Holy Assumption Cave Monastery in Bakhchisarai (Crimea)

With spiritual thirst we torment

In the dark desert, I swung,

And the six-winged seraph

At a crossroads I appeared.

A.S. Pushkin

At the very entrance to the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God, the Seraphim patiently awaits us. Artfully carved out of rock, this guardian of divine secrecy appeared here most miraculously. In its place, a carved column was assumed, but at the most critical moment the master's hand suddenly hesitantly stopped, and the accidentally falling off rock pieces opened his face to an astonished look on the face of an angel. The artist needed only to slightly bring the mysterious image that appeared to him.

Each temple has its own angel, but not always and not everywhere can you see it in reality. From the very moment of the birth of the holy cave of the Dormition of the Mother of God, its richest and in many ways tragic, twelve-century history, was accompanied by unknown secrets and riddles. Seraphims - these angels of love, light and fire, occupying the highest position in the hierarchy of the ranks close to God - symbolize this sacred closeness.

Holy Assumption Cave Monastery is conveniently located 2 kilometers from the city of Bakhchisarai, in the cliff of St. Mary's Gorge (Maryam Dar), where fragments of Tatar buildings of the XVI century still remained.

Being in the heart of the gorge, among the most picturesque, created by nature beauties of the Crimean land, surrounded by powerful and high cliffs, this snow-white, man-made miracle does not at all discord with the surrounding mountain landscape.

The road to the monastery runs along the ravine of the Maria Gorge, where mountain blocks are wary at their right, and the steepness of the cliff is on the left. Above on the road, in smooth, processed rocks, there are cave cells cut down by the loaded hands of monks.

Further, unexpectedly, as from a fairy tale, a white dome of the Assumption monastery temple appears in the height, to which a spacious, majestic staircase goes. Journey into the depths of the centuries begins here, where, crouching under the canopy of age-old trees, you can carefully consider the wall with many images of world famous temples and monasteries.

The decoration of the church is striking in its austerity - there are no painted ceilings, tiled walls and rich mosaics in it. Nothing will distract pilgrims from the main shrine of the laurel - the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Three-armed".

In the main cave temple, carved in a mountain, the light, made of stone, iconostasis separates the altar part. The floor is covered with a simple mosaic ornament resembling the works of Chersonesus. To the right of the entrance along the wall is a small colonnade. On the left, from the windows, the unobtrusive rays of the southern sun penetrate the room.

Among the columns, in the wall on the right, there is a small cave where the honored list is kept from the image of the Bakhchisarai Mother of God. The very same icon, which became the reason for the construction of the monastery, was moved in the process of resettlement of Christians from the Crimea (XVIII century). For a long time, until 1918, it was kept in the Assumption Church near Mariupol, and then its trail is lost.

Behind the laurel fence there are several temples, monks' cells, a belfry and outbuildings. Some tourist facilities are open.

Somewhat below the Church of the Assumption is a miniature temple Mark, carved into the rocks.Artfully trimmed with wood, it looks very cozy. Everyday worship services take place here, and Sunday and festive services take place in the main church.

On the main monastery square, in honor of the icon of the Mother of God, is located the "Life-giving Source", and a chapel built above it in the form of a fountain. Initially, the image of the "Life-Giving Source" existed in lists without its image. Later the phiala was included in the composition, and then images of a reservoir and a fountain appeared on the icon.

The appearance of the “Life-giving Source” mosaic icon of Our Lady is connected with the miraculous healing of the Mother of God of the Blind, which occurred in the V century at a source near Constantinople. The warrior Leo Markell, who witnessed this miraculous healing, then elevated to the emperor (455–473), erected a temple of the same name (the Life-Giving Source) at the source site.

Since 1993, a monastery has been opened in the monastery. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin was restored. Separate internal buildings of the monastery are still under reconstruction.

On the other side of the valley you can see unusual outbuildings, similar to the large Ukrainian huts, with typical roofs. However, these are not roofs, but protruding rocks, to which inventive monks have attached only walls, having received convenient utility rooms. They contain various animals and vegetables for food.

Now, except for two restored cave temples, a considerable number of ground buildings were erected: among them are fraternal buildings, a pilgrim hotel, and workshops. In the valley, new buildings are actively being built and old buildings are being restored.

At the exit from the monastery - the road farther up the hill, to Chufut-Kale.

About the time of construction, the founders and creators of the Holy Dormition Monastery almost nothing is known. On this occasion there are various versions, confirmed only by legends and ancient beliefs. We can only say with confidence that this Orthodox monastery is the oldest of the Crimean monasteries. The proposed versions of the monastery’s origin have a wide temporal variation - from the VIII to the XIII century.

The appearance of the monastery a number of experts refers to the period between the XI and XV centuries. However, it is possible that the monks appeared in the gorge of Mary in the VIII century, during their expulsion iconoclasts.

It is likely that initially the monks cut down the building of the temple from the rocks, and the monastery itself was formed somewhat later.

From the 17th century, the cloister was the residence of the Metropolitans of Goths (Patriarchate of Constantinople). They led by the spiritual path of the Greeks and representatives of other nationalities who once had converted to Orthodoxy.

At the end of the war with the Turks in 1774, Prince A. A. Prozorovsky arrived on the peninsula with the troops. He informs the sovereign that there is an ancient Greek church not far from Bakhchisarai, carved out of the mountain, and its higher clergy intend to build a new temple. But, despite the fact that the local throne was headed by a pro-Russian Khan, instead of renovating the monastery, it was neglected.

The process of reviving the monastery is associated with the name of St. Innocent, who occupied the Kherson pulpit in 1948. In 1850, the church was solemnly opened, and Archimandrite Polycarp became its rector. The opening was attended by the supreme clergy and many of the Crimean pilgrims, including the Tatars, inspired to accept this event.

