Assumption Cave Church of the Pskov Pechersk Monastery. Walls and towers. Monastery in the 20th century

The monastery is located 340 km southwest of St. Petersburg and 50 km west of Pskov.

Founding of the monastery

The chronicle tells how at the end of the 14th century Izborsk hunters, father and son Selisha, heard “the voices of those singing ineffably and beautifully” in a deep forest near the Kamenets stream and felt a fragrance “like a lot of incense.”

Soon local peasants acquired these lands; by lot they went to Ivan Dementyev, who settled nearby, near the Pachkovka River. One day, when he was cutting down a forest on the side of a mountain, one of the fallen trees, falling, carried the others with it. Under the roots of one of them, an entrance to a cave opened, and above the entrance there was an inscription: “Caves created by God.”

From an ancient local legend it is known that people from the Kiev-Pechersk monastery lived in this place, who fled to the Pskov borders due to numerous raids Crimean Tatars. The names of all of them remained unknown, chronicle history has preserved to us only the name of the “initial monk” St. Mark.

Generally recognized historical date The founding of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is considered to be the year when the Assumption Church, dug out of a sandy hill near the Kamenets stream, was consecrated by the Monk Jonah. Venerable Jonah is the immediate founder of the monastery.

The successor of St. Jonah, Hieromonk Misail, erected cells and a temple on the mountain, but soon the monastery was attacked by the Livonians. Wooden buildings were burned and property was looted. When the sacrilege began to commit outrages in the Assumption Church of the monastery, fire coming out of the altar expelled them from the monastery. Meanwhile, a Russian detachment arrived from Izborsk and completed the destruction of the Livonians.

The monastery suffered for a long time after this shock: the raids, although less daring, continued. Foreign conquerors more than once tried to wipe the monastery off the face of the earth, since they saw in it, first of all, a stronghold of Orthodoxy and Russian influence on the nearby local population of the Baltic tribes (Estonians and Setos), as well as the organizer economic activity in the region and, finally, a Russian military stronghold.

The heyday of the monastery in the 16th century

The fame of the monastery increased year by year. Word of mouth miraculous healings, received through the special intercession of the Queen of Heaven not only by the Orthodox, but also by the Latins, attracted many pilgrims; The once “poor place” was replenished with precious deposits, vast lands and estates. But these offerings went not only to the needs of the monastery. Monastic expense books preserved information about financial assistance, which the monks constantly provided to refugees during numerous wars. At the expense of the monastery treasury, houses destroyed by the invaders in the surrounding villages were restored; during truces, the monastery ransomed prisoners of war from the enemy. All other monasteries of the Pskov diocese, even the more ancient ones: Mirozhsky (1156), Snetogorsky (13th century), Veliko Pustynsky, Spaso-Eleazarovsky - yielded primacy to the Pskov-Pechersk monastery, and the abbots of other monasteries were now promoted to its abbots as a sign of promotion. Pechersk abbots were appointed bishops.

Defensive value of the monastery

Monastery in the 20th century

During the war years, the abbot of the monastery was Father Pavel (Gorshkov). The monastery was located on territory occupied by the Germans, but the governor managed to find that subtle and clever line in relations with the occupation authorities, which made it possible to preserve the brethren, the monastery and all the values. Father Pavel managed to organize food assistance to the captured Red Army soldiers at the camp in Pskov, and to the sick, disabled and elderly in the almshouse in Zavelichye. There is evidence that, under the pretext that he needed workers for the monastery, Abbot Pavel freed more than a dozen prisoners of war from a German camp. There is evidence that Soviet intelligence officers took refuge in the monastery caves during the war.

A heavy blow for the elderly abbot was the removal by the invaders of ancient valuables from the sacristy of the monastery, supposedly away from the bombing, to another Orthodox monastery near Riga, in fact to Germany. Prevent this from happening. Paul was powerless. “I can’t find any place or peace for myself, either day or night,” he wrote to the head of the Pechora occupation administration, Bekking. “After my death, I don’t want the monk who guides the caves to all visitors, pointing to my coffin and saying: “Pavel Gorshkov is buried here, who gave away all the treasures of the monastery that the brethren had kept before him for five hundred years.” That's almost exactly what happened. For many years, tourists visiting the monastery were told about its alleged collaboration with the Nazis. After the release of Pechory, he was arrested, sentenced to 15 years and died in a prison hospital at the age of 80. Only 52 years later, Abbot Pavel was rehabilitated.

