Shrines of Europe: the oldest monastery. The oldest monasteries in Russia Crimea: Inkerman Cave Monastery

Monasteries arose from the desire of hermits for a spiritual life outside society, but in community. Prince Siddhartha Gautama renounced wealth in search of enlightenment, becoming the founder of a Buddhist community of monks.

Christian monasticism arose in the desert of Egypt, where hermits sought a solitary life. Some were so revered and famous that they converted their followers into disciples who formed communities in the 4th century. So Anthony gathered hermits living nearby in the desert, who gathered on Sundays for worship and a common meal. One of the oldest monasteries in the world was founded shortly after the death of St. Anthony, named in his honor as the founder of Christian monasticism.

Gradually, monasticism spread throughout the Roman Empire. Saint Benedict also fled from the world, but the disciples paved the way to his door. In 530, he walled the community and wrote rules for monks, emphasizing obedience, moderation and an even alternation of work and prayer, founding Monte Cassino, the first monastery in Italy. This is how the monastic movement began to spread in Europe. From the 6th century, monasteries began to be built in England and Ireland.

In Kievan Rus, monasticism began after the adoption of Christianity. Kiev-Pechersk is one of the first monasteries in Ukraine, founded in 1051 by monk Anthony, originally from Lyubech.

Communal life required communal buildings. The church was a priority - prayers were the main occupation of the monks. The dormitory, refectory and other buildings were located around the monastery; churches were located preferably on the south side in the sun. There was also a kitchen, bakery, shops and workshops. Life proceeded quietly, without noise and fuss. Hospitality was part of the monastic rule; the guest house was usually located in the outer courtyard. In popular pilgrimage centers, guest houses were overbooked, and monasteries built hotels in the city, outside the monastic monastery. The estates and guest yards belonging to the monasteries became the main source of their income.

Over the centuries, monks and nuns have done many good deeds. They collected books and copied them, opened schools and hospitals. Monks were the most educated members of society, and often the only educated ones. Medieval monasteries were also places where alms were distributed to the poor.

At the beginning of the 14th century, monasteries in England were the most numerous. In 1530, Henry VIII broke relations with Rome and dissolved most of the monasteries. Some of them, near large villages, were preserved as cathedrals or parish churches, others were sold to wealthy families, and the rest were demolished. Monasteries did not return to England until centuries later.

The prestige of religious communities suffered from anti-church sentiment at the end of the 18th century (the culmination of the struggle against the Jesuits), many of them were destroyed. Especially in France during the French Revolution (for example, one of the most ancient). The monasteries were never again able to regain the power they once held.

However, in the 19th century, religious sentiments returned in society, and the revival of the great Christian monuments of the Middle Ages began, when monasticism was at its peak. By the end of the 20th century, in most Western countries, monks again intensified their activities in the educational and charitable fields, devoting themselves to the first goal of monasticism - contemplation.

On February 20, 395, the first nunnery in history was opened in Bethlehem. Unfortunately, it has not survived to our time, but other equally ancient monasteries have reached us, which we will talk about today.

Since monks do not like worldly vanity (which is why they go to the mountains, deserts or behind high impregnable walls), many monasteries do not allow outsiders under any circumstances. Therefore, we will talk about those ancient monasteries in the world that are open to pilgrims and ordinary tourists.

