Tired of the cold and white-jerky everyday, I have long dreamed of even a few days to escape back where you can be alone with your thoughts and feelings, gain strength. stepped on the land of the Holy Trinity Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, which is almost on the border of the Leningrad region and Karelia, happily realized - I found exactly what she was looking!

The road from St. Petersburg to the holy monastery took about three hours and was very pleasant - enjoying the view of lakes and forests, we listened to soft music and talking - about the universe, in the representation of each of us about the soul, and ... oh God. I, like thousands of people, with the head immersed in caring for their daily bread and not having a great spiritual experience, listen attentively to the conversation of his more enlightened good travel companions, among whom was Alexander Yatskov - surprisingly light and the harmony of man, not without a healthy-wave sense of humor: "Believe me, when you see the body of a man who died almost 500 years ago and looking better than you - no evidence of God's existence is no longer required." Alexander Svirsky relics buried in Holy Trinity Monastery, and have a wonderful history, as the life of the monk in the world. Prospective parents, simple pious peasants Vassa and Stephen, after years of infertility, to beg in the Virgin's son. When the boy grew up, my parents conceived him to marry, but he dreamed only of serving God. Soon, he secretly left home, took the tonsure and wandered through the woods in solitude and unceasing prayer.


It was St. Alexander, the only Russian saints, have been phenomenon of the Life-Giving Trinity, on orders from above, he founded the Church, and later a monastery. During the life of the Orthodox people honored Svirsky a saint, marveling at the miracles performed by them. Our first stop occurred in the introduction Oyat nunnery - a burial place of the parents of Alexander Svirsky. It is on the bank of the river Oyat, a tributary of Svir born saint, Alexander, and exactly in the same church his parents begged his son here for his own edification took the veil here and were buried. Now at the tombs of holy people are asking about the welfare of the family, for peace and understanding, and lonely they pray about finding its second half.

Every time you Pilgrimage to Svirsky, you get a completely different feeling. Having been here once, you'll come here again and again. On the territory of the monastery as a warm, cozy, quiet. Suddenly verse piercing wind, stopped the day before the drizzling rain, and the first bells in the belfry of the church because of the dense clouds seemed to welcome the sun's rays. "Well, go swimming?" - Cheerful voice asked Alain Bikkulova, famous actress and singer, the initiator of our journey. I could not believe my ears - still not summer, autumn chill has already permeated the people in sweaters and warm jackets come ... "Be sure to have a dip in the holy source! - Not appeased Alain. - He heals all diseases, confers joy and enlightenment. " Before entering the bath I still a little shaken ... come to the aid of Alexander: "We should treat this not as physical but as spiritual work. If you're scared, read the prayers - and more! "After three dives into the icy holy water, I was already laid down Coy, live, up to date! Finally we scored some water holy, crossed, and moved on - to the Alexander-Svirsky monastery for evening service. The energy and beauty of this place stunned. What is the harmony of heaven, earth and a temple, and next to them - wonderful lake surrounded by woods! Yes, it really is the abode of God, here any minute to feel his invisible presence. The monastery was brought before us in all its glory. White walls, light-green dome - a simple and organic that it seems as if it were created by nature itself. ... We went to the chapel in honor of the Holy Trinity, built in memory of the phenomenon of St. Alexander. Inside the chapel, the site of the appearance of the three men, shining with an unearthly light "- an icon, the transmission is a divine event, under it - river sand, which has wonderful power. A handful of sand, it is necessary to take along. Then - another chapel, where we were lucky enough to touch the true shrines - one of mirotochaschih copies of the Shroud of Christ, the relics of holy saints, and a fragment of the nail that was hammered into the cross of Jesus Christ ... Trinity Church - the oldest building on the monastery grounds. It is a place for the construction of said Lord Alexander. Svirsky, he participated in the establishment of this temple. It is amazing and the fact that the frescoes in the Holy Trinity Cathedral did not require restoration, eventually faces of the saints became brighter as if acquiring a heavenly color. When approaching the Transfiguration Cathedral frozen heart of pure sound of the church choir. Gusto Bottling yard, they seemed filled the entire space around them. I wanted to rush inside to listen to these beautiful voices and become part of the festive celebration. Once inside, we saw a great turn out of parishioners. They came to venerate the relics of Alexander Svirsky. How many miracles occurred at the shrine with the relics of the fair! How many patients received healing from physical and spiritual disease, as sinners come to faith! ... After the service we went out into the street. Dark. We are filled with some kind of inner joy and peace. We went to look for a place to sleep. Hotel "Staraya Sloboda" was full, so we decided to stay in a village house of an old lady Claudia Ivanovna. While the mistress of melted furnace, we decided to have a meal in the hotel restaurant. This is a log cabin with fireplace, forced by wooden tables and come out on the veranda - round timber, wood, wood ... the food is simple home! In the city I returned a different person. "Having been there, feel the amazing change in my life and in my heart - I remember the words of our good accompanying Alexander Yatskov. - Every time a pilgrimage to Svirsky, is experiencing a completely different feeling. Those who visited here once, will pull back again and again. " ... A few days later I found myself thinking that unwittingly choose the time to come to this monastery again.