During the war years, the Refectory and the Brotherhood Building, and the wall of St. Michael's Cathedral were destroyed. Other churches were also damaged by artillery shelling.

Concerns about putting the monastic economy in order in post-war years largely fell to the share of Archimandrite Pimen, the abbot of the monastery from 2000 to 2000, and who later became the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. His works were continued by Archimandrite Alypius, a warrior and artist (-). During his reign, the restoration of the fortress walls and towers began (they had stood uncovered since the year after the devastating fire, gradually collapsing).

Elder ministry

The monastery became famous in years of peace spiritual deeds of their inhabitants, through whose prayers God’s mercy does not fail to those who seek Heavenly consolation at the Pechersk shrines. Throughout the existence of the monastery, the fire of elder service did not go out in it. Everyone who came for spiritual consolation and advice found it in conversations with great prayer books.

One of these lamps of the Orthodox faith was the Venerable Hieroschemamonk Lazar, who labored as a recluse at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries.

When the family of Sovereign Nicholas II visited the Pechersk monastery, the latter had a spiritual conversation with Elder Theodosius, who was then ascetic in the monastery.

Hieroschemamonk Simeon (Zhelnin) served God and people for more than 60 years, spiritually caring for not only the monastery brethren, but also numerous lay people and pilgrims who came to him for spiritual advice. A separate book has been published about his life, in which the reader will find many testimonies about the miraculous prayer help old man On April 1, Hieroschemamonk Simeon was glorified as a saint.

Monastery today

Year after year, century after century, the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery turned into an outstanding historical and cultural monument. The fortress monastery walls with 9 towers and a total length of about 810 meters surround a magnificent architectural ensemble formed by a number of temples.

The oldest of them, the Assumption Cathedral, was excavated in the mountain; only the northern wall facing the monastery is made of stone.

Here, in the central part of the temple, the main shrine of the monastery is located - the ancient miraculous icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God ().

From the entrance there are seven underground galleries, the so-called “streets”, which are different times lengthened and expanded. The walls near the entrance are lined with bricks for strength. The air temperature here invariably stays around +5"C. Exact number no burials have been identified, because with numerous sieges this was difficult to do. There is reason to believe that more than 10 thousand people are buried there.

The walls of the caves contain ceramic and limestone slabs with inscriptions, the so-called ceramides - valuable historical monument Pskov region. The names of representatives of the glorious Slavic families of the Suvorovs, Rtishchevs, Nashchokins, Buturlins, Mstislavskys are found in tombstone inscriptions; here lie the ancestors of the poets A. S. Pushkin, A. N. Pleshcheev, commander M. I. Kutuzov, composer M. P. Mussorgsky. Representatives of the ancient Simansky family, who gave the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy I. Bishops were also buried here, including the outstanding Orthodox hierarch Metropolitan Veniamin (Fedchenkov). Shortly before the start of the Great Patriotic War The Church of the Resurrection of Christ was restored in the caves.

Almost in the very center of the monastery ensemble, above the artesian well, a chapel was built in 2007, decorated with images of Russian saints. Daily from early spring and up to late autumn funeral services are held here. Not far from the chapel is another monastery well, long revered by pilgrims and named by them in honor of the venerable martyr Cornelius “Kornilevsky”. Water is taken from it for water blessing prayers.

The monastery belfry, which adorns Assumption Square, was built in the 16th century. in place of the old wooden one (). It has six different sizes - in accordance with the size of the bell-openings. All bells were made by Pskov craftsmen and decorated with ornaments, animal figures, and relief inscriptions. The polyeleos bell, donated by Ivan the Terrible (), weighs 3 tons, the Budnichny (hourly) bell, donated by Boris Godunov () - 2 tons. Large bell - a gift from Peter the Great () - 4 tons. Large bells are swung from the ground using rocker arms.

Adjacent to the bell tower is a clock tower, built at the beginning of the 18th century. The clock mechanism is connected by cables to the bells; Every quarter of an hour small bells ring, and the “Godunovsky” bell strikes the hours.

The monastery continues to be decorated all these years. In the 80s, with the blessing of Metropolitan John (Razumov), the abbot Archimandrite Gabriel (Steblyuchenko) (-) carried out large restoration work: the painting of the temple walls has been updated, the restoration of the monastery walls, which began under Archimandrite Alipia, has been completed, a new fraternal building has been built, a chapel in honor of the Venerable Martyr Cornelius has been built in the St. Nicholas Church, the bakery and library premises have been renovated.

