The Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is one of the largest and most famous in Russia. It has an ancient history. The name Pechersky is due to the fact that there are caves on its territory.
And it is Uspensky because here in the 15th century the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God was dug out of a sandy hill and consecrated. The monastery is open for pilgrimage at any time of the year. Especially in the summer, a large number of tourists flock here.
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How to get to Pskov by train
You can get to the Pskov-Pechersk monastery by train both through Moscow and St. Petersburg. But trains only go to Pskov.
Trains from Moscow
- Daily route. Train No. 010A “Moscow-Pskov” runs daily from Leningradsky Station. Departure time from Moscow is 18:00. 30 min. Arrival in Pskov - at 7 o'clock. 30 min. A reserved seat ticket will cost about 2 thousand rubles.
- On even days. On even days you can travel by train No. 098A Moscow-Pskov. It departs from Leningradsky station at 15:00. 35 min. He will be in Pskov at 5 o'clock. 00 min. The price of a reserved seat is 1450 rubles. Arriving at 5 o'clock in the morning is convenient because those people who are short on time can make it to the monastery for the Liturgy if they take a taxi.
Trains from St. Petersburg
Unfortunately, now pilgrims cannot travel directly from St. Petersburg to Pechory by train. Only with a transfer.
You can get to Pskov from St. Petersburg by taking the following trains:
- St. Petersburg - Stroganovo and Stroganovo - Pskov;
- St. Petersburg - Luga and Luga - Pskov.
The schedule of these trains is designed so that you can immediately change from one train to another, without interruption.
But from Pskov you still need to get to Pechory, a city in the Pskov region, where the monastery is located. The city itself is located three kilometers from the Pechory-Pskovskiye railway station.
Taxi from Pskov to the monastery
If you arrive in Pskov at 5 o’clock in the morning by Moscow train, you will not be able to take the bus, since they do not yet run at that time. In this case, you will have to take a taxi. The average cost of such a trip is 1 thousand rubles. In the summer, taxi drivers sometimes “raise” the price, but if you haggle, you can get closer to the average price. The price of a bus ticket ranges from 120−150 rubles. If you go with a group, you can easily spend money on a taxi. Usually drivers meet those arriving by train in the square near the train station. Travel time by car is 40 minutes.
Buses
From Pskov - to Pechory
From Saint-Petersburg - to the monastery
- Direct transportation on the route St. Petersburg - Pechory is carried out every day from the Rossiya Hotel. Departure time is 17:00. 30 minutes, arrival time - 22 hours. 15 minutes. Ticket price is 550 rubles.
- Minibuses from St. Petersburg also go to the monastery. Even though these are minibuses, they are not like ordinary cramped minibuses. These are comfortable cars, not inferior in convenience to modern intercity buses.
From Saint-Petersburg - to Pskov
Minibuses also run from St. Petersburg to Pskov. For example, the Swifts company's transport departs five times a day. Travel time is approximately 4 hours 30 minutes. They make one stop in Luga. The inconvenience is that you need to “fit into” the transport schedule going to Pechory.
Will go on sale soon. In this three-disc edition, the stories of Archimandrite Tikhon are read by Alla Demidova, Vasily Lanovoy, Dmitry Pevtsov, Dmitry Dyuzhev, Vasily Bochkarev, Boris Plotnikov, Alexander Feklistov and Egor Beroev. All proceeds from the sale of Archimandrite Tikhon’s book and audio CD “Unholy Saints and Other Stories” will be used for the construction of the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Church on Blood on Lubyanka, which is to be consecrated in February 2017 at the Sretensky Monastery.Archimandrite Tikhon’s story “Caves” is read by actor, People’s Artist of Russia Boris Plotnikov.
One of the amazing features of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is the holy caves. The monastery began with them six hundred years ago. Underground labyrinths stretch under churches, cells, gardens, and fields for many kilometers. The first monks once settled here. They built temples underground, and here, according to ancient biblical custom, they buried their deceased brothers in sandy niches. Only later, when the number of monks increased, did the monastery begin to settle on the surface.
Since those ancient times, caves began to be called “God-created”, that is, built, created by God. This name did not appear due to the natural origin of the caves - subsequently the monks themselves significantly expanded the ramifications of the underground corridors. And from what was noticed: the bodies of the dead, brought here, immediately stop emitting the smell characteristic of a dead body.
To date, more than fourteen thousand people have been buried in the caves - monks, Pechersk residents, warriors who defended the monastery during medieval enemy raids. Coffins are not buried here, but simply stacked one on top of another in niches and grottoes. But visitors wandering with candles through the long labyrinths are always struck by the freshness and purity of the cave air.
“Wherever God wills, the order of nature is overcome” - there is such a church chant. It translates roughly like this: “If God pleases, the laws of nature are overcome.” And unbelieving tourists leave the caves, very surprised, but still refusing to believe their eyes, or rather, their sense of smell. Those of them who are more educated have no choice but to thoughtfully quote: “There are many things in the world, friend Horatio, that our sages never dreamed of!”
There are many stories associated with these dungeons. One of the relatively recent ones occurred in 1995, when Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin arrived in Pechory. The treasurer showed him the monastery and, of course, the caves. Thin, gray-haired, in worn-out shoes and a torn cassock, he, lighting the way with a candle, led the head of state and his retinue through the caves.
Finally, Boris Nikolaevich realized that something incomprehensible was happening around him, and expressed surprise at why there was no smell of decay here, although the coffins with the dead were in niches, so that you could even touch them with your hand.
Father Nathanael explained to the president:
- This is a miracle of God.
The excursion continued. But after some time, Boris Nikolaevich repeated the same question in bewilderment.
“That’s how the Lord arranged it,” Father Nathanael answered briefly again. Several minutes passed, and the president, upon leaving the caves, whispered to the old man:
- Father, tell me a secret - what do you smear them with?
“Boris Nikolaevich,” Father Archimandrite answered then, “are there anyone around you who smells bad?”
- Of course not!
- So do you really think that someone dares to smell bad in the environment of the King of Heaven?
They say that Boris Nikolaevich was completely satisfied with this answer.
During the times of official atheism and today, many have tried and are trying to at least somehow explain this mysterious property of the Pechersk caves. What haven’t they come up with! Starting with the fantastic option that came to Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin’s head: monks daily anoint fourteen thousand dead people with incense. And right up to the hypothesis about the unique features of local sandstones, supposedly absorbing any odors. This latest version has always been the most popular. In Soviet times, it was usually voiced in front of tourists.
Old monks told how the Great Viceroy of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery, Archimandrite Alypius, who ruled the monastery during the years of Khrushchev’s persecutions, if he had to lead delegations of high-ranking Soviet workers to the caves, every time he grabbed a handkerchief, generously moistened with cologne. When visitors began to talk importantly about sandstones and about absorbing odors, Father Alypiy simply thrust his handkerchief, filled with stunning Soviet perfumes, under their noses. Moreover, he suggested paying attention to the flowers fragrant in vases at the graves of revered elders.
“Well,” he asked, “don’t you want to come to terms with the fact that you don’t understand at least something in this life?” And if you were to see a dead person being brought into the caves, and every time the smell of decay completely disappeared, what would you say? Would you come up with something too?
The caves stretch for many kilometers, and no one in the monastery knew their true extent, not even the governor. We suspected that this was known only to Father Nathanael and Archimandrite Seraphim, who lived the longest in the monastery.
Somehow, my then very young friends, hieromonks Rafail and Nikita, got hold of the keys to the old brotherly cemetery. This part of the cave labyrinth has not been buried since 1700, and the passage into it was closed by an iron door. Lighting the way with candle lanterns, the monks walked under low arches, looking around with curiosity. To the right and left in the niches stood logs that had crumbled over time, in which they had previously been buried in Rus'. The bones of the predecessors of Father Nikita and Father Raphael, the brothers of the monastery, turned yellow in them. After some time, the rangers came across a completely preserved closed deck. Curiosity took over, and, kneeling down, the monks carefully lifted the heavy lid.
The abbot lay before them. His body remained completely intact, his waxy yellow fingers clutching a large carved cross on his chest.
