Cave monasteries are a rather unusual phenomenon for Central Russia, and in this sense the Voronezh region has greatly distinguished itself: only three religious cults exist here.

Guarding the southern outskirts

Svyato- The Assumption Divnogorskiy Monastery, founded in the middle of the 17th century, is one of the amazing Cretaceous cave structures in Pridon'e. . According to local historians, the first monks moved here together with Ukrainian Cossacks, who were ordered to protect the dispossessed near the fortress Ostrogozhsk . Iosaph and Xenophon - that's the name of the monks and creators of the first caves they dug on the high bank of the Don, in one of the chalk pillars . The church was soon consecrated, and the monastery was named Ouspensky, in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary . Later, there were ground constructions, and next to the cave church in another chalk pillar the craftsmen cut down the belfry .

Great blossoming

More than hundred years from the date of foundation the monastery prospered due to the extensive farming . On its territory was apiaries, windmills mills, the brotherhood was engaged in farming and cattle breeding, considerable profit was brought by duty-free trade in wine . In the beginning of the 18th century the Divnogorsky monastery became the richest in the whole province . But it is really famous and revered, not only at the provincial level, and throughout the empire, the monastery made a miraculous icon of the Sicilian Mother of God . According to legend, the icon, found on one of the Cretaceous pillars a few kilometers from the monastery, saved from the epidemic of cholera residents of the nearest cities of Korotoyaka and Ostrogozhsk and .

The Soviet resort

After the revolution, as usual, the monastery was abolished, destroying almost all the monks and drowning in the Don collected for over 250 years, the library. During the Great Patriotic War, the Germans settled in the caves of the monastery, turning it into a military hospital. And in the postwar period, the former shrine became a tuberculosis sanatorium. The second life of the Divnogorsky monastery began only in the early 1990.

Excursions and Pilgrimage

The Holy Assumption Cathedral of Divnogorsk is actively receiving pilgrims and tourists, guided by the novices themselves. Visiting its cave temples can be combined with an excursion through the territory of the Divnogorye museum-reserve, which includes, among other things, the inspection of the church of that most miraculous Sicilian icon of the Mother of God.

Those who want to stay in the Divine Mountains can stay longer in the monastery hotel for pilgrims or in a hotel on the territory of the Divnogorye farmstead, just a few kilometers from the monastery

The administration of the museum-preserve operates from 9-30 to 18-00. Phone: (47391) 2-1217, 5-9111. Address: Voronezh Region, Liskinsky District, Divnogorie Settlement. Get there on your car you can from Voronezh along the Don, then through Liski along the highway Liski - Ostrogozhsk. Pass to the railway crossing in Puhov, and at the fork - to the right. Those who travel along the highway Voronezh - Ostrogozhsk - Rossosh, then drive to the turn to Liski, then to the railway crossing and turn left.

From Moscow you can take the train to Liski, from Voronezh to this point there are trains. Then take the Liski-Alekseyevka train and get off at the stop of 143 km or by train to Ostrogozhsk.