Many pages of the Bible are devoted to the Sinai Peninsula, because there, on the top of the mountain of the same name, Moses was given the Ten Commandments, inscribed on the Tablets of the Covenant. It is no wonder that this part of Egypt has been serving as a place of pilgrimage and a site for archaeological excavations for centuries. Where, according to legend, the Lord God appeared to the prophet and the Burning Bush grew, in 557 one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world appeared, named after its creator, St. Catherine. 12 chapels, a library, an icon hall, a refectory, sacristies and even a hotel are hidden by a monumental monastery fortified during the time of Emperor Justinian. Over the centuries of its existence, it has acquired more and more new buildings, without ceasing to hold services and receive believers. The temple turned into a real city in the desert. The archbishop of Sinai, the smallest diocese in the world, presides there. Among the shrines, in addition to the Burning Bush and the chapel named after her, which houses the ancient mosaic of the Transfiguration, guests of the monastery can also find a well, near which Moses met his future companion - one of Joseph’s daughters. The holy temple was never destroyed: even the Prophet Muhammad and the Arab caliphs, the Sultans of Turkey and Napoleon Bonaparte provided assistance to it. Only in the fall of 2013, due to political unrest in Egypt, the monastery of St. Catherine was temporarily closed. Information about when you can get here is indicated at http://www.sinaimonastery.com/.

Already in the fifteenth century, the “House of God” has existed in the mysterious Tibet - the great Jokhang monastery, where the initiations of the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama take place. Legend has it that it was in this place that Tibetan Buddhism was born. The first valuable item brought into the temple was an ancient statue consecrated personally by Buddha Shakyamuni. Lhasa grew around the Jokhang, and with it the temple itself grew: an impressive four-story structure, decorated with a dharma wheel and golden hinds, was rebuilt in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Buddhist shrine suffered a difficult fate: much was destroyed during the Mongol invasion, and during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Jokhang was used as a pig stable and a military base. Fortunately, the monastery was restored in 1980 and was soon inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Many treasures are hidden behind its walls: a golden urn donated by the Chinese Emperor Qianlong, a luxurious edition of the Tripitaka created from sandalwood, ancient thangkas dating back to the 7th-9th centuries, and gilded statues of the founders of Tibetan Buddhism - King Srontsangambo and his wives The monastery is open to adherents of any religion: religious rites of all schools of Buddhism and even the indigenous religion of Tibet, Bonpo, are held here. You can learn more about the history of Jokhang on the UNESCO attractions page http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/707.

The history of the Holy Spassky Convent, located near the village of Kostomarovo in the Voronezh region, has preserved little information. One of the legends attributes its construction to Andrew the First-Called himself, the other dates back to the 12th century. True or not, there is no doubt about the venerable age of the unique Russian monastery, carved right into the rock. Much here is reminiscent of Byzantium: 12 chalk pillars support the rounded vaults of the temple, which can accommodate up to two thousand believers, and its walls are decorated with beautiful Orthodox frescoes. A long and low corridor leads to the Cave of Repentance - to get here you need to bow. Only a miracle saved the Holy Spassky Monastery during the reign of the Soviets: the last monk, Father Peter, was shot, and the temple was flooded so as not to distract people from building communism. But the Russian Golgotha ​​survived: in 1993, the first service after oblivion was held here. The temple was restored and turned into a convent, and only the miraculous Kostomarovskaya Icon of the Mother of God, riddled with bullets, reminds of the terrible times. Those who have visited the Holy Spassky Monastery claim: this is a real place of power, where natural harmony and divine purity are combined. Those who have not yet reached Russian Palestine will have to travel by train from Voronezh to Rossosh (exit at Podgornoye station), and then by bus to the village of Kostomarovo.

The monasteries of the Ovčara-Kablar Gorge in the Western Morava are called “Serbian Athos” - this is how St. Nicholas of Serbia wrote about them. But they owe their name not only to the great theologian. In the 14th century, Athonite monks founded a real monastic republic here

On August 27, the church remembers one of the founders of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery - St. Theodosius of the Pechersk. His life and chronicle sources give us the opportunity to follow the first steps of Russian monasticism and see how monastic life was structured.

