Toplovski Monastery in the Crimea

The Crimean land is full of legends, and one of them is the Toplovskiy Trinity-Paraskeviysky Monastery. This monastery is in a holy place. Visiting pilgrims tell stories about their miraculous healing, increasing the popularity of this monastery more and more. Organized here and excursions in the Crimea. Prices for such tours depend on the place of departure of the group, the age of the traveler (adult or child), and also from the travel agency, and they range from 500 to 1000 rubles.

Location:

Toplovsky monastery on the map of Crimea is 45 kilometers from Feodosia and 69 from Simferopol. You can find it near the village of Topolevka. If you go on the route leading in the direction of "Kerch-Feodosia-Simferopol", Toplovsky monastery is easy to find exactly by this settlement. Anyone who travels by public transport will need to get to the bus stop called "Topolovka". Next, you need to climb up the road going up. The length of this path is 1 kilometer.

If you are planning to visit the Toplovsky Monastery, how to get there from the side of Simferopol? On the road, get to the village Topolevka. At its end, just behind the market, the road has a branch to the right. You can navigate through a small booth with a dome on which there is a pointer. It is located just before the turn. And the one who gets to Toplovsky monastery from Feodosia or Kerch, will see a box with a pointer in the beginning of the village. And he will need to roll up not to the right, but to the left.

The road to the monastery is narrow, but asphalted. Three minutes of steep climb, and you reached the end point of the trip route. Before you - the monastery Toplovsky. Its buildings are located among the Crimean forest, on the ledge of the Karatau mountain.

Motorists should not worry about the parking place of their car. Directly in front of the gate to the monastery Toplovsky there is a free parking.

Today, this holy abode is a place where pilgrimages are committed by believing Christians, as well as those who wish to get rid of diseases. The address of the monastery: with. Educational, Belgorod region, Crimea. For more information, please visit the official website of the monastery.

Rules for visitors

Topolsky does not take money for the entrance to the monastery. However, visitors must follow certain rules. For example, men and women do not have the right to be in the territory of a holy monastery with open knees and shoulders.

Those who do not take a handkerchief with their heads are invited to buy it in a stall directly at the gate. There you can take a long skirt for temporary use, leaving a pledge for it in the form of a certain amount of money.

The legend of Saint Paraskeva

This significant event happened many years ago in Rome. In this ancient city, in the family of pious Christians, a daughter was born. This was Saint Paraskeva. Father and mother brought up the girl in a true Christian spirit. After the death of her parents, Paraskeva distributed all her possessions to the poor and began preaching the Gospel. However, the emperor Antonian, who at that time tried to strangle Christianity, decided to force him to renounce the faith and this his subject. In the course there were both persuasions and threats. In addition, Paraskeva was tried to kill, putting on her head a brass red-hot helmet, throwing into the cauldron with the resin and oil heated to a boil. However, all attempts of the emperor were in vain. Despite the sophisticated torture, Paraskeva remained unharmed. Then the emperor ordered the woman to pour the contents of the hot boiler, but the brave Christian splashed hot mash right into his eyes. Antonian became blind and immediately begged for mercy.

Tradition says that Paraskeva returned his sight, than forced the emperor to believe in God. Then the holy monk-martyr went to foreign lands to read her sermons there. Her path lay several cities. In each of them the appearance of Paraskeva accompanied inexplicable miracles. However, in one such place, the ruler Tarasy gave it to torment and death. Thus, he stopped the Christian preaching of the saint. It happened, according to legend, in the Crimea, not far from the village Toply, which today is called Topolevka.

According to legend, where the saint was cut off the head, living healing water began to drip from the depths of the earth. Not far from this place, the Toplovskiy St. Paraskevia Convent was built. Its official opening took place on August 25, 1864.

At all times, the memory of Paraskeva was sacredly honored in the Crimea. The proof of this is the ruins of Greek churches found by archaeologists, once built near the villages of Topolevka and Zemlyanichnoe. And today the relics of the Monk Martyr are kept near the place of her martyrdom, on Athos.

Foundation of the monastery

Even before 1864, the Bulgarian Constantine lived in the place where the holy monastery is today. She came from the village of Kishlav (modern name - Kursk). To this hermit, who heard the voice of God and went to the mountains to pray, soon joined a few more women. These were the days when the Crimea had just become part of Russia and was sparsely populated. This was facilitated by the mass migration of Muslims and Christians to the territory of the Ottoman Empire. The Greek and Armenian churches were in desolation and restored slowly enough.

