Bead cave in Crimea. Cave bead Temple in Crimea. Skete of St. Anastasia

Crimea is famous for its cave monasteries, mountain chapels, hermitages and altars hidden in rocky grottoes. One of the most unusual hermit settlements on the peninsula is the restored monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker. It is notable not only for its amazing history, but also for its truly unique temple, all the decoration of which was created by the hands of monks and parishioners from beads.

A small hermitage is hidden in the Tash-Air gorge on the slope of Mount Fytski, not far from the cave city of Kachi-Kalyon. Accurate information about the time of the founding of the cave monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker in Kachi-Kalyon has not been preserved. According to scientists, this happened in the 8th century. The monastery existed until the resettlement of Christians from Crimea, and after 1778 it gradually became empty and fell into disrepair.

In the middle of the 19th century, the monastery was revived thanks to the efforts of St. Innocent. Services resumed in the church, and a new one was built near the road, also named after Saint Anastasia. In 1932, the monastery courtyard and church were liquidated.

The monastery experienced its second birth already in XXI century. In 2005, the monks of the Bakhchisaray Holy Dormition monastery, received a blessing to restore the cave monastery. At the same time, in an old adit that went several tens of meters deep into the cave, a new temple to Anastasia the Pattern Maker was built, which is now commonly called the Beaded Temple.

Since the abandoned limestone adit was damp and it was not possible to paint the walls, it was decided to decorate the temple with what the believers brought. Used jewelry, beads and beads were used. Painstaking manual labor they were transformed into pendants for lamps, copies Orthodox shrines, icons.

Each product in the bead temple is unique in its own way. Beaded panels shimmer in the flames of lit candles. In total, there are 65 lamps with beaded pendants in the temple, and not a single one is the same. The ceiling of the skete of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker is decorated with beaded Star of Bethlehem and a Byzantine cross. Is here beaded the Ten Commandments and many other unique things that highlight the splendor of the temple. Once people have visited the monastery, on their next pilgrimage they are sure to bring beadwork made with their own hands as a gift to the monks, making their contribution to the decoration of the monastery.

Anyone can visit the Beaded Temple. To do this, you need to travel from Bakhchisaray in the direction of the villages of Predushchelnoye - Sinapnoye by bus or car. From the Kachi-Kalyon stop there is a steep climb up a narrow path lined with old car tires. For parishioners and tourists, there is a church shop on the territory of the monastery where you can buy beaded jewelry and soap self made, oil based on aromatic mountain herbs, souvenirs and magnets. A hotel for pilgrims was built at the monastery. Those who wish to work for the benefit of the monastery can also stay here.

The Crimean peninsula is not only a famous resort region and holiday destination, it is a land where East Slavs first came into contact with Christianity, where the Greek Christian tradition arrived at the turn of the era. One of its signs is the widespread occurrence of monastic buildings in caves, similar to the type of Athos monastery known to all believers. Driven by the vicissitudes of fate, the monks already in the first centuries of the new era began to found in Crimea similar designs. There are so many of them here that there are still late XIX century, someone called the peninsula “Russian Athos”. Among the local famous cave abodes, Kachi-Kalyon stands out - a real complex, which includes the so-called Skete of Anastasia the Pattern Maker. In Crimea, this place is extremely popular among pilgrims.

Where is the attraction located in Crimea?

Skete of St. Anastasia on the map of Crimea

Historical information about the sacred monument

On the Crimean peninsula, the Skete of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker can be called the pearl of Orthodoxy. The name is not just a figurative comparison, it reflects the real appearance of the Christian monument, because its temple is completely decorated with millions of beads. But first things first.

In 1859, Innocent visited the healing spring, which had not disappeared in this place, and consecrated the dilapidated church, which was soon restored. Believers and pilgrims flocked here, to the church and the holy spring. Soon, a second church was erected near the road, just below the steep cliffs, also named in honor of Anastasia.

But the times of Soviet power again brought devastation and oblivion here. The restoration of the monastery began only in 2005, primarily through the efforts of the brethren. For many, a visit to this Crimean corner helps to get rid of various ailments, to whom lost abilities are generally returned.

What is interesting about the Skete of Anastasia the Pattern Maker?

Behind last decade The monastery of Anastasia the Pattern Maker in Crimea has been transformed beyond recognition. Its highlight is the abundance of beads inside the church.
It is used to embroider all the monastery icons, candle stands, and decorate lamps.

The fact is that the church is being restored in a former lime mining adit, so it is always damp and humid here. Neither plaster nor paints would have held up in such conditions, therefore, the first icons turned out to be embroidered with beads. And then came wall patterns, candlesticks - the entire inside of the temple was decorated with this simple decoration.