My paternal ancestors were priests in the Kursk diocese. The parish was passed on to the eldest son, and the rest of the boys in the family became officers in the army. My father and his three brothers graduated from the seminary. But in revolutionary times, they all decided not to become either priests or soldiers. My father became a doctor. And what’s surprising is that after this, mostly girls began to be born into the family, and boys died in infancy! So I am the last in our family. And so the circle closed on me - I had the honor to both defend the Motherland and serve the Church

Even before the middle of the 20th century, almost no one had heard of Orthodoxy in Belgium, and if they had heard of it, they considered it a sect. Today, the country’s only male Orthodox monastery in the name of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (Moscow Patriarchate) is one of the main pilgrimage centers for all Belgian Christians

For centuries they were exiled to the harsh Solovetsky Islands; in the 20th century, the entire earth was soaked in the blood and tears of prisoners. So why do people come here today to feel special freedom and peace? Why do they come back year after year and talk about a special “Solovetsky syndrome”? Answers in the NS report about today's Solovki. PHOTO GALLERY

On January 23 and June 29, the transfer of the relics of St. Theophan the Recluse is celebrated. More than ten years have passed since the day when his relics were returned to the Kazan Church of the Vyshensky Monastery, in which he lived the last 23 years of his life without leaving his cell

Our correspondent visited the monastery where St. Theophan the Recluse spent the last 23 years of his life and wrote his most significant works. What does this place look like? In addition to the previous article, we are publishing a photo report from Vysha and the famous Assumption Monastery near Ryazan

There is probably no Russian person who has not heard anything about St. Sergius of Radonezh. The saint's disciples and inhabitants of the monastery he founded, which later became the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, founded hundreds of monasteries throughout Russia, so that the Lavra can be considered a missionary monastery

The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is the only one in Russia that has never been closed. Few people know that during the last threat of its closure in Khrushchev’s times, front-line monks were ready to defend the monastery from the atheists, like Stalingrad from the Nazis. Their resolve was not disgraced. A miracle happened.

On the evening of Sunday, August 5, two Valaam monks, George and Ephraim, rode on a motor scooter to Monastyrskaya Bay to meet another pilgrim group from Moscow. They were only 200 meters away from the pier when a Gazelle jumped out from around the bend. Georgy, sitting behind the wheel, had a split second to think: on the right was a mountain, on the left was a cliff. Steering the steering wheel left and right, he threw his friend off, but did not have time to dodge the blow himself. Georgy died in the hospital without regaining consciousness

Western monasticism began in the 4th century. where the sweet life takes place these days - in Marseille and Cannes. Watch a report from the Abbey of Saint-Victor, founded by St. John Cassian the Roman, the same age as the Laurels of Palestine. PHOTO GALLERY

“Here the fire of monastic service never went out,” His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said about the Pukhtitsa Monastery during his visit to Estonia. During Soviet times, it was one of the few women's monasteries that was never closed. See our photo report about modern life in Pyukhtitsa

There is a museum in Kolomna near Moscow, the exhibits of which need to be tasted - this is the Museum of Kolomna Pastila. It consists of just one room in the wing of a merchant’s house, where guests are seated at tables set for tea, told stories about the provincial life of Kolomensky Posad of the mid-19th century and treated to home-made marshmallows

October 20 marks 200 years since Napoleon's army left Moscow. We present a gallery of icons from the exhibition “In memory of deliverance from the invasion of the Gauls...”. Russian icon on the eve of the Patriotic War of 1812”, held at the Central Museum of Ancient Russian Culture and Art named after Andrei Rublev.

For the anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 in Moscow, Franz Roubaud’s painting “The Battle of Borodino” was restored, an exhibition “Honor of Borodino Day” and interactive programs were prepared, and the atmosphere and atmosphere of the council in Fili was recreated

Participants in the international museum project “Disappearing Masterpieces” drew up recommendations for the preservation of monuments of wooden architecture in order to transfer them to the Commission for Culture and Preservation of Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. Scientists believe that this is the last opportunity to draw the state’s attention to the problem.

