Overview of the cave monastery "Shuldan" in the Crimea

Travelers exploring the main sights of the Crimea peninsula should not bypass the attention of the monastery of Christ the Savior "Shuldan". Be sure to visit it, imbued with the spirit of ancient history and reflect on the perishability of life next to the shrine. Before travelers visiting the temple, there is a very picturesque view from the height of the vicinity of the Shul valley, on the mountains covered with green vegetation.

The structure of the monastery consists of 20 caves, which are hollowed out in a rock, and the main temple is about 20 m². The cave city is located on a rocky massif and consists of the cave monastery of Christ the Savior, which is currently being restored by the forces of the hermits themselves. Near the monastery there are caves, grottoes. There is a spring near the shrine with a small font in the rock. The entrance to the cave, in which the modern hermit lives, is clearly visible from below.

Tourists from afar can see an unusual structure - a tower built of stones and decorated with a brilliant golden dome. It rises majestically above the peak of the entrance to the main temple and harmoniously complements the surrounding picture. The tower was built quite recently, but has become a place of constant visiting by tourists. Entrance to the tower is completely free, and anyone can come up and admire it close.

Descent and ascent to the monastery looks like overcoming obstacles, especially the flimsy wooden staircase is impressive.

"Shuldan" refers to the cave monasteries. It was founded in the VIII century AD. er monks who fled from Byzantium. These times are known as the period of the struggle of the emperors of Byzantium Leo and Constantine from the Isaurian dynasty with icons. Refugee monks settled near present-day Sevastopol and laid a monastery here. Perhaps they had the experience of building similar monasteries in caves in their homeland, in Athos.

The monastery existed until the XV-XVI centuries. The monks lived modestly, lonely engaged in viticulture and made wine, produced about 300 thousand liters of wine a year. This occupation was the main income of the monks. To this day, frescoes dating from the 12th-13th centuries have been preserved on the walls of the caves. Now the monastery is inhabited by modern monks who are engaged in its restoration. In the monastery they set up cells for monks and monks, outbuildings and an open main temple for pilgrims.

The monastery became a haven for people in difficult life situations that were abused by alcohol or drugs. In the recent past, the monks of the monastery helped such people undergo rehabilitation and return to normal life. After these people stayed in the monastery and helped the monks to improve it, it is not surprising that there is a place for living everywhere in every small grotto and there are simple accessories (dishes, teapots, bedspreads with bedspreads, tables). But among the hermits there are foreign priests.

The common efforts of hermits and monks built a tower-chapel, located above the entrance to the caves of the monastery.

The main temple is made like a basilica, it was hollowed out inside the rock, the vaults resemble a box, and the altar is separated by an arch.In the center is a recess for the establishment of the throne, on which one of the church servants was to sit. From the north side you can enter the chapel and see murals depicting the Mother of God on its walls. The structure of the temple is such that all rooms are located near a long common terrace. If you walk around the terrace, you can enjoy the wonderful views of the Shul valley.

Visitors to the temple can stroll through the fenced gallery, offering scenic views of the mountains, and go through the carved doors to the room of the cave temple. This place is richly decorated with icons and paintings made in Orthodox traditions. In the temple, you can put candles, pray for help and touch the shrine yourself. Texts of prayers are hung on the walls of the temple. And leaving the monastery, you can go down to the cave of a modern hermit.

The font is a small hollow hollowed out of the rock, water is seeping from it into the rock, and the font is gradually filled. A small icon is installed above the font. In the font you can wash, and especially the brave can even swim. The water temperature in the font is + 4-5 ° С. On the way there are beautiful grottoes. Ivy twists along the rocks. Under the rock, you can find a spring, and collect water. It is always harder to climb a mountain than to climb, and the journey back usually takes a little longer.

On the left you can enjoy the view of Mangup.

Around the temple are small hollowed caves, in which there are stairs and everything necessary for the residence of hermits. Especially interesting for tourists will be inspection of the burial place of monks. If you take a good look, then in small openings in the floor and walls you can see the alleged burial places for the dead. The body was placed in a niche, covered with a heavy slab, and only after 3 years were the remains removed to the ossuary.

No electrical wires were brought to the monastery, so the monks, like in the old days, use kerosene lamps. For the heating of the temple and the cells in the winter, firewood is used, which with great difficulty is extracted on the plateau, and then with the help of special and very primitive devices they are lowered down. If you walk a little towards Ternovka, you will also see similar caves. There is Chelter Monastery. There are about fifty such caves, they are located in 4 tiers.

Typically, tourists prefer to use public transport to get to the cave monastery. To do this, in Sevastopol, at the Zapadnaya bus station, you need to take a bus with the destination station “Zalesnoye village”. You will need to leave earlier, at the Avtomobilnaya station, the dam of the reservoir will help orient you. Then walk on foot in the direction of the village Ternovka. To the right will be a dirt road leading to the monastery.

Currently, unfortunately, there are no special excursion tours to the monastery "Shuldan", tourists and believers pass on its territory freely and free of charge. Upstairs, where the monastery is located is rather windy, it is better to put on a windbreaker or a light jacket. Going on a trip you need to have sports shoes. And those who are afraid of heights, it is better to think about the expediency of the campaign. The path to the monastery is laid on steep mountain paths and there are not everywhere fences.

Visitors to the cave monastery "Shuldan" will experience real peace and tranquility, enjoying the beauty of the surroundings. But when visiting the temple, some careless travelers leave behind a mountain of garbage, and this spoils the impression of visiting such a picturesque place.However, the real connoisseur will not pay attention to such trifles and will capture beautiful views of Ternovka, the reservoir, and grape plantings on the slope on the camera.

Excursion to the monastery "Shuldan" see the video below.