Only the face was green for some reason. Having recovered from their first surprise, the hieromonks realized that the reason for such a strange phenomenon was a decayed green veil, which, according to ancient custom, was used to cover the face of a deceased priest. Over the course of several centuries, the fabric turned to dust.
One of the monks blew: a green cloud rose into the air, and the face of the old man, untouched by decay, was revealed to the eyes of his friends. It seemed that in another moment he would open his eyes and look sternly at the curious monks who dared to disturb his holy peace. The hieromonks, realizing that before them, in the incorruptible relics, rested a saint unknown to the world, they were so frightened by their insolence that they quickly closed the lid of the deck and rushed to their heels into their twentieth century.
We, novices, often went to the caves if some serious problems arose: to ask the great ascetics for help. We knelt down and, touching the coffin with our hands, asked the elder for intercession and admonition. And help was not long in coming. We especially pestered Elder Simeon, who died in 1960 and was recently glorified as a saint, with our requests. And also the Great Viceroy Archimandrite Alypius. And other elders who, one after another, after the labors of earthly life, went to God with their souls and with their bodies into the caves.
Another significant difference and special ministry of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery opened only in the 20th century.
The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Optina Pustyn, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Solovki, Valaam, Sarov were famous not only in Russia, but throughout the Christian world. And Pechory of Pskov for many centuries remained nothing more than a provincial monastic monastery.
However, in the post-war years, when the Church began to rise from the post-revolutionary ruin, it unexpectedly discovered that this provincial monastery had been chosen by God to carry out its special and great ministry.
Suddenly it turned out that the only monastery on the territory of Russia that had never been closed, even in Soviet times, and therefore preserved the precious continuity of monastic life, was the Pskov-Pechersk monastery. Until 1940, the monastery was located on the territory of Estonia, and after its annexation to the USSR, the Bolsheviks simply did not have time to deal with it - the war began. Later, during the Khrushchev persecution of the Church, the Great Viceroy, Archimandrite Alypiy, managed to resist the gigantic state machine and prevented the closure of the monastery.
The fact that spiritual continuity was not interrupted in the monastery was of invaluable importance. It is not for nothing that it was here, in Pechory, that the eldership, one of the most beautiful treasures of the Russian Church, was revived in the Soviet 1950s.
Published with permission and approval Elena Shchipkova
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There is a monastery in the Pskov region that has not been closed for a single day since 1473. This is the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, located in the city of Pechory, not far from Pskov.
The Pskov forests in those days were fraught with a lot of mysteries. And one of them was the discovery of caves in which the monks settled.
According to legend, Izborsk hunters once heard singing from underground in the forest and decided that it was angels singing. They spread this news throughout the area. Later, this “singing land” went to the local peasant Ivan Dementyev, who, after a strong storm, went into the forest and saw that one tree had been uprooted, and under its roots there was an entrance to the caves, crowned with the inscription “God-created caves,” where hermit monks lived . This is how the answer to the prayer singing that was heard from underground was found.
It is believed that these were monks of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, fleeing the raids of the Tatars.
They say that the inscription above the caves caused bewilderment even among some monks. And in those caves there lived a monk named Thomas, a kind of non-believer Thomas, who came every evening and erased the inscription, but when the monastery went to the morning service the inscription was already in its place. The caves given by God are one of those sacred places, which since then have been a place of pilgrimage for all parishioners in the Pechersky Monastery.
There is no reliable information about when the monks settled in the caves, and therefore the founding date of the monastery is considered to be 1473, when the Assumption Church dug out of a sandy hill was consecrated.
Look at the relief of the monastery walls. Perhaps this is the only monastery-fortress located in this way, i.e. descending from a hill to a lowland.
Stone walls with six towers and three gates were built in 1558-1565 at the beginning of the Livonian War to protect against the Livonians. Later, four more towers were built. The Pskov-Pechersk fortress withstood a two-month siege by a detachment of troops of Stefan Batory and a Hungarian detachment under the command of Bornemisza in 1581, and subsequently repeatedly participated in border fighting until the end of the Northern War in 1721.
The tower standing at the bottom of the ravine is called the Tower of the Upper Lattice and it is the tallest of all, its height is 25 meters. At the bottom of the tower there is a stone arch through which the Kamenets stream flows into the fortress. To prevent enemies from using the stream to penetrate the fortress, the arch arch was covered with an iron grating. She gave such an unusual name to the tower itself.
The Assumption Church is the oldest and most important church of the monastery. It was dug out of a sandstone hill by Father John and has only a façade, with the rest of the church going up the hill.
In 1523, under Abbot Dorotheos, the church was renovated and expanded, and a chapel was built in the name of Saints Anthony and Theodosius of Kiev-Pechersk. In 1758-1759, the Church of the Intercession was built above the temple, and now the Assumption and Intercession churches have a common facade. In the 19th century, multi-colored domes were erected over the Assumption-Pokrovsky Church in the Ukrainian Baroque style, shaped like the heads of the Assumption Cathedral of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.
Entrance to the monastery through the Holy Gate. After passing through them you find yourself on a long road leading down to the Assumption and Intercession churches
This road is called "Bloody Road". According to legend, Ivan the Terrible, who arrived at the monastery, was met at the Holy Gate by Abbot Cornelius. The monk behaved too proudly in front of the king, for which he paid with his life. Cornelius's severed head rolled along the road, leaving a bloody trail behind it.
Having repented of his deed, Ivan the Terrible carried the body of the monk he had killed in his arms to the Assumption Church. Since then, this road got its bloody name.
Having taken monastic vows, Cornelius gained the respect of the brethren for his asceticism and at the age of 28 he was elected abbot of the monastery. During the period of his abbess, the number of inhabitants of the monastery grew from 15 to 200 people (there was no such number of brethren under other abbots after Cornelius). Under the leadership of Cornelius, the active development of the monastery began. Since 1547, the monastery became the Pskov chronicle center, an icon painting workshop appeared (initially the monks studied icon painting in the Mirozhsky Monastery) and a pottery workshop, and bells began to be cast.
Through the works of Cornelius, in the first half of the 16th century, a book and literary school was created in the monastery, collecting manuscripts of liturgical, secular and hagiographical nature.
During the Livonian War, Cornelius' missionary activity manifested itself: he founded Orthodox churches in the conquered areas, provided assistance to the victims, the names of those killed in the war were entered into the monastery synodik for commemoration
Under Cornelius, numerous construction works were carried out to expand the monastery.
Now in front of the walls of the monastery there is a monument to St. Martyr Cornelius, and his relics are kept in the Assumption Church. Every day, except Sundays and holidays, at 6 am the monks of the monastery gather near his relics for a fraternal prayer service.
And before us is the main ensemble of the Holy Dormition Monastery.
On the right, the yellow facade is the Assumption Church and the Intercession Church built above it. In the center there is a red building that is the Sacristy and Library. Books from the 17th and 17th centuries were kept here, including “The Lay of the Ruin of the Russian Land,” which existed in a single copy. During the Great Patriotic War, the retreating Nazis tried to plunder the monastery sacristy. The abbot of the monastery, risking his own life, forced them to pack everything so as not to damage anything. Oddly enough, the Germans obeyed and the treasures of the monastery sacristy arrived in Germany safe and sound.
After the war, negotiations went on for a very long time about the return of the stolen goods, and only very recently the treasures of the sacristy returned to their place.
Behind the sacristy are the Clock Tower (not visible) and the Great Belfry with bells from the 16th to 18th centuries.
In the very right corner of the temple facade there is an entrance to the caves, it is visible, it has a semicircular ceiling.
In general, it is not so easy to get into the caves; entry into them is very limited to preserve the microclimate. You can only enter them with a group at certain hours with the blessing of the abbot of the monastery. And twice a week on Mondays and Fridays there is no access to the caves.
The caves are divided into near and far. The nearby caves are about 15m long. They contain tombs with the relics of St. Mark, Jonah, Lazarus and St. Vassa.
His chains hang over the tomb of St. Lazarus; you can touch them to understand how heavy they are.
