In the famous suburb of Sevastopol, Inkerman , Inkerman stone is mined - a dense white limestone , which is used for decoration of buildings . This stone is mined in a long time , from which the rocks were formed many caves and catacombs .Here, in the Monastery and Zagaytanskoy rocks originated in the Middle Ages St. Clement Inkerman cave monastery. It is visible from the highway Sevastopol - Simferopol.

History.

Church tradition .

According to church legend, the monastery grounds connected with the name of St. Clement - the bishop of Rome from 92 to 101 years. Clement at Caesarea, was baptized by the apostle Peter, and then continued to travel with him , sharing the dangers and labors. For the fact that Clement led a righteous life , he was ordained a bishop by the Apostle Peter of Rome .Among the people Clement was also very fond of a growing number of Romans became Christians ... the emperor Trajan banished him for disobedience in a quarry near the Chersonese. St. Clement was baptized here , and up to 500 people a day, convicts and free people living in the district, and established 75 churches.The activity of St. Clement did not like the government Chersonese , so it decided to execute . Saint tied around the neck and threw him an anchor on the seabed in the Bay Cossack . So in the 101 year died bishop Clement, but a year later the sea receded, and in an underwater cave people saw the remains of the saint.Every year on the day of death of the saint came to the Christians to the execution site and the exposed bottom of worship were holy relics.

ebb allowed to come to the holy relics to the VI century , then on a small island in the middle of the bay was built a church . In the year 861 in Hersonissos profit holy brothers Constantine (Cyril ) and Methodius .They appealed to the Archbishop of Chersonese George to help them acquire the relics . Saints Cyril and Methodius, the relics was transferred to Rome , where they are kept today in the Basilica of St. Clement. The relics of St. Clement and remained in the Chersonese to the X century.After the baptism of Prince Vladimir sought his blessing from the local bishop and the honorable head of the relics of St. Clement and transported them in Kiev .

The emergence of the monastery.

A former quarry in a monastery . But first, in the VI century on the right bank of the Black appeared on a high cliff fortifications local tribes.Later, when this part of the Crimea strengthened the influence of the feudal principality of Theodoro , at the end of the bay in North, at the mouth of the Black sea port was founded Avlita , and to protect it Mangup Prince Alexei rebuilt the ancient fortifications , transforming it into a fortress Kalamita .Here, protected by a formidable fortress, about to VIII-IX centuries and originated cave monastery. The caves were first monks and shelter, and utility rooms . Temples are also arranged in a cave, hewn out of stone altar , a throne , a bench. All rooms connected by staircases carved into the rock .Located next to a major trading port , the monastery he lived comfortably .

In 1475 the Turks captured the Crimea . They rebuilt the fort and named it Inkerman , which means cave fortress . Obviously, a Christian monastery could not exist side by side with the Muslim fortress and gradually fell into disrepair .Some scientists believe that the monks had gone to Cape Fiolent and founded the monastery of St. George .

The revival of an ancient monastery began after the annexation of Crimea to Russia. Archbishop Innocent could not ignore the place associated with the name of Pope Clement. Thanks to his efforts Inkerman kin was opened in 1850.The reconstruction of three cave temples . But because the funds were not allocated by the state , and she was very poor , the restoration took place without expensive works . Temples cleared of debris and stones , updated painting.

October 15, 1852 was consecrated the church of the Holy Martyr Clement.The temple had a form of the basilica, where a two rows of columns dividing the space into three naves of the church . Have survived only a portion of the columns. Go to church is a long corridor , which cut stone benches - obviously, there pilgrims expected beginning of the service . In the apse is preserved two-stage Cintron , which focuses on the remnants of the heavenly places.Above him in the wall carved a niche for altarpieces . It also cut a large cross protsvetshy , ends its extended and they abut a small cross in the circle.

On the right side of the temple was an ancient chapel in honor of St. Andrew - a small , low-ceilinged.The altar is separated from the rest of the solid rock wall with the Holy Doors in the middle.

In 1867 opened another cave church dedicated to the Bishop of Rome to St. Martinianu . In the church square, semicircular dome overridden , extended the apse .

Two years after the discovery of the monastery started in the Crimean War. The Black River fierce fighting took place . October 24 184 years allied army shelled the fortress Kalamita , where Russian troops were located . Seriously injured and a monastery.Enemy of the nucleus and the bullets did not destroy the cave temples , leaving only traces of them on the walls , but the British looted all the property of Inkerman Monastery. But only the war ended in kin settled two novices and Fr . They cleansed the temple from the nuclei , and resumed the services.

In 1867 the abbot built a house and chapel , which was dedicated August 13 of the Holy Trinity , St. Clement restored power . In 1875 completed the construction of the railroad , which connected with the station Lozovaya Sevastopol . She walked next to the Monastery rock.Noise passing trains broke the silence of the centuries-old monastery, but an increasing number of pilgrims. In order to conveniently arrange them in a monastery in 1896, built a hotel, which could accommodate 24 people.

