Overview of the monasteries of Crimea

Crimea every year attracts a huge number of tourists who like not only to soak up the beach, but also admire the beauties of nature, prefer an active, sightseeing vacation. There are plenty of historically significant and holy places there.

In order to examine all the operating holy monasteries on the peninsula, it will take quite a lot of time. Among the monasteries you can even find accommodation options, if the purpose of the tourist is solitude, pilgrimage.

Among these monasteries there are a number of convents.

One of the most popular convents for both locals and visitors is Holy Trinity, named after St. Paraskeva, in the vicinity of the village of Topolevka, located on the Feodosia highway. This place is so attractive because makes it possible to plunge into the font, wash in the waterfall, visit the temple itself, as well as the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity, the cave of Constantine, at the holy springs.

The terrain in which the monastery is worthy of a separate description is magnificent forests, mountains surrounding the holy place. Nearby is a picturesque river valley.Among the relics of the monastery: a particle of the Life-giving cross of the Lord, the relics of the healer Panteleimon, St. Paraskeva.

The first, still wooden, monastery building was created in the XVIII century, after several decades it was demolished and a new one was built, in which today there is a convent. The territory is small, but very beautiful, in addition, there are several holy sources available to everyone.

The relics of St. Luke, the "Sorrowing" icon of the Mother of God, are relics with miraculous properties. The Museum of St. Luke, who lived an amazing life, combining the service of God and medicine, will demonstrate the history of this amazing saint, where you can also find out about the healings that occurred at his relics. The Mourning Icon also has a completely unique story.

According to legend, one of the shepherds daily prayed at this place, who had a vision that repeats every year on the day of St. George the Victorious. Later, an icon was found on the mountain, after which a decision was made to build a temple. Now in the village of Voikovo on the Kerch Peninsula on this spot is a small convent.

The peninsula has many monasteries.

It was founded in the 15th century after the miraculous appearance of the icon of the Mother of God. It was built in the manner of Mount Athos and was always especially revered among believers and history connoisseurs. In the XX century, the monastery became very large, on its territory there are 5 churches, chapels, many buildings. But in the Soviet period, it fell into a dilapidated state. Only in the 90s the monastery began its great revival. Today the complex includes churches, cells, belfries, cave church of St. Mark, the church of Constantine and Helena.

This monastery is located in one of the most beautiful places of the peninsula, on a cliff above the sea. Nearby are the magnificent Marble Beam and Cape Fiolent. Data on the construction of the temple vary, according to one - it was founded in the 800s, according to others - in the XVI century. However, the temple was officially built in the middle of the XVI century, and only later archaeological finds were discovered, indicating that earlier a monastery with an ancient cave temple was erected here. Next to it was built the Church of the Nativity of Christ.

Tourists are attracted not only by the magnificent architectural composition of the monastery, but also by the magnificent landscape that surrounds it.

This monastery is especially attractive for its location of amazing beauty - a gorge in a nature reserve. Here you can find a healing spring, near which there was once a church with a hotel and a chapel, the latter, by the way, has survived to this day. Not only Orthodox, but also Muslims come here, since the legend about the life of Cosma and Damian is very remarkable. They were engaged in healing and were martyred on the site of a modern monastery. After their death, a spring, considered to be healing, scored here, it is registered as a mineral.

One of the most historically young monasteries, located near Sevastopol. The history of its occurrence is extremely curious. Once, after a service in the church of St. Vladimir, a theft was discovered, many icons, vessels made of silver, books, relics disappeared.

However, immediately after the service, one of the parishioners donated land to the temple for the construction of the monastery. Hieromonk Paisiy received a blessing for the construction of a monastery. This is not a very large monastery, but is very revered, especially among pilgrims and patients with cancer. In the monastery there is a chapel of St. Nectarios, whose appeals heal tumors.

The location of this monastery is extremely picturesque, the landscape there is very similar to the Swiss one. The Kiziltash tract, where the monastery stands, is surrounded by red rocks. In one of the rocks there is a healing spring, near which a temple was erected. According to legend, the cave was discovered by a shepherd hiding from the rain, who saw in the water the icon of the Mother of God. She was transferred to the church, but now her whereabouts are unknown.

After the assassination of Abbot Parthenius and the burning of his body, it was decided to rank him among the saints and call it Kiziltash Monastery. In Soviet times, the monastery was closed and abandoned, but at the end of the 90s of the XX century it began its work again.

