Aksai Clove The Monastery
About this tour
In 1921, after the revolution five outlaw monks left Verniy city (present Alma-Ata) and headed to the mountains. They didn’t want to submit to the new government, being aware of its attitude to religion and clergy. Initially the monks hid in the Medeu clove, but they were discovered. According to a legend, when further wandering in the mountains, they saw the light streaming from heaven to a certain place on earth. The monks decided that the Lord himself pointed them this place. Here they managed to dig a cave for worshipping and settled here. They had to eat very poorly: their diet consisted of berries and roots. Later, locals began to come to the monks. Faithful people from the city and local villages walked dozens of kilometers to pray to the God.
The hermit monks realized that the more people came to them, the higher was the chance to reveal themselves. And on one day men from the city came to them. The monks (there were only three of them left) realized that these people were hiding their true themselves by pretending to be believers. But they still gave them food and shelter. Indeed, strangers turned out to be members of the bloody cheka and at night captured two monks (Seraphim and Feognost). First, the criminals tortured the monks and then killed them. Moreover, the criminals’ main goal was church gold. Later, the killers were caught for other atrocities and executed. By the way, one of the monks (Anatoly) managed to escape and hide from the criminals.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Almaty, Kazakhstan to Serafimo-Feognostovskiy Aksayskiy Skit, Kazakhstan
“The castle” “The castle” is located on the western bank of the Aksai River. It is a stone fortress built by Ivan Plotnikov. The construction began in 1983 by a native of Harbin (China). A special feature of the doorways and ceiling is that the self-taught master used no supporting materials. At the same time, he constructed the building without involving other people or mechanisms. For the construction, Ivan used about 900 tons of river stone.
What's included
Alcoholic drinks, cigarettes. Personal expenses (delicacies, etc.)
What to know
You should come to the monastery: In modest, non-seductive clothes, without inappropriate inscriptions and images on her. Women should be covered with a head, with an unpainted face. Clothing should be long sleeves, a skirt or dress - a decent length. It is not appropriate for a Christian to wear men's clothing (trousers), and men - shorts. A Christian should always wear a pectoral cross. Entering the temple, you need to be baptized. Men should remove their headgear. You can not enter into idle conversations with the inhabitants of the monastery. Forbidden: Screaming, talking loudly and laughing, smoking, drinking intoxicants or drugs, drinking alcohol, being drunk, using loud-speaking equipment, playing musical instruments, singing, turning on radios, tape recorders, using foul language, making obscene conversations, making noise or in any way interfere with the services, spit and litter in the monastery, enter the monastery with animals, have picnics, take pictures of the brethren of the monastery, as well as take pictures inside the churches during the service, only with the blessing of the governor of the monastery. Conducting any social events and religious activities, except those permitted by the monastery. It is disrespectful to behave and violate the prescribed rules of conduct. Entrance to the living and utility rooms of the monastery is prohibited.
Route & locations
Almaty, Kazakhstan to Serafimo-Feognostovskiy Aksayskiy Skit, Kazakhstan