This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Patriotic War of 1812, Russia’s strange war with Napoleon, in which the invincible commander, accompanied by 200 thousand people, rode in vain from the banks of the Neman to the Moscow River, never being able to truly realize his military leadership talents. We are beginning the publication of a series of essays about the Patriotic War of 1812. The first of them, of course, is dedicated to the beginning of the war
April 7 (20) is the day of the death of the Venerable Abbot Daniel, founder of the Trinity Monastery in Pereslavl-Zalessky. Hegumen Daniel chose for himself an unusual obedience, which he carried out secretly from everyone - the repose of the unburied dead he found in the vicinity of the city

On October 19, 1745, very strange things happened in Dublin - thousands of people buried the dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral, who did not serve for a long time, being in London, had a very complicated personal life, offered mothers to fatten their babies for sale, and was passionately involved in politics. Every person in Russia knows this unusual priest today. His name was Jonathan Swift.

Murom Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery (“Spassky on the Bor”) is a monastery located in the city of Murom, on the left bank of the Oka River. The oldest monastic monastery in Rus' was founded by Prince Gleb (the first Russian saint, the son of the Baptist of Rus', the great Prince of Kyiv Vladimir). Having received the city of Murom as his inheritance, the holy prince founded a princely court higher up the Oka River, on a steep, forested bank. Here he built a temple in the name of the All-Merciful Savior, and then a monastic monastery.

The monastery is mentioned in chronicle sources earlier than all other monasteries on the territory of Russia and appears in the “Tale of Bygone Years” under 1096 in connection with the death of Prince Izyaslav Vladimirovich under the walls of Murom.

Many saints stayed within the walls of the monastery: St. Basil, Bishop of Ryazan and Murom, holy noble princes Peter and Fevronia, Murom wonderworkers, Venerable. Seraphim of Sarov visited his companion, the holy elder of the Spassky Monastery, Anthony Groshovnik.

One page of the monastery's history is connected with Tsar Ivan the Terrible. In 1552, Grozny marched on Kazan. One of the routes of his army lay through Murom. In Murom, the king reviewed his army: from the high left bank he watched as the warriors crossed to the right bank of the Oka. There, Ivan the Terrible made a vow: if he takes Kazan, he will build a stone temple in Murom. And he kept his word. By his decree, the Spassky Cathedral of the monastery was erected in the city in 1555. The sovereign donated church utensils, vestments, icons and books to the new temple. In the second half of the 17th century, the second warm stone Church of the Intercession was built in the monastery.

The reign of Catherine the Great did not have the best effect on the life of the monastery - she issued a Decree according to which the monasteries were deprived of property and land plots. But Spaso-Preobrazhensky survived. In 1878, the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” was brought to the monastery by the rector, Archimandrite Anthony, from Holy Mount Athos. Since then, it has become the main shrine of the monastery.

After the revolution of 1917, the reason for the closure of the Transfiguration Monastery was the accusation of its rector, Bishop Mitrofan (Zagorsky) of Murom, of complicity in the uprising that occurred in Murom on July 8-9, 1918. Since January 1929, the Spassky Monastery was occupied by the military and partly by the NKVD department, at the same time the destruction of the monastery necropolis began, and access to its territory for civilians was stopped.

In the spring of 1995, military unit No. 22165 left the premises of the Spassky Monastery. Hieromonk Kirill (Epifanov) was appointed vicar of the reviving monastery, who was met with complete devastation in the ancient monastery. In 2000-2009, the monastery was thoroughly restored with the support of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation.

The oldest monasteries are by far the most visited among tourists. At the beginning of the emergence of Christianity in Europe, monasteries were built that combined religion, culture, education, administration, and some even the judicial sphere.

For the majority of children living in poor families, studying, raising and living in a church school made it possible to increase their social status.

In the north-west of Styria in the valley of the Enns River (Austria) there is the oldest Benedictine monastery - Admont Abbey. The date of construction is considered to be 1074 and its founder is documented by the Salzburg Archbishop Gebhard. The shrine gained particular popularity in the 12th-13th centuries, when a school for girls directly from noble families was organized there.

A workshop was created at the monastery, where they worked on the monastery scriptorium. In it, the monks worked productively on the rewriting of ancient manuscripts. It was during this period that the foundations of the future famous library were laid.

