Filippovskaya Pustyn description and photos - Russia - North-West: Solovetsky Islands (Topic)

Filippovskaya desert description and photos - Russia - North-West: Solovetsky Islands. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

Filippovskaya hermitage of the Solovetsky monastery got its name in honor of Saint Philip, who from 1548 to 1566 was the hegumen of the Solovetsky monastery. Philip, still being a simple monk, came here for solitary prayer, leaving the monastery. The desert is located two miles from the monastery to the east.

According to legend, during earnest prayer, Philip had a vision of Christ the Savior in chains and a crown of thorns, with bleeding wounds from torture. At the place where this miraculous phenomenon happened, a spring gushed out of the ground. A chapel was erected over the holy spring in 1565 by Abbot Philip and a carved wood image of Christ was erected in the form in which He appeared in a vision. Since that time, in the Filippovskaya Hermitage, the brethren of the monastery guarded the abbot's cell and also carefully kept the stone, which he placed under his head. Later, a wooden chapel was built on the site of the hegumen Philip's cell.

In 1839, another chapel was built on the site of a dilapidated wooden chapel. The newly built chapel was much larger and had three porches. Subsequently, it became a church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source”. Here was installed an image of the Savior, carved out of wood, as he appeared to Saint Philip. Right in the middle of the church was the Holy Spring, dug up by Philip's hands. The inscription here reads about it.

In 1854, a not very large belfry and a canopy were symmetrically arranged on the sides of the temple. Soon a cell building was built. Currently, it is the only surviving building of the desert.

During the Solovetsky camp in the desert, a reserve was founded in which fur-bearing animals were bred, then a chemical laboratory was organized. Nowadays, no one lives in the Filippovskaya desert. The cell building needs restoration work. On the site of the lost church, the Bowing Cross was built. At a short distance from it is the Holy Spring.

In 2011, restoration work began in the Philippovskaya Hermitage. During the archaeological work, the Poklonnaya Cross was moved to the hill behind the cell building.

An archaeological expedition arrived here to work. The expedition includes about 20 students. First, the necessary material was collected in the archives, then topographic, measuring and drawing works. And only after the necessary research was carried out, the archaeologists began excavations. The excavations lasted for two months of the summer season.

During the research, the foundation of the church in the name of the Life-Giving Source was completely uncovered. In the process of removing the layers, traces of a fire that occurred in 1931, which actually destroyed the temple, were discovered.

During the excavations, it was possible to collect a whole collection of finds, which includes coins, rare ceramics that were made in the Solovetsky Monastery , a silver bracelet and much more.

The research work carried out allowed us to collect information and get an idea of the appearance of the desert. The place where the cell of St. Philip of the 16th century was located was discovered, the road was cleared, which led to the church in the name of the Life-Giving Source.

As scientists-researchers believe, the obtained archaeological data will make it possible to produce historically accurate reconstruction of the objects of the desert. A restoration project is being developed, and work will soon begin to revive the unique monument.

We also recommend reading Lensovet Theater description and photos - Russia - St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg

Topic: Filippovskaya Pustyn description and photos - Russia - North-West: Solovetsky Islands.