Uspensky cave monastery (Bakhchisaray)
Cave monasteries in the Crimea once existedlots of. Most of them were destroyed at the time of the invasion of the Golden Horde. But some temples cut down in the rock remained unharmed. Among them is the Assumption Cave Monastery, located not far from Bakhchisaray in the gorge of Maryam-Dare. This place, despite being a Christian shrine, is also revered by Muslims. Maryam-Dare in translation into Russian means the Virgin Mary.
Versions about the origin
The first half of the XVI century. - this is the time when the city of Bakhchisaray began to be built. The Holy Assumption Cave Monastery was founded much earlier. Unfortunately, no one knows for sure who exactly built such unusual temples in the Crimea. At the end of the twentieth century, it was suggested that Byzantine monks, icon-worshipers, who fled from the wrath of the emperors Leo III and Constantine V during the struggle against idolatry, cut through them. However, some historians do not support this version. The fact is that the architectural features of the cave temples do not allow to consider them the Byzantine monks created. The tradition of the latter included a group with shared dormitories. In Crimean temples there is a huge number of individual cells.
At the time of the alleged construction of theserocky rooms in the Crimea were still strong pagan cults. In addition, Judaism, adopted as the state religion in the Khazar Khaganate, was widespread. So anyone could build these temples.
Legends of the Temple
The construction is in fact very unusual -Uspensky cave monastery (Bakhchisarai). Impressions of tourists, judging by the reviews, from it simply unforgettable. There are several legends about the construction of the Assumption Cave Monastery. One of the legends tells that once upon a time in these parts a terrible snake appeared, eating people and cattle. Tired of its excesses, the peasants began to pray zealously to the Theotokos for deliverance. Once people saw a burning candle on the rock and went up to it. On the rock they discovered the image of the Mother of God and the dead snake lying next to it.
Another legend tells that one day onThis place was found the icon of the Virgin Mary. The peasant who discovered it moved it down to the settlement. However, the next morning the image was again in the same place. This was considered a miraculous sign and the cave church was cut down in this place.
According to the third legend, in the gorge of St. Mary of the Byzantine monks once brought the icon of the Mother of God. In the same way, the place where the religious complex was built was also indicated.
Monastery in the VIII-XVIII centuries.
If we take as a basis the assumption ofByzantine monks, the founding of the Assumption Cave Monastery was approximately in VIII AD. Following the clergy in the Crimea came and the Greek laymen, also fled from the pursuers of the iconoclasts. It is assumed that the cave temples for a long time served as their main place of religious rites.
At the time of the invasion of the Golden Horde, mosttemples were destroyed. The Assumption Cave Monastery has been preserved since the end of the 15th century. became the residence of the Crimean Metropolitan. One of its main shrines was the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, revered not only by Orthodox Christians, but also by Muslims. Russian tsars provided every support to the monastery.
Uspensky cave temple in the XVIII-XIX centuries
Until the XVIII century., so the rock monastery flourished. Everything changed after the Russian troops occupied the Crimea. At the behest of Empress Catherine II, the metropolitan, together with all Christians, moved to Russia, to the Sea of Azov, establishing the city of Mariupol. The cave temple was abandoned.
However, as early as 1850, according to the decision of the Synod,The monastery was reopened. But, unfortunately, all the books and relics once stored in it were irretrievably lost. It is still unknown whether the monks took them away with them or hid them. Perhaps most of the shrines were simply destroyed. After all, even the frescoes on the walls of the monastery were scraped.
During the famous defense of Sevastopol in the walls of the cave complex was an officer's hospital. The dead wounded were buried below - opposite the monastery. The doctors treated the famous doctor Pirogov.
Shrines kept in the monastery
In 1908 a special document was drawn up - "A Brief Historical Description", in which, among other things, the relics of the monastery were indicated. What relics before the revolution was the Assumption Cave Monastery (Crimea)? The list in this document is as follows:
The icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God is 1 arshin high and 3.5 inches high, 11.5 inches wide in a silver bowl. This image was considered miraculous. Many Christians received from the icon of healing.
A copy of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Kiev-Pecherskaya. This image was donated to the monastery by Metropolitan Philaret. Before this image, August 15 was the all-night vigil.