Through the diligence of the next rector (-) archimandrite

Not every monastery was a fortress, and not every fortress in the Russian North serves as a monastery for monks. But if we're talking about about the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechora Monastery, then its uniqueness should be noted.

The monastery is located in a lowland, protected by hills and fortress walls

What, you ask, is its feature? Yes in everything! The Pechersk Monastery was built, contrary to common logic, in the valley of a stream, while other fortresses were always built on a hill.

Architects and builders succeeded in this idea quite well

The holy temple and monastery in Pechora, from the moment of its foundation, never stopped its monastic life and services, even if it was besieged and plundered by enemies.

It has all the attributes of a real fortress

What else is unique about the male Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechora Monastery? The fact is that, like all strongholds, it has:

• High walls.
• Observation towers.
• Fortified entrances.

As an object of early serf architecture, it is simply magnificent. And, if you have the opportunity to see the fortress in Pechora, be sure to go for a bright and strong impression. And the Sharm Travel company will help you organize it with maximum comfort.

A trip to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, inspection of the courtyard and ancient burials, visiting the caves, walls and ramparts of the fortress will allow you to better understand the significance of a unique shrine in the history of Russia.

Flight over the monastery

Pechora Fortress in Pskov: the story of a miracle

The founding date of the Pskov Pechora fortress is considered to be 1472, when the fugitive presbyter who became the founder of the stronghold, John, settled in a cave on the slope of the Kamenets River. A niche dug in sandy soil marked the beginning of the settlement and became known as the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Under the next head of the monastery, Hieromonk Misail, cells for the inhabitants and a temple were built on a hill above the caves.

However, soon the Livonians plundered and burned the monastery

The history of the Pechersk Monastery is directly connected with the Russian tsars

After the Pskov Republic fell under the rule of Moscow in the early 16th century, the Tsar ordered the construction of fortifications, the construction of a temple and the renovation of cells in the monastery. The very first Assumption Church was surrounded by a façade, and the caves in the mountainside that served as the burial place for the monks were expanded and deepened.

The heyday of the monastery is considered to be the mid-16th century, when Ivan the Terrible turned his attention to it. highest attention and ordered the construction of new fortifications of the monastery

The construction was supervised by abbot Cornelius, who gained the favor of the king. Thanks to the established relationships, the monastery:

• Received rich donations.
• It blossomed quickly.

But fate played a cruel joke on the abbot, and his high patron, Ivan the Terrible, became his killer. Visit to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery by the most cruel autocrat in Russian history ended in tragedy.

History says that the fortress-monastery was under siege more than once, was plundered and burned, but invariably rose from the ruins and began life anew.

Over time, the fortifications were improved, the Petrovskaya Tower appeared next to St. Nicholas Church, the entrance to the fortress was reconstructed, and the walls became higher. By order of Peter the Great the monastery was strengthened:

• Earthen ramparts.
• Moat.
• Five bastions.
• The battery next to St. Nicholas Church.

So the monastery of the monks turned into a real stronghold, and the shrines of the Pechersky Monastery in the Pskov region are still kept deep underground.

Even a video shot on a phone allows you to imagine the sacred beauty of the place

You can see the unique buildings, cathedral and churches of the monastery during an excursion, which can be booked on the official website of Sharm Travel. Time is merciless, and while it has not yet reached the unique attractions, hurry to see Pechory (monastery), Izborsk.

Pskov-Pechersky Monastery on the map: address, how to get there, photos and videos

The wonders of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery are available to anyone who wants to see them: the fortress is located 5 hours away from St. Petersburg. The Sharm Travel company offers a trip to the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery in a comfortable bus and accompanied by guides. The trip schedule is designed so that on the way to the monastery you can:

• Stop in the most interesting places.
• See the sights.
• Take their photo.
• Listen to our guides about the sights.

The distance to the monastery from St. Petersburg is on average (depending on the road chosen) 400 km. You can get to the fortress on your own, by car or by bus.

Now Pechory is a well-groomed and a nice place. Photos of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery are pleasing to the eye:

• The domes are covered with gold.
• The roofs sparkle with copper.
• The territory is decorated with beautiful flower beds.

It is not for nothing that the monastery is a fortress: it withstood medieval raids, survived collectivization, industrialization, and the construction of communism in a single country

And today he warmly welcomes those who are not afraid of distances or even the opportunity to get there on foot, as a pilgrim

Tourists come here on excursions, and those who need help for consolation. The bells of the Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery can be heard far beyond its borders, and on holidays the laity gather to listen to the incredibly beautiful crimson ringings.