The entrance to the caves is reinforced with brickwork. This was done for security purposes when Tsar Alexander 1 came here in 1824 to communicate with Elder Lazar.
In order to go to distant caves, everyone is given a candle, and candles are the only source of light there.
Monks once lived in the caves, but now they are a kind of cemetery. The distant caves consist of 7 gallery-streets, the total length of which is about 200 meters. Although when you walk here, it seems that you have walked a lot.
Despite the fact that the coffins containing the dead are completely open, there is absolutely no smell of decay and decay in the caves. This is facilitated by a special cave microclimate, carefully protected by the monks of the monastery. The temperature inside the caves stays at +5 all year round.
Initially, only monks were buried in the caves, but later burials of pious laypeople also appeared here: princes, nobles, and pilgrims. The ancestors of Pushkin, Kutuzov, and Mussorsky are buried here.
Plan of distant caves
The walls of the caves contain ceramic and limestone slabs with inscriptions, the so-called ceramides, which, being funerary monuments, have great artistic and historical value.
About 350 ceramic and stone tombstones from the 16th - early 18th centuries have been preserved in the caves of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. Most of them are small and placed in the openings of burial niches. The earliest ceramide dates back to 1530, the earliest stone slab is a tombstone from 1591.
At the end of the central street there is a kanun (a special candlestick in the form of a small table), at which funeral services are held.
Behind the eve there is a large wooden cross. To his right is buried an outstanding Orthodox bishop, Metropolitan Veniamin (Fedchenkov)
On the left side of the Cross rest the Valaam elders, Archimandrite Seraphim (Rosenberg) and Archimandrite John (Krestyankin).
And to this day, believers come to the burial place of the elders, ask them, as if they were alive, for prayerful help and remember them in their prayers.
And we leave the caves and enter the Assumption Cave Church, which is today the main center of the religious life of the monks of the monastery.
In the main chapel of the Assumption Cathedral there are kept two revered copies of the miraculous Pskov-Pechersk Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness,” which, like the image of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, showed many miracles.
The icon of “Tenderness” was painted by a certain hieromonk Arseny from the Vladimir image of the Mother of God. She was brought to the Pechersk monastery under the abbess of St. Cornelius. Under Tsar Theodore Ioannovich, it was decorated with pearls and stones - diamonds, emeralds, yachts, amethysts in memory of the miraculous deliverance of the city of Pskov from the siege of the troops of the Polish king Stefan Batory in 1581.
In the main chapel behind the dais there is a royal seat. This is a special canopy where in the old days the king prayed when he visited the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery for pilgrimage.
Here you can see the icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands; I think many have seen this very face of Christ on all kinds of calendars and brochures
Another shrine of the monastery is the icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God. This icon is considered miraculous; it first became famous in 1473 on the day of the consecration of the cave Assumption Church of the future Pskov-Pechersky Monastery, when a sick woman was cured.
Currently, during the All-Night Vigil on the eve of the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, the image of the Dormition of the Mother of God, richly decorated with flowers, is taken out of the Assumption Church and placed in front of the entrance
In the depths of the Assumption Cathedral, in a specially constructed niche, there are the relics of the holy abbot of the monastery, the Venerable Martyr Cornelius.
Not far from the entrance to the caves there is a staircase leading to the Holy Mountain. I’m not sure if you can climb it if you came here without a guided tour.
There is an apple orchard on the mountain.
From the Holy Mountain there is a panoramic view of the entire monastery and fortress walls
And the lilac there is simply fabulous, the aroma is such that you don’t want to leave!
From the Holy Mountain we go down to the fraternal buildings, i.e. to where the monks of the monastery live
Somehow these houses reminded me of towers
The fraternal building which houses the kitchen, refectory and monks' cells
House of the monastery governor
St. Michael's Cathedral, erected with public money in 1827 in honor of the liberation of Pskov from Napoleon's troops. The cathedral, made in the classical style, is the largest building of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. The gilded dome of the cathedral is visible from afar at the entrances to the monastery.
The shrine of the temple is the right hand of the holy martyr Tatiana, transferred to Archimandrite John (Krestyankin) in 1977
Behind the walls of the monastery stands the Church of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
Here on the square you can buy souvenirs or book an excursion.
If you leave the monastery and go to the right, you will come to an observation deck from which you can see such a wonderful postcard view.
By the way, right there on the site a wonderful guy sells beautiful photo magnets and framed photographs of the monastery.
Video walk through the monastery
You can get to the monastery by car along the E-77 highway.
or by bus from the Pskov bus station.
The story used information from the official website of the monastery http://www.pskovo-pechersky-monastery.ru/
Pskov-Pechersky Monastery (Russia) - description, history, location. Exact address and website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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It is not known for certain when and by whom the Pskov-Pechersk monastery was founded. The chronicles contain only fragmentary information about Izborsk peasants who accidentally discovered the entrance to the caves while cutting down forest. According to ancient legend, monks who left the Kiev-Pechora Lavra lived in these underground grottoes, fleeing the raids of the Crimean Tatars. But history is silent about why they got so far north. Officially, the founding date of the community is considered to be 1473, when the missionary Reverend Jonah built (more precisely, dug in a sand hill) the first Assumption Church. Today the Pskov-Pechersk monastery is one of the largest and most famous in Russia, an important pilgrimage center, a keeper of spiritual bonds and a valuable cultural object.
A little history
It was not easy for the monastery in the first years of its existence: endless attacks by Livonian Catholics, looting and destruction of buildings, fires did not allow the monastery to raise its head and forced the brothers into constant poverty. Only in the 16th century did a period of relative peace and even prosperity begin - new churches and cells were erected, regulations were developed that regulated the life of the community, and pilgrims were attracted, who spread the rumor about the “holy place” to all the surrounding lands.
In the turbulent 17th century, the monastery was attacked many times, until Peter I decided to thoroughly strengthen it. During the period 1920-45. the complex was located on the territory of Estonia. That is why he was spared all the persecution of religion with the destruction and closure of churches organized by the Soviet government.
What to see
The ensemble consists of several parts. The most ancient are those very “God-created caves” (near and far), where the remains of monks and holy elders are buried, as well as the graves of the ancestors of A.S. Pushkin, V.N. Tatishchev, M.I. Kutuzov and other famous figures. The main temple of the monastery, the Assumption Church, was created in the 15-16th centuries; in the 18th century, the Pokrovskaya Church was built above it, combining the facades of both buildings. A little later, the roof was decorated with elegant domes in the style of “Ukrainian” baroque, imitating the domes of the Kiev-Pechora Lavra.
The Church of St. Nicholas the Gatekeeper, the Great Belfry, St. Michael's Cathedral and the Sretensky Church are architectural masterpieces of the 16th-19th centuries, built in different styles: pseudo-Russian, classical, Pskov-Novgorod. The interior spaces are painted with spectacular frescoes and decorated with priceless images of the Dormition of the Mother of God, St. Nicholas, and the “Tenderness,” painted several centuries ago.
The complex is surrounded by a powerful fortress wall, like an ancient northern citadel; along the perimeter there are 9 towers topped with pointed roofs. Entering the gates of the monastery, the visitor seems to find himself in a completely autonomous city, capable of withstanding a grueling siege. Inside the territory there are two holy springs: Life-Giving and in honor of the martyr Cornelius. Excursions are available for guests upon prior request.
Practical information
Address: Pechory, st. International, 5. Website.
Opening hours for distant caves: 9:00–16:00 every day except Monday and Friday, as well as January 6-9, August 25-29; Admission is by donation.
More than half a million pilgrims annually visit the city of Pechory in the Pskov region to come into contact with their main shrine - the Pskov-Pechersky Holy Dormition Monastery.
Here, since the founding of the monastery in 1473, even in the years of unrest and unrest, the experience of eldership and spiritual service has never been interrupted.
According to legend, Izborsk hunters, father and son Selishi, who were chasing an animal in a distant forest, ended up on the bank of the small river Kamenets, where they heard quiet prayer singing from underground. Deciding that it was angels singing, they spread the news throughout the area.