The monastery was built near the cave city, the entrance to it was quite inaccessible. Today, in order to find the road leading to it, you need to work hard. This place is perfect for solitude, prayers and escape from the bustle of the world. Since the monastery is located above the valley, you need to climb it. Despite its small 200-meter height, the climb is not easy. But the view from the monastery is simply amazing.

There are other opportunities to get to the monastery, but they are no less difficult: in one case you have to squeeze through the rocky gorge "Mousetrap", in the other - go down 20 meters from the Mangup plateau along boulders.

The entrance to the monastery is preceded by a grotto, where you can put yourself in order before visiting. A cave temple and icons in rocky niches are very remarkable. The structure is quite unique, in fact, the monastery is located in two cave complexes. Artificial grottoes appeared in the VI century, and the monastery was erected at the turn of the XV and XVI centuries. In the 90s of the XX century, the cloister in the rocks began a rebirth to life.

An architectural miracle is not the only thing that attracts tourists - pilgrims come to the holy spring, which is located on the territory, as well as to the icon “Skoroshlushnitsa”.

Information about the origin and construction of this cave monastery has not been preserved, since during the conquest of Crimea by the Turks all the churches were destroyed. Modern tourists can see particles of the relics of Sava the Sanctified, a myrrh-streaming icon of Sava Serbian. On the plateau there are cells and buildings for household purposes, a church, as well as a holy spring with a bath for visitors.

In addition, quite popular monasteries in Crimea are:

• St. Nicholas, Kholmovka;
• Assumption Anastasievsky, Simferopol.

Since historically different ethnic groups lived on the territory of Crimea, it is natural that not only Orthodox churches have the opportunity to inspect during a trip.

An amazing and mysterious place, the only Muslim monastery on the peninsula. The monastery of the Mohammedans is very well located in the tourist mecca of Crimea, so there are a lot of tourists there. The monastery includes:

• fluid with cells;
• mosques for prayers;
• Sufi Madrasah School.

Tekki was closed in Soviet times and began to revive about 10 years ago. East Yevpatoria itself is incredibly attractive for tourists, and its oldest building is even more so. It is both very simple and monumental. The height of the 2-story monastery is 20 meters, vaulted ceilings about 10 meters in height are amazing. A mosque is adjacent to the tekkas; there is a museum of Crimean Tatars culture on the school grounds.

This is the only such monastery in the Crimea, founded back in the 15th century, although once there were several churches and 4 monasteries on the peninsula. The monastery is called Surb-Khach, that is, the Holy Cross. In Soviet times, it was abolished, and after the war the monastery was destroyed for a long time. At the end of the 2000s, he reopened his doors to visitors and began to function for its intended purpose. It is located in the Old Crimea (Kirovsky district). Women are not allowed to enter active cells, but ancient buildings are opened, incredibly beautiful and miraculously survived.

On the territory of the Crimean peninsula, many ancient buildings have been preserved, among them there are also cloisters.

This is the oldest monastery of the cave type, located in the suburbs of Sevastopol. According to legend, the construction of the temple occurred after the martyrdom of St. Clement in 101. At first, the relics were stored in a grotto under water, and then the first caves appeared, which became cells for monks. The temple, benches, throne, altars were literally cut down in stones. The Turks who captured Crimea, called the monastery a cave, that is, Inkerman.

When the peninsula became Russian, the monastery opened again, but only before the advent of Soviet power. In the 90s of the XX century the monastery was restored, now it is functioning. But until now, archaeologists find unique things on the territory.

This monastery is not very famous among tourists, but pilgrims willingly visit the Bakhchisarai monastery. It was completely destroyed after the invasion of the Turks. Full restoration and the beginning of full functioning occurred in 2004. Besides the monastery itself, it is extremely attractive Belbek Valley - beautiful and impressive.

On the territory there is the temple of Theodore Stratilates, which is located in a rock and resembles the dwelling of a huge snake. This is a grotto of natural origin. In addition, there is a holy spring nearby, attracting visitors with its properties. To get to it, you need to go through a 140-meter grotto.

The disappeared village of Laki is famous in itself, but tourists visiting it must see the temple of St. Luke. There was once a Greek village in the Lak valley, in 1942 it was almost destroyed for aiding the partisans. Only the destruction of the temple was beyond the power of the enemies. In 2005, a man’s monastery was opened with him - incredibly beautiful. bright and fertile place.

About the monasteries of Crimea, see below.