Description of the Belogorsk Nicholas Monastery. Belogorsky monastery Perm region Stanislav Cherepanov white mountain monastery

There are many holy places in Mother Rus', where thousands of pilgrims, believers and sufferers flock - in search of spiritual purification, deliverance from bodily ailments, moral enlightenment and simply to become familiar with spiritual beauty. One of these centers, “places of power”, is rightfully considered in the Perm region, popularly nicknamed “Mount Athos of the Urals” for the strictness of its regulations and the holiness of its services.

Travel to the Urals

So, let's go to what, long after the onset of spring, flaunts its lush snow cap among other peaks of the Ural ridge. By the way, hence the name steep! The natural complex is located approximately 120 km from the regional city of Perm. It was here that the Belogorsky Monastery was once built. Perm region- beautiful places, with amazing nature, harsh and simple at the same time. She is as unpretentious and majestic as the people who have inhabited these places for a long time and live here now. And the holy monastery, called St. Nicholas, organically fits its architecture into the surrounding landscape. By the type of activity it belongs to the spiritual missionary institutions. And 40 km from the parish is the small town of Kungura. Thus, the main attraction of the surrounding area is the Belogorsky Monastery. The Perm region can no longer be imagined without it.

Excursion into history

The Urals have long been a multinational area. Europe and Asia united here, giving rise to unique climatic conditions. Dense forests rich in game, lakes generous with fish, the bowels of the earth with deposits of natural resources made this area more than attractive to the most different nations- both the indigenous people who have lived here since time immemorial, and the newcomers who came here in search of a better life or fled from cruel landowners. Bashkirs, Mongols, Tatars, Kazakhs lived side by side with Mansi, Komi, Udmurts, and Khanty. The Russian-Kazakh steppes and mountains have become the focus of many unique cultures, customs, and traditions. For example, in the 18th century, Old Believers hid here from persecution, creating their own hermitage settlements. At that time, the Belogorsky monastery had not yet been built here; the Perm region did not differ in this from other semi-wild provinces of Russia.

Foundation of the monastery

1891 is a memorable year for these places. Tsarevich Nikolai Alekseevich was 22 years old when he decided to go on an “eastern” trip in order to increase the level of knowledge and become better acquainted with government systems other countries. In Japan, an attempt was made on his life; several blows with sabers almost became fatal. In honor of his deliverance from danger and recovery, a huge ten-meter “royal” cross was first erected on White Mountain. Then the highest ranks of the Orthodox Church decided to build the Belogorsky Monastery on this elevation. The Perm region thus went down in history twice, which had a beneficial effect on these places. The “character” of the monastery was immediately determined: missionary, that is, with elements of charity, a men’s parish, called St. Nicholas.

Start of construction

A ceremonial prayer service and illumination of the construction site took place in 1893, on June 18. Marking the site on White Mountain, plans and drawings - everything was prepared in advance. In 1894, the Belogorsky Monastery had already begun to work, since the temple had already been completely rebuilt, although it was still wooden. Then work continued on the buildings that would house the monks, various utility rooms, the abbot's room, etc. They also opened a school for orphans, where 25 boys lived and were educated. An interesting detail: the Belogorsk Monastery was self-supporting. The monks, mastering peasant skills (and many were familiar with them from childhood), plowed and sowed, gardened, raised livestock and poultry, and fishing and beekeeping. Fulfilling their Christian duty, they helped the surrounding population with food free of charge. During lean years, many people were saved by the monastery bread!

Fateful minutes

They did not bypass the house of God. Although there were moments of true triumph. For example, in September 1897, in a long religious procession, in which not only the Orthodox clergy took part, but also thousands of pilgrims, 5 miraculous icons were delivered to the Belogorsky Monastery (Perm) - to strengthen the spirit of believers, in the name of glorifying the Lord. Solemn thanksgiving services and prayer services were held throughout the district. And then main temple and the buildings suffered the fate of many wooden buildings: from a sudden fire they all burned almost to the ground. The drama occurred literally three years after the opening. And 4 years later, during the rampant nature, the Royal Cross was blown down by a heavy wind. It was restored by the whole world, by society. The merchants especially helped. It was demolished in 1918, with the establishment of Soviet power in the Urals.

Second life of the monastery

The people wanted to restore not only the cross, but also the monastery itself. What did the Belogorsky Monastery look like before the fire? Photos, alas, have not survived. Only the recorded memories of contemporaries remained.

And funds began to be collected again. A huge number of people took part in donations. The contributions came from ordinary parishioners - poor townspeople and the peasantry. Famous residents of Perm and Kungur, industrialists, merchants, various kinds of philanthropists, cultural and artistic figures of the region, neighboring clergy and capital churches - no one remained aloof from the good cause. And a lot of money was required, because it was planned to erect a solid stone building that would not be afraid of fires, storms and other disasters.

The foundation stone of the new cathedral, the Exaltation of the Cross Cathedral, therefore did not take place soon, only in 1902. With God's help, it was built for almost a decade and a half; the architecture reflects strict classical architecture. Among the builders, first of all, there were monks: they made bricks and laid masonry. The new building, beautiful in its austere grandeur, accommodated 8 thousand believers. Among the spiritual monasteries of local significance operating at that time, the largest was the Belogorsky Monastery (Perm Territory, photo attached). At the great celebration of the opening and consecration of the building there were about 30 thousand parishioners and pilgrims. This happened in the summer of 1917. It seemed that the monastery expected many years of service to the bright, good, divine.

