Kozheozersky Monastery - description, history and interesting facts

There are places on earth where feelings and sensations become much purer and more exalted than before. Where the air is filled with such extraordinary grace and purity, and the surrounding nature - with beauty ...

These places are called places of power. They are only in some countries of the world. Including, and in Russia.

And one of such Russian miraculous places is the Kozheozersky Bogoyavlensky Monastery, which is in the Arkhangelsk Region.

The basis of the monastery

How many different incredible stories exist about when, by whom and under what circumstances the monastery was created. How many riddles, concerning the monastery and its inhabitants, have remained unsolved ...

Indeed, the history of the Kozheozersky Monastery is very interesting, mysterious and has its long way of becoming - passing through centuries and ages.

And it is located on the Lopsky Peninsula, which is washed by the waters of the lake, which has the name Kozhozero, from which flows the river Kozha. Hence, most likely, the name of the monastery itself occurs.

In fact, this is a very remote place. The place where the monk once came to build here a small chapel for prayer ...

The beginning of history

This monk was called Nifont. There is almost no information on him in more detail, but it is known that he came from the Oshevensky Monastery, in the village of Pogost, in the Arkhangelsk Region.

This Hieromonk lived in diligent labors and worries, as well as in prayers of hot and bright. A little later, other monks gradually began to come to this place. And, thus, a small, almost deserted place began to turn into the famous and to date Kozheozersky monastery.

A lot of things Serapion did for the monastery, the life path of which is unusual and mysterious. And he lived in the late XVI early XVII centuries.

Life of the Monk Serapion

Originally the Monk Serapion was from the Kazan kingdom - Tursas Ksangarovich. His family was rich and notable. By nationality he was a Tatar. But after Russia took possession of Kazan, Serapion was taken to Moscow with his relatives. There he lived in a house with relatives - the boyar Pleshcheyev and his wife (which, incidentally, was Serapionu's aunt). They baptized their nephew and gave him the Christian name Sergius (most likely in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh).

Suddenly, unexpectedly for everyone, Sergius leaves his family, his noble lineage, all the earthly blessings that promised him his position, and embarks on an unknown journey through the holy lands to Russians in search of enlightenment and spiritual harmony.

He traveled about five years. And one day he went up to Kozhozer, where in the almost impenetrable thicket of the forest there was another chapel of Nifont. Here Sergius became a monk and now became known as Serapion.

His Spiritual exploits

He found in this place that harmony and composure, which he had long sought. And they began to work together with Nifont. Their monastic economy expanded, and the monastery itself began to expand. The glory of her and her companions spread with incredible speed.

Thus, the real spiritual foundation of the Kozheozersky Monastery was laid.

But one day, in 1564, Nifont left the monastery, went to the land of Moscow, to the king himself. And he wanted that he allocated a place for the monastery and allowed to erect a real temple. Yes there he died ... And Serapion was left alone in that sacred land, in the chapel that Nifont had yet built. And all the trouble about the monastery - the expectation of the Ruler's decision about the destiny of the land for him, about the very erection - everything became Serapion's main concern.

And in September 1585, Tsar Ivan the Terrible singled out (and documented his decision!) - to give the island of Lopsky to the Kozheozersky Monastery. And he also received material funds for the construction of the temple itself.

Long worked himself Serapion and brothers in spirit, who helped him in the erection of the monastery. But the monastery was set up!

And after a while, the Reverend Receiver appeared - Avraham. And already began to grow monastery - about 40 people lived and worked in its walls. Persistent, honest work and prayer lived and another example were.

The most revered saint of the monastery is Nicodemus

In the XVII century in Russia time was very hectic. Therefore, the remoteness of the monastery to some extent served her companions and to her the most good service. All sorts of gangs and thieves, who freely "walked" in the places close to the monastery, went around these far places.

And it was during this period (approximately 1607) that a new monk named Nikodim comes to the lands of the holy abode. They say that his life was full of true holiness. And many more miracles took place on the territory of the monastery itself and in its district - during the years of this extraordinary man's life here.

He lived on the river Khozyuge (which after his death in 1640 was called Nikodimka) - not far from the monastery itself on Kozhozere.

He became the most sacred patron of the monastery. And in 1662 he was ranked as a saint.

And his relics came to worship a lot of believers from all over the world.

More detailed life of this saint is stated in the "Life" of his pupil - Ivan Dyatlev.

Currently, in the Kargopol Museum there are several icons depicting the Monk Nicodemus, works of the second half of the 17th century.

And even after the death of Nicodemus in Kozheozersky monastery remained the most famous icon of the Mother of God "Burning Bush", presented to him by his mentor - Pafnutie - even before his arrival on Kozhozero.