Taylovskaya tower of the monastery 
The “Singing Lands” went to the peasant Ivan Dementyev. One day he went to cut down trees, and one of them fell and opened the Caves. It is believed that monks settled in the Caves to escape the raids of the Crimean Tatars in these lands.
Today the Caves are a large necropolis. Remaining incorruptible for centuries, over ten thousand people found peace here.
It is believed that the discovery of the God-created caves occurred in 1392, but the official date when the Pskov-Pechersk Holy Assumption Monastery was founded was declared to be 1473. It was at this time that the Assumption Church was consecrated, which was dug in a sandy hill near the Kamenets stream by the Monk Jonah. In the world he bore the name John and was a priest of the St. George Church in Yuryevo-Livonsk.
Fleeing persecution from the Latin Germans, John, his wife Maria and children left Yuryevo-Livonsk and came to Pskov. Here, having heard about a newly discovered cave, he set up his home next to it to serve God.
First miracle
The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery had not yet been completed when John’s wife Maria became mortally ill. She became the first monk, taking the veil and taking the name Vassa. After her death and burial, the coffin with her body unusually ended up on the surface. The miracle was repeated during the second burial. John took this as a sign from above.
Since then, miraculous grace has been operating in the caves of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery. For centuries, coffins are not buried in the ground, but placed on top of each other, and the bodies of the buried remain incorrupt. Among the people buried in the monastery are representatives of the families of Pushkin, Kutuzov, Pleshcheev, Nazimov, and Mussorgsky.
After the death of his wife, John took on the monastic image with the name Jonah. Like the Venerable Vassa, Jonah was numbered among the venerables of Pskov-Pechersk.
Ascetics began to come to Jonah. One of them, Hieromonk Misail, erected a temple and cells on the mountain. But a few years later the monastery was attacked by the Livonians. Wooden buildings were burned and property was looted. When the sacrilege began to commit outrages in the Assumption Church of the monastery, fire coming out of the altar expelled them from the monastery. Meanwhile, a Russian detachment arrived from Izborsk and completed the destruction of the enemies.
After the attack of the Livonians, Pechory was in distress: the raids, although less daring, continued. Foreign conquerors tried more than once to wipe the monastery off the face of the earth, since they saw in it, first of all, a stronghold of Orthodoxy and a Russian military stronghold.
The monastery has never been closed in its entire history. During the interwar period (until January 1945) it was located within Estonia, thanks to which it was preserved.
In 1967-2006, Archimandrite John (Krestyankin) labored in the monastery.
There is no reliable information about the beginning of monastic life on the site of the modern monastery, just as there have been no scientific surveys of the caves. Presumably of natural origin, erosion-suffosion caves in sandstone deposits along the banks of the Kamenets stream became known to local residents in 1392.
According to legend, they were inhabited by monks who fled to the Pskov land from the south, from the raids of the Crimean Tatars. The main cave complex is called the “God-created cave”, and consists of the Assumption Cave Church with a bypass gallery (small caves), nearby caves with the relics of the Venerable Pechersk Mark (the “initial monk”), Jonah, Lazarus and mother Vassa, and then continues with a necropolis of seven underground gallery-streets with the cave Church of the Resurrection of Christ at the end of the 6th gallery and a chapel.
monument to St. Cornelius 
CHRONICLE
Foundation of the monastery
Located 340 km southwest of St. Petersburg and 50 km west of Pskov, the Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery dates back more than 500 years. Here, on the northwestern borders of Russia, on the ancient land of Pskov, the seeds of the Orthodox faith were grown, sown in Rus' back in the 10th century by the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, who, according to legend, was born in the village of Vybutskaya near Pskov.
The chronicle tells how at the end of the 14th century Izborsk hunters, father and son Selisha, heard “the voices of those singing ineffably and beautifully” in a deep forest near the Kamenets stream and felt a fragrance “like a lot of incense.”
The generally accepted historical date for the founding of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is considered to be 1473, when the Assumption Church, dug out of a sandy hill near the Kamenets stream, was consecrated by the Monk Jonah. Venerable Jonah is the immediate founder of the monastery. Previously, he, bearing the name John in the world, was a priest in the St. George Church of Yuryev-Livonsky (now Tartu). He was nicknamed Shestnik, i.e. an alien, because he originally came from Moscow. He came to Livonia as a missionary.
At that time, the Orthodox people there were subjected to severe persecution by the Latin Germans. Fearing for the life of his family, Fr. John, along with his wife Maria and children, leaves Yuryev and settles in Pskov.
Here he first heard about the “God-created cave.” A heartfelt desire to serve the Lord with even greater zeal led John and his family to settle near the holy place. The construction of the cave temple was not yet completed when Maria, his wife, became seriously ill. Feeling the approach of death, she took monastic vows with the name Vassa, thus becoming the first tonsure of the monastery.
After the death of his wife, John himself took on the monastic image with the name Jonah. Like the Venerable Vassa, he is also numbered among the Pskov-Pechersk venerables. He and St. Mark are commemorated on March 29/April 11, and St. Vassa on March 19/April 1.
The successor of St. Jonah, Hieromonk Misail, erected cells and a temple on the mountain, but soon the monastery was attacked by the Livonians. Wooden buildings were burned and property was looted. When the sacrilege began to commit outrages in the Assumption Church of the monastery, fire coming out of the altar expelled them from the monastery. Meanwhile, a Russian detachment arrived from Izborsk and completed the destruction of the Livonians.
The monastery suffered for a long time after this shock: the raids, although less daring, continued. Foreign conquerors more than once tried to wipe the monastery from the face of the earth, since they saw in it, first of all, a stronghold of Orthodoxy and Russian influence on the nearby local population of the Baltic tribes (Estonians and Setos), as well as the organizer of economic activity in the region and, finally, the Russian military strong point.
St. Nicholas Church and the walls of the monastery
The heyday of the monastery in the 16th century
Only half a century later, under Abbot Dorotheos, the monastery rose and flourished again: in the 20s of the 16th century, the Assumption Church was renewed and expanded, and a chapel was built in the name of Saints Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev-Pechersk. Other temples and monastic buildings were also erected. The construction was supervised by the sovereign clerk, who had the power of the plenipotentiary representative of the Grand Duke of Moscow in Pskov, Misyur Munekhin, who carried out the work on a large scale. For his services in establishing the monastery, he was the first of the laity to be buried in the monastery cave.
In 1521, the monastery acquired the miraculous icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God “in the hagiography” (with hagiographic stamps). This image was painted by the icon painter Alexei Maly at the request of the Pskov “trading people” Vasily and Theodore (Theodore later took monastic vows with the name Theophilus and died in the monastery).
During this period, the monastery moved from the mountain down to the Kamenets valley, and the cells were placed opposite the Assumption Church.
By the end of the 20s of the 16th century, under Abbot Gerasim, the internal life of the monastery was streamlined: the abbot drew up a communal charter based on the model of the Kiev-Pechersk, established the order of church services according to the tradition of ancient monasteries, decreeing that services should be performed daily in the Assumption Cathedral. And today the monastery sacredly preserves ancient traditions, observing strict communal regulations.
The real flourishing of the monastery is associated with the name of its abbot, the Venerable Martyr Cornelius.
The fame of the monastery increased year by year. The rumor about miraculous healings received through the special intercession of the Queen of Heaven not only by the Orthodox, but also by the Latins, attracted many pilgrims; The once “poor place” was replenished with precious deposits, vast lands and estates. But these offerings went not only to the needs of the monastery. Monastic expense books preserved information about the material assistance that the monks constantly provided to refugees during numerous wars. At the expense of the monastery treasury, houses destroyed by the invaders in the surrounding villages were restored; during truces, the monastery ransomed prisoners of war from the enemy. All other monasteries of the Pskov diocese, even the more ancient ones: Mirozhsky (1156), Snetogorsky (XIII century), Veliko-Pustynsky (1404), Spaso-Eleazarovsky (1447) - yielded primacy to the Pskov-Pechersk monastery, and the abbots of other monasteries were now promoted to its abbots as a sign of promotion. Pechersk abbots were appointed bishops. 
