There have been many events in the history of the Syandem Assumption Monastery, which can be treated differently. On the one hand, the trials that have befallen the monastery since its foundation can be considered a punishment. And on the other - with the special attention of the Almighty to those who decided to serve Him in these inaccessible places. After all, it is said: "Whom I love, I will punish him." Today it is calm and quiet, and nothing reminds of the dashing times when foreigners destroyed temples and killed monks ... But this was not always the case. Let's look into the depth of centuries.
Years of apprenticeship
The Siandem Uspensky monastery became a female at the beginning of the last century (1909). And before that, the Syandem Desert burned down and reborn, like a Phoenix bird. The monastery is located near the village of Syandeba, between the lakes of Roshchinskoe, which is also called Bannoe or in Finnish Kulüjärvi, and Syandebskoe. This is the Olonets region in the Karelian Republic. And in old documents the monastery was called "Afanasyev-Syandem Deserts."
Its founder was a native of these places, the Monk Athanasius of Syandem. The desire to serve the Lord led him to Balaam. There, he met his spiritual mentor, Saint Rev. Alexander Svirsky. The stubbornness and self-denial of the young man attracted the attention of the teacher, and the two ascetics became som-solitaries. This means that they made the most secret appeals to the Creator together in one of the caves of the Valaam Islands. However, after some time, Rev. Alexander retired to the forests on the Svir River, where he spent seven years in complete solitude.
The base of the monastery
After seven years of seclusion, the Monk Alexander Svirsky began to build a monastery. And then Athanasius joined him to again receive the abbot's instructions. During this period of time, the Virgin Mary appeared to the Monk Alexander, to which his som-prayer was a witness.
In 1533, the Monk Hegumen died, and Athanasius with several disciples left for the forests of Karelia, to the very place where the Syandem Uspensky Monastery is being restored today. The beauty of these places was indescribable, and it was here that the Syandem Deserts were laid.
There were ten miles to the nearest settlement, and twenty to Olonets. Olonchans allowed Athanasius and the monks to settle in these places, realizing that this would be a boon to all residents. Novgorod Archbishop Pimen blessed the construction of a chapel in honor of the Life-Giving Trinity, near which eight cells were placed for monks.
In the spring they began to plow the plot. However, according to their envy, the inhabitants of Olonets lied to the reverend before Pimen, saying that he built the deserts by force, without their consent. Athanasius went to the Svir monastery, and the place he had chosen was empty.
In the Svirsky monastery
Athanasius returned to the monastery, which was once headed by his mentor. He was elected abbot, and probably during this period he received the priesthood. In any case, in 1577, in the documents of the monastery, he is called the sacred innocent.
But in the same year, Athanasius (now the former hegumen of the Alexander Svir Monastery) filed a petition with Novgorod Archbishop Alexander. The monk seeks permission to erect a temple of the Life-Giving Trinity and a monastery with him on the site of the Syandem Desert. And for the needs of the fraternity to take land for arable land. The archbishop blessed the undertaking of Athanasius. So the Syandem Monastery was formed.
Monastery development
As time passed, the monastery grew, and the works of the monks bore fruit. After a while, the Svir desert was unrecognizable: food and necessary household appliances were presented in abundance at the monastery courtyard. And the temples erected at the monastery were striking in their splendor.
Hegumen Athanasius was not only an example of industriousness for the brethren, but also a spiritual mentor. He himself for a long time talked with the Rev. Adrian Andrusovsky, who was also a Valaam schema. He founded the monastery on the shore of Lake Ladoga, so that between the two interlocutors there was a distance of 20 versts.
The Monk Athanasius of Synda left his monastery prosperous, already at a deeply advanced age. He was buried at Cape Roshchinsky Lake. And after some time, a church of St. Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria was built over the site of the last repose of the founder of the monastery.
Hard times
Other times came: the attack of the Swedes and the Principality of Lithuania in 1582 did not bypass the Syandem monastery. Then the Trinity Church was destroyed, and the abbot who led the monastery was killed. The elders, foreseeing the evil, managed to submerge the lake church utensils and bells, which are still there.
