One of the main places for believing Christians not only in the Zolotukhin district, but also in many other regions of Russia, is the Root Desert. Sources - archival records and annals - indicate that the monastery was one of the first to appear on Russian land.
General information
The indigenous desert, the photo of which will be presented below, is quite widely known. This place surprisingly combines natural pristine and architectural structures. Already at the entrance to Freedom you can see the beauty of the holy monastery. The root desert (Kursk region) is located among a dense forest. Church crosses shimmer with golden light. The white stone arches of the monastery churches descend with ledges down to the river. Next is the holy spring.
Modern realities
Now the root desert (Kursk region) has four active churches. Nevertheless, parishioners gather exclusively for service in the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. The procession has already become traditional for all Christians. Many pilgrims from different parts of the world gather at it every year. During the procession, the icon is transferred to this monastery from Kursk. Currently, for the event, a special flight from the United States delivers the original icon of the Mother of God “Sign”.
Historical information. Emergence and development
The monastery is the site of the miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is called the Sign. The city itself and the fair in the indigenous desert arose thanks to this shrine. The monastery was founded at the behest of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich at the end of the 16th century. He became one of the first holy places in this region.
Location
The root desert (Kursk region) is located on the Tuskvar River, or rather, on its right bank. It is about thirty kilometers from the city heading north. From far away you can see the golden crosses that rise above the tops of the trees of the root forest. The arches of the monastery descend down to the river and the overhead church of the Picturesque Source.
The phenomenon of the icon
At the end of the 13th century, there were dense forests on the site where the village subsequently formed. Many hunters gathered there. There were also residents of Rylsk. One day, a hunter who came from that area was walking through the forest. He saw the board and picked it up. She turned out to be a miraculous icon. In the place where it was discovered, the source scored. The hunter hid the icon inside a tree hollow. Then he followed his comrades. After some time, a wooden chapel was built on this site. This site for the salvation of human souls was not chosen by chance. A miraculous phenomenon indicated the edge of a dense forest. For more than seven hundred years, prayer has not stopped here.
Start of construction
The construction of the monastery began several centuries ago. At the initial stage, it advanced very hard. Hegumen Efimiy became the first rector of this place. Previously, he was a priest in the city of Rylsk.
False Dmitry's Intervention and Ruin
Difficult and turbulent times passed. Crimean Tatars constantly attacked Moscow Russia . They threatened all southern Russian villages. At the beginning of the XVII century, many cities were captured by the soldiers of the impostor, who positioned himself as the son of John the Terrible. He settled in Putivl and was preparing a military campaign against Moscow. In order to attract people to his side, he demanded to deliver a miraculous icon to himself. Kursk residents with tears in their eyes escorted the shrine. Many of them followed her all the way to Putivl. False Dmitry met the icon with proper honors. After the capture of the capital, it was transferred to the royal chambers. In the absence of the icon, the newly built Root Desert was destroyed by the Crimean Tatars.
Reconstruction after ruin
At the beginning of the XVII century, the root desert (Kursk region) was rebuilt slowly. A temple was built in it in the name of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was consecrated in 1618. Around the same time, the miraculous icon returned to the monastery. The shrine, which was in Moscow in the "troubled times", also returned. After the impostor was expelled, she was for some time with Prince Dmitry Pozharsky.
Further functioning
Decades later, Kursk and the monastery were devastated by Polish invaders. A few years later the city was attacked by the Crimean Tatars. However, the Root Desert remained unscathed. At the beginning of the XVIII century a monastic hostel arose here. Two years later, instead of the old wooden church, a two-story stone church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built. In the name of the Monk Theodosius and Anthony of Pechora, the chapel of the lower church was consecrated. A few years later, the Holy Gates were erected in the monastery. Above them was a church and two thrones.