Confrontation with the Polish-Lithuanian army
The border position of the monastery remained dangerous. In the middle of the 16th century, the pressure on the Pskov land from the German Livonian Order intensified. This led to the fact that the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery gradually became not only a place of salvation for Christian souls, not only a missionary and educational center, but also a powerful fortress of northwestern Rus'.
In the summer of 1581, a hundred thousand strong Polish-Lithuanian army moved to Pskov. The guard troops stationed in the Pechersk fortress-monastery intercepted enemy detachments and convoys with weapons heading towards the besieged city.
On October 29, the angry Polish king Stefan Batory sent a large army to the monastery, the defenders of which were only two or three hundred archers, resettled from Moscow and marking the beginning of the Pechersky Posad.
On November 5, enemy troops fired at the monastery with cannons and smashed the wall near the Church of the Annunciation. An enemy detachment immediately rushed here. Now military force alone could not save the monastery, and then the monks brought the main monastery shrine to the breach - the ancient icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God. All the besieged fervently prayed to the Intercessor of the Christian race, and the Mother of God heard their prayers. The battle continued until late at night, but all attacks were repelled.
The chronicle also tells about other miraculous events in which God’s special mercy was revealed to the monastery. The secretary of the Batory campaign office, Father Jan Piotrovsky, wrote in his diary: “The Germans were unlucky in Pechory, there were two assaults and both were unhappy. They'll make a hole in the wall, launch an attack, and then they won't move. This surprises everyone, some say that the place is enchanted, others say that the place is holy, but in any case, the exploits of the monks are worthy of surprise.”
The miraculous icons of the Mother of God “Assumption” and “Tenderness” were sent to the defenders of Pskov, inspiring them to feats of arms: during the 5 months of the siege, the enemy stormed the Pskov Kremlin more than 30 times, but never took the city.
In memory of this miraculous deliverance, the grateful people of Pechersk every year on the 7th week of Easter went in procession with the miraculous icon “Tenderness” to Pskov. In 1998, the tradition of the religious procession was resumed (only the icon is now transferred inside the monastery - from the Assumption to St. Michael's Church and back).
At the beginning of the 17th century, the monastery survived many attacks by Swedish, Lithuanian and Polish conquerors, who took advantage of the internal difficulties of the Russian state and committed outrages on its western borders.
In 1701, Peter I ordered to surround the monastery with an earthen rampart and a deep, water-filled ditch (the remains of earthen fortifications from the Petrine era have survived to this day). 5 bastions were built at the most important points, and a battery was placed at the gates. The Pechersk fortress acquired national significance: as a sign of this, the state emblem was installed on the main fortress Nikolskaya Tower.
In 1703, thanks to new fortifications, a small detachment under the command of governor Ivan Nazimov managed to repel an attack by a 2,000-strong Swedish army. This was the last battle near the walls of the monastery. The Peace of Nystadt (1721) moved the country's border to the west and put an end to the defense mission of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery.
In 1812, the Russian land was again threatened by a conqueror. The rapidly advancing Napoleonic troops occupied Polotsk. The threat of occupation also loomed over Pskov. Then, at the request of the Pskov residents, the icons of the Mother of God “Assumption” and “Tenderness”, a banner with the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, were brought to the city from the monastery. On October 7, a religious procession was held with miraculous shrines. On the same day, Russian troops recaptured Polotsk, and Pskov was out of danger. In memory of this event, on the initiative of the war hero Field Marshal P.H. Wittgenstein, a temple was erected in the Pechersk monastery in honor of the Holy Archangel Michael (1815-1827).
Holy spring in the monastery 
Monastery during the Great Patriotic War
On June 22, 1941, the Great Patriotic War began. Fascist troops quickly advanced across the Baltic states. All Soviet organizations in the city of Pechora were hastily evacuated to the rear. The Germans entered the city.
The monastery continued to remain under dual subordination: Metropolitan Alexander (Paulus) of Tallinn and Metropolitan Sergius (Voskresensky) Exarch of the Baltic States.
Changes took place in the monastery during 1941: Archimandrite Parthenius retired due to old age, although he still continued to serve as steward. He was an excellent business executive and a man of great soul. Father Parthenius’ favorite expression was: “Thank God for everything!” Before the departure of Father Parthenius, Abbot Pavel only helped him, but then all the troubles associated with the occupation fell as a heavy burden on the shoulders of one Father Pavel, who was also already in old age.
Abbot Hegumen Pavel (in the world Peter Mikhailovich Gorshkov) was born in St. Petersburg in 1867 in the family of a merchant of the Second Guild. Graduated from 4th grade of primary school. In 1884 he entered the Sergiev Monastery near St. Petersburg as a novice. In 1888, he was tonsured into the mantle, after which he fought the good fight for thirty years in the same desert. In 1919, he served as a regimental priest in the northwestern army, commanded by General Rodzianko, and spiritually cared for the wounded in the Narva hospital. Further, by the providence of God, he was sent to obedience in Estonia - as a priest in Yuriev, then as a confessor in the Pyukhtitsky convent, then again to parishes - in Tapa and Mustvey, and since 1937 he held the position of dean and assistant rector in the Pskov-Pechersk monastery.
By nature, Father Pavel was very active and compassionate towards people. In the first year of the Great Patriotic War, he became rector.
These years (1941-1945) were as difficult for the monastery as the period of the Civil War. Entering this period, the brethren placed special hope in the Heavenly Abbess - the Most Holy Theotokos. Life consisted of daily prayer and work to preserve the monastery. A striking illustration of this is the document, the text of which we present below in full:
“To His Eminence the Most Reverend Bishop Alexander Metropolitan of Tallinn.
No. 177 20.IX.41/departure
With this, respectfully, after a long silence, I greet you with all the brethren in Christ with the mercy of God - after disturbing experiences, we mentally ask you to sanctify. Blessings and St. prayers.
Holy Master! For your St. prayers The Lady saved us healthy and unharmed except for Fr. I. Alexia Smirnova on Mustishchevo.
All the churches of God and everything in them are also safe and sound, as well as the sacristy and everything in it that is behind three seals: Soviet, monastic, German. Worship services always took place. We are amazed at the care of our Heavenly Mother Superior for us, that even the keys to the Sacristy were taken by the Soviet authorities on October 21. last 1940 Pecher was returned to us. city. Management on August 13th, which was found by the son of the chairman of the Uyezd furnace. Councils in the Alatskivi castle near Peypus.
We still haven’t gone to the sacristy, we consider it for the best... besides, we don’t have an inventory, which is only available to Mr. Vaga, who checked it, O. Ig had it. Agathon, but her comrades were also taken, only a little household equipment was damaged, i.e. we were forced to sell a horse, 4 cows, hay, straw, harness and agricultural tools very cheaply. All furnishings were removed from the abbot's house. Temples did not have taxes, but they paid very dearly for the fraternal premises and in total more than 4,000 rubles were paid.
By the grace of God, the necessary repairs were made... Wooden feet were made on the south side of St. Michael's Cathedral and 200 2-inch boards were prepared for the floor of the Assumption Cathedral.
O. Pavel was sent to Pskov with our food for the starving on 9.VIII. and for Divine services - at the request of believers.”* (*Letter, ref. No. 177 dated 09/20/1941. Copy. Archive of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery.)
During the war period, Abbot Pavel not only performed divine services and preached, worked on the monastery's household chores, but most importantly, helped prisoners of war and the elderly. Let us turn to the documents and memories of eyewitnesses.
“Input No. 112. 19.VIII. 41
Father Pavel! I beg you, visit the almshouse, show mercy to the unfortunate people who are useless to anyone. After all, think about it: one jumped out of a window from hunger, died yesterday, and others are asking to poison them.
I really hope that you will not refuse my request.
Sofia Dmitrievna Petrova from Pskov. Almshouse in Zavelichye."