In the XX century in the vicinity of the temple was built Anastasia Sketeton Skete monastery. Erected on the site of an old home church, it is located 8 km from the monastery.

The Soviet government did not complain to believers, and in 1921 the monastery was closed, and in its premises they organized a colony for the disabled. From 1929 the monastery gradually faded. Since 1970there was a neuropsychiatric institution.

The active revival of the monastery began in 1991, with the light hand of the Archbishop of Simferopol, Lazarus. In 1993, when the monastery was opened, four monastery churches, cell buildings, the abbot's house, a bell tower were reconstructed, the water source and the main staircase were restored. Today, the number of employees of the monastery is the largest in the Crimea.

Pilgrims and tourists arriving at the monastery are imbued with the sublime spiritual atmosphere of the monastery on the way to it. The high ancient staircase and the special architecture of the monastery, proximity to pristine nature and something mysterious - all this creates unusual, timeless impressions.

In addition to rock and rock art, the architectural features of the monastery emphasize the following buildings.

• Bell tower. A single-tier, built in the form of a figured portico, neat columns of the Tuscan order are clearly visible on a very high base. All this glitters with a gilded roof in the shape of a beautiful tent. Above the main temple stands a particularly revered icon of the Mother of God, located in a recess with a twisted image.
• Fountain, closer to the foot of the stairs, inspired by an angel sculpture. To the left of the fountain is a cozy house of the abbot, erected in the XIX century.
• Viewing platform, located in front of the main entrance to the temple, offers a wonderful view of the gorge and the ancient ruins of a Greek town.
• Utility rooms monasteries with roof-like cliffs hanging from them.

The cave premises of the monastery have wonderful acoustic qualities. On the landing in front of the cave church, the voices of the visitors roar, but it is worth taking a couple of steps to the north and this noise disappears almost completely. So limestone with its porous structure intensively absorbs noise. Knowing this, the builders of the temple increased the size of the premises of the church of Saints Constantine and Helen, whose walls reflected the sound.

Due to this, the altar was in the center of the volume resonator, and the sounds of prayers reached up to Chufut-Kale, where, entering the cave horns, they were reflected and re-emerged in the monastery. Due to this effect, the praying Christians had the impression that along with them, nearby rocks produce a prayer.

About the appearance of the temple there are several beautiful legends. So, the young shepherd, leading the flock past one of the caves, noticed a bright light in it. Inside the cave, he was surprised to find an icon lit by the flame of a candle floating in the air, the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. There was no limit to his admiration, especially since the episode occurred on August 15, namely on the Day of the Assumption of the Virgin. Having taken the icon home, in the morning the shepherd discovered that it was not there.

But, following on the grazing, near the same cave, he again saw the light and the icon. The shepherd brought the image home again, but the story repeated. Her fellow villagers, having learned about this event, guessed that the Virgin Mary wanted a temple in her honor to be built at this place.

Crowned persons visited the Holy Dormition Monastery: the emperors Alexander I and II, Nicholas I. Wonderful events and phenomena occurring here are constantly attracting and attract here both Christians and just inquisitive people who believe in miracles.

The main shrines of the monastery.

• Icon of the Assumption of Our Lady in a robe made of silver - donation of commandant Bakhchisarai Totovich. Believers receive healing from mental and physical illnesses from this gift. Evidence of this - a lot of pendants of gold and silver, as gifts for getting rid of unknown ailments.
• A duplicate of the icon of the Mother of God in a silver riza with jewels. Donation of General Martynov's wife in 1856
• A duplicate of the icon of the Mother of God of Kiev-Pechersk, in a gilded robe - the gift of Metropolitan Philaret on the occasion of the celebration of the opening of the skete.
• Icon of the Savior with 84 fragments of the relics of the saints - a gift from the Korsun Monastery of the Virgin.
• Cross with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Composition of three valuable wood species. Gift of Old Athos in 1850
• The image of the Virgin and Child. Displayed on rocks.

It is quick and easy to get to the monastery by bus number 2, which follows from the Bakhchisarai railway station to the stop "Staroselye". Then stay a little walk.

By private transport it is better to go to the monastery from the ring road that passes in front of Bakhchisarai (if you move from Simferopol). On the track there is a noticeable pointer showing the path to the travel destination. Then, passing the most beautiful cliffs, we reach Starosella and, parked in the parking lot, we move to the monastery on foot.

We follow the old mosque of Tahtali-Jami, built in the 18th century, where you can quench your thirst in the fountain located there, meaning the upcoming ascent to the monastery.

Mountain monasteries are a special historical space of the spiritual culture of the Crimea. Some of them were founded by Byzantine masters as early as the 8th – 9th centuries and did not interrupt their activities, being under the Tatar yoke. The same are the mountain buildings of Kachi-Kalona and the Beaded Temple.

The Holy Assumption Monastery is the supporting bridgehead of Orthodoxy in the Crimean region. Excursions to this monastery are often combined with a visit to the Karaite mountain settlement of Chufut-Kale with its kenasse, mausoleums and grottoes, which is explained by the proximity of the tourism facilities.

Such excursions are conveniently ordered as part of tours on sites where you can familiarize yourself with the rules in advance, the corresponding prior review of service registries, prices and other nuances. Here you can find out the prices of excursions in various directions and find suitable options.

To visit a Christian shrine, women must wear a headscarf and be sure to wear closed clothing. The entrance to the monastery is open at any time of the year, however, tourists can visit only a few rock rooms.

There are several such complex excursions (with various objects of display) from Bakhchisarai. Their cost varies from 500 to 1500 rubles.

About the Holy Assumption Cave Monastery in Bakhchisarai, see the following video.