The Toplovski monastery was opened on lands granted to Catherine II by Zakhar Zotov, the favorite of the empress. By the mid-19th century. The owners of these territories were two sisters. This is Theodora Zotova and Angelina Lambiri. Angelina bought the land from her sister and handed her over to build the Toplovsky nunnery. However, the opening of the holy abode was preceded by another event. Toplovski women's monastery began to function only after the building of a small temple, named after St. Paraskeva, was erected on 26.07.1863. We built it near the healing spring. Active participation in the erection of the temple and the arrangement of the monastery was received by Parfeniy - the Kizil-Tash hegumen. In 1866 he was killed by Crimean Tatars. In 2000, Parthenia was ranked among the saints.

At the beginning of its existence Toplovsky St. Paraskevia Monastery was inhabited by only nine women. Bulgarian Constantine became a nun. She took the veil, calling herself Paraskeva.

Expansion of the holy abode

In the years following the opening, the monastery continued to be built. On its territory there were economic and residential buildings. Here, the hospital was opened, in which the church of "All the Afflicted with Joy" worked. Some changes have also touched upon the buildings already erected. So, they rebuilt and somewhat expanded the church of St. Paraskeva. Under the project of architect VA Feldman, the construction of the Holy Trinity Cathedral was started.

Toplovski monastery in Crimea had exemplary for its time garden management. On its territory there were workshops. Such significant successes of the holy abode were promoted by the activities of the hegumeness Paraskeva, who headed him. She stood at the head of the holy abode until her death. In 2009, hegumen Paraskeva (Rodimtsev) was ranked among the local saints.

Donations

At different times, some sacred relics were transferred to the Toplovskii Monastery. So, in 1886, this holy abode was visited by Father Varsonofy. At that time he was a hieromonk of the Russian Panteleimon Monastery, located on the Old Athos. Together with his brother, he handed over the part of the Life-Giving and Honorable Cross of the Lord to Toplovskaya monastery, as well as parts of the relics of St. Paraskeva and St. Panteleimon. All these donations were met with proper honors.

The name of Count Nikolai Fedorovich Geiden is inextricably linked with the history of the Toplovsky Monastery. He, being the head of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, donated the Crimean monastery his own dacha, which was in Feodosia. At the request of the donor, a monastery metochion, a church of Kazan Mother of God, a shelter for worshipers were opened here. Here, the primary school for girls began to work.

In April 1890 NF Heyden donated to Toplovsky monastery an icon of the Kazan Mother of God, which was a family heirloom of his kind, inherited by inheritance. Such a valuable gift was made by the Count in honor of the miraculous deliverance of the Russian emperor from the death of 17/10/1888.

The donated icon was decorated with a silver garment with gilding. Around the face of the Virgin was a ubruz of pearls and precious stones (including diamonds). With this icon, at the sanction of the Holy Synod, they performed annual religious processions in honor of the emperor's salvation.

Another precious gift to the monastery was the cross, in which were the holy relics of the Kiev-Pechersk saints. This is another family heirloom that passed to the earl from his grandfather.

At the expense of NF Heyden on Mount Athos was purchased a beautiful crucifix, which has a natural size. It contained inscriptions in three languages - Latin, Greek and Hebrew. The foot of the crucifix adorned the stone from the Holy Sepulcher. His count was brought from Jerusalem in 1884.

He had a monastery and other donations. So, the Simferopol petty bourgeois Feodor Kashunin of the holy monastery was donated to the house.

A large number of shrines, stored in the monastery, attracted here many travelers and pilgrims. They all wanted to see relics there and worship them. A lot of peasants from nearby villages came to the Sunday service. With reverence for the shrine were even Muslims. They also came to the monastery in order to ask for health from the icon of the Mother of God and to bathe in a healing spring. Visitors invariably left donations to the holy abode.

Closing of the monastery

During the existence of the USSR, the church was persecuted. This fate and Toplovski monastery did not pass in the Crimea. But in order to avoid closure, for several years the holy monastery officially existed under the cover of the labor community of gardeners. Formally, they were engaged in growing fruits. Yes, the nuns took care of the garden. However, they continued their ritual life.

The final closure of the monastery occurred after the government decided to liquidate the farmer with the name "Female labor". It happened on September 7, 1928. In December of the same year the abbess of the monastery died. And a month later, in January, soldiers of the NKVD who arrived in Toplovsky Monastery evicted nuns from his buildings, taking a receipt from them about their return to their former residence.

The population of the villages around the weak and old women dismantled their homes. But the priests and nuns, who led the economic activities of the monastery, waited for the sad fate. Many of them were arrested and exiled to camps. At the same time blew up and yet unfinished until the end of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. In the surviving buildings of the monastery the state farm "Bezbozhnik" was located.