In response to this cry for help, Abbot Paul, after the Divine service, from the church pulpit makes an appeal to the people for help to the sick, elderly and prisoners of war. The parishioners of the monastery responded to the call of Abbot Paul. The products have been collected. And we read further:
“No. 139 23.VIII.41
Certification that from the Pechersk Monastery in the city of Pskov one hundred eleven (111) poods are sent to the hungry on 4 carts, namely: 12 bags of bread - 25 poods, 7 bags of rye flour - 25 poods, 1 bag of white flour 1 pood., 3 bags of cereals - 3 poods, 5 bags of crackers. - 6 pounds, 4 bags and a basket of vegetables - 8 pounds, 12 bags. Potatoes - 43 pounds, 197 eggs, 5 kilos of meat.
Assistant to the Rector, Hieromonk Pavel Gorshkov.
P.S. There are 3 bags of potatoes left in the monastery, p.c. did not fit on 4 carts.
In total, 153 pounds were sent from the Holy Pechersk Monastery to Pskov for the hungry, namely: 8.VIII - 42 pounds, accompanied by Fr. Pavel, and 23.VIII - 111 poods were accompanied by Anastasia Ilyinichna Shirokova and Natalya Afanasyevna Bystrika.
Free guides: Nikolay Vasilievich Kurnosov.”
The above documents are only a small part of the social work that the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery carried out during the years of occupation.
To complete the picture of the ministry of Abbot Paul, we present the testimonies of eyewitnesses who knew him.
Georgy Aleksandrovich Pechnikov, a resident of the city of Pechora, says: “I know of a case in 1943 when one of the monks hid the partisan Rinusov in the monastery. Later he died, but his relative Rinusova Elena Alekseevna (in reality Viktorovna) is still alive, and she can confirm this.”* (*St. Petersburg Diocesan Gazette. Issue 26-27, 2002, p. 184. )
Elena Viktorovna Rinusova, a resident of the city of Pechory, adds: “I was born and raised in the city of Pechory. I remember Pyotr Mikhailovich Gorshkov (Father Paul) quite well... The monastery was engaged in charitable work, and P.M. Gorshkov himself had a lot of credit for this. So, through the parishioners, the monastery collected food (and the villages around the city were not devastated, and people lived well enough and could isolate something from the products) and transferred it to hospitals and camps. In particular, near the city where the Maysky microdistrict is now located, there was a prisoner of war camp, and some of the food was taken there. I do not know that there was a partisan movement in the city and region; there are still no facts of the monastery workers providing assistance to the partisans or, conversely, handing over partisans who sympathized with Soviet power to the Germans or Omakaitse. True, there was a conversation that someone was hiding a relative on my husband’s side in the monastery, but I don’t know any details about this... I can definitely say that he (Hegumen Pavel) had no dealings with the invaders or Omakaitse and was not a policeman.”* (*St. Petersburg Diocesan Gazette. Issue 26-27, 2002, p. 185.)
The Mother of God is the Patroness of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery and the Pskov region. This was especially evident during the Great Patriotic War. The Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery is one of the few Russian Orthodox monasteries that did not interrupt their prayerful presence before God in the 20th century.
And although neither revolution nor war spared the monastery (in May 1945 it was literally in ruins), the work and prayer of the monastery brethren overcame yet another devastation and again brought the monastery to improvement and splendor.
The wounds of war were slowly healing. There were thirty-three brethren: two archimandrites, hegumen Anatoly, nine hieromonks, elder Simeon, four hierodeacons, six monks and ten novices.
The prayers of the brethren during the Great Patriotic War for the victory of the Russian army and people were heard by God through the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Even seemingly unbelieving officers felt and appreciated in their hearts the prayers of the brethren of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery.
The monastery in the twentieth century and today
In the twentieth century, the monastery, together with the Fatherland, had to go through two wars. But the ancient traditions, carefully preserved in the monastery, were not violated even in the most terrible times for Russian monasticism. Through the prayers of the Most Pure Mother of God, the Pskov-Pechersk monastery, by the providence of God, was assigned to bourgeois Estonia under the treaty of 1922 and remained there until 1940, thereby saving it from general ruin and desecration.
The disasters that befell our Fatherland during the Great Patriotic War did not spare the monastery. The Refectory and the Brotherhood Building, and the wall of St. Michael's Cathedral were destroyed. Other churches were also damaged by artillery shelling.
Concerns about putting the monastery's economy in order in the post-war years largely fell to the lot of Archimandrite Pimen, the abbot of the monastery from 1949 to 1954, and who later became the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. His works were continued by Archimandrite Alypius, a warrior and artist (1959-1975). Under him, in 1960, restoration of the fortress walls and towers began (they had stood uncovered since 1688 after a devastating fire, gradually collapsing).
During the difficult times of the war, the monastery was headed by Abbot Pavel (Gorshkov). After the release of Pechory, he was arrested, sentenced to 15 years and died in a prison hospital at the age of 80. For many years, tourists visiting the monastery were told about its alleged collaboration with the Nazis. Only 52 years later, Abbot Pavel was rehabilitated. Then, in the first year of the war, it was not by chance that the brethren chose him as their governor. Thanks to his chosen subtle and intelligent line of behavior with the occupation regime, the monastery with all its values and shrines was preserved, and the brethren were preserved. Moreover, trusting in the mercy of God, he strengthened others with his faith, organized food assistance to captured Red Army soldiers in camp point No. 134 of Pskov, the sick and elderly of the Pskov nursing home and the almshouse on Zavelichye. There is also evidence that Soviet intelligence officers took refuge in the monastery caves during the war. One of them, when visiting the monastery in 1984, personally confirmed this fact.
Thus, even in the last war, the holy monastery-fortress remained an unquenchable lamp of the Orthodox faith, a reliable support for our compatriots to survive in this difficult time for the entire country.
The monastery also became famous in peaceful years for the spiritual deeds of its inhabitants, through whose prayers God’s mercy does not diminish to those who seek Heavenly consolation at the Pechersk shrines. Throughout the existence of the monastery, the fire of elder service did not go out in it. Everyone who came for spiritual consolation and advice found it in conversations with great prayer books.
When the family of Sovereign Nicholas II visited the Pechersk monastery, the latter had a spiritual conversation with Elder Theodosius, who was then ascetic in the monastery.
entrance to the caves 
Through the diligence of the next rector (1988-1992), Archimandrite Pavel (Ponomarev), now Metropolitan of Ryazan and Mikhailovsky, the monastery library, stored in Tartu, was returned to the monastery, new buildings for a hospital, an icon-painting and restoration and sewing workshop were built, and a House of Mercy for lonely elderly people was built in the city people, 100 hectares of arable land were returned to the monastery.
The viceroy, Archimandrite Roman (Zherebtsov), continued the reconstruction of the monastery buildings and churches; through his efforts, a wooden fraternal building was built and the copper coating of the fortress walls and towers began.
Currently, Archimandrite Tikhon (Secretaryov), the abbot of the monastery since 1995, continues the pious tradition of his predecessors in preserving the monastery charter and improving and decorating the monastery. The construction of the fraternal stone building near the Lower Lattice tower with a bathhouse and laundry has been completed, work on covering the fortress walls with copper has been completed, the construction of an economic complex is underway, the domes of the temples have been restored, the paintings on the façade of the Assumption Church have been restored, and restoration has been carried out in the St. Michael's Church.
Its centuries-old traditions are carefully preserved in the monastery. With the blessing of His Holiness, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', the locally revered Fathers Mark, Jonah, and Mother Vassa were included in the All-Russian calendar. Since 1994, the monastery has celebrated the memory of the venerable fathers of Pskov-Pechersk on the 4th week after Pentecost, and in 1998 the celebration in honor of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, celebrated on the 7th week after Easter, was restored. For the first time in many years (since the beginning of the twentieth century), in July 2000, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” of Pskov-Pechersk visited Pskov for the consecration of a chapel in honor of St. equal to book Olga.
The monastery continues catechetical and publishing activities.
On the shore of Lake Pskov, the monastery opened the Priozerny monastery. Construction of the monastery skete began on the shores of Lake Malskoe.
