Iversky Monastery: Odessa, School aerodrome

Odessa is a city traditionally multi-confessional. People who profess different religious beliefs have always lived in it. But most of the inhabitants of South Palmyra are Orthodox. A lot of churches adorn the city, sung by Leonid Utesov. Orthodox, inhabiting the housing estate Tairov, often, and especially on church holidays, visit the Iberian monastery. Odessa, as it is sung in a famous song, is very large. Here they go from Moldavanka, from Peresypi, and from the center, and from Slobodka, and from the village of Kotovsky. The atmosphere in the monastery is special, good-natured, and even the long road does not become an obstacle for believers seeking to join it.

History of the monastery

In the autumn of 1998, Metropolitan of Odessa and Izmail Agafangel consecrated the throne of the future monastery. Not far from the runways of the airport and the school airfield was founded the Holy Iver Monastery. Odessa has long been waiting for this day: the point is that the place for construction was chosen with a special meaning. Once, shortly after the founding of the city, in the 18th century, Mikhailovsky was already here, next to which there was a stream that flowed at the 10th station of the Big Fountain in the sea. By the end of the 1800s the monastery came to desolation, from it there remained a small church, which gave spiritual nourishment to the inhabitants of the nearest farm settlements. New life this temple has found after the opening of the Odessa Aeroclub, one of the first in the Russian Empire. Pilots of the new century, because of their proximity to the sky and the special danger of their fishing, decided to keep the church, located near the airfield, called the School. The decision to establish the squadron and take him to the site was taken by Emperor Nicholas II, who later visited Mikhailovskaya Church several times. One of the initiators of the preservation of the temple was the famous pilot SI Utochkin. This is where the Iver Monastery was founded almost a century later. Odessa cherishes its history and remembers the heroes who made the city famous.

Icon of the Mother of God

The church standing near the airfield, unfortunately, did not survive, it was destroyed in the years of God-fighting. In the holy place, the Holy Synod of the UOC decided in spring 1998 to erect a monastery, the name of which was given by the miraculous icon of the Iberian Mother of God, or rather its exact list, delivered to Moscow 350 years ago. At the end of October, the first dome was erected, under which Metropolitan Agafangel served a liturgy. Less than a year later, a source of healing water was hammered near the temple. In 2000, specifically for the growing by leaps and bounds, the monastery on Mount Athos created an accurate list of the wonderworking icon that adorned the Iberian monastery. Odessa has found another shrine. Today it is in a small wooden chapel, surrounded by a beautiful garden.

Deeds of the world

The Abode is strong with God's grace, but the earthly prosperity of her, in addition to prayerful zeal, requires completely worldly rewards. Through the efforts of her brotherhood and vicegerent Archimandrite Diodorus, economic activity successfully accompanies the spiritual nourishment of the numerous flock. Many necessary and charitable institutions operate on the territory of the monastery, contributing to its flourishing and further development. Among them there is a comfortable hotel for pilgrims, apiary, candle production, carpentry workshop, sewing workshop. There is even a bird's yard, which provides food for the brethren and guests of the monastery on days when it is allowed to eat a meal. Skilful masters write icons, which along with other utensils are sold in the church shop. On a no-yeast technology, special bread is also baked.

In the prosperity of the monastery, donations made by the Holy Iveron Monastery are also of considerable importance. Odessa in the face of entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens willingly donates funds for the prosperity of the Christian Faith. The erection of the Temple of Seraphim of Sarov by the efforts of the builders and donors will soon be completed.

Monastery for children

The upbringing of the growing generation of Orthodox citizens is paid much attention. Children can attend Sunday school, hospitably flinging their doors to all comers immediately after the Liturgy, at noon. Teachers teach a lot: in addition to the important Orthodox knowledge obtained in the lessons of the Law of God, singing, liturgy and the history of the Church, the children are attached to the world of beauty. Classes are diverse, they include courses in drawing, needlework, modeling. There is also a speech therapy room. Children can get initial technical knowledge in the aircraft model circle. Traditions of the first Russian aviators are kept by the heirs of the Mikhailovsky Pilot Church, on the site of which stands the Iversky Monastery. Odessa is a city that cares about its future and remembers the past.