Revolutions, repressions, wars

However, history makes its own adjustments to human plans. Likewise, the monastery, in order to truly become a center of spirituality and true faith, had to endure a lot in its lifetime. During revolutionary battles and battles civil war The monastery was repeatedly plundered and desecrated. Representatives of the leading clergy led by Archimandrite Varlaam, as well as almost all ordinary monks, were brutally tortured, drowned in the Kama or shot. The school for orphans, of course, was closed. Since 1923, the desecrated house of God was used for the dungeons of the Cheka and the police. And since 1930, a camp was opened here where repressed and special settlers were kept. A year later, the building was adapted into a Home for the Disabled. Then various medical social institutions were located here: during the Great Patriotic War - a rehabilitation center for the wounded and disabled of the Second World War, labor and childhood, in which people were kept in conditions very far from civilized ones. Well, in 1980, Belogorye flared up again. Even the domes of the cathedral were burned out.

Holy place

Yes, the popular proverb is right when it says that a holy place will not be empty. And during the perestroika period, when a revaluation of values ​​took place, not only forgotten or crossed out names of figures of literature, music, painting, undeservedly forgotten works of art, but also religious centers were returned to Russian culture. So the Belogorsky Monastery, or rather, everything that was left of it, again went under the authority of the Orthodox Church. The solemn celebration of the day of the baptism of Rus' played a big role in this important event. The necessary amounts were allocated from the central and regional budgets. And again they began both in all the buildings of the monastery and in the main attraction of the complex - the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross. Every cloud has a silver lining - thanks to modern technology, a natural spring with healing water was discovered on the territory of the monastery, which further glorified and made these places popular.

Daily routine and services

For those wishing to visit the Belogorsky Monastery, opening hours do not play a special role. It is open for pilgrims around the clock: they will give you accommodation for the night, feed you, and try to make everything comfortable and very unobtrusive. Of course, excursions are offered. If you want to go to special services at the Belogorsky Monastery, its opening hours are as follows: every Saturday in the temple from 14-00 to 15-00, prayers are held in front of the ark, where particles of the relics of St. Panteleimon, the healer, lie. Services are held in the name of the suffering and sick, burdened with various bodily ailments. These relics were delivered to the monastery from Saint Athos (Greece) back in 1907 and preserved by people devoted to God through all the vicissitudes of history and personal destinies. When (see photo in the article) they began to restore the ark, the believers returned the ark to the monastery. Further, with regard to special services - on Mondays from half past four in the evening to five, prayers for water take place, from 17.00 - all-night vigils; on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - morning divine liturgies.

Address and route

And again, information for those who want to visit the Belogorsky Monastery: how to get to it. The exact address monasteries - Perm region, Kungur region, Kalinino village. Highway (for those traveling on their own) Ekaterinburg-Perm. Look carefully at the signs and turn onto Kalinino on time. You can also use buses.

Story #2:

Today, the weekly column “The History of One Temple” will introduce the LiveJournal reader to the history of Belogorsk St. Nicholas monastery, which is also called the Ural Athos.

The Belogorsky St. Nicholas Monastery is located on White Mountain, 120 kilometers from Perm.

The monastery can be easily reached by car. To do this, on the Perm-Ekaterinburg highway, before reaching Kungur, you need to turn at the sign for Kalinino, and then turn at the sign for Belaya Gora.

White Mountain is highest peak Tulvinskaya Upland. According to the most common opinion, it got its name because the snow in its vicinity does not melt for a long time.

The history of the monastery begins on April 29, 1891. It was then that a seven-foot cross, popularly nicknamed the Tsar’s Cross, was erected on White Mountain in memory of the rescue of the heir to the Russian throne, Tsarevich Nicholas, from an assassination attempt in Japan. In April 1901, a storm broke out on the mountain and toppled the cross. The symbol of the Belogorsk Monastery was restored by September of the same year and stood until 1918. After 80 years, the cross was again installed on the edge of the White Mountain.

In February 1894, construction of the first wooden St. Nicholas Church was completed on the territory of the monastery. 3 years later, on November 16, 1897, during a fire, the temple burned to the ground. The need arose to build a stone church, and only on June 24, 1902, the foundation site of the cathedral church in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was solemnly consecrated.

15 years later, the construction of the Cathedral Church of the Exaltation of the Cross was completed. The total cost of construction was estimated at 230 thousand rubles. In June 1917, just a few months before the revolution, the temple was consecrated; about 30 thousand people attended the consecration ceremony. You can judge what the temple looked like from the following photograph.

The Church of the Exaltation of the Cross, built in the Byzantine style, resembles in its architecture Vladimir Church in Kyiv. The temple became the most beautiful and grandiose temple of the Perm diocese.

After the revolution, a terrible fate awaited the monastery. On July 30, 1918, the Bolsheviks arrested Archimadrite Varlaam, and on August 12 he was brutally tortured and drowned in the Kama River. In October 1918, the entire monastery complex was subjected to barbaric destruction. They removed the Royal Cross, desecrated the throne, took away shrines, destroyed the library and monastery workshops. 34 monks were shot, 102 Belogorsk monks were taken under escort to Perm for forced labor. In March 1923, the monastery was closed.

In 1930, a camp for repressed and special settlers was opened on Belaya Gora. And in 1931, the Belogorsk Home for the Invalids was created in the former monastery. In the place where the Tsar's Cross used to stand, a monument to Lenin was erected, and the Cathedral Church was turned into a club. In 1941-1945, on White Mountain there was a rehabilitation center for the wounded and disabled of the Great Patriotic War, and from 1946 to 1986 - a home for disabled people of the Great Patriotic War, labor and childhood. In the fall of 1980, during a strong fire, almost all the domes of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross burned down.

