Chelter-Marmara cave monastery in Crimea: description, history and location

On the territory of the Crimean peninsula there are many unique historical attractions. One of the most famous ancient buildings is the Chelter Marmara Cave Monastery, located at an altitude of 400 meters above sea level.

This building is a large cave monastery, which includes many passages and rooms. The attraction is located in Sevastopol, near the village of Ternovka. Buildings of this type are widespread in the Crimea. Many centuries ago, monks equipped dwellings inside the mountains. Similarly, people defended themselves from enemies.

The ancient monastery of Chelter-Marmara is located on the mountain of Chelter-Kaya, in the western part. At the top of the cliff is a large Orthodox cross. The name of the attraction, which consists of two words, means the following: "chelter" (in Tatar) - lattice or sieve, "Marmara" - the name of the village, which in the past was nearby (according to historians).

Accurate data on how this monastery came about is not available. Many experts believe that it was founded by icon worshipers who belonged to one of the directions of Byzantine Christianity. It is believed that the structure was founded in the IX century. This information suggests that the monastery appeared earlier than the official birth of ancient Orthodoxy, the beginning of which dates back to 1054.

According to the second version, the monastery was founded earlier, in the VIII century. Some historians report that he was originally Orthodox.The caves in the mountain, where the historical monument is located, were formed naturally.

Many historians believe that The monastery was inhabited until the 15th century. After it, the Turkish conquerors destroyed. The main objective of the military was enrichment. During the campaigns, the Turks often robbed churches. They forgot about the monastery until 1886. Then the amazing structure attracted the attention of Bertier-Delagard - a military engineer and architect born in Sevastopol.

The ancient monastery is surprisingly large. Also, the monks reliably defended and strengthened the monastery. Pieces of the defensive wall of stone have survived to this day. The cloister includes 5 levels, which consist of natural caves and passages, decorated by hand. The entire facility is divided into 50 separate rooms. Unfortunately, not all of them have survived.

This part was used for domestic purposes and consisted of small passages in the mountains. Also in the first tier, the clergy equipped several tombs. They can be identified by round entrances. Here were cells (housing of monks) - compact rooms with low and small entrances.

This part of the monastery is considered the most fascinating. From the first tier a stone staircase leads to it. Here is a gallery decorated with stone columns. From this place passages in 11 separate rooms, the dimensions of which are larger, compared with the premises of the first tier. Many of them formed naturally in grief.

Separately, it is worth noting a spacious hall with massive supports of stone columns. The area of ​​the room is 150 meters. Here, the former inhabitants equipped special containers to collect rainwater and use it in daily affairs. Such forethought helped withstand possible sieges.

The next tier has reached our time in its original form only partially, due to partial destruction. Historians have determined that 15 rooms have been equipped at this level. All of them are interconnected by aisles and stairs, creating a single system.

During the research, scientists discovered two tombs. Before entering the tombs there are inscriptions in ancient Greek. Unfortunately, over the course of several centuries, the letters were greatly erased, and they could not be deciphered. Each room has windows that the monks personally cut through to the mountain. The holes face a picturesque valley.

Recent levels have been hit hardest. You can get to the highest level of the monastery from the top of the cliff, through a special failure. However, you need to be as careful as possible. Historians believe that a church was located in this part of the monastery, possibly not in the singular. It is worth noting that The cave monastery is a historical landmark and is protected by law.

Today the monastery is effective. Monks settled in it and are active. In 2007, a monastery was organized on the basis of the building in honor of the clergyman Sava the Sanctified. Today, an amazing room inside the mountain is used as a church.

Famous icons are located here:

• Rev. Savva the Sanctified;
• St. Savva of Serbia, local parishioners say that in 2009 they were myrrh-streaming.

It is worth noting that the amazing phenomenon was confirmed by representatives of the members of an authoritative commission. Parishioners and monks believe that such an amazing event is connected with the arrival of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill, who visited the Crimean diocese.The myrrh-streaming of the icon began before the planned arrival of the aforementioned persons, and after departure the phenomenon gradually began to disappear.

Now the brothers of Chelter-Marmara are included by several monks. Each of them is working hard to restore and ennoble the monastery. Monks make a huge contribution to preserving the historical value of Crimea. Currently, church services are held every week, on Sundays. Special events are also held on the dates of Orthodox holidays.

Residential and utility rooms are located not only in the main part of the monastery, but also on the plateau. A staircase, which is tall in the mountain, leads to it. Near the monastery, at a distance of 1 kilometer there is a natural spring surrounded by forest. It was lit in honor of the Monk Euthymius. Also equipped with a bath.

To see the famous historical monument with your own eyes, you can use public transport. The easiest way to get to it is from Sevastopol. You need to land at the stop “5th kilometer of Balaklava highway”. Buses number 40 and 109 depart from there. Exit to the village of Ternovka. Further to the sights will have to go on foot.

A shuttle bus leaves on schedule. You can also get there by car using the map or GPS-navigator. Address - Crimea peninsula, city - Sevastopol, Balaklava district, Ternovka village. From Simferopol to get to the monastery is not very convenient. There are buses from the city to the villages of Khmelnitsky and Rodnoe. They depart from the Zapadnoye station.

In the next video, watch an overview of the Chelter-Marmara cave monastery in Crimea.