. After examining the cave temples and the source, he said: "This place was created for prayer, and you need to breathe life into the monastery walls again." Perhaps one more monastery will be reborn soon on the Crimean land.