In the light of candles, the beads shimmer with multi-colored reflections, filling inner space special rainbow glow. Another, more spacious temple complex is being built here - in the name of Holy Mother of God"Three-handed" It will be in a more accessible, less damp place. The inhabitants of the monastery set up on the slopes of the mountains small garden, where in addition to traditional fruit trees, even persimmons grow.

The valley of the Kacha River, the right bank of the river, near the village of Preduschelnoye is incredible Beautiful places, a man of the Paleolithic era lived here - the Kachinsky canopy. Nearby on the rock Tash Air are rock paintings of the Kemi-Oba culture. The cave city of Kachi-Kalyon is located in a rock, in four grottoes; people have lived there presumably since the 4th century. In Kachi-kalon a large number of Tarapanov (wine press), the city specialized in growing grapes. Photo – monastery of Anastasia the Pattern Maker, Bakhchisarai Holy Dormition Monastery, in the Tash-Air gorge on the slope of Mount Fytski near the cave town of Kachi-Kalyon. You can climb to the monastery along a path, or drive in from Preduschelny along a dirt road. The Church of St. Anastasia is mentioned in the charter of Tsar Boris Godunov, the monastery was given cash assistance, as well as images and candles. Exact date foundation of the cave monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker has not survived in Kachi-Kalion. Presumably this happened around the 8th century. This is evidenced by both the carved Greek crosses found in the caves of the monastery, characteristic of this time, and the preserved correspondence of St. Bishop John of Goth with St. Stefan. Enduring severe persecution for purity Orthodox faith, emigrating during this period from Byzantium to Taurica, the monks founded here cave monastery. The spread of veneration of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker in the period of the 6th-8th centuries. from Constantinople it comes to the southwest, and to the south, and to the northeast. On the Greek islands and southern Italy, in Sicily and Cyprus, in Sardinia and the Middle East, as well as in Crimea, monasteries appear in the name of this saint. The monastery existed here until 1778 - the date of the resettlement of Christians from Crimea. In the 19th century the church was restored by the local landowner G. Khvitsky and consecrated in the name of St. Anastasia. Church of St. Anastasia and the upper church in a piece of rock were assigned to the Bakhchisaray Dormition Monastery; in 1921 these churches were closed. After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the restoration of old churches begins. The church was repaired by the landowner G. Khvitsky, who owned this land in the 19th century. Service has resumed. The road was built new church, also named after Saint Anastasia. By the decree of the Synod “On the restoration of churches and holy places in Crimea,” the Church of St. Anastasia and the upper church in a fragment of rock were declared “Cenovia” and assigned to the Assumption Skete. After the death of G. Khvitsky, the church, according to his will, was given to the Assumption Skete. The Saint Anastasyevskaya kinship existed for quite a long time. In 1921, the Assumption Monastery was closed, but the Anastasyevskaya monastery, being away from the stormy political events, remained active until 1932. During collectivization, it was closed and the monks were evicted outside of Crimea. The lands were transferred to the Kommunar state farm. Kachi-Kalyon ceased to exist as a populated area.

A beautiful entrance to the monastery: on the wall, made of rubble, there are paintings of saints.

Another photo of the entrance to the monastery

We arrived at the monastery quite late; it was completely dark inside, so the interior decoration consisted of numerous beaded lamps.

Column at the entrance to the cave temple

Ceiling decoration in the monastery of St. Anastasia

According to the life of the 6th century, Anastasia was a noble Roman woman, a student of Saint Chrysogon. Her mother is a secret Christian and raised her daughter in Christian faith. Saint Anastasia secretly visited Christian prisoners languishing in Roman dungeons and looked after them. After the execution of her teacher Saint Chrysogonus, she began to travel, where possible, to help Christians who were subjected to severe persecution.

Small mountain monastery in the name of the saint Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker, Bakhchisarai Holy Dormition Monastery is located in a narrow gorge Tash-Air on the slope Fytski Mountains near cave town Kachi-Kalyon. One hundred and fifty meters up a narrow path, lined with old car tires, winding through the thicket of the slope and along the very edge of the cliff. And the higher you rise, the more picturesque the panorama of the Kachin Valley.

History of the Church of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker

Church of St. Anastasia used to be well known outside of Crimea. Thus, in the charter of Tsar Boris Godunov, Moscow’s financial assistance to this small Crimean church is mentioned. Peoples and states changed in Crimea, but the Church of St. Anastasia stayed. It was also mentioned by travelers of the 19th century, and all modern lovers of the Crimean trails remember it.

