Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersk Monastery. Pskov-Caves Monastery. One of the most mysterious monasteries in Rus', the Assumption Cave Temple

One of the largest operating monasteries in Russia with more than five centuries of history, one of the most revered monasteries in the country is the Pskov-Caves Monastery, founded in 1473. It is located almost on the border with Estonia.

From the history of the monastery

The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery appeared in the caves near the Kamenets stream. They were first mentioned in chronicles in 1392. Judging by the legends, monks lived in them, who fled from the south of the country, fleeing the persecution of the Crimean Tatars. In 1470, on this land, Hieromonk Jonah, a native of Yuryev (today it is the city of Tartu), built a church, which he consecrated in 1473. It was around her that the Pechersk monastery was formed. The city of Pechora appeared near the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery in the 16th century.

In those ancient times, these were deserted places covered with impenetrable forests. The hunters who were here saw an old man praying on a stone, heard the singing of hermits. There is no information about them, the name of their spiritual mentor, Mark, has been preserved. John, his wife Maria (in monasticism she took the name Vassa) and Mark were the first inhabitants of this place.

In the sandy mountain, John dug the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos. After some time, Vassa died (she was seriously ill even before arriving on Pskov land). He buried the coffin with the body of the deceased in a cave. But, to his great amazement, the next day the coffin was taken out of the ground. Jonah took this as a sign from above. He suggested that during the funeral something was done wrong. Therefore, Vassa was buried again and once again buried in the earth. But the next morning, the same thing happened. Jonah decided to leave the coffin on the surface.

Since that time, the effect of grace in the caves of the monastery has not stopped. For several centuries, the coffins with the deceased monks who died on the battlefield as warriors, and also were not interred. In the cave necropolis of the monastery there are crypts that are filled with blackened and dilapidated coffins to the very vaults. At the same time, there are no signs of decay of the bodies.

Ascetics of Jonah

After the untimely death of Vassa, ascetics began to come to Jonah. His close friend and successor, hieromonk Misail, built the Church of Theodosius and Anthony from wood on the mountain itself. Cells for the first inhabitants were cut down next to it.

Unfortunately, soon the Old Monastery on the mountain was burnt down by people from the beginning of the 16th century, when Dorotheus was hegumen, it was decided to move the temple to the foot of the mountain. At the same time, the cave temple of Theodosius and Anthony was expanded and built. Around the same time, the church was erected and the construction of the belfry of the monastery began. Invaluable assistance in the construction was provided by Misyur Munekhin - a highly educated, pious man who was able to understand and appreciate the strategic importance of Pechera.

Educational activities

Munekhin also patronized Abbot Cornelius. Under him, the Pskov-Caves Holy Dormition Monastery flourished. The number of monks increased significantly, and carpentry, ceramics, and icon-painting workshops appeared. The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery already in those days could be proud of its magnificent library. Here they conducted the Third Pskov Chronicle. From the Pechersk collections, the correspondence of John IV with Prince Andrei Kurbsky has survived to this day.

Hegumen Cornelius took up spiritual enlightenment - he created temples in the south of Estonia, sent priests there. However, educational activities were suspended due to the military successes of the Germans.

By decree of Ivan the Terrible, the Pskov-Caves Monastery was surrounded by a powerful stone wall. The Annunciation Church, made of stone, was erected in the monastery. For the streltsy garrison, which carried out constant service, they built the gate St. Nicholas Church, which was directly connected to the combat towers. During the time, the monastery was often subjected to raids from the west.

Pskov-Caves Holy Assumption Monastery today

Along the slope of a deep ravine, somewhat skirting the hollow along which the Kamenets stream flows, the walls of the Pechersk fortress stretch. Their total length is 726 meters, the thickness reaches two meters. Today the fortress structure consists of 9 towers. During its centuries-old history, the Pskov-Pechersk Assumption Monastery repeatedly withstood the attacks of the Livonian army, led by the (Livonian War), the Swedish rulers - Charles XII and Charles Gustav, Hetman Khodkevich (Poland). The history of the military participation of the monastery, glorified by the exploits of its brave defenders - monks and archers, ended during the Great Northern War. At this time, the western borders of Russia moved to the Baltic Sea.

