« She was destined, having endured a lot, to become a true decoration of the spiritual flower garden that flourished here in the 19th century.»

June 24, 2016 marks the 180th anniversary of the death of the great ascetic and prayer book of the monastery of the recluse Melania.

The story of Melania the Recluse deserves special attention. Her self-sacrifice, asceticism, spiritual exploits, struggle with temptations, high morality can serve as an instructive example.

Melanya Pakhomova was born in 1759 into a poor family in the Lamskaya Sloboda of Yelets. Her parents died early, leaving her brother Melania as the eldest in the family. From childhood, she was drawn to the monastic life. She visited the monastery, listened to the nuns and persuaded her brother to let her go to them forever. But my brother didn't want to think about it. In addition, Melanya took care of her younger sister, Catherine, who was sickly and weak by nature. Three years after the death of her parents, Melania worked in the house, helping her brother in everything. In her free hours, she ran to the place of the burned-out convent, where the old women still lived in cells. Here she listened to stories from the Gospel and Psalms, which made a great impression on her. On one of these days, Melanya felt a passionate desire to go here, to Stone Mountain, to the old women and live in a cell, praying to God. Simple family life it suddenly seemed completely disgusting to her.

And in the autumn of 1778 she came to the community on the stone mountain. Melanya occupied the most dilapidated cell in which no one lived, and the first winter here seemed to her a terrible test. From the first days of his monastic life Melanya zealously followed all the rules of monastic life, and even more than that, her asceticism surpassed the spiritual exploits of the local elders. She ate only water and bread, and spent her days in prayer. She was illiterate, but she knew by heart the Psalter and many passages of the Gospel, memorizing them by ear.

Her only joy was the days when Sister Ekaterina came to visit. They were glad to see each other and always talked for a long time. Melanya never regretted leaving home, on the contrary, she was sure of the correctness of the chosen path.

Three years of life on Stone Mountain were filled with difficulties and hardships. However, Melania became stronger in faith, difficulties only strengthened her. Soon she met Tikhon Zadonsky, who was struck by her asceticism.

Melania's sister increasingly came to her, as her life in her brother's house was rather difficult. Having once come to her sister, Catherine decided to stay with her forever. This was especially good news for Melania, since her sister was the only true friend, selflessly devoted and obedient in everything. The monastic tradition reports that the elders called Catherine Isidora, compared with the holy ascetic who lived in antiquity and became famous for her unquestioning obedience.

The silent, meek Catherine became Melania's support in her life, now together they carried the heavy cross of a pious life. It was said that the life of the sisters was filled with continuous prayers with streams of tears. The elders marveled at such piety of the young Melanya and Catherine. Meanwhile, the sisters least of all thought about earthly life. Their old cell was falling into disrepair. People who came to the old women were amazed at how it was possible to live in such a house. When the sisters were given alms, they gave everything away, keeping nothing for themselves. They considered even the fur coats given to them as sinful clothes and rarely used them. When Melanya and Catherine visited St. Tikhon in Zadonsk, they asked for his blessing to study literacy in order to read the holy books. Tikhon forbade it. “What do you learn from books? - said the saint, - the grace of God from above will teach you.

Melanya was very strict with herself and demanded the same from her sister. They tell how one day a nun from a neighboring cell treated them to cucumbers. Delighted with the gifts, Catherine, having broken and salted the cucumber, was going to eat it, when suddenly Melanya reproachfully told her: “ What are you doing?! This is carnage!". Immediately Catherine threw the cucumber on the ground. Unable to bear the hard life, Catherine died in 1804.

For 22 years the sisters lived in the same cell, and Melanya missed her sister greatly. Finally, Melanya decided to take on the foolishness, which she performed so diligently that many residents of the village took her for a mad woman. During these years, as life tells us, Melanya was subjected to all sorts of temptations, but she, however, did not succumb to seduction. Melania's temptations were carnal and approached her imperceptibly. This is the suddenly appeared habit of drinking tea, pride, the appearance of demons under the guise of angels, and so on. Fasting and prayer helped Melania in the fight against temptations. The cell in which Melanya lived was so dilapidated that even the moss that overgrown the walls crumbled, and the pipe never closed, and therefore she lived in constant cold.

Soon Melanya left her foolishness and took another even more difficult path - a vow of voluntary seclusion. On August 6, 1819, she locked herself forever in her dilapidated, semi-dark and cold cell. The feat of seclusion is one of the most difficult Orthodox Christianity, few holy ascetics decided on this method.

