St. Andrew's Skete of the Solovetsky Monastery

Photos

  • Андреевский скит Соловецкого монастыря. Photo 1
  • Андреевский скит Соловецкого монастыря. Photo 2
  • Андреевский скит Соловецкого монастыря. Photo 3
  • Андреевский скит Соловецкого монастыря. Photo 4

Description

St. Andrew's Skete, also known as St. Andrew's Hermitage, is one of the monasteries of the Solovetsky Monastery, which was founded in the 16th century by Abbot Philip, the future Metropolitan of Moscow, on the Bolshoy Zayatsky Island of the Solovetsky Archipelago. The history of the monastery is rich in events and is connected with different eras of Russian history.

Initially, on the islands of the Solovetsky archipelago, there was probably a camp for industrialists engaged in the production of sea animals and fish. However, in the mid-16th century, Abbot Philip built stone structures such as a chamber, a kitchen and a harbor, which marked the beginning of monastic life on the island. This period was also marked by the construction of a worship cross, which called on all those coming to the island to carry stones to the back of the camp to protect it from the sea waves.

In 1691, the chapel built by the archers during the famous “Solovetsky Sitting” was moved to the island. In 1702, during the second visit of Solovki by Peter I, a wooden church was built on Bolshoy Zayatsky Island in the name of St. Andrew the First-Called, patron of the Russian fleet, by order of the Tsar himself.

In the 18th century, a “customs” began to function in the monastery, controlling incoming ships and preventing illegal transportation. During the Crimean War, the monastery was attacked by an English squadron and was plundered. During Soviet times, there was a punishment cell for women on the territory of the monastery, and after its closure the monastery was abandoned.

In the 1990s, restoration of the monastery began, and in 2009 the restoration of St. Andrew's Church was completed. Currently, work is underway to restore its iconostasis. The monastery also became the site of religious festivities, such as the celebration of the day of memory of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called and the Council of the Glorious and All-Glorious 12 Apostles.

St. Andrew's Skete is an important historical site associated with monastic and religious life, as well as with the history of the defense and development of the Solovetsky archipelago.

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