Great Pilgrims

Since ancient times, all Great Rus' and, of course, Moscow knew about the existence of the monastery. The Pskov-Caves Monastery became a place of pilgrimage for crowned persons of different times. A frequent guest here was Ivan the Terrible, who repented of the soul hegumen Cornelius had ruined by him. At one time, the suspicions of a suspicious ruler fell on him. Peter I visited the Pskov-Caves Monastery four times. The luxurious carriage, which is still kept within the walls of the monastery, remained in memory of the visit of Empress Anna Ioannovna to this monastery. In 1822, Alexander I also visited here. He talked within the walls of the monastery with the seer Lazar. Nicholas II attended the pilgrimage in 1903. Here, in early 1911, Princess Elizabeth Feodorovna prayed here.

Shrines of the monastery

The ancient monastery carefully keeps the most valuable icons within its walls. The Pskov-Caves Monastery, the photo of which you can see in our article, has three shrines. First of all, this is the icon of the Mother of God, which is considered miraculous. It is carried out every year on patronal feasts in a procession. In addition, these are the icons of Tenderness and Hodegetria of the Pskov-Caves. There are testimonies in the annals of miraculous healings that became possible thanks to these shrines. Icons are stored in the Assumption Church and St. Michael's Cathedral.

Monastery elders

Today, the monastery, led by His Eminence Eusebius, carefully preserves the traditions of the monastery, observes the laws and rules of the monastery. Amazing people live here. The elders of the Pskov-Caves Monastery are an example of true piety and great faith. These are Archimandrites Adrian (Kirsanov) and John (Krestyankin) - legends of the Orthodox Church and vivid examples of monastic life.

The saints of the Pskov-Caves Monastery are a role model not only for the monks living in the monastery today, but for all Orthodox. They are St. Mark, St. Vassa, St. Jonah, St. Dorotheos, St. Lazarus, St. Simeon.

Monastery today

Nowadays, thousands of tourists come to these places to see the great shrines with their own eyes. The monument of history and architecture, which is of great interest to scientists around the world, is the Pskov-Caves Monastery. Excursions here are organized by many travel companies from different cities of our country. The sights of the monastery are truly unique.

As already mentioned, this monastery is active. Worship services are held here. To touch the shrines, many come to the Pskov-Caves Monastery. Requisites can also be ordered here. Perhaps not everyone knows what it is. Trebs are a sacred rite that a clergyman performs at the request of a believer for himself or people close to him. This is a request of a person to the Lord, with which the clergy turn with him.

Today it is possible to submit requests to the Caves Monastery via the Internet. To do this, you should enter the website of the monastery, which describes in detail how this is done. Every day administrators review all submitted "notes" and pass them on to the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Tikhon.

monastery caves

As already mentioned, the cave and the temple were created by the former Pskov priest John Shestnik.

The caves of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery are, in fact, a monastery cemetery. The exact number of burials has not yet been precisely established. More than 14,000 people are believed to be buried here. Until now, there is no scientific justification for the phenomenon that has been observed in caves for centuries: there is always very fresh air and the temperature is always constant. In addition, the smell of a decomposing body disappears instantly.

Scientists tried to explain this phenomenon by the unusual properties of sandstone, which is able to absorb odors, the monks sincerely believe that this is due to the holiness of this place.

Excursions to the monastery caves leave a very strong impression on everyone who dares to visit them. The path is illuminated only by candles, there is ringing silence around ... And if the monk who leads the tour also speaks in a “terrible” voice about human sins and retribution for them, then it becomes uncomfortable.

Almost at the very entrance to the caves lie the relics of St. Mark, Jonah, Lazarus, and Vassa.

Seven underground galleries diverge from the entrance. They are called streets, which in different years expanded and lengthened. Fifth and sixth streets are called fraternal. The monks of the monastery are buried here. Pilgrims were buried in other galleries.