In 1895 a new church built in Byzantine style.Architectural feature of this church , consecrated in the name of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, was that part of the altarpiece was cut down in the rock , the rest of the temple was ground .

In 1905, the monastery has appeared several temples.One of them is arranged in place of the medieval cave temple of the holy and sanctified Evgrafov in the name of the holy martyr Demetrius . The temple is located in the eastern part of the Monastic rock . DM Strukov so described it : In the same rock, in the same ravine, under a cliff temple ... we meet on either side is the bench height of 9 inches .Altar barrier to the ceiling in the middle of her entrance into the sanctuary . The altar on the wall above the throne with depression : over the altar an inscription on the wall and the remains of fresco images of saints in the episcopal vestments. In the north- west corner of the altar - the altar hollow , it is convenient for storing sacred vessels, m in the southwest corner - the seat for svyaschennosluzhaschego .During the renovation in 1905 and the walls whitewashed , but because of whitewash could be considered in the eight figures of saints with halos kreschatyh robes over their heads. Above the altar was an image of Christ in the cup. On the bottom picture the inscription - praying servant of God Zotikov with his wife and children . This inscription is dated 1272 year.At the beginning of the XX century in the church made ​​graves, preserved the tomb of three , cut in half a small cave near the temple.

on the top plateau at the same time completed the building of the church of St. Nicholas of Myra. The church , cruciform in plan, has two chapels .

on September 27 in the presence of Grand Duke Alexei Mikhailovich and veterans of the Crimean War, was consecrated a cave church in honor of the icon All the Afflicted . Temple arranged on the spot of the ancient St. Sophia church, carved in the cliff Kamenolomennoy beam. Designed and built this temple architect A. Weisz .Inside the stored image of the military units that participated in the battles on the Black River.

New story.

By 1910, the architectural appearance of Inkerman Monastery formed completely. There were built two apartment buildings for the monks, one of them made ​​a chapel in honor of the Annunciation.When the monastery was opened parish school with an enrollment of 37 boys ... In 1917 the kin lived 25 monks and 122 novices , only 147 people.

The Civil War and the years of Soviet power.

During the Civil War, the monastery has supported the White Army of Baron Wrangel.After the establishment of Soviet power in Crimea all the lands of the monastery were nationalized and handed over to the farm work , which included the monks . Since 1920, all monastic churches became parish religious community ... Money is not enough to support all the temples in good condition.In 1925, Inkerman religious community rejected five churches , leaving himself a cave temple in the name of St. Clement and houses Trinity Church , but they lasted long. In 1926, the Presidium of the Executive Committee of Sevastopol was decided to close the St George and Inkerman monasteries.In 1927 a strong earthquake damaged the building and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas Church of the Annunciation , in the walls of numerous cracks were formed . It was decided to dismantle the temples . Cathedral of St. Nicholas on the upper plateau destroyed in 1932. The chapel , built on the grave of soldiers, demolished in 1927.In 1928 the church closed the icon of All the Afflicted . In the monastery, after its closure have stayed abbot Benedict , the father of Procopius , and two 85- year old man.

During the Great Patriotic War in the caves of the monastery housed the headquarters 25th Chapayev Division Coastal Army .During the second defense of Sevastopol in June 1942, soldiers of the division on Inkerman Heights tried to hold back the enemy, bursting to the city.

The revival of Inkerman St Clement monastery began in 1991 and went quite well thanks to the vigilant care of Archimandrite Augustine.

Christian handbook .

Inkerman Monastery of St. Clement , Class 2 , cenobitic , 8 miles from Sebastopol, near the mouth of Black River , Inkerman ( City of Caves) , on a cliff . According to legend, St. Clement was active here (see November 25) , and in the VII century, the emperor was imprisoned by Constance St. Martin (see April 14).There is also a chair Gotfskoy bishop. In 1850, Archbishop Innocent of Kherson there was open kin , who in 1905 built a monastery. Available in it a cave temple (opened in 1852 and renewed in 1867 ) was consecrated in the name of St. Clement .With him , as it were two chapels in the name of St. Martin the Confessor ( arranged from there in 1900 to replace the old new artistic glass and mosaic iconostasis , decorated with beautiful icons on zinc ) and in the name of St. Andrew .These churches are carved into polugore and rock on the left side of a very ancient staircase cut into the rock , too . Altar of the Church of St. Clement remained intact in the unchanged form in which existed in the 1st century , the throne to him ( the stone with a cross in the middle) is carved out of rock , according to legend , by St. Clement .Church of St. Andrew was consecrated July 2, 1900 , she took the room , carved into the rock itself still works of St. Clement , in its west wall is a small room carved into the rock , which , by assumption, there lived a holy Clement .In the same rock is an ancient tomb, placed in the same tomb in which lie the bones of Christians who have died here in exile. In the hanging position to the rock is very cleverly attached two bell towers and a balcony hanging over the abyss of the valley , offers a wonderful , majestic look .Near the monastery is the source of delicious, clear water, plagued by the prayer of St. Clement . The monastery school of St. Clement .

From the book by S. Bulgakov Russian monasteries in 1913.

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