Patriarch Nikon

In the late thirties of the XVII century, after some wandering with adventure, Patriarch Nikon arrives at the Kozheozersky Monastery. Along the way, he managed to visit the Solovetsky Monastery, then travel the White Sea, survive the storm, erect the Kii Monastery of the Gods (in the Kiya archipelago) - as a sign of a happy salvation in that sinister storm. And then come to Kozhozero - to the monastery to the Monk Nicodemus.

Nikon possessed irrepressible energy and good organizational skills. With him, many buildings were built on the territory of the monastery.

And when he became the head of the monastery (after the death of Nicodemus), the number of monks began to reach hundreds of people - an unprecedented number for this monastery!

After a while he left this holy land. And after he went to Moscow, he soon became Patriarch of All Russia.

Life of the monastery after Nikon

With the departure of this associate, the life of the monastery again gradually returned to its usual course. Brothers decreased in their numbers, to live from their labors and the donations of the temple.

Also, material assistance to the monastery came from the tsar and Patriarch Nikon himself. And also from the boyars.

Whether Nikon was here again is unknown. Most likely, he did not come to this monastery any more.

But with him many reforms were realized in the world of Orthodoxy in Russia.

And as can be seen from reliable ancient sources, the monastery did not run poor during that period of its existence. All that was necessary and sufficient for him was: both in his interior decoration, and in the means for the life of his inhabitants. Lived as monks and thanks to the sale of bread and butter, fish, cattle, horses.

Further life of the monastery

There was a time when the Kozheozersky Monastery was completely forgotten. And under Catherine II it was completely abolished (1764).

In 1784, the land on which the temple was erected began to belong to the Arkhangelsk province.

Later, in 1851, the monastery again became operational. First he obeyed the Nikolayevsky Korel Monastery. And a little later - a few years later - became independent again. On the territory of the monastery were six churches. One of them is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.

The relics of Serapion and Abraham remained in the monastery. They are in the Temple in the name of St. John the Baptist.

And in the wooden Temple of the Epiphany of the Lord are the relics of Nicodemus.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Bolsheviks attacked the monastery and killed the monks who served there. Then the commune was built on the site of the monastery. Soon Kozhselok became a settlement of exiles, and after all disbanded ...

And already in 1998 two monks from the Optina Desert came to Kozheozersky Bogoyavlensky Monastery with a novice. But soon the monks could not stand the complexities of local life and sorrows that fell to their lot within the walls of the monastery. And the novice remained alive - and to this day serves as faith and truth in the monastery. His name is Father Micah.

To date, Kozheozersky Bogoyavlensky Monastery is the most inaccessible at the location of all operating monasteries in Russia.

In general, it is not so easy to live in the local parts, when the nearest settlement is about 90 kilometers away. And there are no normal roads. And electricity with gas is also absent.

But people still come here! Apparently, the place really radiates an extraordinary grace and power.

Coordinates of the monastery

Belonging to the monastery is the Russian Orthodox Church, the Archangelsk Metropolia, the Archangel Diocese.

The language of the services is Church Slavonic.

Contacts Kozheozerskogo Bogoyavlensky monastery: the country - Russia, Arkhangelsk region, Onega district, the village of Shomkessha.

It is recommended to call in advance and clarify all the nuances about coming to the monastery.

Recommendations for pilgrimage to the monastery

For everyone who wants to visit Kozhozere, and if lucky, and in the monastery itself, there are several recommendations on how to get to Kozheozersky Monastery.

- By train "Moscow-Arkhangelsk" (station "Obozerskaya"), then by train "Arkhangelsk-Maloshuyka" (station "Nimenga"). Before the road through the forest walks (such a car, delivering goods and people to distant places), which leaves at 8 am. Further, the forest goes 30 kilometers (you can spend the night in a forest hut).

- Yaroslavsky railway station, the Moscow-Arkhangelsk train (Obozerskaya station), then by train Arkhangelsk-Onega or Vologda-Murmansk (to the Glazanikha station or Vonguda station). Then by bus "Glazanikha-Shomoksha" (leaves at 8 am). Then go from Shomokshi by a locomotive (on a narrow-gauge railway) to the stop "on demand". Well, then go through the forest about 40 kilometers in the direction of cross-country road. You can stay overnight in the forest hut.
Travel, of course, is not easy, as those who have already traveled these routes say. But the sensations, when they already arrive there, are so beautiful that the difficulties experienced on the road are insignificant!

But there is much to learn and understand from the Kozheozersky monastery (Arkhangelsk region): about its history, which is mysterious and unusual, about those places, about its heavenly patrons, and much more. Gradually, the veil of his secrets and mysteries will be slightly opened, and the hearts of people will become purer and kinder, and with this they will be able to comprehend these truths! And, perhaps, much will be cleared up then ...