Pechersky Monastery: video procession and raspberry ringing

To find out how to get to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery as part of a tourist group, you can contact the numbers listed on the Sharm Travel website. You can also find out the exact travel plan, departure day and time, and book a weekend tour.

We don’t have many places left where you can not only admire beautiful ancient architecture, but also think about the eternal

Be sure to visit the Pechersky Monastery! Read reviews about the wonders of this holy place, join trips with Sharm Travel, come to the fortress with your children and friends, and become involved in the history of our region. If you're lucky, you'll get to the liturgy. But even if you don’t plan to attend a service, you can simply go into the cathedral and see how well-preserved the paintings and frescoes are, and what peace and harmony permeates the space inside. Together with our guides you will see how beautiful and majestic the Ascension Cathedral in Pskov is.

The special silence and strong energy of the place attracts to the monastery those who need the protection and patronage of the saints

You will have an excursion to the caves storing the mummified bodies of the inhabitants of the monastery. Be sure to come to this holy and bright place, where the traditions of faith and spirituality of our land still live. Contact us, we will find it for you the best program trips around our region.

The Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery in Pechory is one of the largest in Russia, located in a ravine near the Kamenets stream. It is more than five hundred years old, during which the monastery has never been closed.

From the history of the Pechersky Monastery in the Pskov region

Once upon a time, hermit monks lived in caves along the banks of the Kamenets stream, who fled to the north from the invasion of the Tatar-Mongols. Mention of these places dates back to 1392. and are called God-created caves. In 1473 The monastery cave-temple was illuminated. In 1558 Fortress walls with 10 towers were built around the monastery (9 have survived).

Legend of the monastery

Ivan the Terrible came to the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery to pray. Hegumen Cornelius, who headed the monastery at that time, decided to take advantage of the moment and asked permission from the sovereign to erect a fortress wall in Pechory around the monastery buildings. With all the generous royal soul, Ivan the Terrible gave the go-ahead, only the fortress had to be no larger than the skin of a bull. Cornelius realized, cut the ox skin into strips, stretched them around the perimeter of the monastery and built fortress walls along them (🙂). Seven years later, the sovereign father visited Pechory again. Seeing the large fortress, Ivan the Terrible became so angry that he cut off the head of Cornelius with a sword, who hospitably greeted the king at the gate with bread and salt. And the head of the abbot rolled down the slope. The sovereign immediately shuddered, realized what he had done, caught the body of Cornelius and carried it to the Assumption Church of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. This descent is now called the Bloody Path, or the Cornilievsky Path.

Complex of the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery

The Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery includes:

1. Assumption Cave Church
2. Belfry
3. Sretensky Church
4. Intercession Church
5. St. Michael's Cathedral
6. Fraternal Corps
7. God-given caves
8. Lazarevsky Church
9. St. Nicholas Church
10. holy gate
11. Annunciation Church
12. Holy Mountain
13. Fortress walls with nine towers: Petrovskaya, Nikolskaya, “Lower Lattices” Tower, Blagoveshchenskaya, Izborskaya, Tararygina, “Upper Lattices” Tower, Taylovskaya, Prison. Once upon a time there was also Brusovaya.

There are also Life-Giving and Holy springs. The caves house a monastery necropolis.

Our photo walk through the complex of the Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery

The entrance to the monastery complex of the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechora Monastery is through the Holy Gates under the Petrovskaya Tower. On the right is the prison tower, on the left is Nikolskaya:

We immediately see the St. Nicholas Church, adjacent to the tower of the same name:

It was here, under the arch of the St. Nicholas Church, that the murder of abbot Cornelius took place by Ivan the Terrible:

And here is the Bloody Path (Cornilius Path):

The fraternal corps of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery:

Life-giving source:

Staircase to St. Michael's Cathedral:

St. Michael's Church of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery from Assumption Square:

The Holy Spring and the Assumption Cave Church (was closed for general cleaning– we didn’t get there, just like we didn’t get into the caves created by God):

Sretensky and Annunciation churches of the Holy Dormition Monastery:

Belfry:

Now let’s look at the fortress wall and towers of the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. Petrovskaya and prison towers:

St. Michael's Cathedral:

Taylovskaya (the largest), Tower of the “Upper Lattices” (the highest - 25 m), Tararygina:

Izborsk tower and milestone:

Annunciation Tower:

Tower of the “Lower Grids”, behind it the Holy Mountain:

Fancy weather vanes:

There are a lot of beggars in the area around the monastery, so be prepared - you will be attacked, for example, this alcodama (bottom left) against the backdrop of the Varvarinskaya Church in front of the entrance to the complex:

Nearby is a monument to Abbot Cornelius:

In Pechory there is also the Lutheran Church of St. Peter:

How to get to the Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery

You can get to the Pechersky Monastery in the city of Pechory from the city of Pskov: follow the E-77 (A-212) highway in the direction of Estonia for 32 km, after Izborsk, follow the sign, turn right and drive another 23 km to the city of Pechory, where you continue drive along the main street until you see the golden domes of the temples.

