Pskov Dormition Monastery of the Caves (Pskovo-Pechorskiy Monastery) (Pechory) | place with historical importance, orthodox christianity, object of cultural heritage of federal importance (Russia), tourist attraction, cave church/monastery

Russia / Pskov / Pechory / Mezhdunarodnaya ulitsa, 5
 place with historical importance, monastery, orthodox christianity, object of cultural heritage of federal importance (Russia), tourist attraction, cave church/monastery
Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery or The Pskovo-Pechersky Dormition Monastery or Pskov-Caves Dormition Monastery is a Russian Orthodox male monastery, located in Pechory, Pskov Oblast in Russia some 18 km from the Estonian border.

The monastery was founded in the mid-15th century, when the first hermits settled in local caves. The first cave Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos was built in 1473 (its modern facade was constructed in the 18th century).

After the monastery had been destroyed by the Livonian feudals, it was rebuilt by a Pskovian dyak Mikhail Munekhin-Misyur in 1519. A posad (settlement) was built next to the monastery, which would later grow into a town. In 1550s-1560s, Pskovo-Pechorsky Monastery and its posad were surrounded by a wall with towers (eventually, these fortifications were rebuilt in 1701).

The monastery became an important outpost for defending the western border of Russia. In 1581-1582, it withstood the siege laid by Stefan Batory’s army. In 1611-1616, the monastery repelled the attack of the Polish army led by Jan Karol Chodkiewicz and Aleksander Józef Lisowski and Swedish army led by Gustav II Adolf.

Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery lost its importance after the Great Northern War of 1700-1721. In 1920-1940, Pskovo-Pechorsky Monastery belonged to Estonia. The monastery was one of the few acting male monasteries in the USSR, having been saved from destruction by Pechory being Estonian territory before World War II. In Soviet times, famous Russian mystic Sampson Sievers briefly lived and served in the monastery.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union the monastery has flourished. Currently the monastic community numbers over 90. In 2003 the monastery marked the 530th anniversary of its existence.
Site of the monastery: www.pskovo-pechersky-monastery.ru/english/introduction

ATTENTION: Visitors of the monastery should remember that they must be "decently" dressed, i.e. short-sleeved T-shirts and similar clothings, bermudas and other short pants (opening knees), "unholy" pictures and emblems on T-shirts (e.g., an upturned pentacle and etc.) are not allowed. Women should wear shirts (not shorter then to the mid-shank), and cover their heads (an inexpensive shawl can be bought in the monastery shop near the gate); men, otherwise, have to take off their headwear when whithin in the monastery premises. Kindly refrain from taking photos of monks and priests; and in churches, please always ask whether it is permitted to take photos (it is not during church services, for example). Smoking is absolutely out of question within the walls of the monastery.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pskovo-Pechersky_Monastery
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   57°48'35"N   27°36'54"E

Comments

  • The Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky (Pskov-Caves) monastery is located on the historically Russian land, 50 kilometers to the west of the city of Pskov, near the very border of Estonia and 340 kilometers from St. Petersburg. The date of the monastery's foundation is considered to be August, 15/28,1473. It was on that day that the monastery's founder, St. Jonah (Shesnik) consecrated the church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God — a church which was built into the hillside. But the monastic life had actually begun there much earlier, when a few hermits, seeking solitude, came to live in the caves. The holy relics of one of them, St. Mark the desert-dweller, still rest in the caves and many people come to venerate them. The monastery's chronicle relates that "the Most Pure Virgin herself chose this site in the valley of the Kamenets spring, blessed it, exalted it through her chosen people and has been protecting it ever since. Five centuries have passed, and the monastery has seen both glory and tragedy, but never have the holy lampadas gone out, nor prayer ceased in this blessed place. The monastery gradually grew in size and reputation. The 16th century was the time of its flourishing, when under Abbot Cornelius the Annunciation and St. Nicholas Churches were erected as well as the stone belfry and the monastery was fortified around by a stone wall with bastions, and the brethren numbered up to 200. Abbot Cornelius collected a rich library, established chronicling and founded an icon-painting workshop. The monastery became an important missionary center and stronghold of Orthodoxy on the western border of Russia. Tradition has it that, slandered by envious people, Abbot Cornelius was beheaded by Tsar Ivan the Terrible on the 20th of February, 1570 and now numbers among the hosts of holy martyrs. In the 16th and 17th centuries the monastery suffered from numerous attacks by the "Latins" — Polish and Lithuanian troops, as well as by the Swedish and German soldiers. The most serious attack was lead by the Polish King Stephan Batory in the autumn of 1581. In 1920 the town of Pechory, in accordance with the Tartu Agreement, was given to Estonia, and the monastery found itself outside Russia. This new situation did not affect the church services in the monastery — they never ceased; however, the new authorities caused a lot of problems and distress to the brethren. After the Second World War, in the 50s, the revital-ization of the monastery began, and Archimandrite Alipi (Voronov, +1975) contributed much to it. It was under his abbacy that all the churches were repaired and the stone wall and bastions were restored to their original appearance. During those years the spiritual life of the monastery also flourished. Under the Holy Protection of the Most Pure Mother of God were gathered many ascetics and elders. Through their prayerful pastoral labours lived the great tradition of Orthodox asceticism and eldership. This tradition is still carried on in the monastery by Archimandrite loann (Krestiankin) and Archimandrite Adrian (Kirsanov). Now there are ten churches in the monastery. It is in the oldest gold-domed Dormition church that one can see and venerate the miracle-working icon of the Dormition of the Most Pure Mother of God and the relics of the Holy Martyr Cornelius. Currently the monastic community numbers over 90. The brethren celebrate daily morning and evening services, perform perpetual psalter reading and spiritually guide a large number of people seeking their wise spiritual counsel. The monks also labour in the monastery fields and stable. There are an icon-painting and an icon-restoration workshops and a Sunday school. The monks run a House of Mercy which comprises a Pilgrim's house and a hospice for aged monastery workers. The monastery is also renowned for its children's choir. In 2003 the monastery marked the 530th anniversary of its existence and salvific work in the Orthodox Church. The years pass, governments and empires rise and fall, but the monastery ever remains a firm stronghold of Orthodoxy in a restless world. http://www.pskovo-pechersky-monastery.ru/english/introduction/
  • В монастыре хранится несколько икон, почитаемых чудотворными: - В главном приделе Успенского собора хранятся два чтимых списка с чудотворной Псково-Печерской иконы Божией Матери “Умиление”, которая, как и образ Успения Пресвятой Богородицы, явила множество чудес. - В 1521 году в Псково-Печерский монастырь двумя псковскими людьми Василием и Феодором принесена была новая икона Успения Божией Матери в житии, т. е. с изображением по сторонам важнейших событий из жизни Богоматери. - Икона Святителя Николая Чудотворца из Успенского собора ХVI века. http://www.pskovo-pechersky-monastery.ru/russian/icon/
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