Konevetsky Monastery on the Ladoga Lake: history and excursions

Konevetsky monastery on Lake Ladoga is one of the main centers of Orthodoxy in the North-West of our country. Therefore, today, like many centuries ago, thousands of pilgrims from all over Russia agree to overcome any difficulties in order to be able to worship the shrines of this old monastery.

Konevets Monastery: how to get there

If you intend to go to Konevets on your own motor transport, it is better to leave Petrograd on the Priozerskoe highway, turn towards Fruitovo, then follow the main road "Uralskoye - Solnechnoe - Zaostrovie". In the village of Zaostrovye, turn right onto a dirt road and drive about 5 km along the finned primer to Vladimirovka, where the pier is located. Tourists and pilgrims who have repeatedly visited Konevets, recommend to leave St. Petersburg in such a way as to be on the dock no later than 10.00 - 12.00. If the trip is supposed to be carried out by train, then it is necessary to choose the electric train that follows towards Kuznechnoe, get off at Gromovo station, from where the bus leaves at 10.00 to berth in Vladimirskaya Bay.

The history of the Konevets Monastery from its foundation until 1917

The monastery was founded at the end of the 14th century by the Monk Arsenii, who arrived in Veliky Novgorod - after several years spent in the Serbian Hilandar monastery on Mount Athos. Having received the blessing from the Novgorodian ruler, in 1393 the monk went to Lake Ladoga to find a secluded place for the foundation of the monastery. The Lord brought the monk to an uninhabited island, which the inhabitants of the Ladoga coast called Konevets. For three years the Monk Arseny lived there in perfect seclusion. During this time, the glory of the asceticism of the hermit ascetic spread throughout Russia, and the disciples began to come to him. With the blessing of Archbishop of Novgorod in 1396, a monastery was established on the island , the first abbot of which became the Monk Arseny. Serving the Lord, he continued until his death in 1447. Was buried under the porch of the main temple of the monastery. 130 years after the death of the Monk Arsenii Konevetsky monastery was devastated by the Swedes, but the brethren quickly recovered the monastery. After another 30 years, the troops of the Swedish kingdom expelled the monks from the island, and almost a century the monastery was empty and was in ruins. The monks returned to Konevets only after the victory of Russia in the Northern War. The heyday of the monastery came in the 19th century, when several temples and service buildings were built here, and the number of monks exceeded one hundred.

The history of the Konevets monastery after 1917

In 1917, the Konevetsky Monastery was placed under the jurisdiction of Finland, which enabled him to avoid the bitter fate of many Russian monasteries. However, the Finnish authorities organized a military base on the island, which violated the solitude of the monks. But the hardest trials fell on the brothers after the defeat of Finland in the Winter War, when Valaam and Konevets were transferred to the USSR. To avoid death, the monks from both monasteries were evacuated to Finland, and the Konevetsky monastery was ravaged by Soviet troops. As for the island, it was turned into a testing ground with a secret military base. Only in 1991 the monastery began to recover. Moreover, works on the restoration of monastic buildings and temples continue to this day.

Konevets monastery: excursions

In addition to pilgrims, Konevets monastery is often visited by tourists. Usually such excursions begin with the landing of travelers in St. Petersburg in a comfortable bus.

Then they are taken to the Volodymyrskaya Bay, from where the tour group goes by boat to Konevets. Excursion around the island begins directly from the monastery pier, near which is the chapel of Nicholas the Wonderworker - the patron saint of all travelers traveling on the water. Then tourists who came to Konevetsky Monastery, are led to the territory of the main manor through a gate over which the bell tower rises. There, travelers will visit the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and after passing about 2 km to the Holy Mountain, they will visit the Kazan skete. Finally, guests of the island will be shown one of his most famous attractions - Horse-stone - a huge granite boulder, which served as a Finnish tribal altar for pagan rituals. In the late 19th century a chapel was built on it, in which tourists can climb a wooden ladder.

Rules of visiting the monastery

Since the monastery on Konevets is active, visitors should be dressed accordingly. In particular, women and girls should not be dressed in mini-skirts, trousers, shorts, shoulders and breasts should be covered, a shawl or shawl should be tied to the head. As for men, they should not go to the monastery in shorts.