Secrets of the island of Kiy in the White Sea. Rest on the island of Ci-mail: reviews

The island of Kiy is called the second pearl of the White Sea (after the Solovetsky archipelago). It is located in the White Sea, just 8 kilometers from the mouth of the Onega River (Onega Bay). In 15 kilometers from it is the city of Onega of the Arkhangelsk region.

Kiy Island (White Sea)

The island has an elongated shape from the north to the south and small dimensions: a length of 1.5 kilometers, a width of 800 meters. Next to it is Faresov Island, separated from Kia by a jumper (cantilever), which is filled with water during the tide. During the rising water level, there is only one chance to get to Kiy. There are also other islands next to it, such as, for example, Krestovy. All together they are called the Kie archipelago. The name of the island of Kyi is most likely derived from the word that occurs in the northern peoples and means "stone."

Nature

The island represents the protrusions of a large stone slab emerging from the sea. It is composed of granites - bedrock of the Baltic Shield. This is the continuation of the Karelian-Vyborg ridge. The island experiences a constant rise above sea level-a few millimeters a year.

On its territory you can see cliffs 25 meters high. They are polished by an ancient glacier, you can also meet the characteristic glacial forms of the relief - "ram's foreheads".

Although the island is small, its banks are very diverse: steep rocky, gently stony and yellow sandy beaches. In the depths there are ponds and swamps. For the most part, the island is covered with forest, mostly pine forest, but there are junipers and mountain ash. Here you can find about 300 plant species. Among them there is a white Icelandic moss, carpeting stones, like from afar to the snow, pink flowers of ivan-tea (kaprenia narrow-leaved). In summer, mushrooms and berries are picked here, such as: cloudberry, blueberry, blueberry, and crow. In seawater, you can see various algae, and on the shore sometimes thrown out with a wave of transparent jellyfish. Pines that grow right in the water on the rocks show dangerous places for passing boats.

Holidays on the island

The beauty of this place creates a feeling of a fairy tale. Sitting on a rocky coast of the sea, covered with pine trees, you can retire and hide from a bustling city. Nature here has a very good reason for this, since it is almost untouched by civilization, while the island of Kiy is still wild and unapproachable. Rest here will be remembered for a long time, and memories will surely remain in the heart of every traveler: fresh sea air with a barely perceptible smell of algae, sun, smooth boulders resembling sleeping seals, unique sunsets that amaze with its beauty. In general, the island of Kiy is a very colorful corner of our country. Therefore, in its time here was built a holiday home, which accommodates 180 people. In addition, the island is notable for its ancient buildings of the 17th century, petroglyphs and an indescribable sense of being at the edge of the world.

And of course, many will be interested in the secrets of the island of Kiy in the White Sea, connected with its curious history.

Founding of the Onego Monastery of the Gods

In 1639, Hieromonk Nikon fled from the island of Anzer (group Solovetsky Islands). The reason for the escape is a quarrel with the abbot of the monastery Eleazar. He intended to reach the Kozheozersky Monastery by sea. But since Nikon went on an ordinary fishing boat, he suffered a disaster because of the raging storm at the rocks of Onega Bay. However, the hieromonk escaped in the bay of the island of Kiy. In honor of this event, he establishes the famous Kyi worship cross - as a tribute to tradition and thanks to God for salvation.

In 1652, Nikon again goes to the Solovetsky Island - to carry the relics of St. Philip to Moscow. On the way back, he decides to visit the island of Kiu again and put the chapel here.

Hieromonk could not later forget this wonderful place, which saved and sheltered him. In 1656, when Nikon had already become a patriarch, he asked for permission from Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich to build a monastery on the island of Kyi. He offered to found it in honor of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Lord. The king supported this idea, and the island began construction under the auspices of the patriarch. In 1660, Nikon consecrates the cathedral on the island of Kiy. The monastery itself was called Stavros, which in Greek means "cross".

