Конспект по теме "Opta Hermitage"

Opta Hermitage

One of the holiest places of Russia, the Opta Hermitage of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin in the Temple, is situated just 4 km from the town of Kozelsk, on the bank of the Zhizdra River, surrounded with the pine wood. It’s the most picturesque panorama can be seen from Kozelsk and the Kaluga road.

Existing since the 14^th century, once known all over the Russia, then destroyed, the cloister now revived and redecorated with the Holy gate, 4 beautiful temples, a high three-tiered bell – tower inside of the brick walls with 6 towers.

But not the monuments of architecture attract steady stream of visitors to the Opta Hermitage. In the 19^th century it became the most famous centre of spiritual direction – “Starchestvo”

The main historic and sacred part of the cloister is its skete, where the great Elders (Startsy), now canonized and qlorificated, lived Venerable Leo, Makarius, Ambrose, Iosif, Nectary, Anatoly are the most known among them.

These wise teachers of Faith and Piety understood the most intricate problems of human life and helped others along the road of perfection and salvation. Men and women, young and old, rich and poor went to see them to ask their help. And noon was ever refused assistance.

The history of Opta monastery is closely connected with the history of Russian culture. It was the place of permanent pilgrimage for Russia’s elite – Leo Tolstoy, Gogol, A. Tolstoy, K. Leontyev, M. Pogodin, V. Solovyev, K. Romanov… F. Dostoevsky gave a rived description of a Russian Starts in his novel “The Brothers Karamasov” I. and P. Kiryevsky are buried near the Presentation Cathedral.

And today thousands of pilgrims and tourists from all coners of Russia and from abroud visit Opta monastery. They come to worship the Elders’ sacred relics and graves to ask the monks’ zealous prayers for the salvation and for God’s mercy.