During the Turkish invasions, as well as the Reformation, the monastery fell into decay, and from the beginning of the 17th to the 18th centuries it again regained its former glory and influence even outside Austria. Today, Admont Abbey is famous for its unique library, which is also considered the largest in the world.

The thematic collection of books is quite extensive, ranging from theological to scientific and historical literature. In 1865, a tragedy almost occurred and all the books were lost in a strong fire, but the clergy-monks managed to save the treasure of the monastery by some miracle.

The library of the oldest Benedictine monastery in Europe, Admont Abbey, is an architectural structure amazing in its elegance and luxury of interior decoration.

It should be noted that the book depository itself is a masterpiece of art. The entire monastery is an architectural structure that amazes with its charm and luxury, executed in the Baroque style. You can visit the Admont Monastery from March 24 to December 31. The door is open for tourists from 10:00 to 17:00 any day of the week.

Abbey in Saint Maurice

The Catholic monastery is located in the small town of Saint-Maurice, which is located in the Swiss Alps. The founding date of the Abbey is considered to be 515, but before that time a basilica was founded here, where the relics of St. Mauritius, delivered by the Bishop of Valais in 370, were kept.

According to legend, St. Mauritius, together with his comrades with whom he was in the Theban legion, were tortured to death because they refused to go to war against the same believers. The Abbey of Saint-Maurice was founded by the Burgundian king Sigismund and since that time it has been a place of pilgrimage.

The centuries-old history of the Abbey includes various periods of existence with favorable and unfavorable events, which became the prerequisites for the formation of today's Catholic monastery. Over many centuries, the servants of the Abbey have accumulated not only cultural, aesthetic, but also historical values.

It should definitely be noted that 2015 was a significant day for the Abbey, it turned 1500 years old. On this occasion, a large-scale celebration was organized with liturgy and street performance, embodying the combination of sacred and profane, as well as past and present.

Since 1995, anyone can come on an excursion to the Abbey and get a closer look at its history, explore the surrounding area and admire the unforgettable landscapes of this area.

Lérins Abbey

The history of the Lerins Catholic Monastery dates back to 410. The founder is considered to be the hermit Honorat of Arelatsky: looking for an area for solitude, he chose the island of Saint-Honoré, located near Cannes in France. But he was not able to retire, because his devoted disciples followed him and over time a community was formed.

After the formation of the monastery, over the next many centuries, illustrious saints received their education here, who later became bishops, and many of them founded new monasteries.

Already by the 8th century from the date of its foundation, the Lérins Abbey had great influence among other oldest monasteries in Europe and it had quite extensive territorial allotments in its own possessions. The village of Cannes was included in the general territory.

Due to the fact that the abbey was very rich, it was often attacked by Saracens. One of the terrible attacks on the property of the abbey is considered to be the robbery of the holy place in 732, during which almost all the monks were killed along with the abbot. The only one who survived is the monk Elenter; after a while he built a new monastery on the ruins of the destroyed one.

But in 1047, Spain captured the territory of the Lérins Islands, and the monks were detained. A short time later, the monks were ransomed, and the abbey was equipped as a defensive fortress with observation towers.

Further, the monastery was declared a property of the state directly during the French Revolution. The relics of the proclaimed Saint Honorat were redirected from the basilica to the Cathedral of Grasse, and the monks living in the abbey were expelled.

Immediately after the expulsion of the ministers, the territory of the sanctuary was acquired by the noble actress Mademoiselle Sainval; for 20 years she used the cells where the monks lived as a guest house.

In 1859, Bishop Frejus bought the island territory where the shrine was located, and within ten years it was completely restored. Today, the Lerins Monastery is directly classified as the property of the Cistercians.

It is now home to 25 monks, who, in addition to their main monastic life, successfully run a hotel business, grow lavender, and own orange orchards and vineyards.

