Sofronievsky monastery

The history of this monastery goes back to the hoary antiquity. There is a legend about the Foundation of the desert monks of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, who fled Kiev after its devastation by the Mongol-Tatars in 1240. According to other sources, first monks who settled on this land in the ELEVENTH century, was "terroristy" from Greece. On the Eastern slopes of Wonderful mountain was dug caves, like the famous caves of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The most ancient of them date back to the XIII-XIV centuries.





Sofronievo-Molchenskaya obshitelnaya Pechersky men's monastery is located 20 km from Putivl, in the forest on the mountain Strange, in the northwestern part of the monastery was a swamp Silence, so he became known as Maltanskim. The architectural ensemble of the monastery consisted of 48 buildings. The main temple of the monastery – Church of the Nativity of the blessed virgin Mary, built on the mountain itself Weird, where in 1405 was a miraculous icon. In the early twentieth century, its interior was described as "the Iconostasis in her ancient, Greek painting, onovleny in 1839. The niches of the great painting, rich Planina, Royal silver gate. Especially miraculous icons are the ornament of this Church".





Centuries of carefully collected and kept the inhabitants of the desert treasures of material and spiritual culture. In the monastery library contained valuable books. Many ecclesiastical objects were pieces of jewelry, having, in addition to material, high historical and cultural value. This, in essence, was a compact, beautiful "city in miniature", with a considerable number of buildings that attracted the sight with the beauty and proportionality.





Until 1998 Sofronievsky monastery was in ruins. In 1999 in the desert again began to revive life. On the ruins of the monastery arrived Archimandrite Herman, with a few brethren. In his heart they came to raise the prostrate Shrine. Not being afraid of upcoming difficulties and hardships. The monks cleared away the ruins, and arranged the several cells, and dwelt in them. In the premises of the hospital Church has equipped the Church for worship and engaged in the clearing of the surviving part of the famous underground structures, which constituted the pride Moltenskoi the caves of the Nativity of the blessed virgin of the desert over many centuries, began the restoration of the cave Church, the landscaping. Everyone made a contribution to the revival Sofronievsky monastery.

For the first time, after centuries of neglect, in 2002, the festival was held on a Wonderful mountain. Rang the monastery bells: restored the monastery greeted the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine, his Beatitude Vladimir.





This Holy land with centuries of history met on 27 February 2004 of the President of Ukraine Leonid Danilovich Kuchma festive ringing of bells. The President first visited the Wonderful mountain. Struck by the beauty and grandeur of the ancient monastery, whose Golden dome, like looking into eternity, bless deeds and thoughts of people related to the revival of religious shrines. In memory of visiting the desert Sofronievo Leonid Kuchma gave the monastery the icon "Nicholas the Wonderworker with scenes from his life".





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