The rumor about the recluse on Kamennaya Gora began to spread everywhere, and the respect for Melania of the Yelchans increased even more. People from Yelets and the surrounding area came to her, believing that she had the gift of healing from illnesses. They brought her a lot of alms, but she kept nothing for herself, throwing everything away from the cell out the window. Soon Melania's hands were covered with ulcers that bled relentlessly.

However, the temptations sent to her in the form of demons and carnal desires were not as strong as the envy of her on the part of some old women. Especially for a long time Melania was annoyed by the nun Elpidiphora, who tried to do everything so that the recluse would leave her cell. She passionately wanted to prove that Melania was not a saint, but the most ordinary, proud and arrogant woman. In the beginning, she put a sick relative under her windows, moaning endlessly day and night, assuring her that here, in the sun and fresh air, she would be better. Many nuns were waiting for Melania to leave the cell, unable to withstand such a neighborhood, but the recluse never appeared. Autumn was coming, and Elpidiphora's sick relative could not stay outside. Then the envious decided to tie a goat under the window of the dilapidated cell. The hungry animal bleated endlessly and interfered with Melania's prayer and concentration.

The biography describes this case as follows: “The poor animal, accustomed to freedom, bitterly expressed its bondage with its bleating, and so tired of the solitary recluse that she had to give place to anger and leave her seclusion ...”. Unable to stand it, Melanya left the cell and broke off the fence from the window, freeing the goat. Here she saw in all its beauty a clear sunny day. She thought for a moment about her retreat. But this was all that was necessary for her envious neighbors, who had been lying in wait for her for a long time. Elpidiphora, and behind her, and others "with cries like crazy" pounced on Melanya, knocking her to the ground and beating her. Then the nuns pushed her back into the cell. Ashamed of their act, the elders decided to send Melanya to Oryol to an insane asylum, declaring her insane, but the abbess did not allow this to be done.

Thus, blessed Melania walked through life through humility and humiliation. Her last temptations were associated with visions of demons that came to her every night. However, the reclusive life turned into spiritual gifts for Melania. The Elchans believed that she had the gift of foresight and healing the sick, often turned to her for advice in solving their everyday affairs.

The lofty ascetic life of the humble hermit brought down on her the grace of God, and the righteous God generously enriched His chosen one and faithful servant. She could see into the future. In unceasing deeds, in a close retreat, healing spiritual wounds, she, by the power of prayers, instructed many on the right, saving path.

June 24, 2016 at the end Divine Liturgy a Panikhida will be served for the great servant of God. Melania. Everyone is invited to pray together and honor her memory. Through the prayers of the recluse Melania, God save us!

Hieromonk Athanasius Medvedev-Tauride.
The blessed face of the Don (part II) - Lipetsk, 2000.

Reverend Melania the Recluse
Yeletskaya, old woman (+ 1836)

Loving silence, contemplation, you hurried to the temple from your youth. You, Reverend Melanya, blew and sinful wounds. Meeting the morning with prayer, the essence was looking for salvation. And immaculate, chaste in girls, you chose the path.

Catherine, a doubly beloved sister, lived with you, in the God-protected monastery it was a bright time for you. Leaving foolishness in Christ, she went into a lifelong seclusion - often your spiritual gaze penetrated the Angelic flocks.

She humbled herself with a sackcloth, a long prayer and fasting, and her soul soared over Yelets like a light-winged dove. She endured slander, slander: the hostile enemy did not sleep.

The evening was drawing to an end, the Eternal Bridegroom was waiting for you ...

And by the Lord's command, the last dream embraced you ... You bring consolation to the faithful, and healing from ailments and comfort the bitter groan. And at that midnight people over Yelets marveled at the pillar of fire. Ask God for mercy on us, pray for us before the Creator!

I can hardly sing you, your trace is still indelible and the light is still inextinguishable, hardworking Melania - send praise to your deeds! She is the omnipotent power of God!

Hard work Solitude. You are like a bee above a honeycomb. Serious life, sad; having zeal for the soul, she collected spiritual nectar - she is lovable and bright. And, warmed by strong faith, she knew the prayer, God's temple. And in that rare hermitage, the soul was freed from wounds.

You have found the Lord's mercy: in Yelets Stone Mountain forever Melania moved into that maiden monastery. Like a guard on the clock - sobriety. You wanted to become taller, to receive illumination from the Savior, to experience burning in prayers, to acquire Christ's grace.