About the time of formation of the cave monastery St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker in Kachi-Kalion no exact information has been preserved. Most scientists believe that this happened around the 8th century. This is evidenced by both the carved Greek crosses found in the caves of the monastery, characteristic of this time, and the preserved correspondence with St. Stefan.

Enduring severe persecution for the purity of the Orthodox faith, emigrating during this period from Byzantium to Taurica, the monks founded a cave monastery here. The spread of veneration of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker in the period of the 6th-8th centuries. from Constantinople it comes to the southwest, south and northeast. On the Greek islands and southern Italy, in Sicily and Cyprus, in Sardinia and the Middle East, as well as in Crimea, monasteries appear in the name of this saint.

The monastery existed here until 1778 (this year the resettlement of Christians from Crimea took place). The exit of Christians took place through the Kachin Valley. Having bowed to the monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker, the Christians took with them miraculous icon This saint they left Crimea. The holy monastery was empty, the church and other monastic buildings gradually fell into complete disrepair.

The monastery of St. Anastasia the Patternmaker in our time

In the 21st century, the revival of the monastery of St. VMC. Anastasia the Pattern Maker. Until 2005, rock was mined above the monastery, there was a quarry and everything was filled with stones. Then this place declared a nature reserve and banned stone mining.

In 2005 comes to this place Hieromonk Dorotheos from among the brethren of the Bakhchisarai Holy Dormition Monastery, having received the blessing of the rector, Archimandrite Silouan. The monks cleared away the rubble and wanted to restore the old cave temple of the Great Martyr. Anastasia, however, was forbidden by the authorities to restore it, because... The territory belongs to a geological reserve. Then a new church was built in an old adit, going several tens of meters deep, in which services are now held.

The beginning was not easy: it was 1.5 km. walking for water in mountainous areas with a canister on your back, living in dugouts, lifting building materials along a mountain path on your shoulders and in your hands. But prayer began in this holy place and the monastery began to be improved. The noise of construction equipment in the Tash-Air gorge ceases only during services - in the morning and in the evening. The monastery grows upward and in breadth, literally biting into the rocks.

Every year the monastery becomes more comfortable. The work and prayer of the brethren, as well as the protection of the Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Pattern Maker, are helping in the revival of this amazing place.

Video about the monastery of St. VMC. Anastasia Pattern Maker

How to get to the cave monastery-monastery of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker

Address: Russia. Crimea. Bakhchisarai district. Bashtanovka village
How to get there:
— From Simferopol, minibuses depart every hour from the Zapadnaya bus station to Bakhchisarai. In Bakhchisarai you need to change to a bus heading in the direction of the villages of Predushchelnoye - Sinapnoye. The “Kachi-Kalyon” stop is located between the villages of Predushchelnoye and Bashtanovka. Then walk up a very steep but well-maintained path for 10-15 minutes.
— By car: after driving through Bakhchisarai towards Sevastopol, turn at the sign for Preduschelnoye. About 1.5 km from the village of Preduschelnoye, stop along the road near the Kachi-Kalyon rock massif.

Beaded Temple

While in Crimea, we visited a unique place - a beaded temple, one of a kind. There are several rock monasteries in Crimea, some are famous and popular, such as the Holy Dormition Monastery in Bakhchisarai. We didn’t get there a little, but we ended up in a small rock monastery in the narrow Tash-Air gorge on the slope of Mount Fytski (what names!), bearing the name of Anastasia Pattern, a Christian great martyr of the 4th century, who alleviated (“resolved”) the suffering of Christians, she She is considered the patroness of pregnant women, and also helps innocent Christians to free themselves from captivity or imprisonment.

In the valley of Kachi-Kalyon ("ship of the cross", the rock mass looks like the stern of a ship with a cross made of natural cracks) there are several rock monasteries. In the 6th-8th centuries, Byzantine Christians who fled to Tavria from persecution created a large rock monastery here, but after an earthquake it collapsed. Then periodically the monks returned here again, the monastery was rebuilt in different centuries. The rock is very hard, no one knows how they managed to knock out the cells in those days: perhaps they used natural depressions, but traces of the use of some tools are visible. Even now, with the help modern technology, processing this stone is extremely difficult.

A long and steep path leads from the road to the monastery. To prevent the soil from eroding and to be able to climb to a height of 150 meters to the monastery at any time of the year, the monks did a great job: about 650 car tires laid out with steps and filled with cement. The path to the monastery turns into a kind of pilgrimage: going up and down those steps is quite difficult, with my injured knee, by the end I realized that I would not go up there a second time. This road is also called the “road of sinners.” We climbed for about half an hour, fortunately it was not hot, and the trail passes mostly in the shade of low trees.