Monastery of Candida Kassa

In 397, St. Ninian built a small temple of stone called Candida Cassa ("White House"), considered the first Christian building in Scotland. After its construction, the first Christian settlement was formed towards the north of Hadrian's Wall.

The monastery began to grow rapidly and over time occupied a prominent place directly in the early Middle Ages, like other oldest monasteries in Europe.

For construction in later times, ceramics and glass were used as a result of the latest technological processes and crafts that were borrowed from the Mediterranean and Western France.

The monastery was restored several times after destruction:

1. In 1128, a new cathedral and the monastery itself were built in the same place.
2. But in 1822, the temple restored its purpose and became a place of concentration of religious worship of pilgrims from all over the globe.
3. To this day, Candida Casa in Gallows, (Scotland) is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in Europe.

Monastery in Einsiedeln

There are several legends about the foundation of the monastery in Einsiedeln. But what these legends have in common is the fact that not far from the location of the current abbey, the hermit Mainrad settled in the forest, who had two faithful black ravens. One January day, two strangers asked to stay with the hermit for the night.

Having sheltered Mainrad, he fed them dinner, but they decided to rob him, and not finding anything valuable, they killed the hermit. While trying to escape, the killers were caught almost immediately thanks to black crows, which attracted local residents with their frantic screaming.

Over time, hermit monks began to come to the place of Mainrad’s death and thus a monastic community was formed. The creation of the monastery itself dates back to 934. From this time the Einsiedeln Abbey began its history of formation. For a thousand years, the monastery has become the main place of pilgrimage in Switzerland.

One of the first and main shrines of the abbey was the statue of the Black Madonna, allegedly consecrated by Jesus himself. But it burned to the ground in a fire that broke out in 1465. It was replaced by another, which was donated by the abbess of Zurich, Hildegard, in 1466. Now the shrine is located in the temple building directly inside the “penitential chapel”.

The monastery has a huge library room where the following are collected:

• 1230 ancient manuscripts;
• 740 incunabula;
• 700 paleotypes.

At the abbey there is a monastic school, and it also controls a Benedictine nunnery - Fahr Abbey near the city of Zurich, founded at the beginning of the 12th century.

Monastery of Mont Saint Michel

The oldest monasteries in Europe include Mont Saint-Michel, whose foundation was preceded by the appearance of the Archangel Michael to Bishop Aubert, who lived in the city of Avranches. Referring to a manuscript dating back to the 10th century, Aubert was ordered by the Archangel Michael to erect a temple on the island of Mont-Tomb (the current location of Mont-Saint-Michel).

Initially, several hermit monks settled on the island territory and built two small sanctuaries here. Archangel Michael appeared three times in Ober's dreams, since the bishop initially could not understand the will of the saint. Only the third time, when the Archangel pierced the bishop’s skull with his ring, did Oreb begin to build the temple.

The chapel built on the site of the current abbey was similar to the Monte Grotto sanctuary, located in southern Italy. It was from this grotto that some relics were brought to the chapel. This is the crimson cover left by the Archangel, as well as part of the marble slab directly with the imprint of his foot.

Over time, the influence of Mont Saint-Michel expanded throughout France, Accordingly, the number of pilgrims wishing to visit the monastery increased. But the small territory of the temple did not allow receiving a large number of pilgrims, and on the basis of this, a decision was made to build a large building.

The problem arose that it was not possible to build a temple on the rock, but a way out was found. Initially, it was decided to build four chapels, which became a kind of platform for the further construction of the building. After their erection, construction of the temple began. It took almost 500 years (1023-1520)

The long life of the abbey has seen many adversities, for example, it was closed several times, punishment cells for prisoners were organized there, and it also had to survive religious wars. The monastery of Mont Saint-Michel remains a place of pilgrimage for parishioners from all over the world.

Monastery of Monte Cassino

The oldest monasteries in Europe include Monte Cassino, which is located on a small mountain hill that looms over the town of Cassino, just 120 km from the capital of Italy - Rome. The monastery was founded by Benedict of Nursia in 529 on the site of a pagan temple of Apollo.