At the end of the central cave street there is a special candlestick. It is decorated in the form of a small table and is called kanun. Panikhidas (mortuary services) are served next to it. Immediately after the eve there is a large wooden cross, to the right of which Metropolitan Veniamin Fedchenko is buried.

The caves of the monastery are a unique place of intoxication of the saints, saturated with the prayers of ascetics. This is a unique artistic and historical monument.

Assumption Cave Temple

A wide staircase leads to it. Above the entrance is the image of the Mother of God of Kyiv. On the roof facing the monastery, there are five domes crowned with crosses. The necks of the heads are decorated with sacred images.

No less original is the interior of the temple. It has three passages in length and five in width. They are separated by earthen camps lined with bricks. This creates a special comfort. The room is quite spacious, there is always a secluded corner where you can pray by the light of lamps.

In the depths of the cathedral, on the south side, in a specially equipped niche, the relics of St. Cornelius are buried.

Big belfry

Not far from the Assumption Church is the main belfry of the monastery, or belfry, as it is often called. A stone structure consisting of several pillars placed in a row from east to west.

This is one of the largest architectural structures of this type. The belfry has six main spans and one that was built much later. Thanks to him, a second tier is formed.

The bells of the Pskov Monastery are one of the most significant collections not only in Pskov, but also in Western Russia.

Sretenskaya Church

It was erected in 1670 on the site of the previously existing Church of the Annunciation. Sretensky Cathedral is a two-story brick building, made in pseudo-Russian style. The church is on the second floor. The altar has a central niche for the altar and several small niches for the deacon. The narthex is separated by a massive wall. It has three openings. All windows are arched. The lower floor of the temple is treated with smooth rustication.

On the western and eastern walls of the Sretenskaya Church, a painting has been preserved, which has already been restored several times. The southern and northern walls are decorated with pilasters. The walls are made of brick, then plastered and painted.

Closing attempts

Throughout its long history, the Pskov-Caves Monastery has never been closed, for more than five hundred years.

In Soviet times, attempts were repeatedly made to close the Caves Monastery. Eyewitnesses recall that once another commission arrived at it with a decision to close it. The abbot got acquainted with the resolution and threw it into the burning fireplace. Discouraged officials, moreover, without documents, hastily retreated.

The abbot of the monastery, Alipiy, having met the next representatives of the authorities, said that a large number of weapons were stored in the monastery, and many of the brethren were front-line soldiers. They will defend the monastery to the last breath. He warned that the only way to take the monastery was with the help of aircraft, which would be immediately reported on the Voice of America radio station. This statement made an impression on the commission. Oddly enough, this threat worked. For some time the monastery was left alone.

There were many such situations when the monastery could be closed or ruined, but each time, in some incomprehensible way, it remained untouched.

There is a monastery in the Pskov region, which has not been closed for a single day since 1473. This is the Holy Dormition Pskov-Caves Monastery, located in the city of Pechory, not far from Pskov.
Pskov forests in those days were fraught with a lot of mysteries. And one of them was the discovery of caves in which the monks settled.

According to legend, Izborsk hunters once heard singing from under the ground in the forest and decided that it was angels singing. They spread the news throughout the region. Later, this "singing land" went to the local peasant Ivan Dementyev, who, after a strong storm, went into the forest and saw that one tree was uprooted, and under its roots an entrance to the caves was found, crowned with the inscription "God created caves", where hermit monks lived . And so the solution to the prayerful singing that was heard from under the ground was found.
It is believed that these were the monks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, fleeing the raids of the Tatars.

It is said that the inscription over the caves puzzled even some monks. And there lived in those caves a monk named Thomas, a kind of unbeliever Thomas, who came every evening and erased the inscription, but when the monastery went to the morning service, the inscription was already in its place. The caves handed over by God are one of those sacred places, which since then have been a place of pilgrimage for all parishioners in the Caves Monastery.
There is no reliable information about when the monks settled in the caves, and therefore the date of foundation of the monastery is considered to be 1473, when the Assumption Church dug out in a sandy hill was consecrated.