Address: 181500 Pskov region, Pechory, st. International d.5.

GPS coordinates: 57.80988, 27.61456.

Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery on the map of the Pskov region:

A visit to the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery can be combined with a visit to the Izborsk Fortress and.

50 km from the city of Pskov there is an ancient monastery - the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. The five-hundred-year history of the monastery is shrouded in numerous legends and stories, endless wars and real miracles. First of all, the Pechora Monastery is famous for its holy caves, because the word “pechery” in Old Russian meant “caves”.

It was there that we went on the second day of our company’s stay in Pskov.

Having slept well after the train from St. Petersburg to Pskov, having had breakfast at the hotel, we went on an excursion to the Pechersky Monastery in two cars. According to the plan, the route included two sites: the Pechersky Monastery and Old Izborsk. In this article I will tell you about Pechory, and You can read a note about Izborsk here .

We got there very quickly - no more than an hour. The town of Pechory is small, modest and cozy, but with ancient history. Its dominant and shrine and main attraction is the Pechora Monastery. We parked our cars in the center of Pechora, on the central square.

In the center of the square there is an old water tower, sticking out like the last tooth. The central square is very well maintained and clean.

True, if you turn the corner, tourists will be greeted by the same broken roads and rickety wooden houses.

We got out of the cars and went on foot to the monastery. There are trays with souvenirs along the short path. Mostly products made from dog hair were offered here. On the way back we all bought ourselves a pair of warm socks.

Local souvenirs are harsh, like everything around.

After 5 minutes we were in front of the Monastery, or rather in front of the unusual Petrovskaya Tower.

First, we decided to go not to the monastery itself (we decided to leave it for dessert), but to the observation deck, which offered a magnificent view of the surrounding area. To do this, from the Petrovskaya Tower we walked a little to the left, if you were facing the tower.

Thoughtfully looking around the ancient fortress-monastery, we listened to our guide and listened to the history of this place.

Even in ancient times, many local residents heard voices and wonderful singing here. That's why the mountain was nicknamed Holy. According to legend, somewhere in the 12-13th century, peasants cut down forest on the mountain. Suddenly one tree fell, taking other trees with it. Under the roots a cave was discovered, above which was written “Caves created by God.” No matter how people tried to erase this inscription, it appeared again and again. The generally accepted date of foundation of the monastery is considered to be 1473, when the church dug by the Monk Jonah in a sand hill was consecrated. The Monk Jonah is considered the founder of the monastery. His wife Maria, ordained Vassa, diligently helped him. But before the construction was completed, she fell ill and died. However, after the burial the next day, her coffin was on the surface. This was repeated several times. Since then, the coffin with Vassa’s body has stood near the holy caves. When the Germans tried to open this tombstone during the war, flames burst out of it, traces of which can still be seen.

Until the 15-16th century, the monastery was poor and sparsely populated, and was often subject to raids by the Livonian Order. The real dawn of the monastery occurred under Abbot Cornelia, but we will talk about this a little later, inside the monastery. Powerful fortress walls and beautiful churches were built.

The passage next to the lookout was blocked in such an unusual way.

Having admired the view, we decided to take a walk along the monastery walls. The location of the monastery itself is very interesting - it is located in a lowland. Powerful walls defended the monastery more than once, including even during the formidable raids of Stefan Batory, the monastery was not taken. The thickness of the walls is 2 meters, the total length is 810 meters. It’s scary to imagine, but the monastery survived 200 battles.

Now the time has come to enter the territory of the Pechersky Monastery. From the main gate there is a sharp path down, which has a terrible name - “the bloody path”. And that's why.

In 1519, monk Cornelius, who at that time was only 28 years old, became hegumen of the Pechora Monastery. Cornelius did a lot for the monastery, but his life was cut short at the age of 41.