The rock monastery existed here for many centuries with long interruptions; in 1921 it was closed by the new government, although, according to local testimony, monks lived here until 1932. Subsequently, this area was declared a protected area. The monastery of St. Anastasia belongs to the Holy Dormition Monastery in the city of Bakhchisarai.

In 2005, monk Dorotheos and like-minded people received the blessing of the rector of the Holy Dormition Monastery, Archimandrite Silouan, and decided to restore the monastery. The monks settled in underground cells, where they lived and prayed. They carried water and building materials on themselves. “There were fraternal cells here and a refectory next door. They went underground, like the first Christians, and then little by little came out from here,” says Father Dorofey, rector of the Church of St. Anastasia the Pattern Maker.

On the road to the monastery there is a tiny church of Hagia Sophia, inside of which only a few people can fit. It was created in a stone that broke away from a rock many years ago during an earthquake, has a round vault, inside there are small niches for icons, but metal bars were placed at the entrance and you can’t just get into it. In the middle of the last century, stone mining was carried out here, but, apparently, mining was too expensive, so it was stopped, then a geological reserve was established here. After the blessing, the monks turned the abandoned adit into a small temple.

Because the stone walls raw, it was impossible to paint. That's why everything interior decoration The temple is made of beads. The first impression when you get there is that this is some kind of Buddhist temple: the ceiling and walls are lined with beads and beads, and hundreds of beaded lamps hang under the low ceiling. I didn’t take pictures there because... There was a service going on, but I found a video on the Internet. On the ceiling there is the Star of Bethlehem and a Byzantine cross, made of beads and beads by the hands of monks. The adit, in which services are also conducted, goes several tens of meters deep.

When you go up, you are first greeted by a holy spring, the water of which is considered healing. They ask you to treat him with respect. Next to it is the text of the prayer. New monks are building another temple nearby; in the background you can see a grotto, which the monks are deepening with the help of heavy equipment. In the photo on the left is a small shop where you can buy icons, soap with Crimean mountain herbs, kvass, mead, on the right is the entrance to the existing church.

The decoration of the church began with lamps with pendants, similar topics, which is on the holy Mount Athos. We took them as a basis, and then added a little of our own, and the decoration of the temple itself continued in the same beaded style. Nature itself suggested this option to us - the rock is limestone, damp, and even if we wanted to do a painting, we would not have succeeded early. And so our beaded panels are held on the walls and vault of the cave on a waterproof basis,” Father Agathador says about the temple.

Since there are no windows in this temple, the beaded walls and ceiling reflect dim moving light church candles and lamps, transforming the space of the temple into something fabulous and flickering. This can put anyone into a trance, so you don’t want to leave the temple during the service; your soul relaxes and soars. The smell of candles, the glare from beads, the prayers of monks make you forget about problems and think about the soul, about God in it.

Along the wall there are several high chairs inlaid with beads - these are stasidias, on the backs of which the 10 commandments are laid out in beads. The seats are folding, and during hours-long services and night prayers, the monks lean on the armrests. All lamps are unique, no one is the same, made with love from what believers bring. However, like all products, you can not only look at them, but also take them with you. The shop also sells aromatic handmade soap and oils from Crimean plants.

There is something to work on there. Small subsistence farming helps to survive at such an altitude: there are cows, the monks have learned to make cottage cheese and cheese from milk, and they grow simple vegetables and fruits. There are only seven monks, workers help - people for whom it is important to work in the name of faith, in the name of God.

In a shop where they sell various crafts - mandalas, icons, crosses - I asked my mother, a woman about 80-85 years old, if they had an icon of St. Sophia. For his goddaughter Sofia. She took me to another room and showed me a plate. It seemed quite big to me, I was wondering whether to take it, I wanted something smaller.

In the monastery they began to build a temple in the name of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Three-Handed”. The church is being built in the Byzantine style: large, with domes and bells, light - the opposite of the cave chapel. But its interior decoration will also be made of beads.Those who wish can visit this monastery, bring beads or unnecessary jewelry, live and work in the holy place. The people there are sincere, good, and reliable.

How to get there

From Simferopol, minibuses depart every hour from the Zapadnaya bus station to Bakhchisarai. There you need to change to a bus heading towards the village of Sinapnoe. The “Kachi-Kalyon” stop is located between the villages of Predushchelnoye and Bashtanovka. By car: driving through Bakhchisarai towards Sevastopol, turn at the sign for Preduschelnoye. About 1.5 km from the village of Preduschelnoye, stop along the road near the Kachi-Kalyon rock massif. GPS coordinates 44.695169;33.885226.address: Russia, Crimea, Bakhchisarai district, Bashtanovka village

Source: ru-travel.livejournal.com ajushka

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