In December 1990, the monastery was transferred under the control of the Perm diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, and already in January 1991, monastic life was resumed in the monastery.

During the period of restoration work, a temporary belfry was built near the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.

In 2000, before Christmas, nine bells cast in the Holy Chartom Monastery of the Ivanovo Diocese were installed in it.

Every year, the Belogorsky St. Nicholas Monastery is visited by more than one hundred thousand believers and tourists. Some people come to attend services in the temple, venerate the holy relics and draw water from the Holy Spring, and others come to simply contemplate the beauty of the nature of the Urals. But each of them can confirm the incredible energy of this place.

Information about the monastery is given from the official

Belogorsky Nikolaevsky Monastery, 2nd class, missionary, dormitory, 98 versts from the city of Perm, 12 versts from the Yugo-Knaufsky plant, Osinsky district, on White Mountain. The monastery was founded in 1897. The first church was consecrated in 1894 in the name of St. Nicholas; Cells were built at the temple for the brethren who were beginning to arrive. In 1895 it was consecrated new temple in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. It is located on the top of a mountain and is surrounded by two galleries, from which a wonderful view of the nature that amazes with its grandeur and beauty opens up, and the horizon is so wide that the distance is visible for 150 miles all around. On the week of All Saints, there is a procession of the cross from factory and rural churches to the monastery to perform a prayer service at the Royal Cross, built in 1891 on the top of the White Mountain in memory of the deliverance of Sovereign Nikolai Alexandrovich, when he was His Heir, from the threatening danger in Japan. At the monastery there is a school and two hospice houses. The monastery owns, 5 versts from it, the Seraphim monastery, founded in 1903, and the Favorskaya Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya hermitage, in the Elovskaya volost, Osinsky district, established in 1909.

From the book by S.V. Bulgakov "Russian monasteries in 1913"

In October 1918, there was a real defeat of the Belogorsk St. Nicholas Monastery, the largest in the Perm diocese, nicknamed the Ural Athos. The Belogorsky monastery was located on the territory of the Osinsky district, where the Red Terror was characterized by unprecedented cruelty. A former parochial school teacher, 23-year-old N. Kobelev, was initially elected chairman of the Osinsk executive committee; after his death, power passed to a graduate of the Perm Theological Seminary, Kibardin. When the Reds retreated from Osa, they bayoneted 900 people. The total number of victims of Bolshevik rule in 1918 in Osa exceeded 2,000.

The first blow was taken by the abbot of the Belogorsk monastery, Archimandrite Varlaam. He was invited to a meeting at the Yugo-Osokinsky plant, where he was arrested and sent to the city of Osa. There the abbot was drowned in the Kama in a pillowcase made of rough linen. On October 26 - 27, 1918, the entire monastery complex was subjected to barbaric destruction. They removed the Royal Cross, desecrated the Throne (the table located in the middle of the altar, consecrated by the bishop for the liturgy), took away shrines, destroyed the library and monastery workshops. All monastery property was plundered. There wasn't even an awl left in the trash bin. 36 people were shot. The monks were thrown into pits and filled with sewage. On October 28, 1918, 102 Belogorsk inhabitants, mobilized for forced labor, were brought to Perm under escort. Many of them died or went missing.

From the work of M.G. Nechaev "Red Terror and the Ural Clergy in 1918."

Foundation of the Belogorsk Monastery and its history until 1917. “It happened to me to be on mission business in 1890 at the Bymovsky plant. At the end of the missionary interviews with the Old Believers, I went to my apartment, in the house of the Edinoverie priest Fr. Petra Sarafanova, two priests from the Yugo-Knaufsky plant, a church elder and a local folk teacher deliberately came to meet with me. When talking about the White Mountain, they aroused in me a strong desire to see it in person…” Father Stefan Lukanin recalled his first acquaintance with the White Mountain. After hearing what they heard “in a fit of delight,” despite the late hour, everyone got ready and set off 12 miles to the White Mountain... They arrived at the mountain only at dawn... It was three o’clock in the morning on June 9, 1890. Having ascended the Mountain, Father Stefan no longer doubted that this place was created for a missionary monastery. A small wooden cross was placed on the mountain. This was the beginning of the creation of the Belogorsk monastery. A year later, on April 29, 1891, in memory of the miraculous deliverance of the heir to the Russian throne, Tsarevich Nicholas, from danger in Japan, the first seven-foot cross, popularly nicknamed the Tsar’s, was erected on White Mountain, and on June 16 of the same year, on the Sunday of All Saints, Archpriest Stefan Lukanin consecrated an eight-pointed tinplate cross. In the spring of the following year, the image of the saint and wonderworker Nicholas of Myra was brought to the White Mountain, donated by His Eminence Vladimir, Bishop of Perm and Solikamsk.

On June 18, 1893, the site was consecrated for the foundation of a temple on White Mountain in memory of the miraculous saving of the life of Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, Heir to the Russian throne. In September of the same year, the bells brought from Moscow, the first rows of logs of the chapel under construction, as well as two wells “Holy Key” and “Jordan” were consecrated. Holy icons were donated to the future monastery: “Life-Giving Spring” - a gift from the residents of the city of Perm; The oldest image of St. Nicholas (Stroganov school, 17th century), a gift from Archimandrite Paul from the capital city of Moscow.