According to legend, in 1570 Ivan the Terrible was returning from a campaign in the Livonian region. The tsar saw a strong fortress on the border - the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery, the construction of which he did not give consent to. The autocrat suspected treason, and even gossips whispered. The unsuspecting abbot Cornelius came out to meet the king with a cross in his hands... The frantic Ivan the Terrible silently cut off his head with his own hands. Cornelius's head rolled down towards the temple. Since then, the path from the Petrovskaya Tower to the Assumption Church has been called Bloody. According to the second version, in repentance, Ivan the Terrible immediately picked up the headless body of Cornelius and himself carried it to the caves.

Descending along the “Bloody Road”, we saw another exhibit - Anna Ioanovna’s carriage. One day the empress visited an elder who lived in a monastery. Suddenly snow fell, the roads were snowy, and it was only possible to get out of Pechory by sleigh. The royal carriage had to be left at the monastery.

Throughout its long history the monastery was famous for its elders-soothsayers. Kings and queens repeatedly came to Pechory to talk with them. So Peter the Great was in Pechory 4 times, Nikolai the Second and Alexander the First came here. They say that the modern political elite also comes here.

The real decoration of the monastery is the ancient Assumption Cathedral, the appearance of which today is presented in the Baroque style. Initially, this temple was a cave, going twenty meters into the ravine. Then the church was built on and it acquired its present appearance. By the way, the domes are very reminiscent of cathedrals Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Among local residents There is still a belief that the caves lead to the Kiev-Pechora Lavra.

The belfry, built in 1523, deserves special attention. In the 18th century, a bell was placed here, donated to the monastery by Peter the Great.

Here, next to the belfry, is the entrance to the caves. We were only able to visit a couple of small caves. We passed them so quickly that I only had time to quickly look at the tombstones and icons that were installed there. There were so many people that it was not possible to look at anything for a long time. The caves contain burials of relatives of different famous people, including relatives of A.S. Pushkin. Filming in the caves is strictly prohibited. I don’t advise you to break this ban; people here are strict and religious.

On the walls of the caves there are special tombstones - ceramides, which are found only in this area. We saw ceramides already in the Pskov museum.

Visiting distant caves required the blessing of the abbot. But since the monastery was actively preparing for Christmas, everyone was not in the mood for it, and we did not receive the blessing. In general, there are 7 tunnels in the underground of the monastery, they are called “streets”. More than 10,000 people are buried in these streets.

Next to the Assumption Cathedral is the Sacristy, where treasures, gifts from sovereigns, were once kept. The library was also located here. During the war, the sacristy was looted by the Germans, but later some of the treasures were returned.

On the territory we visited several churches with ancient icons and a wooden iconostasis. In total, on the territory of the Pechora Monastery there are 11 temples, 3 of which are cave churches.

The Monastery stores miraculous icons. First of all, it is an icon Mother of God"Tenderness" and "Hodegetria". They are kept in St. Michael's Cathedral.

On the territory of the Monastery there is a holy spring, which is called the holy well. The first information about the holy well appeared in the description of the monastery in early XVII century, in which it was reported that in the monastery there had long been a holy well, equipped and covered in the form of a chapel. The water in this well, “By the grace of the Most Pure Mother of God and the prayers of the venerable fathers - Mark, Jonah and Cornelius - goes to the holy land; and they take it for all the monastic needs.” They say that water helps against eye and other diseases.

We naturally decided to drink some water too. We didn't have any bottles with us. When we tried to wash ourselves at the “well,” the local caretakers kicked us out to wash ourselves over the flowerbed. Apparently, so that we don’t spoil the aura)).

Leaving the monastery we bought local souvenirs and recommended soap self made, brewed in the monastery.

We had worked up quite a appetite, so when we returned to the central square we decided to have a snack. There were several cafes there. The most touristy and decent cafe was in that same old tower. But there were no places there, so we went to the canteen.

The prices here were ridiculous and the food was delicious. The salad and empanadas were pretty ok. Having satisfied our hunger, we moved on, because Izborsk was waiting for us.

How to get to Pechory from Pskov

By regular bus (travel time approximately 1 hour 20 minutes):

• Route No. 126 (Pskov - Pechory) - departure from the bus station (daily) approximately once an hour.

• Route No. 207 (Pskov - Pechory via St. Izborsk) - departure from the bus station

You can also get there by train, which departs from Pskov twice a day.

Where to stay in Pechory

Planet Hotel, Pechory: booking reviews

Guest House Wanderer, Pechory

Pechory-Pak Hotel: booking

and also, Hotel “Your Coast” - Pechory, st. Kuznechnaya, 17.