Look at the relief of the monastery walls. Perhaps this is the only monastery-fortress located in this way, i.e. descending from the hill to the valley.
Stone walls with six towers and three gates were built in 1558-1565 at the beginning of the Livonian War to protect against the Livonians. Later, four more towers were built. The Pskov-Pechersk fortress withstood a two-month siege by a detachment of troops of Stefan Batory and a Hungarian detachment under the command of Bornemissa in 1581, and subsequently repeatedly participated in border hostilities until the end of the Northern War in 1721.

The tower at the bottom of the ravine is called the Tower of the Upper Lattices and it is the tallest of all, its height is 25 meters. At the bottom of the tower there is a stone arch through which the Kamenets stream flows into the fortress. So that the enemies could not use the stream to penetrate the fortress, the vault of the arch was covered with an iron grate. She gave such an unusual name to the tower itself.

Assumption Church is the oldest and most important temple of the monastery. It was dug out of a sandstone hill by Father John and has only a facade, while the rest of the church goes uphill.
In 1523, under Abbot Dorotheus, the church was renovated and expanded, a chapel was built in the name of St. Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev Caves. In 1758-1759, the Church of the Intercession was built over the temple, and now the Assumption and Intercession churches have a common facade. In the 19th century, multi-colored domes were erected over the Assumption-Intercession Church in the Ukrainian baroque style, shaped like the domes of the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Entrance to the monastery through the Holy Gates. After passing through them, you find yourself on a long road leading down to the Assumption and Pokrovsky churches

This road is called "Bloody Road". According to legend, hegumen Cornelius met Ivan the Terrible at the Holy Gates when he arrived at the monastery. The monk held himself too proudly in front of the king, for which he paid with his life. The severed head of Cornelius rolled down the road, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.
Having repented of his deed, Ivan the Terrible in his arms carried the body of the monk he had killed to the Assumption Church. Since then, this road has received its bloody name.

Having taken tonsure, Cornelius gained the respect of the brethren by his asceticism, and at the age of 28 he was elected abbot of the monastery. During the period of his abbess, the number of the monastery's inhabitants grew from 15 to 200 people (there were no such number of brethren under other abbots after Cornelius). Under the leadership of Cornelius, the active development of the monastery began. Since 1547, the monastery became the Pskov chronicle center, an icon-painting workshop appeared (initially, the monks studied icon-painting in the Mirozhsky Monastery) and a pottery workshop, and bells began to be cast.
Through the efforts of Cornelius, in the first half of the 16th century, a book and literary school was created in the monastery, which collected liturgical, secular, and hagiographic manuscripts.
During the Livonian War, the missionary activity of Cornelius manifested itself: he founded Orthodox churches in the recaptured areas, provided assistance to the victims, the names of those who died in the war were entered in the monastery synod for commemoration
Under Cornelius, numerous building works were carried out to expand the monastery.
Now in front of the walls of the monastery there is a monument to St. Martyr Cornelius, and his relics are kept in the Assumption Church. Every day, except Sundays and holidays, at 6 am, the monks of the monastery gather near his relics for a fraternal prayer service.

And before us is the main ensemble of the Holy Assumption Monastery.
On the right, the yellow facade is the Assumption Church and the Intercession Church built over it. In the center, the red building is the Sacristy and the Library. Books of the 17th-17th centuries were kept here, including the "Word about the destruction of the Russian land", which existed in a single copy. During the Great Patriotic War, retreating Nazis tried to plunder the monastery sacristy. The abbot of the monastery, risking his own life, forced them to pack everything so that nothing would be damaged. Strange as it may seem, the Germans obeyed and the treasures of the monastery sacristy came to Germany safe and sound.
After the war, negotiations were held for a very long time on the return of the stolen, and only recently the treasures of the sacristy were returned to their place.
Behind the sacristy are the Clock Tower (it is not visible) and the Great Belfry with bells of the 16th-18th centuries.

In the very right corner of the facade of the temple there is an entrance to the caves, you can see it, it has a semicircular ceiling.
In general, it is not so easy to get into the caves, the entrance to them is very limited to preserve the microclimate. You can get into them only with a group at certain hours with the blessing of the abbot of the monastery. And twice a week on Mondays and Fridays there is no access to the caves.