In 1893, several more events occurred that were inextricably linked with the Belogorsk monastery. On October 17, Old Believer Vasily Konoplev, through the sacrament of holy confirmation, joined Orthodoxy, and in November he became a novice of the Perm House of Bishops. On November 6, 1893, Vasily Konoplev was tonsured as a monk by Bishop Peter and given the monastic name Varlaam. In November 1893, a construction committee was created for the construction of the Belogorsk monastery, the head of which was appointed Father Stefan Lukanin. In February 1894, construction of the first wooden St. Nicholas Church was completed. The consecration of the temple took place on February 22, 1894. The celebration was accompanied by a unique action - the consecration of five thousand loaves - in memory of the feeding of five thousand people described in the Gospel and in prediction of the broadest charity of the future monastery. On the same day, Father Varlaam was ordained a hieromonk and appointed manager of the newly built missionary monastery on White Mountain. June 12, 1894 The foundation stone of the Iversky (upper, summer church) was consecrated. The construction of the temple was carried out at a rapid pace. Already on May 30, 1895, gilded crosses, donated by the Kungur merchant F.T., were erected on the Iversky Church. Shishigin. By the beginning of the summer of 1895, the construction of the temple was completed and on June 29, with a crowd of thousands of people, Bishop Peter of Perm solemnly consecrated the main temple of the monastery in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. A beautiful gallery surrounded the Iveron Temple on all sides; it could accommodate up to 1.5 thousand pilgrims who did not get into the temple due to overcrowding. In parallel with this, in July 1894, work began on expanding the St. Nicholas Church, and in November of the same year, the construction of the rector's and fraternal buildings, the equipment of a carpentry and metalworking workshop began, and a school was opened to educate orphan boys. Children were taught not only literacy and church singing, but also various crafts. 25 orphans were raised on White Mountain. The school existed until 1917. On November 15, 1894, Father Stefan Lukanin was elevated to the rank of archpriest for the establishment of the Belogorsk monastery. On October 1, 1896, the solemn consecration took place lower temple monastery in the name of All Saints in memory of the engagement of the Sovereign Heir, Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich to the Highly Named Bride. On January 20, 1897, Hieromonk Varlaam was appointed rector of the Belogorsk Monastery, and the monastery itself was approved as a full-time cenobitic monastery.

On September 16, 1897, a religious procession arrived at White Mountain. As a gift to the new monastery, five holy icons were delivered from Moscow and St. Petersburg: from the Most Reverend Palladius, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg (the likeness of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God), from the Most Reverend Sergius, Metropolitan of Moscow (the image of St. Sergius of Radonezh), from the Most Reverend Anthony, Archbishop of Finland (the image The Kazan Mother of God, written by the monks of the Valaam Monastery), from the Right Reverend John, Bishop of Narva (the image of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky), from the rector of the Krondstadt St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Archpriest John Sergeev (the image of the Mother of God “Novice”). On November 16, 1897, during a fire, the wooden St. Nicholas Church burned to the ground. But construction did not stop. In the same year, a two-story building for the older brethren was laid. In August 1898, Perm Governor Dmitry Gavrilovich Arsenyev visited the Belogorsk monastery. The image of the Iveron Mother of God “Goalkeeper” was delivered from the Holy Mount Athos to the monastery.

In 1899, a courtyard of the Belogorsk Monastery with a temple in the name of St. John Chrysostom was opened in Perm. On April 23, 1901, a terrible storm broke out, during which the “Royal Cross” was demolished. The symbol of the Belogorsk Monastery was restored in September. Funds for the restoration of the Royal Cross were donated by the merchant Pavel Stepanovich Zhirnov, the largest benefactor of the Belogorsk Monastery at that time. On the edge of the mountain, next to the Iversky Temple, a gilded metal cross with an artistic depiction of the Crucifixion was installed. The cross stood until 1918. On June 24, 1902, Father Varlaam was elevated to the rank of abbot. On the same day, a great holiday took place - the solemn consecration of the foundation site of the cathedral church in honor of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Exaltation of the Cross), with chapels attached to it: in the name of St. John the Baptist and Baptist of the Lord, the saint and wonderworker Nicholas of Myra. The consecration was conducted by Bishop John of Perm and Solikamsk. And before this event, on June 2, 1902, 5 km from the Belogorsky Monastery, a site for the construction of the Seraphim-Alekseevsky monastery was consecrated.

On September 10, the ryassophore novice Georgy Kuznetsov (later abbot of the monastery, Abbot Seraphim) placed a small wooden cross on the consecrated place, as a pledge of the future monastery. The official founding day of the monastery is July 19, 1903. On this day, the relics of the great Sarov ascetic were solemnly opened. On June 24, 1904, Bishop John of Perm and Solikamsk founded a temple in the monastery in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the wonderworker. A year later, on June 22, 1905, the temple was completed. The temple was consecrated by Bishop Nikanor of Perm and Solikamsk, and on the same day the Bishop ordained Hierodeacon Seraphim to the rank of hieromonk. On June 30, 1905, the foundation stone of the second monastery was completed cave temple in honor of Anthony, Theodosius and all Pechersk wonderworkers. By September, the temple dug into the mountainside near the Byrma River was consecrated. In 1907, a silver shrine with particles of the holy relics of the saints of God was delivered to the Belogorsk Monastery: John the Baptist, Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Saints: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, John Chrysostom, Athanasius the Great, Hieromartyrs Harlampius and Gregory of Armei, Archdeacon Stephen, St. Modestus, Patriarch of Jerusalem, great martyrs: George the Victorious, healer Panteleimon, Demetrius of Thessaloniki, Eustratius, Mina, Artemius, unmercenaries Cosmas and Domian, venerable martyrs: Euphemia, Ignatius and Akakios, new Athonite wonderworkers and parts of the Holy Life-giving Cross of the Lord given by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Athonite elders . On May 8, 1910, Abbot Varlaam of the Belogorsk Monastery was elevated to the rank of archimandrite by Bishop Palladius.