Successful construction period
At the beginning of the XVIII century, in the place of the appearance of the icon, the church "Life-giving spring" was built. After several decades, the shrine became independent from the Znamensky Monastery. Completed desert views acquired by the end of the century. Fraternal and abbot cells were located on both sides of the Holy Gates. To the left of the monastery is the All Saints Church. Behind it were two hotel yards. There was also a garden in the monastery. The holy cloister was granted land and mill in Dolg from Emperor Paul I.
Institution of Archimandria
In the XIX century, one of the highest monastic ranks was established in the monastery. Under Hieromonk Palladius, the construction of the All Saints Church was completed. She was consecrated a few years later. It was this man who became the first archimandrite of the holy monastery. Later, stone gatherings were built in the monastery. They started from the upper square of the monastery and descended to the lower church "Life-giving spring". The vaults organically fit into the ensemble of the temple. At the same time, all kinds of conveniences were created for pilgrims. From all the platforms and steps you could see the middle of the church. Also from there, the service performed in it was well audible. Currently, these vaults have been restored exactly in this form.
Subsequent construction phases
In the middle of the XIX century the church was dilapidated. In its place, a new temple is laid out according to the project of the talented architect K. A. Ton. So the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected. The life of Sylvester Medvedev is closely connected with the history of the monastery. He was one of the outstanding educators of the past. Sylvester Medvedev for several years was a monk in the Root Desert. He made a significant contribution to the development of typography. This man also became one of the famous domestic bibliographers. The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has an iconostasis. He is one of the main works of craftsmen of the Holy Trinity Brotherhood from the Kursk region.
Location of the shrine during the war
During the civil unrest, the icon, which was mainly kept in the Znamensky Monastery, was transported to Kursk. She was transported to Belgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Novorossiysk and Ekaterinodar. In the 20th year, the icon on the ship left for Constantinople. Then she was sent to Greece and Serbia. During the Second World War, the icon was transported to Munich, and then to the USA. There she was kept in a specially arranged place for her - the New Root Desert.
Koren Fair
Its first official mention was registered at the beginning of the XVIII century. At the same time, the tradition of the monastery dates it to 1618. This period marked the beginning of the Crusades. The creation of the fair is associated with an increase in the number of parishioners of the Indigenous Desert. Until the middle of the XVIII century, the event belonged to the Znamensky Monastery. Later it was transferred to the treasury. According to state government acts, the Kursk Korenskaya Fair was one of the most important events of this kind. In its significance, it was along with Irbitsky and Makaryevsky. A huge number of people sought to visit the fair. Here you could meet peasants, posadsky and merchant people, various artisans and craftsmen. At the fair you could buy a lot of all kinds of goods. The Koren event brought in multimillion-dollar income. The fair was widely known not only throughout the Russian Empire, but also far beyond its borders. At that time, it was thanks to this event that Kursk became famous as the South Trade Gate of the country. At the end of the 18th century, by order of the empress, the event received all-Russian status. In the future, its scale has grown to international. In the second half of the century, the cash flow of the event reached seven million. For that time it was a fabulous sum.
Root desert (Kursk region). Address, optimal driving directions
The monastery is located in the village of Liberty Zolotukhinsky district. Almost all locals are well aware of the holy monastery. However, not every citizen knows exactly where the Root Desert (Kursk region) is located. How to get from Kursk? You must move north from the city. The length of the entire journey is about thirty kilometers. Currently, the monastery is becoming increasingly famous. Many parishioners from nearby cities are attracted to the Root Desert (Kursk region). The directions from Voronezh are as follows. Initially, you need to get to Kursk. This can be done either by train or by car. Then you need to get to the highway M2. After Fatezh, a bit before reaching the city, there are various signs. This is a turn to the Root Deserts, Zolotukhino and Voronezh. From it should drive another fifty kilometers. Many pilgrims annually are interested in the procession, as well as the Root Desert (Kursk region). How to get from Belgorod? Pilgrimage trips to the monastery are carried out on a special bus. In order to get on him, you need to find him in Belgorod. The group gathers early in the morning near the Church of St. George, which is located on Korolenko Street.