In the monastery, by the grace of God, the lamps of true piety do not go out. The now deceased archimandrites - John (Krestyankin), Feofan (Molyavko), Nathanael (Pospelov), Schema-Archimandrite Alexander (Vasiliev) - are marvelous elders, whom almost the entire Orthodox world now knows. Archimandrite Adrian (Kirsanov), who is still alive today, is a living tradition of the Church, holy Orthodoxy and humble monastic life.
All spiritual and educational activities of the monastery are led by His Eminence Eusebius, Metropolitan of Pskov and Velikoluksky, Holy Archimandrite of the Holy Dormition Pskovo-Pechersky Monastery with the Spiritual Council of Elders, blessing and sanctifying the works of the monks.
And God grant that through the prayerful intercession of the Most Pure Mother of God the tradition of Pechersk asceticism will not be stopped, so that the monastery will continue to remain a bright embodiment of the ideal of Orthodox Holy Rus'.
TEMPLES AND CONSTRUCTION OF A MONASTERY
Belfry of the Church of St. Nicholas the Gatekeeper
It was built according to the design of St. Cornelius no later than 1565 during the construction of fortress walls around the monastery. The church is connected to one of the battle towers of the fortress wall.
Great belfry
To the east of the Assumption Cathedral, along the same line, on the site there is the main monastery bell tower, or belfry, made of stone from several pillars placed in one line, from west to east.
The Great Belfry is one of the largest architectural structures of this type (like the belfry of the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral, the belfries of the Church of the Epiphany and the Paromena Assumption Church in Pskov).
It has six main spans (bells) and a seventh, which was added later, thanks to which a kind of second tier is formed.
The collection of bells of the Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is one of the most significant both in the Pskov region and in Northwestern Russia.
St. Michael's Cathedral 
St. Michael's Cathedral
Sretenskaya Church
Built in 1540 as a refectory; rebuilt as a temple in 1867-70. (Moreover, the ground floor, which once housed the kitchen and utility rooms, remained untouched). Major repairs were carried out in 1924.
Sacristy
Walls and towers
The fortress with six towers and three gates was built in 1558 - 1565 as a border fortress during the Livonian War near the Livonian fortress of Neuhausen. Later four more towers were built. The fortress withstood a two-month siege by a detachment of troops of Stefan Batory and a Hungarian detachment under the command of Bornemisza in 1581, and subsequently repeatedly participated in border fighting until the end of the Northern War in 1721.
The Tower of the Upper Lattices is next to the Taylovskaya Tower, above the ravine and the Kamenets stream flowing along its bottom. At the bottom of the tower there is a small stone arch through which the waters of the stream flow into the fortress. The stone arch or vault was covered with an iron grating so that the besiegers would not use the stream to penetrate the fortress. The lattice gave its name to the tower itself. Despite the fact that the Upper Lattice Tower stands at the bottom of the ravine, it is the highest in the Pechora Fortress, and its top point reaches a height of 25 meters. Behind the walls are hidden 6 combat tiers with loopholes and wide chambers for installing guns. The tower's tent is topped with a lookout platform - a guardhouse, a guard hut, from which the approaches to the fortress and the surrounding area are clearly visible. From the tower, like wings, sections of walls - spindles - diverge, connecting into one whole the towers placed on the banks of the ravine. This section of military fortifications looks especially picturesque from the tourist site, located almost opposite the Upper Lattice tower.
The Tower of the lower bars, just like the Tower of the upper bars, is placed at the bottom of the ravine, downstream of the stream, and closes the north-eastern arc of the fortress wall. The stream here becomes wider and deeper than where it enters the fortress. The Lower Lattice Tower has four combat tiers. Each of the three lower ones has four loopholes with wide combat chambers. On the topmost tier there are seven loopholes. Their location made it possible to take control of almost all directions of possible attacks. In addition, on the third tier there was access to the fortress wall. This detail is very important, because next to the tower there is a lower gate. To strengthen the protection of the gates, loopholes were installed above them in the fortress wall, between which there is an icon case with the image of the Savior.
entrance to the monastery 
HOW TO GET THERE
By train to Pskov, then from the Bus Station (200 m from the railway station) by bus to Pechory.
Bus schedule Pskov-Pechora:
LLC "Niva"
GPPO "Pskovpassazhiravtotrans" (via Old Izborsk) bus No. 207
Attention! On Sundays, a new route has been opened, especially convenient for those who are going to leave Pechory for Pskov on Sunday with a stop in St. Izborsk and an audio tour along the entire route.
Coordinates:
Latitude: 57°48?35.18?N (57.809773)
Longitude: 27°36?45.32?E (27.612589)
PILGRIMAGE SERVICE
Pilgrimage center: 181500 Pskov region, Pechory, st. Yuryevskaya, 82
The pilgrimage center “Pilgrim’s House” of the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery was opened on June 1, 2012 on the territory of a former military unit. Cells in buildings are designed to accommodate 4 or more people.
Meals - 2 times a day: lunch - from 13.15 to 14.00, dinner - from 21.00 to 22.00.
The duration of stay at the Pilgrimage Center is no more than 3 days.
Accommodation, meals and excursions around the monastery are by donation.
Issues regarding the accommodation of 1-6 people are resolved by the person responsible for the accommodation of pilgrims by calling: +7-911-369-76-48.
Group accommodation (from 7 people):
We ask you to inform us in advance about the date of arrival of the group, time of stay and the number of pilgrims in the form of a request by e-mail:
[email protected]
Phone/fax for inquiries: 8-811-48-23-227
+7-911-890-21-63
Skype: dompalppm
Conducting excursions for residents of the Pilgrim House:
Phone/fax 8-81148-2-18-39
mob. tel. +79118877111
e-mail: [email protected]
Saint Reverend Cornelius of Pskov-Pechersk 
PECHORY TODAY
Pechory continues to be decorated all these years. In the 80s, with the blessing of Metropolitan John (Razumov), the viceroy, Archimandrite Gabriel (Steblyuchenko 1975-1988), now Bishop of Annunciation and Tynda, carried out restoration work: the painting of the temple walls was updated, the restoration of the monastery walls, which began under Archimandrite Alipia, was completed. A new fraternal building was built. In the St. Nicholas Church a chapel was built in honor of the Venerable Martyr Cornelius. The bakery and library premises have been renovated.
Through the diligence of the next abbot (1988-1992), Archimandrite Pavel (Ponomarev), now Bishop of Vienna and Budapest, the monastery library, stored in Tartu, was returned to the monastery, new buildings of the hospital, icon-painting and restoration and sewing workshops were built. The city has established a House of Mercy for lonely elderly people. 100 hectares of arable land were returned to the monastery.
The viceroy, Archimandrite Roman (Zherebtsov), continued the reconstruction of the monastery buildings and churches; through his efforts, a wooden fraternal building was built and the copper coating of the fortress walls and towers began.
Currently, Archimandrite Tikhon (Secretaryov), the abbot of the monastery since 1995, continues the tradition of his predecessors in preserving the monastery charter and improving and decorating the monastery. The construction of the fraternal stone building near the Lower Lattice tower with a bathhouse and laundry was completed, and work on covering the fortress walls with copper was completed. Construction of an economic complex is underway. The domes of the churches, the paintings on the facade of the Assumption Church were restored, and restoration was carried out in the St. Michael's Church.
With the blessing of His Holiness, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', the locally revered Fathers Mark, Jonah, and Mother Vassa were included in the All-Russian calendar.
Since 1994, the monastery has celebrated the memory of the venerable fathers of Pskov-Pechersk on the 4th week after Pentecost, and in 1998 the celebration in honor of the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, celebrated on the 7th week after Easter, was restored. For the first time in many years (since the beginning of the twentieth century), in July 2000, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” of Pskov-Pechersk visited Pskov at the consecration of the chapel in honor of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga.
The monastery continues catechetical and publishing activities. Pechora schoolchildren gather weekly for Sunday school and icon painting classes. Many sing in the children's and youth choir.
On the shore of Lake Pskov, the monastery opened the Priozerny monastery. The improvement of the monastery monastery and on the shore of Lake Malskoe is underway. 