On December 8, 1910, Emperor Nicholas II received Archimandrite Varlaam and the skete abbot Seraphim in the Tsarskoye Selo Alexander Palace. During the audience, the Emperor was given: an icon of St. Nicholas, a book about the history of the Belogorsk Monastery and photographs of the monastery. In 1912, the Belogorsky Monastery began publishing the magazine “Voice of Duty” with an Orthodox-patriotic orientation. On June 7-9, 1917, a significant event took place for the Belogorsk monastery. During these days, the largest cathedral Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the Urals was consecrated, erected in memory of the miraculous rescue from the danger that threatened Japan, then safely reigning Emperor Nicholas II. About 30 thousand people were present at the consecration ceremony, including about 2.5 thousand representatives of the clergy. The cathedral itself could accommodate up to 8 thousand people.

The construction of the temple lasted 15 years, the construction was supervised by engineer E.I. Artemov. The main supplier of building materials was the monastery brick factory, which had three kilns. The Belogorsk Cathedral, built in the Byzantine style, resembles in its architecture the Vladimir Church in Kyiv: it became the most beautiful and grandiose temple of the Perm diocese. To decorate it, icons made in the icon-painting workshop of the monastery were used. The most expensive icons placed in the iconostasis were valued by contemporaries at a huge sum for that time - 3,000 rubles each. The temple was equipped with “the latest ventilation” and steam heating; the floor was paved with Metlakh tiles; Asphalt was laid on the pre-cathedral square. The total cost of the temple was estimated at 230 thousand rubles. It is known about large donations for the construction of the temple from specific individuals; but these contributions did not cover all costs. According to the monastery report for 1909, the total number of brethren was 401 people. The Belogorsk inhabitants established significant agricultural production - arable farming and cattle breeding. The monastery owned 580 acres of land; the monastery farm had 40 cows. Gardening, beekeeping and fishing developed (the monastery owned 9 ponds). During this difficult time for Russia, when the war was going on, the inhabitants of Belogorsk not only earned money for the construction of the cathedral, but also donated to a good cause. On March 19, 1916, the monastery donated 500 rubles in gold coins to the needs of the Russian army. Bishop Andronik of Perm and Solikamsk, who visited White Mountain in 1914, wrote in the book of honorary visitors: “The Belogorsk monastery was created through labor and feat. May this be her adornment and strength for many years to come.”

From the beginning of January 1918 in Perm province Signs of the Bolsheviks coming to power are beginning to be seen. It was then that Bishop Andronik was informed about the destruction of the building that belonged to the Solikamsk Monastery. The Belogorsk inhabitants became aware of the murder of Metropolitan Vladimir, the violent death of other clergy, and the destruction and desecration of monasteries and churches. There were also victims among the Perm clergy. Servants of the Church were subjected to torture and cruel abuse. In June 1918, Archbishop Andronik was arrested. On July 30, 1918, tragic events reached Belaya Gora. Having allegedly invited him to a meeting in the village of Yugo-Osokino (now the village of Kalinino), the Bolsheviks arrested Archmadrite Varlaam. “Having been invited to the Yugo-Osokinsky plant by deception, he was arrested along with his fraternal confessor, Hieromonk Vyacheslav. Sent to the city of Osa and brutally tortured by the Bolsheviks, thrown into the Kama River.” This happened on August 12, 1918. Father Varlaam was 60 years old. After tragic death Father Varlaam, Hieromonk Sergius began to fulfill the duties of abbot of the monastery. However, he was not destined to lead the brethren of the monastery for long. The Bolsheviks declared “Red Terror” throughout the country, calling the clergy and monasteries the main stronghold of the counter-revolution. From August 1918 to January 1919, the Bolsheviks shot and tortured 34 monks of the Belogorsk Monastery, including Hieromonk Sergius, who was killed on October 10, 1918. On February 24, 1919, the troops of General Verzhbitsky, having made a forced march from Kungur, took the city of Osa by storm. White Mountain found itself in territory liberated from the Bolsheviks. On March 4, 1919, Bishop Boris of Perm and Kungur visited White Mountain. He saw a picture of the terrible destruction of the monastery: 102 inhabitants were driven away to trench work; in the main altar of the cathedral, the throne was desecrated and torn apart; they desecrated and took away the ark with the relics; the icon-painting workshop was turned into a theater; They destroyed and plundered the monastery library, which contained a department of handwritten books. The same picture was observed in the Seraphim-Alekseevsky monastery. Nine of the inhabitants were killed. Bishop Peter of Perm and Kungur appointed Hieromonk Joseph as acting rector.

