The picture below shows a planned future or at least a planned future by the orthodox Church. It is looking to be a perfect combination, as the last of the villagers die away and / or leave forever, that act alone allows the Orthodox Church to reclaim properties and rebuild the Monastery back to some form and semblance as it once was many years ago. These properties are usually able to be reclaimed free or at a very reduced price, either way the church has the money to do what it needs to do. This is coffee thinking’s today in the village…
In a very simplified sign, the Orthodox Church has installed a sign on the main highway to our village and their monastery. I see the long term plan and it looks to exclude the village from its future, for not a village home is shown. Just a glorified enlarged version of the monastery and past and present dreams and happenings. The sign shows the Holy Water Well #1, the eating place for monks #2, the Bell Tower #3, the monk dormitories #6, the place of the destroyed church #4 and the new little church #5…
Now almost all of what you see has to be built or rebuilt, there has not been a monastery here for a long time and in the past it was a female monastery, the new order or the monastery is to be strictly a male monastery. The old female monastery ended a long time ago and during the Soviet times the place had become basically two schools, one for blind kids and one for deaf and dumb kids. The bell tower was ignored during that time, but the church had been destroyed (blown up) and the big dormitories and cafeteria was utilized by the schools to deal with the kids. The school had a water tower, running water and steam heat. It was very modern by the times and standards. The school had also built many other buildings and taken over many village homes in the area. The remains of the school are almost gone and now the remains of the monastery are enduring better. Really due to the usage of materials, the church originally built with heavy thick walls of very hard bricks, the school built with non-reinforced concrete and those walls have all but turned to dust…
I want to talk about the Holy Water Well: Many people gather the water from this well and that is their main drinking water. It is a natural water source and is certified Orthodox Blessed. The water is a never ending flow of liquid that ends up in the big river at the fish ponds and I have drank the water before, in fact I have tried several times and every time I do, I get terrible heartburn, I mean terrible. The rest of the water sources around here, do not bother me like that, but this source causes me terrible heartburn. Strange huh?
The source for this well is way up high on a hill and it is a hard climb to get there. The map above does not show that, but it is straight up to get to the well. Scattered through out the website is lots of articles on this monastery hit the search and you will find an abundance of information…
Yesterday morning at 9am the bells rang for 30 minutes. Today on Sunday, people came from the other villages to pray to God at the little church. These people walk a long ways to do this and that is heartening in my eyes as I watch people who still believe in God and distance is not an issue…
Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…