Patience is in a single feat. And purification of the soul. Ekaterina lived with you - you are good as two candles! And the abode of the Sign blossomed: God-loving Melania, to know that Christ desired so. A spring of prayer and bright tears flowed on that Stone Mountain...

Obedient to the wise old women, you are a Shutter from dawn to dawn. Will he stay in the cell? - a jug of water. And crackers. The clothes are shabby, in patches. And only on holidays - kalach. What a narrow chamber! What an inconsolable cry!

And in that meritorious life twenty whole years passed. Death of Katherine. Sad year. “Go one path of victories!. A tough feat. Fast. Deprivation. Cruel, but joyful shutter. You were a target for the enemy. He is omnipotent. And temptation. Conversation with the great old man...

Your soul is uplifted. The spiritual one attended rapture. The nights remained in prayer, but here again the east reddened. And with that invigorating prayer you received a gift from Christ. And the enemy's catch is unimaginable, your blow is hot and glorious. Great labors before the Lord, intercessor of all Yelets, God-loving Melania, ask us for attention, the blessing of the Creator. Pray for us with the same diligence. And the Savior will not turn away His Face, He will not leave us without a crown!

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Biography of the maiden Melania the recluse of Yeletsky Znamensky, on Kamennaya Gora, maiden monastery

A Brief History of the Yelets Convent on Stone Mountain

The Oryol diocese near the city of Yelets is a secluded Stone Mountain. It is separated from the city from the south side by the river Yelnik, and from the east and north - by a dry stony moat, nicknamed "Dry Ray". In former times, this mountain was all covered with forest and attracted by its silence lovers of silence, who settled on its slopes to the east. Right there in the foothills, on a small stone plain to the south, an excellent spring beats cold water, which the ancient monks called holy.

Tradition, confirmed by written documents, says that from the beginning hermit monks lived here, and in 1675 there was already a monastery of the Kursk Icon of the Mother of God * with small cells for monks. But there was no decent shelter for the old women-nuns, who, in the absence of a monastery, with heart disease and sighs, wandered around the houses of the pious inhabitants of Yelets, and to listen to divine services came to one or another parish church in the city of Yelets. Such a sad situation of the pious old women, among whom at that time Julitta was already abbess, attracted the compassionate attention of the first bishop of Voronezh and Yelets, now a God-glorified saint of God, saint and miracle worker St. Mitrofan. Imbued with paternal care for his flock, the prelate of Christ wrote ** about such a bleak situation of the Yelets monastics to the then reigning John and Peter Alekseevich with their sister Sophia; and in 1683 - nuns with abbess Julitta, who did not have a monastery, St. Mitrofan placed the Kursk Icon of the Mother of God in the monastery on Kamennaya Gora, and transferred the monks from this monastery to the Yelets Trinity Monastery***.

* Materials for the history and statistics of Yelets. D. member of the Riedinger Statistical Committee, 1865.

*** The Trinity Yelets Monastery has existed since ancient times in the city of Yelets; in 1775, due to the dilapidation of buildings, he was transferred to the city of Lebedyan, Tamb. diocese, and ranked as the Lebedyansky Trinity Monastery, and in 1831 it was reopened in the city of Yelets as before, by moving the staff from the Bryansk Peter and Paul Monastery. (Histor. Ross, hierarch, part IV, p. 83).

Thus, 1683 can be considered the year of foundation of the monastery on Kamennaya Gora, as a convent for women. Such gracious archpastoral care of St. Mitrofan for the honest Yelets old women is evidenced by ancient monastic acts and written documents stored in originals in the archives of the Yelets district court for 1697.

These documents clearly speak of the giving of royal mercy, at the intercession of St. Mitrofan, in the possession of the old women, abbess Julitta with the sisters, not only one Stone Mountain with its forest, but another 20 quarters, arable land and other lands in other surrounding wastelands. The size of their then monastery in these documents is shown: 3 fathoms in width and 16 fathoms in length. This space is now visible; it is covered with graves at the tip of the mountain. There, on the spot former church* There is now a small monument, and near it is the grave of schema-nun Elizabeth, the honest wife of schema-monk Mitrofan, a disciple of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, who died on August 1, 1765.

* In the mentioned materials for the history and statistics of Mr. Yelets N. Riedinger, on page 51 it is written that before the fire there were two churches in this monastery: one in the name of Christmas Holy Mother of God, built by the monk Savvaty, and the other in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, built by Shaklovity, guest Grigory Shustov and merchant Moses Rosikhin.