On May 19, 1919, the minor (secondary) consecration of the cathedral church took place. The inhabitants began to return to White Mountain. By March 1919, there were 132 inhabitants in the Belogorsk monastery, including 35 people in the monastery. The monastery began to be revived. But the relatively prosperous time lasted about four months. On June 18, 1919, the Bolsheviks captured Perm, and soon the entire Perm region. In June 1919, the monastery was empty. They tried to revive monastic life until 1923. But it failed. In March 1923, the monastery was closed. Wooden buildings were dismantled and transported to other places. The Iversky Church was demolished and transported to the village of Yugo-Osokino. In 1930, a camp for repressed and special settlers was opened on White Mountain. And in 1931, the Belogorsk Home for the Disabled (Indom) was created in the former monastery. A monument to Lenin was erected in the place where the Tsar's Cross used to stand. The cathedral church has been turned into a club. In 1941-1945, on Belaya Gora there was a rehabilitation center for the wounded and disabled of the Great Patriotic War, and from 1946 to 1986 - a home for disabled people of the Great Patriotic War, labor and childhood. In the fall of 1980, during a strong fire, almost all the domes of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross burned down.

On December 24, 1990, the Perm Regional Executive Committee decided to transfer the former Belogorsk St. Nicholas monastery to the administration of the Perm diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. On January 29, 1991, the Holy Synod granted the request of Archbishop Athanasius of Perm and Solikamsk for a blessing to open the St. Nicholas Monastery on White Mountain, where monastic life was resumed. On May 18, 1991, the act of transferring the buildings of the Belogorsk monastery complex to the Russian Orthodox Church for free and indefinite use took place. On May 26, 1991, the first divine service in the reviving monastery was held in the upper church of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross. On April 15, 1991, Abbot Varlaam (Alexander Peredernin), with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, assumed the post of abbot of the Belogorsk St. Nicholas Monastery. This was the most difficult period of the beginning of the restoration of the Belogorsk monastery. A short time before his death, Fr. Varlaam II and his small brethren did a tremendous job. The main thing is that the huge Holy Cross Church has been cleared of tens of tons of garbage. The brethren numbering 10 people were gathered. Numerous pilgrims and benefactors flocked to White Mountain. In 1992, the monastery procured 25 tons of galvanized iron, 3 tons of iron for staples, about one and a half tons of nails, timber, paints, etc. In May 1993, the Holy Cross Cathedral, two fraternal buildings and workshops were included in the state list of urban planning and architectural monuments of local (regional) significance. In the fall of 1993, the architectural section of the regional administration of VOOPIiK, chaired by G.L. Katsko. A project for the restoration of the Holy Cross Cathedral of the Belogorsk Monastery was developed. In the same year, construction of the road to White Mountain began. In January 1995, Fr. Varlaam died, and already in May crosses began to shine on several chapters of the cathedral... Abbot Daniel (Alexander Ishmatov) was appointed to the difficult post of abbot of the Belogorsk monastery in December 1995. During the period of his activity (until February 2000), a lot was also done. In 1995, thanks to the help of the Perm regional administration, the construction of a dirt road to the temple was completed, and work began on the restoration of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross. In May 1996, the monastery was visited by Alexy II, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. In September 1996, the Perm regional administration adopted a resolution “On providing assistance in the restoration of the Belogorsk St. Nicholas Monastery.” Since February 1997, St. Barlaam's Orthodox missionary readings have been held regularly, and since July 27, 1997, religious processions from Perm to the White Mountain have been held annually. On July 2, 1998, the solemn rite of canonization of the Hieromartyr Theophan, Bishop of Solikamsk, and the Venerable Martyr Varlaam of Belogorsk with the murdered brethren of the monastery took place on White Mountain. Their memorial day is set on August 12.

On September 27, 1998, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the historical Royal Cross, destroyed during the revolution, was consecrated and re-erected in the Belogorsk Church. It was designed by Perm architect Alexander Metelev. The giant (10.66 m) was made at a mining engineering plant from stainless steel at the expense of benefactors. One of the projects of the monastery’s missionary service is the “Grateful Memory” project. At the entrance to the upper church of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross there is a wall lined with ceramic tiles, on which are the names of people and the names of organizations that are most actively helping the revival of the Belogorsk monastery. In addition, the names of all benefactors, regardless of the amount of the contribution, are entered in the Temple Book of Thanksgiving and in the Chronicle of Good Deeds.

In September 1998, a Non-Profit Fund was created to support the reconstruction of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross of the Belogorsk Monastery "White Mountain". Gennady Vyacheslavovich Igumnov, the governor of the Perm region, was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the newly created Foundation, and Vladimir Ilyich Rybakin was elected Chairman of the Board and President of the Foundation. CEO OJSC Uralsvyazinform (1998-2000). On July 22, 1999, the Town Planning Council of the Perm Region approved the master plan for the development of the Belogorsk Monastery, developed by the team of authors “Permagropromproekt Institute”, which was awarded a diploma from the VI International Exhibition “Construction and Repair 2000” “for its high professional level and spiritual and cultural social significance.” At Christmas 2000, nine bells cast in the Holy Shartom Monastery of the Ivanovo Diocese were installed in the temporary belfry near the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross. Since February 2000, Archimandrite Veniamin (Vasily Trepalyuk) was appointed abbot of the monastery, in September 2001 - hegumen Gerasim (Yuri Gavrilovich), and in March 2003 - hegumen Anthony (Vitaly Shchukin). And over the years, quite a lot has been done. The construction of an asphalt concrete road to White Mountain has been completed, the construction of a gas pipeline continues, the restoration of the roof, external walls and western porch of the temple is being completed, the construction of water intake structures (2 artesian wells), the iconostases and doors of the Holy Cross Cathedral, fraternal building No. 2, etc. are being restored.