The built temple was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. But the monastery did not have an easy fate. It was destroyed several times, but even despite this, it remained the largest center for the spread of culture directly in the Western world.

The era of prosperity came in the 14th century. During this period, the territorial area of ​​the monastery was huge, and a library with ancient and early Christian literature was located in the temple. In addition, the Kossinian monks studied astronomy, law, medicine, philosophy, and also translated works that were originally written in Latin and Greek.

It should be noted that in addition to visiting and getting acquainted with the monastery, tourists are given the opportunity to visit one of the beautiful attractions nearby the shrine. This is Swan Lake, where black and white swan families live among the botanical garden created by the owner of the hotel-restaurant, where tourists can stay overnight.

Monastery of St. Gallen

The oldest monasteries in Europe are located in the eastern part of Switzerland. This is the monastery of St. Gallen, founded according to legend by St. Gall directly in 613. It was this year that on the site of the future temple he built a small cell for solitude in order to devote himself to prayers to God.

Although, according to available documents that have survived to this day, it is noted that it is not Saint Gall who is considered the creator of the monastery, but Otmar, who was the abbot of this sacred building.

The monastery of St. Gall had unprecedented fame not only in the territory of its town, but it was known far beyond the aisles. Numerous streams of pilgrims, among whom were very wealthy people, made donations, and the monastery management used them to rebuild and improve the temple buildings.

Thanks to this, in a short time the monastery of St. Gallen became a religious center not only in its homeland, but also abroad.

Today the cathedral church is divided into two main parts. The first part is presented to tourists in the form of buildings that were erected back in the 9th century, and the other part is buildings built already in the 18th century.

The main attraction that is of interest to tourists is the unique library, famous throughout the world, located in the western wing. Among the huge collection of books, special attention is drawn to those that were written before Jesus came into our world.

It should be noted that every tourist must familiarize himself with the special rules that are noted in special guidebooks.

Rules:

You can only visit the library from 10 am to 5 pm. The cost of admission is 7 Swiss francs.

Monastery of St. Athanasius

15 km from the town of Chirpan, Starozagora region, in the village of Zlata-Livada, there is the convent of St. Athanasius. It is ranked among the oldest shrines in all of Europe, since it was created back in 344.

Its foundation was directly carried out by Saint Athanasius, who was present during the period of the Ecumenical Council, marked in 343-344. The significant event was held in the Church of Our Lord Hagia Sophia.

Near the monastery there is a famous spring with holy water, which was turned into a water sanctuary by Saint Athanasius. According to legend, the water from the miracle spring is considered healing. Near the monastery of nuns in the mountain slopes there is a small cave formation called postnitsa, predetermined for solitude and fasting. Tourists can visit Postnitsa.

Throughout the existence of the monastic monastery of St. Anatasius, it was destroyed many times, but it was recreated. The temple acquired its modern appearance in the 80s of the 20th century.

In the sacred monastery there are several relics, one of which is considered to be the image of St. Athanasius, presented directly by the Patriarch of Alexandria Petros VII, as a gift on the day of his stay in Bulgaria, celebrated in 2003. Also preserved in the Church of the Lord is a copy of the Church Slavonic ancient parchment manuscript of the Reims Gospel.

Monastery of Saint Gall

In the ancient town of St. Gallen there is the world-famous Monastery of St. Gall, created by one of twelve disciples who were followers of the Irish monk and missionary Columbanus. During the Middle Ages, St. Gallen Abbey was the largest cultural and scientific center in Europe.

The founding site of the temple is considered to be a small cell built by Gallus in 612 near Lake Constance., where he retired from everything worldly and devoted himself to prayers to God. The construction of the temple began in 1719. After the completion of construction, the preacher Otmar was appointed the first abbot, who, while at his post, restored the existing cells, which had arrived in a dilapidated state.