Decline and Revival

Northern lands began to interest foreigners. In 1856 the English merchant Gom built a forest stock exchange here. The island became a repository of wooden building materials.

In the 19th century, the monastery was emptied, it was associated with the outbreak of the Crimean War and the British attack on the island. In 1854, the enemy troops landed on Kii. The monastery was looted and ruined. Even more damage was caused by the fire that occurred next summer. Some buildings were preserved, because they were made of stone.

In 1870, monks requested funds in the Synod for the restoration of the monastery. It was allocated 9 thousand rubles. In these years, there is a revival of monastic life. Although there were only 10-15 people living in the monastery at that time. Here appeared, among other things, a wooden wall with towers and cannons - a defense against possible subsequent attacks.

When Soviet power was established, the monastery was abolished in 1922. The churches were plundered and crushed.

The monastery on the island is currently

In the center of the island is an old monastery, laid by Nikon. It is assumed that the patriarch wanted to create a kind of counterbalance to monasticism on the Solovetsky Islands, which was a kind of republic ruling in the White Sea.

Currently, there is practically no monastery here. Rather, it is, but no spiritual life is now being conducted here. The monastery existed for two and a half centuries, its buildings have survived to the present day. This is a small complex, in the center of which stands the Cross Exaltation Cathedral. For a few willing and pilgrims in it, even sometimes they perform services, baptisms take place and the church choir performs.

Once this temple was five-domed, its architecture is the same as in the Solovetsky Islands, characteristic of the late Novgorod architecture, but adapted to the conditions of the Far North. Dark gray granite and limestone were used for the construction.

In the temple once was stored the oldest cross, in size corresponding to the one on which Christ was crucified. In it were holy relics, stones from different biblical places. He could well have perished in the 19th and 20th centuries, but he was moved to Moscow and now the church of Sergius of Radonezh is kept. The cross itself is a real work of art.

Other attractions

In addition to the cathedral, there is also the Nativity of the Virgin church, dating back to 1689. To it are added: a belltower, a tomb of the abbots of the monastery, a refectory, a Kerala chamber. A little lower is the Church of the Origin of the Honorable Ancient Cross of the Lord. Otherwise it is called: "The church is above the fountain." On the wall you can see a cross on which written inscriptions depict the foundation of the monastery monastery.

The ward, built side by side in the Petrine era, is abandoned. Only one piece of the wooden fence remained here. Once it fringed the whole monastery and was equipped with 8 towers and cannons. It was delivered after the monastery came under fire from an English squadron. Cue was taken by the British, although they could not capture the Solovetsky Islands.

In the depths of the island there is a mysterious church of All Saints. The wooden building was erected in the monastery cemetery in 1661. It was a single-headed church of a cage type. It is hidden from the eyes, because it is converted to a dwelling.

Holiday House

Since 1924, the territory of the island of Ki has been assigned to the Holiday House, and since then they have come here under permits. The living conditions are very modest, there is no electricity, but a generator works, which at a certain time breaks the silence. The holiday house operates exclusively in the summer. Therefore, you can relax on the island of Kiy in summer. In the winter the guard lives here. On the island you can see a horse, it is used to assess the strength of ice. If it comes to the shore, and then does not go, then the ice is still too thin and you can not move about it.

Wishing to visit the island of Kiy: how to get there?

To visit the island, first of all, you need to get to the city of Onega. It is possible by train - from the regional center, Arkhangelsk, or from Moscow. In the summer from the city of Onega get to the island by boat or by boat. In the winter Onega lip is covered with ice. Although it is durable, its safety is not guaranteed. At low tide the boat can not be reached directly to the shore, so usually passengers are transplanted into the boat to get to the island of Kiy. And all, you can enjoy privacy in nature.

Definitely worth such a long road rest on the Cue-island. Reviews of tourists about it are mostly positive. Especially praise the natural beauty of this unique corner of the planet. It is not easy to get lost here, firstly, the island is small, and secondly, there is a large map with explanations. Also, certain rules are set for visiting the island of Kiy.