Belogorsky St. Nicholas Orthodox Missionary Monastery is located on picturesque spurs Ural mountains 120 kilometers from the city of Perm and 85 kilometers from the city of Kungur. White Mountain has long served as a place of salvation and prayer. Since the 18th century, there have been cells and monasteries here, where people running away from factories and Old Believers persecuted by the authorities hid. Why was the mountain rising among the forests called White? There are several explanations. The first snow does not melt here for a long time. White limestones come to the surface here.
The Belogorsky St. Nicholas Monastery was founded in 1893. Its first abbot was Father Varlaam, in the world Vasily Efimovich Konoplev, an extraordinary man. He was born into a family of Old Believers; for a long time he not only belonged to the Austrian sect (one of the areas of schismaticism), but also led it. However, he never abandoned the search for truth, and the Lord did not abandon him, for it is said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

(Matt. 5, 6). Thanks to the miraculous gift of rain during prayers on White Mountain and conversations with Orthodox shepherds, he accepted Orthodoxy and became a zealous worker in the field of the Lord.

The established monastery grew quickly, largely thanks to the works and prayers of its abbot.

The monastery, despite its youth, shone with holiness, and therefore many pilgrims flocked to the White Mountain from all over our Motherland. Up to 70 thousand pilgrims visited here every year. From the first

During the same days, strict regulations were observed here. The monastery received a calling - to be an educator

Among the schismatics, this determined such precise execution of the charter.
Many people gathered for the consecration of the first church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Bogomoltsev, and again a miraculous sign was revealed. The chronicler noted that the days at this time

The believers felt warmer" and the sun appeared. By 10 o'clock it was already so warm that the falling snow

It seemed like summer rain. During the consecration of the temple, the liturgy and the consecration of the loaves, it was quiet and

Clear. And only when the ruler began to descend from the White Mountain, the sun again disappeared behind the white

Blizzard. Thus, another Divine sign was revealed, with which the history of Belaya is so rich.

Mountains.
Soon the consecration of the Iveron Temple, which is famous for its unique

Architectural solution. This temple was designed by Father Stefan Lukanin. Around the temple there was

A special terrace with a canopy from the rain was built, which allowed the Old Believers to look at

Orthodox worship. Following their missionary calling, the monks carried out tireless

Conversations with schismatics about the correctness of the Orthodox faith managed to convert many.
The monastery grew quickly - in the first decade the number of inhabitants increased from 12 to

400 people. A bakery, an icon-painting workshop, and various

Craft workshops also engaged in arable farming, kept livestock, and raised animals in nine ponds.

Fish. In a word, they fully provided not only for themselves, but also for numerous pilgrims.
Despite the strictness of life in the monastery, many wished for even more strict and secluded life.

Life. This is how the St. Seraphim monastery appeared, which soon received the name

Serafimo-Alekseevsky. This happened in honor of the birth of the long-awaited heir to the Russian

The throne is Tsarevich Alexy. The monastery of St. Seraphim was headed by Father Seraphim (Kuznetsov).

A strict ascetic life could not fail to bring spiritual fruits. And the young Belogorsk monastery

She became famous for her senility. Thousands of pilgrims rushed here for spiritual nourishment...
In July 1914, a joyful revival reigned on White Mountain - the monastery was visited by the Great

Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna. The august pilgrim was met by his father at the Perm pier

Seraphim, and in the monastery itself a procession of the cross led by the abbot of the monastery awaited her

Archimandrite Varlaam. During this pilgrimage, the Grand Duchess visited a cave

Hegumen Seraphim's cell and talked with him. Father Seraphim was spiritually very close to the Great

Princess, this is probably why their destinies are so intertwined. They met not only on

the Urals, but also in Moscow. The last meeting between Abbot Seraphim and Elizaveta Feodorovna took place

Spring of 1917. Hegumen Seraphim invited the Grand Duchess to go with him to Alapaevsk,

Take cover from enemies. But Elizaveta Fedorovna refused and added: “If they kill me, then

I ask you, bury me in a Christian way." Father Seraphim fulfilled this covenant exactly.

It was him who the Lord chose to accompany the bodies of the holy martyrs from Alapaevsk to the Holy Land.
One of the peaks of the spiritual flowering of the monastery was the construction of the Holy Cross Cathedral in memory of the above-mentioned miraculous salvation reigning Emperor Nicholas II.

Construction lasted 15 years and was truly nationwide. The consecration of the cathedral took place in June 1917, shortly before the terrible events. The consecration lasted 3 days for the sake of the huge number of pilgrims - even the huge cathedral could not accommodate everyone who wanted to take part in the service.
The terrible time was inexorably approaching. The consecration of the cathedral in honor of the Exaltation of the Precious Life-Giving Cross of the Lord seemed to prophesy about the upcoming “Russian Calvary”, about the suffering of the Royal Family. Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna also accepted martyrdom. The Belogorsk monastery was also persecuted by the new government. It seems that this special hatred is not accidental - after all, the Royal Family was especially revered here. The rector of the monastery, Father Varlaam, died a martyr. Likewise, the monastery brethren suffered torment for their faith. And the White Mountain was decorated with the holy blood of the martyrs.

