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Restoration of an old monastery
Would you like to take part
in the restoration of an old monastery?
This monastery was founded in 15th centaury on the small secluded island on the lake Kubenskoe in Vologda region, Russia (about 300mls north from Moscow).
The monastery was closed and then destroyed during Soviet time. The last act of vandalism happened in early 1950s: the church-belfry (the last survived) was blasted because somebody decided to use bricks from the church for new buildings. But this somebody forgot about high quality of all old structures. Cement that was used to build the church was so good that after the blast there weren’t any separate bricks but several big useless monoliths.
Since then nature and time continued to demolish the monastery till 1980s when small group of enthusiasts headed by a local architect began campaign for restoration of the monastery. Volunteers started to work on the island. Unfortunately, after the architect death the restoration faded out.
Recently new enthusiasts came to the island. Small government grant, small but continuous private donations and mainly volunteers work give a hope that some day we’ll see the monastery as beautiful as before.
Negotiations that are held between government and Russian Orthodox Church might give control of the monastery to the Church. Now it’s under control of the Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation.
There are a lot to do on the island and any help is welcome and appreciated: common labor and special trades (carpentry, masonry …). Some volunteers come to the island for a day or two, some spent their vacation there.
If you’d like to participate in the restoration of this small monastery contact asmbl@mail.ru. And if we find at least 6 -10 people who would like to do this we’ll go to Russia in July for two weeks.
Tentative expenses are $990 + airfare + visa fee. $990 include land transportation, all meals, two days sightseeing in Moscow and three days in St. Petersburg and accommodations (homestay in Moscow, B&B in St. Petersburg, in the old monastery building on the island). Note: there are no modern conveniences on the island: any running water, flash toilet or shower, but lake water around, Russian sauna and outhouse. We’ll cook our meals on the fire stove and sleep in the sleeping bags on the floor (the participants bring their own sleeping bags and pads, though it can be arranged by request). There are a lot of fish in the lake, so it will be possible to go fishing and swimming during rest hours. But the majority of time on the island we’ll devote to our main goal – help with the restoration.
Another monastery that could use help-hand is located not far from St. Petersburg:
The Konevets monastery was founded by the hermit Arsenij Konevskij in 1339.
According to the legend he was looking for the secluded place to devote his life to the God. He came to the Konevets. At first he didn’t like the Island and decided to go further. When he was ready to board the boat terrible storm prevented him to leave. He tried another day but it was the same. Arsenij decided that this is God’s sign for him to stay on the Island.
Little by little other monks came and the monastery was founded.
In 1398 the Cathedral of Nativity of Virgin Mary was laid. Probably it’s the main attraction on the Island: it houses the relics of Arsenij Konevskij and the icon of Our Lady of Konevets. The monks sing sacred music for the tourist groups for the donations to the Monastery in the Cathedral.
During the centuries the monastery was destroyed several times (wars with Sweden) but monks rebuilt it all the time. By the way they never hold the guns in their hands…
In Soviet time there was Navy base on the Island and the Island was closed for the public. Football field was built on the place of Monastery Cemetery and the Cathedral became a warehouse.
Now the Island is given back to the Church. There is the active monastery on the Island (25 monks live there). Konevets Monastery is as small brother of the famous Valaam Monastery and all the time was and still is in its shadow. Konevets isn’t as wealthy and impressive but (for me) has more spiritual feeling than Valaam (Valaam became too touristy and commercial…).
To get from St. Petersburg to Konevets Island:
2 hours by car (on Priozersk HW) and 40 minute boat ride.