New Life of the Holy Monastery

Toplovski Trinity-Paraskeviivsky Monastery began its revival in the nineties of the last century. The first divine service in it after a considerable break took place on 8.08.1992. Almost a year later, the charter of the monastery was registered. On 20.12.1994 the transfer of the holy monastery of 10.76 hectares of land took place. They returned the monastery and its former buildings, which in the post-war years served as a pioneer camp. Today in the holy monastery there are 2 churches - the icons of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and the Martyr of Paraskeva.

Healing water

What is especially famous for the Toplovsky Monastery? Reviews of pilgrims and tourists who visited him most of all refer to healing springs located near the holy abode. These springs have definite names. These are sources:
- St. Paraskeva.
- St. George the Victorious.
- Three Saints (Gregory the Theologian, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom).

In addition to them, the attention of pilgrims and valuable Orthodox relics, such as a crucifix with holy relics and ancient icons, attract attention.

Toplovsky monastery is desirable to visit everyone who chooses for their travel various excursions in the Crimea. Prices for visiting the holy monastery will not cause significant damage to the family budget. In addition, each of the visitors are waiting for life-giving water, simple and tasty food in the refectory, and also affable nuns.

Source of St. Paraskeva

The spring that appeared on the site of the execution of the martyr was landscaped in 1882. A kind of iconostasis appeared in the form of a semicircular wall near the granite-tiled tank. A year later, near the source, a special font was built, consisting of two compartments (male and female), as well as a reservoir for water.

Annually on July 26 (according to a new style on August 8) a huge number of people made pilgrimage to the monastery. Bulgarians and Greeks, Tatars and Russians carried their sick relatives on carts. On this day, the memory of Saint Paraskeva was honored and immersed in the spring. People believed that healing water would save them from illness and restore their lost health.

The holy source of Paraskeva is also a place of pilgrimage in the present times. And today many believers aspire to plunge into life-giving water. The source, as in former times, looks like a well in the chapel. Above the water is an icon depicting Saint Paraskeva. For those who decided to bathe, the Toplovski monastery of the font offers. They are not far from the source. It is believed that this living water heals eye diseases and ailments of the head.

Source of St. George the Victorious

This healing spring is 2 km from Toplovsky Monastery. It is located in a picturesque forest. There is a tradition that exactly in the place where the holy spring beats from under the earth, the horseman was three times. The nuns recognized George the Victorious in him.

Not far from this source are built two open fonts. One of them is male, and the second - female. Here is built the chapel of St. George and the bell tower.
According to pilgrims, the water from this spring heals nervous diseases, as well as the pathology of the organs of motion.

The Source of the Three Saints

The farthest spring of the Toplovski monastery is in the mountains. It is named after the Three Saints, namely Gregory the Theologian, Basil the Great and John Chrysostom. This source has three water outlets at once. They are located next to each other and subsequently merge into one turbulent flow. After a short journey, the holy water literally falls into a small lake, in which pilgrims make their ablutions.

At the foot of the waterfall, the stream is bubbling and foaming. In the lake, the water is transparent and calm. It is believed that ablution in this source is especially useful in nervous diseases. However, the path to the holy spring is not close, and not every person is able to overcome it. For those who want to try the healing water on the territory of the Toplovsky Monastery a column is arranged. It can be distinguished by a red roof. You can also bathe this healing water on the territory of the monastery. To do this, go to the lower font.

Bathing rules

Sources of the Toplovsky Monastery annually visit a significant number of pilgrims. And those of them who decided to take a bath should follow certain rules. Their compliance in conjunction with the action of healing water will eliminate many ailments.

Dip into the font you need three times with your head. In this case, the following words should be pronounced: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen." In addition, the bodies of both women and men must necessarily be covered. Clothes for swimming can serve as a long T-shirt or nightgown. A new sheet will fit, in which a person should simply turn around. It is worth bearing in mind that such clothes are also sold in a monastery stall.

Baptized Christians in bathing should have a cross on themselves. It can also be bought in a church shop.

Conclusion

In 2009, the monastery celebrated its 145th anniversary. And, as in former times, on August 8, the holy abode receives thousands of pilgrims. People of all social positions and ages come and on ordinary days. Their goal is to worship the holy relics of the monastery and bathe in the curative spring water.

Years pass, and the Toplovsky monastery is getting better and more and more adorned. Today, a chapel built over the grave of Paraskeva, the first Abbess, was restored here. Every day this place is visited by a lot of people. They bring their troubles and sorrows here, in the hope of help. According to tradition, people write memos with requests and put them in a box set at the grave of the abbot.

There is a legend that the Toplovski monastery protects St. Paraskeva from all sorts of troubles. At night, she walks around the monastery, holding a staff in one hand and a palm branch in the other. All those who have met on the path of the saint, she blesses. Paraskeva immediately heals the sick. And those who seek to harm the monastery, punish by an invisible force.