Old Believers skit Old (Empty) Sharpan

 ruins, hermitage, interesting place, Old Believers, historic site

Skit Sharpan founded in 1857 (presumably) the monks of Smolensk Bizyukova Sergius monastery Saltikov and Ephraim Potemkin, the first settlers at Old Kerzhentse. The banks of rivers and Kerzhentsa Kezy then inhabited runaway peasants gathered here Shuisky monk Dionisy.

Enhanced influx of settlers in these places is connected with the events of "Solovetsky seating" (1668-1676 gg.). After taking Solovetsky monastery monk Arsenii, Sofonty Onufriev and fled to Kerzhenets and founded a settlement Deyanovo, Pafnutovo and Hvostikovo.
Legend attributes the foundation Sharpanskogo skite Arsenii monk, who was in forest Kerzhensky of Pomerania, through swamps and thickets icon of Kazan Mother of God. At the point where the icon is highlighted, Virgin appointed to found the monastery, which remain, along with an icon ancient piety. The place of founding a monastery was near the tract Sharpan mending Larionova. Icon of Kazan Mother of God was particularly pochitaema Old and divulged miraculous. And the old man Arsenii as monk Solovetsky monastery, earned the respect and honor the local Old Believers. From everywhere, people flocked to him and found a safe haven. Sharpansky skit was the basis for the distribution of cells in the forests and Kerzhentsa Chernoramenya, he was a center popovtsev.

Before "Pitirimova horror" skit stood until 2000 skitnikov and skitnits. For 1737 as a result of persecution by Archbishop of Nizhny Novgorod Pitirim Sharpan remained only partially surviving cells at Kerzhentse and Chernoramene.
During the persecution of the Vice-Governor Rzhevskaya in the bathroom. Sharpan on the steep bank were constructed casemates for пытания "Old Believers. After the death of Pitirim population Sharpana again risen from flowing and the fugitives had reached approximately 5000 people. After the decree in 1762 settled in Sharpanskom skite many Old Believers.

In 1826, there was one in a monastery cloister. Sharpansky skit lasted about 170 years.
Ruin it relates to the events of 1849, when the PI Melnikov (A. Pecherskiy) taken away from the holy monastery - the image of the Kazan Mother of God. Then, as claimed by Old Believers, her prophecy came true: hermitage apart, skitniki divided, and the "abode of ancient piety became invisible, like Kitezh on a light lake.
In 1852 destroyed prayer in Sharpanskom hermitage. Since 1853, the only monastery lived no more than 3-4 people.

At the site of the Old Sharpana left two Avraamievyh "cemetery - male and female. On the men's in the walls of the chapel were written the names of the buried: Inoc shimnik Paul Anufriev, Savvaty and Abraham. On the women's, under the pine trees - tomb with the inscription: "monk. Shimnitsa Praskovia and 12 graves around.
Old worship Praskovia for Tsarevna Sofia Alexeyevna fled to Moscow skit from maiden monastery from 12 th streltsy. This "Tsarina's tomb." Also left to skite ravines, artificial ponds, tapering to a broken dam across river. Sanahtu, which was "Batyeva trail."

Current state: Place on Empty (Old) Sharpan located in a forest on the bank "Nikonova enemy" (the influx of Black Sanahty), 2 km from the village Christmas Semenovskaya area.
At 50 meters from the enemy are Nikonova balances male cemetery: the old birch stands five golbtsov with carved crosses without roofs, and one old cross. Among the pine trees and shrubs visible rows tump oriented from west to east. In the 100 meters south of the cemetery is located famale cemetery, which was nearly invisible.

Empty (Old) Sharpan regularly visits the neighborhood and visiting the Old, mostly in the days of Bright Week: in the care of local residents and Semenovsky drevlepravoslavnoy community.
irisk.vvnb.ru / OldSharpan.htm