However, the dark days were over, and after 50 years the Trinity Church was erected again, farm buildings were slowly being restored. At that time there were seven elders in the monastery. However, the main consequence of the Livonian war was the almost complete loss of all documents testifying to the invaluable contribution to the foundation of the monastery of St. Athanasius.
The ashes of the monastery
The year 1720 was one of the most unfortunate for the monastery: the fire destroyed it almost completely. However, the painstaking work of the monks and workers allowed to quickly restore the construction of the monastery.
At this time, the imperishable relics of St. Athanasius were discovered along with the rosary and permissive prayer in his hands. For several days, everyone could see them, and then they were buried in the same place. A temple was erected above the resting place, inside which the founder of the monastery lies beneath a mahogany cancer.
The Syandem monastery was expanded by 1723, since it included the Andrusovskaya and Zadne-Nikiforovskaya deserts.
But after 40 years, Catherine II started a secularization reform, as a result of which the deserts ceased to exist for 63 years. As for the churches belonging to the Syandem Desert, in 1802 they were annexed to the Tuxin Parish, and in 1821 they moved to the Andrusov Monastery. This made it possible to revive monasticism.
The revival of the monastery
In 1827, Valaam Monastery was headed by Abbot Innocent. With his care and tireless efforts, the Syandem Deserts began to revive. She was allocated land by a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers, and the same abbot Innokenty donated the required amount, who also presented the monastery with an icon of the Mother of God of God in a silver setting. Influential nobles did not remain indifferent to the fate of the desert. For example, decorating the sacristy, the church at the monastery owes Countess Anna Alekseevna Orlova-Chesmenskaya.
In 1852, the Syandem Monastery received an icon from the Abbot of Valaam Monastery as an icon of the miracle workers Sergius and German. At the time of the opening of the Syandem Monastery, on its territory there were two temples: wooden (Assumption of the Mother of God) and stone (Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria).
New Age
The beginning of the new 20th century was marked by several transformations for the desert. Firstly, in 1902 she was recognized as independent, but this could not change her extremely difficult financial situation.
As a result of this, in 1909, the monastery became the Syandem Assumption Monastery, one of the main goals of which was enlightening. As of 2011, 18 inhabitants lived in it, who could not fully ensure the restoration of the monastery from a dilapidated state.
However, very cruel times came next - the October Revolution came, and with it the struggle against "opium for the people." The desert was closed, and all its property was transferred to the livestock farm. The stone church became the property of the Gushkal logging station.
The fighting in 1941 completed the destruction of the monastery, begun by the revolutionary masses. Not even the foundation has been preserved.
Second birth
The sad consequences of historical cataclysms for the Syandem monastery. Many wooden churches, erected even under its founder, are irretrievably lost. For example, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for the restoration of which in 1827 the Emperor Nicholas I allocated a significant amount, was completely destroyed.
However, in 2013, with the blessing of the Metropolitan of Petrozavodsk and Karelian Manuel, the construction of the new Assumption Church began.
And yet, the spirit of St. Athanasius hovering over a place so beloved to him once: in 2011, with the blessing of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the second birth of the Syandem Assumption Monastery took place.
He is the only one in Karelia, and May 2/15 and January 18/31 are considered the day of memory of his patron Saint Athanasius. Headed by the abbess of Barbara.
You can get to the monastery by different means of transport. If you are traveling by bus, then from St. Petersburg or Petrozavodsk you should get to Olonets. Further, it is better to hire a taxi, because you can get lost on your own car (the navigator incorrectly indicates the route).
However, it is best to take a taxi and go non-stop. For example, from Petrozavodsk to Siandemsky Uspensky Convent, you will spend about 2 hours 30 minutes on the road.
Arriving here, you can immerse yourself in the wonderful world of untouched nature and quiet focused service to the Almighty.