Out of love for God, she left worldly life and wealth, as well as an honest marriage, by mutual agreement with her husband, and for a contented time she lived ascetically on Kamennaya Gora. A common voice, albeit according to a distant tradition, certifies about schema-nun Elizabeth that she had a very pious life. At that time, there was a deserted forest around Stone Mountain, in which fugitive soldiers and various vagabonds often took refuge: they sometimes came to the door of the cell of schema-nun Elizabeth, demanding food for themselves. She, being merciful for her neighbors, did not fear them as dangerous people, but with meekness, as brothers, she gave them bread and vegetables, according to the commandment of Christ: give to him who asks you (Matthew 5:42).

After the death of this pious schema-nun Elizabeth, the Zadonsk ascetic Nikandr Alekseevich Bekhteev had such great respect for her virtuous life that at his request, with the blessing of St. Tikhon, a monument was erected over her grave, on Kamennaya Gora at the top, inside which, in front of the small Crucifixion, an inextinguishable lampada flickered*. Approved by the blessing of St. Mitrofan and endowed with the royal favors of the great Sovereigns
John and Peter Alekseevich, this first convent on Kamennaya Gora continued to exist for about a hundred years, in a well-organized order and in abundance **.

* This monument, on the orders of Bishop Nikodim of Oryol, was removed in 1847 and replaced with an ordinary cast-iron board with an inscription, which still modestly covers this memorable grave.

** This can be seen from the caption liturgical books that have been preserved to this day. In the books of the Menaion of February and July 1696, an inscription was made by the hand of a certain clerk Ivan Savelyev, son of Korotiyev, at the request of Abbess Julitta, that she exchanged these books with worldly alms for her monastery of the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos, on Kamennaya Gora. And this acquisition was then expensive, both due to the rarity of printed books and the scarcity of money.



Melania, the recluse Yeletskaya
***
From the life of the old woman Melania, a recluse of the Yelets Znamensky Monastery.

On April 12, 1769, a fire broke out in the town of Yelets; almost the entire city burned down, and the monastery with the temple on Stone Mountain burned down.

The elders Xenia and Agathia remained in the ashes of the monastery, having arranged a cell for themselves in a stone cellar.

One summer night, old woman Xenia left her cell and went to the place former temple God's prayer.

For a long time she prayed and wept at the site of the burnt holy throne, where until recently a bloodless sacrifice had been made for the salvation of all living on earth and for the forgiveness of the sins of those who piously reposed. Suddenly she felt an unusual breath of grace in her heart. Embraced with reverent awe and joy, she began to loudly call her colleague Agathia. She left the cell, and both of them had a wonderful vision: illuminated by divine glory, some horseman stretched out his hand to the place where the burnt monastery was, overshadowed it with a blessing and said: - May the name of the Lord be blessed in this place from now on and forever!

Adding to the fact that he is the martyr of Christ John the Warrior, he became invisible. The elders bowed to the Lord God and glorified His holy and great name, believing that everything that is pleasing to Him will be fulfilled, according to His philanthropy and omnipotence. They also rendered honor and thanksgiving to the holy martyr John the Warrior for the mercies of God promised to them, and, rejoicing at the glorious vision, they expected help from above to renew the holy monastery.

One night, Melania, tired of struggling with sleep, which burdened her untimely and very much, sat down at the door of her cell and forgot herself. Suddenly it seemed to her as if a fiery chariot with winged horses descended to the ground, and a young man in white clothes approached her and said: - Come, O beloved of God, and receive the reward of your labors. God sent me, his angel, to lift you up to heavenly villages, where your sister Catherine is waiting for you.

Melania, having heard about her deceased sister, was delighted and forgot to protect herself from joy. sign of the cross. It seemed to her that she got into a chariot, and winged horses carried her through the air to a magnificent house; the Belarusian dropped her off and wanted to bring her into the house. Here Melania protected herself with the sign of the cross; and suddenly everything was gone. In the distance, she heard some kind of frantic laughter, and inexpressible fear seized Melania. She saw herself near the mill itself, on the edge of the bridge, in the most dangerous place. She screamed in horror and fell onto the bridge. The workers from the mill hurriedly ran out to the cry and were extremely surprised. They recognized Melania, but did not know how she came here at night and what happened to her. They raised her half dead. But soon she came to her senses and asked them to bring her to the monastery on Stone Mountain.
***
The fast of the holy apostles Peter and Paul has begun. Melania began to prepare for the reception of the Holy Mysteries; on the very day of communion, the priest walked to her from the church with holy gifts, and the clerk carried a lit candle in front. Suddenly a strong wind blew, and the candle went out. The clerk wanted to return to light a candle in the church, but the priest, urging him on, said: - We'll light it there.