Otmar also founded a famous library and an equally famous art workshop.. Thanks to Othmar and his efforts, the monastery became one of the largest Benedictine abbeys.

Monastery of St. John of Rila

The Monastery of St. John of Rila is considered one of the most significant and famous sights in Bulgaria. It is located quite high on the mountain slopes, 1147 m above sea level and is located 117 km from Sofia. Around the monastery itself there is a natural park surrounded by 36 peaks, and it also contains crystal clear Rila Lakes.

The temple building was founded by the hermit monk John of Rila in the 10th century, so the sacred monastery was named in his honor. Like all the oldest monasteries in Europe in the Middle Ages, this monastery also had a difficult fate.

It was robbed several times, destroyed almost to the ground, but it was always restored even after an intense earthquake that occurred in 1343.

Today, from the old monastery, only the Khrelovaya Tower, rising 24 m, remains for tourists and pilgrims to see, in which the Chapel of the Transfiguration of the Lord was previously built. All other buildings of the temple were rebuilt, so it differs significantly from its original appearance.

Since 1991, the Monastery of John of Rila again acquired the status of monasticism and today it is a functioning monastery, attracting not only pilgrims, but tourists from all over the world. The monastery contains the relics of St. John, near which you can receive healing, but you can only visit this miraculous place on certain days.

Also of interest to tourists is the library in the temple, where ancient manuscripts dating from the 11th to 19th centuries and a historical museum with exhibits that are hundreds of years old are preserved.

Monastery of Saint Mauritius

In the city of Saint-Maurice in 515, the temple building of Saint Mauritius was founded on the site of the martyrdom of the leader of the legion of Mauritius with his 6 thousand soldiers, who prevented the murder of fellow believers (Christians).

The order was given by Emperor Maximian in an era when mass persecution of people who converted to Christianity was carried out. For disobeying orders, Mauritius and his soldiers were executed. Some time later, during the reign of King Sigismund of Burgundy, a temple in the name of St. Mauritius was erected on the site of the martyrdom.

The Monastery of Saint Mauritius is practically the only sacred monastery in which ordinary life in prayer has not been interrupted for one and a half thousand years.

In 1998, on the doors of the so-called ancient portal, the names of martyrs from various states were inscribed in a new way, engraved in their native languages. Another significant relic of the sanctuary is a cross carved on a rock, 12 m high, which was installed in honor of Suvorov, testifying to a historical event, namely the commander’s crossing of the Alps.

In addition, the monastery displays rare exhibits that were donated by noble parishioners, who thus wished to mark respect for the relics of the great martyrs.

Monastery of St. Martin

St. Martin's Church is one of the remarkable holy monasteries in Cologne, preserved from the 10th-11th centuries. The monastery was built on the site of ancient Roman baths and then food warehouses.

The modern Cologne monastery is presented in the Byzantine style with numerous vaults and stained glass windows. It was completely restored after the Second World War, and all that remains of the ancient building is a fragment of an ancient Roman column.

There is a legend that this fragment can determine the evil and good thoughts of people. If a person has evil intentions, then this fragment of a column will not let him into the church, but they also say that he is even capable of killing a person if he is planning something evil.

As for the interior decoration, after restoration in 1960 it is devoid of any majestic decorations, but the exterior looks amazing, especially when the lights are turned on in the evening and at night.

It should be noted that from the beginning of 1985 until just before 2008, the St. Martin's building was used as a Catholic parish church, where prayer services were held in Portuguese, Filipino and Spanish. But from the second month of spring 2009, the Great St. Martin temple building, as locals call it, again acquired the status of a Benedictine monastery.

To summarize, it must be said that all the oldest monasteries founded in Europe, presented in the article, are the cultural heritage of their country, and some of them are protected by the United Nations, concerning issues of education, science and culture of UNESCO.

Article format: Svetlana Ovsyanikova

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Monasteries of Europe and the life of monks of the Middle Ages: