All about Bead Temple in Bakhchisarai (Crimea)

The coast of Crimea has always attracted vacationers with its clear sea, healing beaches, healing air and an abundance of historical attractions. But, in addition to well-known tourist destinations, in Crimea there are a lot of miracles hidden from the eyes. For example, such as the Bead Temple in Bakhchisarai.

The small monastery, which was named in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Decourer (aka Bead Temple), is currently tied to the Holy Assumption Monastery in Bakhchisarai.

The decoration of the monastery is very different from the well-known. The first thing that catches your eye at the entrance is the light from lighted candles and lamps, multi-colored reflections from the walls and ceiling. Everything here is decorated and decorated with colored beads, beads and stones. Next, you can see the icon of St. Anastasia with many tied fabric bags. As it turns out later, here parishioners and pilgrims leave their innermost desires and prayers for help.

If you go further, you can get into the adit where the services are held.

History is silent about the exact date of the occurrence of the shrine. But according to the drawings on the walls of the caves, one can speak of the VIII century, the times of church persecution and the active relocations of Orthodox Byzantine monks.

Persecuted Christians who fled from Constantinople settled here and built the first monastery in the rock gorge. They brought here a miraculous icon with the face of the Great Martyr Anastasia, who, according to legend, helped prisoners and persecuted believers in Christ.

There is a version that St. Anastasia was born in Rome, in the family of a pagan father and mother - a secret Christian. After her mother died, her father forcibly married her to a pagan. Referring to non-existent diseases, she managed to maintain innocence in the name of Christ.

She devoted her whole life to helping prisoners imprisoned and persecuted for their faith in Christ. She went through many trials and torments, saved many innocent souls and died crucified over a fire. Her remains, not damaged by fire, were buried. And in the V century, her relics were transferred to Constantinople, where a temple was named, named after her. Later, the head and right hand were sent to the Monastery of St. Anastasia, the Soliters, built near Mount Athos.

The period of 1778 was associated with the active resettlement of Orthodox Christians from the territory of the Crimean peninsula. Leaving the walls of the monastery, believers took away the icon - the symbol of this place. The monastery remained abandoned for many years, until the 19th century, when the efforts of St. Innocent laid the foundation for the restoration of Orthodox monasteries on the Crimean peninsula. So, the monastery was rebuilt, surrounding areas were ennobled, a new church of St. Anastasia the Decisive was erected, a road was laid.

During the Soviet Union, all the property of the shrine was seized, the monks and novices dismissed, and the temple turned into a quarry. Soon she was covered after the earthquake and landslides, and the shrine was given the status of a reserve, forbidding work. So the holy monastery was empty until the beginning of 2005.

After the blessing by the rector of the Holy Assumption Monastery in Bakhchisarai, Hieromonk Dorofei for a good cause, reconstruction of the holy monastery begins.

After analyzing the rubble, having received a refusal from the government to restore the ancient cave monastery of St. Anastasia, they decided to build a new adit on the site. This unique temple was called Beaded.

The name of the temple also has its own story. It all started with the design of the temple with lamps with pendants in the likeness of Mount Athos. Each lamp is unique and made with prayers personally by Father Dorotheus from beads, earrings and fabric elements brought by believers.

Due to the high humidity in the temple, ordinary icons and wall paintings quickly deteriorated. Therefore, we decided to create panels and decorate all the surfaces of the sanctuary with the help of beads, beads and pebbles.

Starting the restoration of the monastery, Father Dorofei and his assistants faced many difficulties. But thanks to prayer and zeal, the temple grew, becoming more ennobled every year.

The Great Martyr Anastasia reacted favorably to the actions of the brethren and presented her with a source of healing water (before that she had to make a path with tanks several kilometers away). It was lit by the name of Sofia.

Every year the number of assistants and novices increases, which, together with the prayer and support of St. Anastasia, contributes to the revival of this mysterious place.

After the shock, the novices and pilgrims took up new forces to restore the holy monastery. Help came from different cities, but Bakhchisaray made a huge contribution to the restoration.

Now in the temple there are:

• own garden and garden where novices grow a variety of vegetables and fruits, unusually beautiful flowers;
• stockyard (breeding cows and goats);
• mini-hotel for pilgrims;
• workshops where unique murals, icon lamps and other souvenir products are created;
• warehouses;
• dining room and kitchen;
• monastic cells;
• souvenir shops where everyone can buy a piece of this wonderful holy place (handmade soap, yeast-free bread, whiten and grape kvass, sour cream and cheeses, and, of course, a variety of beadware - a symbol of this place).

Visitors are offered to buy souvenir white cardboard bricks to help build the temple.

The sanctuary of Anastasia the Solvers is located next to the old wine-making center and the valley of the Kachi-Kalon grottoes at a distance of 8 kilometers from Bakhchisaray. Located in the cleft of Tash Air on the Fitzky mountainside. Externally, the rock resembles an ark ship, on one side of which there are natural cracks similar to a cross. Hence the name of the place "cross ship" - Kachi-Kalon.

Along the entire perimeter of the cliff, you can count 5 natural grottoes and several artificially created caves (on the walls of which you can also find drawings of crosses) serving as ancient settlers wineries and warehouses. In the fourth largest grotto is the source of St. Anastasia, which feeds a hundred-year-old cherry tree at the entrance.

In one of the caves carved in limestone, located at an altitude of 150 m above sea level Skete of St. Anastasia the Solvers.

And you can get to the shrine in several ways.

• By public transport. From the Zapadnaya station of the city of Simferopol you need to catch a bus going to Bakhchisarai (hourly departure). After about 2 hours in Bakhchisarai go to the minibus, going to the village. Synapnoe. On the road from Bashtanovka to the village The limit you need to get off at the Kachi Kalon stop. This is the end point. Then you should make a way up the steep paths lined with tires from cars for about 20-30 minutes. This road is called the "path of sinners", which must be walked slowly and with prayers.
• By car. Passing Bakhchisaray, go towards the village of Preduschelnoe. Then there are two options: drive to the foot of Kachi Kalon and go up to the temple or, having passed the village of Preduschelnoe, along country roads, along the edge of the canyon, enjoying an unforgettable view of the Kachinsky valley, get to the very entrance.
• Bus tour (many of them also include a visit to Kachi Kalon itself).
• Ordering a taxi (a little expensive, but fast and comfortable).

In addition to a beach holiday, the Crimean peninsula is rich in mysterious historical places and monuments. Taking pleasure in physical rest, they often forget about the spiritual sphere. But it is precisely here, in the Crimea, ancient temples, monasteries and monastery complexes are hidden. Having spent one day of vacation, having been in such a place, you can recharge with beneficial energy for the rest of the year.

All about the Bead Temple, see the next video.