When they passed the whole monastery and the clerk stepped on the threshold of the hermit's cell, the candle in his hands lit up by itself. He placed it on the table with trepidation. Upon completion of the sacrament, he brought a burning candle to the church. This miraculous lighting of the candle was noticed by all.


Venerable Melania the recluse of Yeletskaya. Znamensky convent Lipetsk region.

She was born in 1759 in the Lamskaya settlement of the Yelets district of the Oryol province, in a poor pious family. Hardworking, young and beautiful girl Melania with young years loved the Lord. She avoided worldly pleasures, often spending time in the temple. When, after the death of her parents, she was to marry, she secretly left home and in 1778 settled as a novice in the Znamenskaya Convent on Kamennaya Gora. Having learned about the whereabouts of Melania, her relatives persistently asked her to return home and marry, otherwise they threatened to deprive her of her inheritance. But she remained adamant.

In the Znamensky Monastery, Melania labored for 58 years in unceasing fasting and prayer. From food she took only bread and water. She always wore shabby clothes with frequent patches.
She died July 11, 1836. Marvelous omens accompanied her demise

Melania (Pakhomova)(-), recluse of the Yelets Znamensky Monastery

She was born in the town of Lamskoy, Yelets uyezd, Oryol province, in a poor, pious family. Hard-working, young and beautiful girl Melania loved the Lord from a young age. She avoided worldly pleasures, often spending time in the temple. When, after the death of her parents, she was to marry, she secretly left home and in the year settled as a novice in the Znamenskaya Convent on Kamennaya Gora. Having learned about the whereabouts of Melania, her relatives persistently asked her to return home and marry, otherwise they threatened to deprive her of her inheritance. But she remained adamant.

In the Znamensky Monastery, Melania labored for 58 years in unceasing fasting and prayer. From food she took only bread and water. She always wore shabby clothes with frequent patches.

For twenty-two years her younger sister Ekaterina lived with Melania in the monastery. After her death, Melania began to act as a fool, but temptations began, and she was dissuaded from the feat of foolishness by her contemporary ascetics: Fr. Ioann Zhdanov, Hilarion Troekurovsky and the holy fool Ioann Kamenev.

On August 6, Melania, having communed the Holy Mysteries of Christ, took upon herself the voluntary feat of seclusion. From that moment until her death (17 years old), she did not leave her cell, intensifying her spiritual exploits. She acquired the gift of insight and spiritual healing of bodily and mental ailments.

Passed away July 11th. She was found lying on the floor of her cell, with her face turned to the image of the Savior Christ. She was buried near the Cathedral Church of the Sign.

Wonderful signs accompanied her death. Visible was travelers returning from Zadonsk, a pillar of fire standing over Stone Mountain. Numerous healings of the sick were performed. Numerous miracles emanating from her coffin prompted the monastery authorities to start a special book for recording them, and the admirers of the blessed one built a cast-iron monument-chapel over her coffin.

Video

Yelets ascetic Melania the recluse. The program "Light to the world" of the TV channel "Soyuz"

September 22nd a pilgrimage trip of the parishioners of the Kazan Church, students of the Sunday School and the youth group of the parish and pupils of the Voronezh boarding school No. Yeletsky Znamensky convent. The trip was originally planned for Divnogorsk Monastery, but inclement cold weather made its own adjustments to the route. IN pilgrimage about 150 people took part. The pilgrims were accompanied by the rector of the Kazan Church, s. New Usman Priest Alexy Voronin, cleric Priest Ilya Vostrikov, Sunday school teachers Domanina T.V. And Golyandina V.I. On the way back, the pilgrims stopped at the Zadonsky Nativity-Bogoroditsky Monastery, where they venerated the relics of St. Tikhon of Zadonsky, and also visited the Ascension Cathedral in Yelets.

Yelets Znamensky Monastery was founded on the site of the monastery Trinity monastery , arranged in 1629 on Stone Mountain.

labors Saint Mitrofan, Bishop of Voronezh, the skete in 1683 was transformed into a nunnery.

In 1764, the Znamensky Monastery was abolished by decree of Catherine II, but the nuns did not leave it.

