In the dense forests of the Russian North, the inhabitant of the Valaamovsky monastery Alexander, founded the monastery. The desire to bring good news to the residents of the Karelian region burned in his heart. Others, monks and believers, joined him. The monastery grew rapidly. The first church, Pokrovskaya, was built by St. Alexander himself. This happened in 1533. Prince of Moscow, Vasily III gave patronage, allocated money for the construction of the temple.
In 1644, with donations from the royal family, the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord was built.
The kings and boyars spared no money, the monastery grew rapidly.
In total, the monastery had 8 temples, a bell tower, a sacristy, a huge library.
It all ended in 1918. As part of the fight against religion, the monastery was closed. The brothers just got kicked out.
Some of them were arrested and shot. Among them was the abbot of the monastery. The relics of St. Alexander are gone. Fortunately, most of the library has survived. Some of her manuscripts are stored in the National Library, some in the library of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
For what not used the buildings of the monastery! There were offices and a psychiatric hospital, warehouses and barracks. All this came to a final desolation by the mid-90s.
Therefore, when the monastery was revived, the first inhabitants had to work hard.
The Lord rewarded them for their efforts. During the restoration work, in the late summer of 1998, a burial was opened, in which the remains of Alexander Svirsky were preserved.
At the moment, life is fully established in the monastery. Divine services are performed, educational work is carried out, a pilgrimage service is organized. Most of the premises have been restored.
The monastery conducts great educational work, receives pilgrims.
Monastery shrines:
Cancer with the relics of St. Alexander, called Svirsky;
The water is considered miraculous.
The place where the Holy Trinity appeared in a vision to St. Alexander;
Powerplants;
The place where the Mother of God’s vision was.
For visits, the monastery is open every day, from 6:00 to 20:00. On Sundays and on
Holidays, 8:00.
Charitable Foundation Holy Land
Russian Temples and Monasteries