Caves are divided into near and far. The nearby caves are about 15m long. They contain tombs with the relics of St. Mark, Jonah, Lazarus and St. Vassa.

Above the tomb of St. Lazarus hang his chains, you can touch them to understand how heavy they are.

The entrance to the caves is reinforced with brickwork. This was done for security purposes, when Emperor Alexander 1 came here in 1824 to talk with Elder Lazar.

In order to get into the distant caves, everyone is given a candle, and it is the candles that are the only source of light there.

Once monks lived in the caves, and now they are a kind of cemetery. The distant caves consist of 7 galleries-streets, the total length of which is about 200 meters. Although when you walk here, it seems that you have passed a lot.
Despite the fact that the coffins with the dead are completely open in the caves, there is absolutely no smell of decay and decay. This is facilitated by a special cave microclimate, carefully guarded by the monks of the monastery. The temperature inside the caves is +5 all year round.
Initially, only monks were buried in the caves, but later burials of pious laymen appeared here: princes, nobles, pilgrims. The ancestors of Pushkin, Kutuzov, Mussorgsky are buried here.
Plan of the distant caves

In the walls of the caves there are ceramic and limestone slabs with inscriptions, the so-called ceramides, which, being tombstones, are of great artistic and historical value.

About 350 ceramic and stone tombstones of the 16th - early 18th centuries have been preserved in the caves of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. Most of them are small and placed in the openings of the burial niches. The earliest ceramide dates back to 1530, the earliest stone slab is a tombstone from 1591.

At the end of the central street there is a kanun (a special candlestick in the form of a small table), at which requiems are performed.
Behind the eve there is a large wooden cross. An outstanding Orthodox bishop, Metropolitan Veniamin (Fedchenkov), is buried to his right.
On the left side of the Cross lie the Valaam elders, Archimandrite Seraphim (Rozenberg) and Archimandrite John (Krestyankin).
And to this day, believers come to the burial place of the elders, asking them, as they do from the living, for prayer help and commemorate them in their prayers.

And we leave the caves and enter the Assumption Cave Temple, which is today the main center of the religious life of the monks of the monastery.
In the main aisle of the Assumption Cathedral, two revered lists are kept from the miraculous Pskov-Caves Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, which, like the image of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos, showed many miracles.

The icon "Tenderness" was painted by a certain hieromonk Arseny from the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. In the Caves monastery, she was brought to the abbess of St. Cornelius. During the reign of Tsar Theodore Ioannovich, it was decorated with pearls and stones - diamonds, emeralds, yachts, amethysts in memory of the miraculous deliverance of the city of Pskov from the siege of the troops of the Polish king Stefan Batory in 1581.

In the main aisle behind the elevation is the royal place. This is a special canopy where the tsar prayed in the old days when he visited the Pskov-Caves Monastery for pilgrimage.

Here you can also see the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, I think many have seen this very face of Christ on various calendars and brochures

Another shrine of the monastery is the icon of the Assumption of the Mother of God. This icon is considered miraculous, first became famous in 1473 on the day of the consecration of the cave Assumption Church of the future Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, when a sick woman was cured.

Currently, during the All-Night Vigil on the eve of the feast of the Assumption of the Mother of God, the image of the Assumption of the Mother of God, richly decorated with flowers, is taken out of the Assumption Church and placed in front of the entrance

In the depths of the Assumption Cathedral, in a specially arranged niche, are the relics of the holy abbot of the monastery, the Monk Martyr Cornelius.

Not far from the entrance to the caves there is a staircase leading to the Holy Mountain. I'm not sure that you can climb it if you came here without a tour.
There is an apple orchard on the mountain.

From the Holy Mountain, a panorama of the entire monastery and fortress walls opens up.

And the lilac there is just fabulous, the aroma is such that you don’t want to leave!

