Most of the monasteries in Voronezh and its environs were built several centuries ago. Some of them have already been destroyed, but there are also active ones.
The completely unique monasteries of Voronezh are also known – cave complexes, consisting of several temples located in the chalk rocks. They are located several tens of kilometers from the city.
In the article we will dwell on the most famous and visited by pilgrims monasteries.
Alekseevo-Akatov Convent
This is the only active monastery in Voronezh today. Located at the address: Liberation Labor Street, 1B.
Is one of the oldest in the Voronezh diocese. Dedicated to the memory of Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow. They built a temple on Akatova Polyana - a deserted hill covered with forest. From it came the name of the monastery. It was originally male.
In the spring of 1931 it was closed, and for several decades the holy place was desecrated and devastated. All his property, utensils, library, revered icons disappeared without a trace.
In 1990, the monastery was transferred to the Voronezh diocese, and beganrestoration work. A nunnery was opened here.
Today, more than 50 sisters serve in the monastery, there is a Sunday school for children. All the surviving buildings were restored on the territory, new cells, a refectory, and chapels were built. There are ancient icons in the monastery churches.
Main shrines in the monastery today:
- The icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” of the 19th century that streamed myrrh several times is the main shrine;
- the myrrh-streaming icon of the Theotokos "Consolation in Sorrows and Sorrows";
- miraculously updated in 1997, the icon of St. Pitirim of Tambov with a particle of his imperishable relics;
- 3 arks with particles of holy relics of more than 70 saints of God, including St. Cyril and Mary of Radonezh, Tikhon of Zadonsk;
- Shroud of the Savior;
- part of the stone on which St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Also among the monastery shrines are icons with particles of imperishable relics:
- vc. Barbarians;
- St. Nicholas of Myra the Wonderworker;
- Ex. Chariton the Confessor;
- Holy Martyr Peter (Zverev);
- Ex. Seraphim of Sarov;
- healer Panteleimon.
Services in the monastery are held every day: morning - at 7:30, evening - at 17:00. On holidays and Sundays, 2 morning Liturgies are served: at 6:30 and 8:30.
Cave monasteries in the Voronezh region
Their feature is chalk caves, similar to Kyiv and Chernigov: low and narrow corridors andplaces for worship carved into the depths. There are 2 such monasteries.
Divnogorsky Assumption Monastery is located on the farm Divnogorye, Liskinsky District, Voronezh Region. It was founded by Ukrainian monks in 1653. In Soviet times, it was closed and used as a sanatorium, and was restored in 1997.
The main shrine of the monastery is the icon of Our Lady of Sicily.
Services are held here every day: in the morning - at 7:30, in the evening - at 16:00. On holidays and weekends, 2 morning Liturgies are served: at 6:30 and 8:30.
Kostomarovsky Savior Convent is located near the village. Kostomarovo, Podgorensky district, Voronezh region. Its origin dates back to pre-Mongolian times, and the arrival of monks there dates back to the 17th century. In the 20s of the last century it was closed, during the Second World War it was restored, and in 1958 it was closed again. The monastery opened in 1997
Here is Mount Golgotha, on which a cross was erected, the Garden of Gethsemane and Mount Tabor. The main shrine of the monastery is the icon of the Virgin "Valaam", written on iron and having traces of 6 bullets. According to legend, a certain Red Army soldier tried to shoot her.
Over the years, the cave churches have been completely restored, the Church of the Virgin "Searching for the Lost", utility rooms and housing for pilgrims, among whom this place is very popular.
Tolshevsky Savior Transfiguration Convent
Locatedin the village of Tolshi, Verkhnekhavsky district, Voronezh region. It was founded in the middle of the 17th century by the hermit Constantine, who lived in the hollow of a tree, ate roots, herbs and wild bee honey, as John the Baptist once did.
During the years of Soviet power, the monastery was completely plundered. Its revival began in 1994 as a nunnery. Today, couples who cannot give birth to a child come here for a blessing.
Monastery shrines:
- Korsun Icon of the Mother of God;
- icon tslt. Panteleimon with a particle of imperishable relics.
Services in the temple are held every day. There is a Sunday school for children.
Serafimo-Sarov Monastery
Located near the village of Novomakarovo, Gribanovsky district, Voronezh region.
This monastery is relatively young - its creation began in 1996. In 1998, the temple of Seraphim of Sarov was consecrated. Shrines of the monastery:
- particles of the coffin, the holy mantle of St. Seraphim;
- a particle of the chiton and the life-giving Cross of the Lord;
- particles of the relics of John the Baptist, clt. Panteleimon, Nicholas of Myra the Wonderworker, the Elders of Optina.
Worship services are held here every day in the morning and in the evening. Every day at 6:00 an akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov.
The monasteries of Voronezh attract pilgrims with their uniqueness not only from all over Russia, but also from abroad. A unique history, holy springs, miraculous icons and many other shrines leavea lasting impression in people's hearts.