In 1769, during a great fire in Yelets, the monastery burned down. Only two old women remained on the ashes, they lived in the surviving cellar and prayed tirelessly.

The number of sisters gradually increased. In 1778, the future locally venerated blessed recluse Melania, a great ascetic who lived in a monastery 58 years old and who died in captivity 1836 year. Saint Tikhon, being in Yelets, visited the hermit. In 1779, he visited Yelets for the last time, blessed the nuns and chose a place for the future stone church. In the period from 1804 to 1813, the construction of a cathedral in honor of Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary "The Sign".

The monastery remained in an illegal position, but the efforts of the Yelchans to restore the monastery did not stop. The second official opening of the monastery took place in 1822 by decree of Emperor Alexander I. The strict rules of the monastic community were restored, the construction of a bell tower, a warm refectory, a new brick fence around the monastery with four towers and three gates began. In 1841, a descent to the holy spring was arranged from the south side in the form of a wide staircase. By 1861, the construction of a three-tiered bell tower was completed. By the middle of the 19th century, the territory of the monastery and the lands that belonged to it continued to expand, the monastery was being decorated.

By the beginning of the 20th century, within the walls of the monastery lived 400 people, on its territory there were 150 buildings.

The main shrines of the monastery were miraculous image of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Sign" and the image of Christ the Savior, safely preserved after the fire of 1769. In the monastery there were revered icons: "Three-handed", written on Athos, and donated Saint Theophan the Recluse Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

In the Znamensky Monastery was kept lifetime portrait Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.

After the revolution of 1917, the monastery was closed, but divine services continued for some time, and the nuns, led by Abbess Anthony, did not leave the holy monastery. The island of church splendor did not last long.

In 1929, the division of the monastery property began, the nuns began to be driven out of their cells, many of them were sent to prisons, taken to camps. The abbess of the monastery, who refused to leave the monastery, was brutally tortured.

The territory of the monastery became officially known as the Workers' Town.

During the years of the atheist regime, the construction of the monastery fell into disrepair. Cathedral of the Sign was destroyed in 1937.

By 2004, only a few cells, monastery walls and a descent to the holy well remained in a badly damaged form. Not a single temple building survived. By decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church The Znamensky Convent was reopened in 2004.

Built in 2005 chapel above the holy spring, in the same year, the restoration of the Znamensky Cathedral began. In January 2005, the Znamensky Convent was handed over for service. Spasov-Nativity Church, located on the other side of Yelchik and clearly visible from the territory of the monastery. In 2006, a wooden temple was built in the name of Saint and Wonderworker Nicholas and consecrated by Vladyka Nikon on December 31 of the same year.

The restoration of the bell tower was completed, the monastery fence was partially restored, new refectory and cell buildings were built, several former cells were bought out and put in order. There is a revival of the glorious history and spiritual exploits of the monastery.

Cathedral of the Sign. First stone church The monastery was built in 1813. In the mid-1930s, it was closed, and work began on its disassembly for bricks. Since 2005, restoration work began, and by 2009 main temple The monastery has been completely restored to its original form.

Church of the Nativity (Spasovsky)(Not located on the territory of the monastery)

Church of St. Nicholas. The first wooden St. Nicholas Church on Kamennaya Gora was built in 1657. During the great fire of 1769, all the monastery buildings, including St. Nicholas Church, burned down. The revival of the church took place only in 2006, when, according to the project of the Yelets architect A.V. Novoseltsev, a wooden church was laid. In the same 2006, the St. Nicholas Church was built and consecrated.

Chapel of the Icon of the Mother of God Life-Giving Source . The chapel at the holy well was built at the end of the 18th century. Until 1930 it was destroyed. Reconstruction of it in its former forms and dimensions began in 2004. In 2005, it was finally built and consecrated.

Father Elijah with the youth group of the Kazan Church

Sunday school students with teacher Domanina T.V.

Students of boarding school No. 1 with their father rector

Gates of the Znamensky Monastery

Monument to the blessed recluse Melania against the backdrop of the temple in honor of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of the World of Lycian Wonderworker

Grave of the recluse Melania

Pets of the nuns - pheasants

Pilgrims in the refectory of the monastery

Autumn in the Znamensky Monastery. Panorama

O. Ilya Vostrikov and Golyandina V.I. with a group of pilgrims

against the backdrop of the Resurrection Cathedral Yelets

Panorama Zadonsky Nativity-Bogoroditsky Monastery


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