Most monasteries in Voronezh and its environs were built several centuries ago. Some of them are already destroyed, but there are also existing ones.
The absolutely unique monasteries of Voronezh are also known - cave complexes consisting of several temples located in chalk cliffs. They are several tens of kilometers from the city.
In the article we will dwell in more detail on the most famous and visited pilgrim monasteries.
Alekseevo-Akatov Convent
This is the only active monastery in Voronezh to date. Located at 1B Labor Liberation Street.
It is one of the oldest in the Voronezh diocese. Dedicated to the memory of Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow. They built a temple on Akatovaya Polyana, a deserted hill covered with forest. From her came the name of the monastery. Initially, he was male.
In the spring of 1931 it was closed, and for several decades the holy place was subjected to abuse and ruin. All his property, utensils, library, revered icons disappeared without a trace.
In 1990, the monastery was transferred to the Voronezh diocese, and restoration work began. There was opened a female monastery.
Today, more than 50 sisters serve in the monastery, there is a Sunday school for children. All the surviving buildings were restored on the territory, new cells, a refectory, chapels were built. In the monastery churches are old icons.
The main shrines in the monastery today:
- the myrrh-streaming icon of the Virgin “Life-giving Spring” of the 19th century is the main shrine;
- the myrrh-streaming icon of the Virgin "In sorrow and grief Consolation";
- wonderfully updated in 1997 icon of st. Pitirim of Tambovsky with a particle of his incorrupt relics;
- 3 ark with particles of holy relics of more than 70 saints of God, including St. Cyril and Mary of Radonezh, Tikhon Zadonsky;
- Shroud of the Savior;
- part of the stone on which he performed the prayer Seraphim of Sarov.
Also among the monastery shrines are icons with particles of imperishable relics:
- vmts. Barbarians;
- St. Nicholas of Myra;
- Pr Chariton the Confessor;
- Hieromartyr Peter (Zverev);
- Pr Seraphim of Sarov;
- healer Panteleimon.
Divine services in the monastery are held every day: morning - at 7:30, evening - at 17:00. On holidays and Sundays, 2 morning Liturgies are served: at 6:30 and 8:30.
Cave monasteries in the Voronezh region
Their feature is chalk caves, similar to the Kiev and Chernigov caves: low and narrow corridors and carved in the back places for worship. There are 2 such monasteries.
Divnogorsk Assumption Monastery is located on the farm Divnogorye Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region. It was founded by Ukrainian monks in 1653. In Soviet times, it was closed and used as a sanatorium, and in 1997 it was restored.
The main shrine of the monastery is the icon of the Sicilian Mother of God.
Divine services are held here every day: in the morning - at 7:30, in the evening - at 16:00. On holidays and weekends, 2 morning Liturgies are served: at 6:30 and 8:30.
Kostomarovsky Spassky Convent is located near the village. Kostomarovo of the Podgorensky district of the Voronezh region. Its origin dates back to pre-Mongol times, and the arrival of monks there dates from the 17th century. In the 20s of the last century it was closed, during the Second World War it was restored, and in 1958 it was closed again. The monastery opened in 1997.
There is Mount Golgotha, on which a cross is erected, Gethsemane and Mount Tabor. The main shrine of the monastery is the icon of the Virgin "Valaam", written on iron and having traces of 6 bullets. According to legend, a Red Army man tried to shoot her.
Over the years, cave churches were completely restored, the Church of the Virgin Mary “Recovery of the dead”, utility rooms and buildings for pilgrims, among which this place is very popular, were built.
Tolshevsky Transfiguration Convent
Located in the village of Tolshi, Verkhnekhavsky district, Voronezh region. It was founded in the middle of the XVII century by the hermit Konstantin, who lived in the hollow of a tree, fed on the roots, herbs and honey of wild bees, as John the Baptist once.
During the years of Soviet rule, the monastery was completely looted. His revival began in 1994 as a female monastery. Today, couples who cannot give birth to a child come here for blessing.
Shrines of the monastery:
- the icon of the Virgin "Korsunskaya";
- icon Panteleimon with a particle of imperishable relics.
Divine services are held every day. There is a Sunday school for children.
Seraphim-Sarov Monastery
Located near the village of Novomakarovo Gribanovsky district of the Voronezh region.
This monastery is relatively young - its creation began in 1996. In 1998, the temple of Seraphim of Sarov was consecrated. Shrines of the monastery:
- particles of the tomb, the holy mantle of St. Seraphim;
- a particle of a tunic and the life-giving Cross of the Lord;
- particles of the relics of John the Baptist, Panteleimon, Nicholas of Myra the Miracle Worker, the Elders of Optina.
Divine services are held here every day in the morning and in the evening. Every day at 6:00 akathist is read. Seraphim of Sarov.
The monasteries of Voronezh attract pilgrims with their uniqueness not only from all over Russia, but also from abroad. The unique history, holy sources, miraculous icons and many other shrines leave a lasting impression in the hearts of people.