From the Holy Mountain we descend to the fraternal buildings, i.e. where the monks of the monastery live

Somehow these houses reminded me of towers

Fraternal building in which there is a kitchen, a refectory and cells of monks

House of the abbot of the monastery
http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/lenorlux/7840389/681705/681705_original.jpg

Mikhailovsky Cathedral, erected with public money in 1827 in honor of the deliverance of Pskov from Napoleon's troops. The cathedral, made in the classical style, is the largest building of the Pskov-Caves Monastery. The gilded dome of the cathedral is visible from afar at the entrances to the monastery.

The shrine of the temple is the right hand of the holy martyr Tatiana, handed over to Archimandrite John (Krestyankin) in 1977

Behind the walls of the monastery stands the Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sevasti

Here on the square you can buy souvenirs or book a tour.

If you leave the monastery and go to the right, you will get to the observation deck, which offers such a wonderful postcard view.
By the way, right there on the site, a wonderful uncle sells beautiful photo magnets and decorated photographs of the monastery.

Video tour of the monastery

You can get to the monastery by car along the E-77 highway
or by bus from the Pskov bus station.

The story used information from the official website of the monastery http://www.pskovo-pechersky-monastery.ru/

https://www.moya-planeta.ru/reports/view/pskovopecherskij_monastyr_odin_iz_samyh_zagadochnyh_monastyrej_rusi_32315/

Photo: Vladimir Pomortsev

1 . View of the Pskov-Caves Monastery from the Holy Mountain. Blue domes with golden stars of the Assumption Cave Church in the traditions of the Ukrainian baroque are designed to remind of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, from where the first monks came to Pskov land. On the right, you can see the Nikolskaya gate church, from which begins a steep descent to the territory of the monastery, the so-called Bloody Road. The golden dome of St. Michael's Cathedral rises above the Great Monastery Belfry in the center.

2. Pilgrims in the caves under the Pskov-Caves Monastery. In these caves, miraculously opened almost a hundred years before the foundation of the monastery, the first monks lived. In 1392, when a local peasant Ivan Dementiev came to the Holy Mountain to fell wood, several trees suddenly fell down, revealing an underground entrance, on which was inscribed the inscription: “God created a cave.” Later, the caves became a monastery cemetery. Several thousand people are buried here, starting with the first inhabitant of the monastery of St. Mark and the founder of the monastery of St. Jonah.

3 . Monks Varukh and Vitaly take fresh bread out of the oven at the monastery's bakery. Monk Varukh has been living in the Pskov-Caves Monastery for 14 years, and for the last 10 years he has been continuously in obedience in a bakery and a prosphora shop. In one run, the bakery bakes 46 huge loaves of 6-7 kilograms each. In winter, this amount of bread is enough for the monastery for several days. In the summer, when many pilgrims come, you have to bake bread around the clock.

4. The iconostasis of the Assumption cave church with the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness". The main temple of the Pskov-Caves Monastery was dug into the ground by the efforts of the Monk Jonah near the entrance to the “God-created caves”. The consecration of the cave church took place on August 28, 1473, on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day is now considered the official founding date of the monastery.

5 . The monks call for Vespers at the monastery belfry. On the Great Belfry of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, the so-called eye ringing is used, when the bells are swayed from the ground with the help of long ropes, or eye. In the old days, this type of ringing was widespread in Rus' everywhere; to this day, ocheps have been preserved in only one single monastery. Currently, 17 bells have been installed on the Great Monastery Belfry. First, the ringer swings one of the three large bells from the ground. After its first strikes, smaller groups of bells are connected.

6. Monks Dionysius and Cyril serve obedience in the monastery kitchen. Work in the kitchen begins before dawn. It is necessary to have time to cook food for all the monastic brethren and all the pilgrims. Despite the fact that today the monastery has both electricity and gas, all dishes in the monastery kitchen are prepared in the old fashioned way only on wood. It is believed that firewood gives the food a special, incomparable taste.

7 . Monastery barn. Two bulls, a couple of horses and two dozen cows live in a barn inside the monastery walls, which almost completely cover the needs of the monastery in dairy products.

8. Brotherly prayer before the miraculous icon of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos in life in the Assumption Cave Church. A fraternal prayer service in front of the main shrine of the Pskov-Caves Monastery at six o'clock in the morning begins each new day of monastic life.

9. Monk Varukh prepares service prosphora in the monastery prosphora. In the production of ordinary prosphora, the brethren and novices help him; monk Varukh prepares service prosphora only himself. In one day, 26 baking sheets are baked in the prosphora, or about 2.5 thousand prosphora. In winter, this amount is enough for three days, in summer all the prosphora leave in one day.

10 . Joint prayer of pupils of the children's Sunday school at the monastery.

11 . The fortress walls and towers of the Pskov-Caves Monastery. The monastery is located on the steep slopes of a ravine, along the bottom of which flows the stream Kamenets. The shape of the fortress walls follows the terrain. In the foreground, the Tailovskaya, or White Tower rises, behind it is the tower of the Upper Lattices, which protected the weak spot where the Kamenets stream flowed into the territory of the monastery.

12. Monk Alexander rings the largest Daily bell for Vespers.

13 . Monastery brethren at the morning liturgy in the Dormition Cave Church.

14. Nikolsky gates and descent to the monastery along the Bloody Road. According to legend, it was in this place that Tsar Ivan the Terrible personally hacked to death the abbot of the Pskov-Caves Monastery, St. Cornelius, suspecting him of treason. Having committed the atrocity, the tsar immediately repented, carried the body of the elder he had killed to the Assumption Cave Church in his arms, and mourned him there for a long time. The steep descent along which Ivan the Terrible carried the bloody body of hegumen Cornelius has since been called the Bloody Way.

15 . The abbot of the Pskov-Caves Monastery, Archimandrite Tikhon, serves the morning liturgy.

16. Monastery belfry.

17. Ceramides in the caves under the Pskov-Caves Monastery. Tiled slabs covering burial niches are called ceramides. In total, there are about 350 ceramides, the oldest of which dates back to 1530.

18. Prosphora production.

19. Monk Varukh and the novices of the monastery prepare prosphora.

20 . Monk Varukh loading baking sheets with prosphora into the oven.

21 . Monk-icon painter Abel at work in the monastery icon-painting workshop. Hierodeacon Abel, in the world Andrey Tolkunov, has been living in the Pskov-Caves Monastery for almost 10 years. He received his first painting lessons as a child from his father, the famous Kherson artist Yegor Tolkunov.

22. Pupils of the children's church choir "Grace" in the lessons of solfeggio. The children's church choir has existed at the Pskov-Pechersk monastery for more than twenty years and participates in all major services. At the same time, the monastery, for example, also pays for additional classes for children at the city music school.

23 . Monk Eustichius prepares cottage cheese in a dairy kitchen. For the third year now, Evstihiy has been in obedience at the dairy kitchen and at the same time conducts excursions for pilgrims through the caves.

24. Monks Dionysius and Cyril carve pike perch in the monastery kitchen. Strict monastic charter forbids eating meat. Only fish and vegetable products are allowed. Despite this, the monastery menu is quite diverse, it includes vinaigrette, Russian salad, squash caviar, olives, pilaf, cottage cheese, sweets, cookies and bagels. In just one morning, the monks and novices processed about 150 kilograms of pike perch, which will be used to cook fish soup, fish cakes or fry.

25 . Novice Michael has buckwheat porridge for breakfast in the monastery kitchen.

26. Worker Kirill collects eggs in a chicken coop in the household yard of the Pskov-Caves Monastery. In total, fifty chickens live in the chicken coop, which carry about 100 eggs a day.

27 . Red corner in the monastery cowshed. In the center hangs a portrait of the elder John Krestyankin, who died five years ago. John Krestyankin, a resident of the Pskov-Caves Monastery, was one of the most revered Russian elders of recent decades.

28 . Monastery barn.

29 . Monk Alexander in the household yard of the Pskov-Caves Monastery. Alexander lives in the monastery for only two years. The Little Russian dialect betrays in him a native of Eastern Ukraine, from where he moved to Moscow and led a completely ordinary metropolitan life. In 2006, Alexander was baptized, and three years later he went to the monastery. Now he is on the obedience of the living room - he accommodates pilgrims for the night.

30 . The fortress walls and towers of the Pskov-Caves Monastery.

Copyright © 201 1 Vladimir Pomortsev

The Pskov-Caves Monastery is known to every Orthodox believer, many events are associated with this monastery, many famous clergymen lived in it and live to this day. This monastery is one of the largest operating monasteries in Russia.

The monastery has more than five centuries of history and is located on the very edge of the country, on the border with Estonia.

History of the monastery

History has no reliable records of the time of the birth of monastic life in this place. The famous caves of the monastery, located along the banks of the Kamenets stream, have not been studied scientifically, so there is no data on their appearance either.

Pskov-Caves Monastery

In the monastery chronicle, one can find legends about the birth of the monastery in this place. In 1392, the inhabitants of the area found the caves, it is believed that this date was chosen conditionally, to indicate the historical beginnings. The monks, who at that time fled from the south to the Pskov land from the Crimean Tatars, settled in these caves and began to settle down.

Other Orthodox churches in Pskov:

In 1470, hieromonk Jonah built a church at the mouth of the Kamenets stream, which was consecrated 3 years after its construction. Around this church, today's Pskov-Caves Monastery grew. The city of Pechora appeared later than the monastery in the 16th century.

The heyday of the monastery falls on the 1540s, with the advent of hegumen Martyr Cornelius:

• in 1541 the abbot built a refectory church and consecrated it in honor;
• there was an expansion of the temple in honor of the Assumption;
• Cornelius extended the monastery caves;
• A church was erected over the gates in honor of.

During the time of the Monk Martyr Cornelius, the monastery gained strength, expanded territorially, acquired stone walls in 1558. In 1570, the abbot died at the monastery gates at the hands of Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

Venerable Martyr Cornelius of Pskov-Caves

In the following centuries, the following buildings were erected on the territory of the monastery:

• in 1758, the Church of the Intercession appeared on the territory of the monastery;
• after 42 years, another temple was erected in honor of Lazar the Four-day;
• 1815 - the construction of St. Michael's Cathedral, which was started in honor of the victory over the Napoleonic troops;
• in 1870 the Sretensky temple was erected.

From 1920 to 1940, the Pskov-Caves Monastery was territorially assigned to Estonia.

From 1896 to 1960, Hieromonk Simeon lived in the monastery, who was canonized in 2003. The famous archimandrite John Krestyankin joined the monastery in 1967.

The Great Patriotic War left its mark on the life of the monastery, it came under artillery fire, the refectory and the Fraternal Corps were destroyed.

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In 1840, Archimandrite Parthenius became governor of the Pskov-Pechersk monastery, who retired in 1941. Hegumen Pavel took his place to replace Parthenius and ruled the monastery for 3 years.

In 1980, it was decided to renovate the Monastery, and by order of Metropolitan John, the buildings and walls were restored. In 1986, a film was created and released by Bishop Tikhon, which is called "The Pskov-Caves Monastery". From this film, many Christians learned about the existence of an amazing monastery.

Pskov-Pechersk monastery

Many modern books and stories, such as "Unholy Saints" are directly or indirectly related to this monastery.

Description of the monastery

People from all over the world come to the Pechersk monastery in search of peace and God's help. The long passages of cold caves with numerous relics of the saints overwhelm the hearts of believers with awe and, in a good way, with fear of God, which the modern generation lacks. Excursions are regularly held in the caves, reports and films are made about them.

Caves of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery

Not only pilgrims flock to famous places, but also lovers of architectural monuments from all over the world.

Churches on site:

• Church of St. Nicholas the Goalkeeper;
• Church of the Assumption of the Virgin is open only during the service);
• Resurrection of Christ;
• Intercession and Sretenskaya Church;
• Temple of Lazarus the Four Days;
• St. Michael's Cathedral (opens only during worship services);
• Cornelius Church;
• Church of the Annunciation.

Other buildings:

• refectory;
• abbot's house;
• the building where the brethren live;
• belfry;
• sacristy;
• two holy springs and walls with gates.

Nearby caves are available for visiting by anyone throughout the day, as well as the Sretensky temple. Far caves are visited by appointment.

shrines