It can be considered that the revival of Belogorye began in 1988, when the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus' was celebrated. Since that time there has been a rapid growth of Orthodox parishes. In the Perm diocese in 1985 there were only 41 parishes, and by 2002 - more than 200. In 1989-1991 alone, 53 new parishes and 2 monasteries were opened, including Belogorsky. On December 24, 1990, the Perm Regional Executive Committee decided to transfer the former Belogorsk

St. Nicholas male monastery of the administration of the Perm diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. On January 29, 1991, the Holy Synod granted the request of Archbishop Athanasius of Perm and Solikamsk for a blessing to open the St. Nicholas Monastery on White Mountain, where monastic life was resumed. On May 18, 1991, the act of transferring the buildings of the Belogorsk monastery complex to the Russian Orthodox Church for free and indefinite use took place. On May 26, 1991, the first divine service in the reviving monastery was held in the upper church of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross. April 15
In 1991, Abbot Varlaam (Alexander Peredernin), with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, assumed the post of abbot of the Belogorsk St. Nicholas Monastery. This was the most difficult period of the beginning of the restoration of the Belogorsk monastery. Shortly before your

Death of Fr. Varlaam II and his small brethren did a tremendous job. The main thing is cleaned

Dozens of tons of garbage left the huge Holy Cross Church. The brethren numbering 10 were gathered

Human. Numerous pilgrims and benefactors flocked to White Mountain. In 1992 in

The monastery prepared 25 tons of galvanized iron, 3 tons of iron for staples and nails

About one and a half tons, wood, paints, etc. In May 1993, Holy Cross Cathedral, two

The fraternal buildings and workshops were included in the state list of monuments

Urban planning and architecture of local (regional) significance. Autumn 1993

Architectural section of the regional administration of VOOPIiK, chaired by G.L. Katsko. was

A project has been developed for the restoration of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of the Belogorsk Monastery. In the same

In the same year, construction of the road to White Mountain began. In January 1995, Fr. Varlaam not

It became, and already in May crosses began to shine on several domes of the cathedral... For a difficult fast

Abbot Daniel (Alexander) was appointed abbot of the Belogorsk monastery in December 1995

Ishmatov). During the period of his activity (until February 2000), a lot was also done. In 1995

Thanks to the help of the Perm regional administration, the construction of a dirt road was completed

Roads to the temple, work has begun on the restoration of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross. In May 1996

The monastery was visited by Alexy II, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. In September 1996

The Perm regional administration adopted a resolution “On providing assistance in

Restoration of the Belogorsk St. Nicholas Monastery." Since February 1997

St. Barlaam Orthodox Missionary Readings have been held regularly since July 27, 1997

Every year religious processions are held from the city of Perm to the White Mountain. July 2, 1998 on White Mountain

The solemn rite of canonization of the Hieromartyr Theophan, Bishop of Solikamsk, took place, and

Venerable Martyr Varlaam of Belogorsk with the murdered brethren of the monastery. Day of their memory

The Belogorsk Church was consecrated and the historical Royal Cross, destroyed in

Revolution. It was designed by Perm architect Alexander Metelev. A giant has been made

(10.66 m) at the stainless steel mining machinery plant using funds

Philanthropists. One of the projects of the missionary service of the monastery is the project

"Grateful Memory" At the entrance to the upper temple of the Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross there is a wall,

Lined with ceramic tiles, on which the names of people and organizations, the most

Actively helping the revival of the Belogorsk monastery. In addition, the names of all benefactors,

Regardless of the amount of the contribution, they are included in the Book of Thanksgiving of the temple and in the Chronicle of Good Deeds. IN

In September 1998, a Non-Profit Fund was created to support the re-creation of the Holy Cross

Cathedral of the Belogorsk Monastery "White Mountain". Chairman of the Board of Trustees again

The created Fund was elected Igumnov Gennady Vyacheslavovich - the governor of the Perm region, and

Chairman of the Board and President of the Fund - Vladimir Ilyich Rybakin, General Director

OJSC Uralsvyazinform (1998–2000). July 22, 1999 by the Urban Planning Council of Perm

The region approved the master plan for the development of the Belogorsk Monastery, developed by the author

The Permagropromproekt Institute team, which was awarded a diploma from the VI International

Exhibition “Construction and Repair 2000” “for the high professional level and

Spiritual and cultural social significance." At Christmas 2000, in a temporary belfry

Nine bells cast in the Holy Cross Cathedral were installed

Monastery of the Ivanovo diocese. Since February 2000, Archimandrite has been appointed vicar of the monastery

Veniamin (Vasily Trepalyuk), in September 2001 - abbot Gerasim (Yuri Gavrilovich), and in

March 2003 - Abbot Anthony (Vitaly Shchukin). And over the years, quite a lot has been done.

The construction of the asphalt concrete road to Belaya Mountain has been completed and continues

Construction of the gas pipeline, restoration of the roof, external walls and western

Porches of the temple, construction of water intake structures (2 artesian wells),

The iconostases and doors of the Holy Cross Cathedral Church, fraternal building no.

2 and others. Former governor of the Perm region Igumnov Gennady Vyacheslavovich and current -

Trutnev Yuri Petrovich show true interest in the Belogorsky Monastery and accept

Active participation in its revival. In 1999–2002 from all sources

Financing was carried out for design, survey and construction and restoration work

In the amount of more than 120 million rubles, including 94 million rubles for the construction of the highway. For

Completion of work on the restoration of the monastery complex requires another more than 200 million

Lord Irinarch. His ordination as bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church took place in the Temple

Christ the Savior. The consecration was performed by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II. By

The initiative of the White Mountain Foundation has developed a program for the restoration of Belogorsk

Monastery for 2002–2004 and approved by the Bishop of Perm and Solikamsk Irinarch in November

Dobrosotsky Viktor Ivanovich in Moscow established the Non-Profit Partnership “Ural

Athos." In recent years, much has been and is being done to return religious buildings to believers,

The state is providing assistance for their restoration, and the number of philanthropists is growing.

Conferences and seminars on religious topics are held with the participation of clergy and

Representatives of government bodies, cultural figures, scientists and the public.

Text sources.