The image of the Savior with 84 pieces of relics of various saints. This image was sent from the Korsun Bogorodichny Monastery.
A copy of the icon of the Mother of God "Panagia". It is this image, according to legend, that was once revealed on a rock. Judging by the description, this icon was placed in a silver garment and decorated with pearls and precious stones.
A cross with the image of Christ, made of three types of wood: birch, cypress and cedar. On his back there was an inscription "Gepostet from the Old Athos to the Russian on the opening day in 1850".
Written directly on the rock, in place of the phenomenon of "Panagia" is the image of the Virgin. Before this icon the unending lamp burnt.
In the rock itself in those days 16cells. Two more were located below. On the plateau, at the same time, a staircase cut in a rock in 84 steps led. In addition to cells, at the bottom were built a two-story building for monks, the abbot's house and a kitchen with a bakery.
During the Soviet era
The struggle against Orthodoxy, which began in 1917., did not pass by and the Assumption Cave Monastery. The temple was completely looted. Monks were shot. Finally, the hermitage was closed in 1921. During the Second World War, in these caves, as well as a long time ago, there was a hospital for the wounded. The dead Soviet soldiers, as well as the officers of the tsarist army during the defense of Sevastopol, were buried below - next to the monastery itself. After the war, a psychiatric boarding school operated here.
Recovery
In 1993 the cave monastery was returnedbelievers. Currently, there is a male monastery here. The clergymen restored the temple and built an outhouse chapel. Recovery required a lot of investment. The priests even refused to take money for the services. Since then, the local church no longer has prices. Baptisms, funeral services, sorokousty, consecration of houses, etc. priests of the modern men's monastery spend free of charge.
The Holy Assumption Cave Monastery (Bakhchisaray, Crimea): description of the complex
The most ancient buildings of the monastery arecave temple of the Assumption and the house of the abbot. Not so long ago, the rock church of St. Mark. In addition, the reconstruction of the destroyed churches of St. Elena and Constantine. In the churches themselves, almost nothing interesting, for example, for curious tourists is not preserved. All the relics, unfortunately, were destroyed in times of Soviet power. Few surviving icons were transported to the museum in Mariupol. However, the monks made copies of once adorned cave temples images. The main sanctuary of the monastery was once reconstructed - the image of the Mother of God of the Assumption.
The Holy Assumption Cave Monastery inThe Crimea is right in the wall of a tall, slightly prominent forward array. It is a very impressive sight. From the windows of rock churches there is a picturesque view of the Crimean mountains. On the other side of the gorge, there is a canopy with cells cut in it and auxiliary rooms.
Quite interesting for touristsa landmark could be a dilapidated two-story building, in which pilgrims arrived to the monastery before the revolution. Next to it are the remains of the ancient settlement of Salanchik and the original buildings of the Crimean Tatars of the 16th century.
Among other things, the complex houses an ancient officer cemetery and common graves of Soviet soldiers.
How to get there
Many tourists who come to the Crimea, for surewould like to visit the Assumption Cave Monastery. Bakhchisaray is a city from which you can easily get to it. To do this, you need to take a minibus or a taxi, coming from the railway or bus station. From the stop you should climb about a kilometer from the gorge. Hanging over the abyss the temple is very well visible from afar. Some tourists get to the monastery from Bakhchisaray and just walk. In this case it is necessary to go from the beginning of R. Luxemburg Street past the old Tahtali-Jami Mosque.
Nearby Attractions
In addition to the Assumption Cave Monastery itself,the tourists of Crimea often visit the cave town of Chufut-Kale located a little higher. The latter was formed presumably in the Middle Ages and served as a security object on the border of the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately, at present most of this city is in ruins. Between the Assumption Monastery and Chufut-Kale is located the Turkish cemetery of Gaza-Mansur. It is in a shady forest. The graves in this cemetery date back to the 15th-19th centuries. Most of the tombstones are carved from local limestone. Buried in this cemetery is mainly the soldiers who defended the city during the raids. Both the Holy Assumption Cave Monastery and Chufut-Kale belong to the World Heritage sites and are listed in UNESCO.
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