Lamps of Faith
The monastery also became famous in peaceful years for the spiritual deeds of its inhabitants, through whose prayers God’s mercy does not diminish to those who seek Heavenly consolation at the Pechersk shrines. Throughout the existence of the monastery, the fire of elder service did not go out in it. All those who came for spiritual consolation and advice found it in conversations with great prayer books.
One of these lamps of the Orthodox faith was the Venerable Hieroschemamonk Lazar, who labored as a recluse in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
When the family of Sovereign Nicholas II visited the monastery, the latter had a spiritual conversation with Elder Theodosius, who was then ascetic in the monastery.
Hieroschemamonk Simeon (Zhelnin) served God and people for more than 60 years, spiritually caring for not only the brethren, but also numerous lay people and pilgrims who came to him for spiritual advice. A separate book has been published about his life, in which the reader will find many testimonies about the miraculous prayer help of the elder.
On April 1, 2003, Hieroschemamonk Simeon was glorified as a saint. Schema-archimandrites Agapius (Agapov) and Pimen (Gavrilenko) continued the feat of elder service in the 60s and 70s.
After the Great Patriotic War, the elders from Valaam arrived at the Pskov-Pechersk monastery, having been transported from the holy island to Finland before the war. Hieroschemamonks Mikhail (Pitkevich), Luke (Zemskov) and other elders were like a spiritual bridge connecting Old Valaam and the holy Pechersk monastery.
Temple architecture and decoration
Year after year, century after century, the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery turned into an outstanding historical and cultural monument.
The fortress monastery walls with 9 towers and a total length of about 810 meters surround a magnificent architectural ensemble formed by a number of temples. The oldest of them, the Assumption Cathedral, is excavated in the mountain; only the northern wall facing the monastery is made of stone. Here, in the central part of the temple, the main shrine of the monastery is located - the ancient miraculous icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God (1521).
The iconostasis (3rd quarter of the 17th century) is decorated with carvings; The royal doors are made in the form of a trunk entwined with a vine. The upper part of the innostasis is like branches and leaves, between which, instead of flowers or fruits, small oval icons of the Mother of God, apostles and prophets are inserted. Near the blank southern wall of the temple there is a deep niche, in which is placed a shrine with the relics of St. Cornelia.
In the 18th century, above the cathedral Assumption Church, a temple in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos was consecrated in 1759, on the site of the monastery “court chamber”. On the days of the patronal feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, when small churches cannot accommodate many pilgrims, the solemn service is performed in the open air, and then the facade of the Assumption and Intercession churches serves as an iconostasis, the square in front of the cathedral pulpit, the slopes of the hills and the fortress wall serve as the walls of the temple, and the dome it becomes the sky.
Other ancient miraculous images of the Mother of God also enjoy special popular veneration: “Tenderness” (a copy from the icon of the “Vladimir” Mother of God) and “Hodegetria” (brought from Smolensk), since the 17th century the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God has been in the monastery, a carved image of St. Nicholas (“Nicholas of Mozhaisk” 16th century) from the St. Nicholas Church and many other icons.
In St. Michael's Church, the right hand (right hand) of St. is kept in a special ark. martyr Tatiana, transferred to the monastery in 1977 by the brother of Archimandrite Afanasy (Moskvitin) Hieromonk Vladimir (Moskvitin). This shrine was once given to Archimandrite Athanasius by pious spouses of an eminent family, his spiritual children, who later became monks. During the destruction of the Tsarskoye Selo Palace, they managed to buy the shrine and preserve it for veneration.
Assumption Cave Church with Pokrovsky
The domes of the Assumption Church are designed like the domes of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra (in the “Ukrainian Baroque” style). There are five of them, dark blue with gold stars. The domes are located in one line on the roof slope, as if going down, towards the worshipers. Above the entrance to the Assumption Cathedral is a large Kiev-Pechersk icon of the Mother of God with the saints standing before Her. Anthony and Theodosius of Kiev-Pechersk, the chapel of the cathedral was consecrated in their honor in 1523, and rebuilt in the mid-18th century.
To the east of the Assumption Cathedral there is a two-story church in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, rare for Pskov architecture. It was erected in 1541 under Abbot Cornelius. A large refectory is adjacent to the temple. In 1870, an altar was built in it, and it was consecrated as a temple in honor of the Presentation of the Lord. Opposite the Assumption Cathedral, a small temple was built at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries in the name of the holy righteous Lazarus of the Four Days; in the building adjacent to it there is a monastery hospital.
At the top of the slope of the ravine, north of the Assumption Church, stands the majestic St. Michael's Cathedral.
In 1986, a wooden church in honor of the Pskov-Pechersk saints was consecrated on the Holy Mountain.
Almost in the very center of the monastery ensemble, over an artesian well, a chapel was built in 1911, decorated with images of Russian saints. Memorial services are held here every day from early spring to late autumn. Not far from the chapel is another monastery well, long revered by pilgrims and named by them in honor of the Venerable Martyr Cornelius “Kornilevsky”. Water is taken from it for water blessing prayers.
The monastery belfry, which adorns Assumption Square, was built in the 16th century. on the site of an old wooden one (1523). It has six different sizes - in accordance with the size of the bell-openings. All bells were made by Pskov craftsmen and decorated with ornaments, animal figures, and relief inscriptions. The polyeleos bell, donated by Ivan the Terrible (1562), weighs 3 tons, the Budnichny (hour) bell, donated by Boris Godunov (1591) - 2 tons. Large bell - a gift from Peter the Great (1690) - 4 tons. Large bells are swung from the ground using rocker arms.
Adjacent to the bell tower is a clock tower built in the early 18th century. The clock mechanism is connected to bells; Every quarter of an hour small bells ring, and the “Godunovsky” bell strikes the hours.
Holy Caves
The monastery's Holy Caves are especially revered. The entrance to the caves is next to the Assumption Cathedral. An ancient inscription has been restored above the entrance: “Caves created by God.” In the niche at the entrance to the caves is the coffin of the Venerable Vassa. On the left, in a chapel-like room, are the tombs of St. Mark, Jonah, and Lazarus.
From the entrance there are seven underground galleries, the so-called “streets,” which have lengthened and expanded at different times. The walls near the entrance are lined with bricks for strength. The air temperature here invariably stays around +5C. The exact number of burials has not been established, because with numerous sieges this was difficult to do. There is reason to believe that more than 10 thousand people are buried there.
The walls of the caves contain ceramic and limestone slabs with inscriptions, the so-called ceramides - a valuable historical monument of the Pskov region. The names of representatives of the glorious Slavic families of the Suvorovs, Rtishchevs, Nashchokins, Buturlins, Mstislavskys are found in tombstone inscriptions; here lie the ancestors of the poets A. S. Pushkin, A. N. Pleshcheev, commander M. I. Kutuzov, composer M. P. Mussorgsky.
Representatives of the ancient Simansky family, which gave Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow and All Rus' to the Russian Orthodox Church, are buried in the caves. Bishops were also buried here, including the outstanding Orthodox hierarch Metropolitan Veniamin (Fedchenkov).
Shortly before the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Church of the Resurrection of Christ was restored in the caves.
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SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTO:
Team Nomads
http://www.pskovo-pechersky-monastery.ru
http://pechori.ru/
Dokuchaev I. A. Pechory in the palm of your hand. A guide to ancient monuments in photographs by S. Gavrilova. Pskov, 2002 - 112 pp.: ill.
Yamshchikov S. Archimandrite Alipiy. Human. Artist. Warrior. Abbot. M.: Moscow, 2004. - 488 p. ISBN 5-98637-004-X
Soykin P.P. Pskov-Pechersky Monastery in the Pskov district // Orthodox Russian monasteries: A complete illustrated description of Orthodox Russian monasteries in the Russian Empire and on Mount Athos. - St. Petersburg: Resurrection, 1994. - pp. 172-174. — 712 p. — 20,000 copies. — ISBN 5-88335-001-1.
Pskov-Pechersky-Uspensky Monastery // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional ones). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
http://www.photosight.ru/
photo Vyacheslav Makarov, K. Nikiforov.
