This resort city is located in the far north of Donetsk region. It is famous primarily for its unique historical and cultural monument - the Church of the cave monastery, now - Svyatogorskaya Svyato-Uspenskay Lavra. Most of the enterprises of Donbass has here the recreation center and pensions. White Mountains protect this place from the wind and the pine forest saturates the air with salubrious aroma of pine needles. All this creates a unique environment for recreation.

Svyatogorsk is located only some 25 kilometers from the Slavyansk. But it is more interesting to get to it from Kharkov's largest transportation hub in Ukraine. It gives an opportunity to take guests from everywhere in Ukraine and abroad. An excellent highway Kharkov - Rostov-na-Donu allows you to enjoy the surrounding scenery. Driving along the path of the ancient city Chuguyiv, Raisins, unwittingly you are drawn back into the ancient history of this region.

A few centuries ago the way of Tatar invasions of Russia was here, as well as branch of Muravsky Way - the shortest way to the Crimea from the central regions of Russia. Famous Battle of Prince Igor with Polovtsy on Kayala River, anthemed in "Slovo o polku Igoreve" was held in 1185 near Izyum. Crossing the mountain Kremenets, soon you will find a pointer to Svyatogorsk.

ARISING FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE CENTURIES
The first historical evidence are dated from 1526. German diplomat Sigismund Herberstein in his book "Notes on the Moscow affairs" refers to the guardian of the Holy Mountains, which by the decree of the Russian Tsars was located far in Dikoe Pole (Wild Field), on roads and crossings of the Donets River. When and where did the monks come to this land - is not known.

According to one version, the monks of the monastery of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra organized the mansion, which was destroyed by the hordes of Baty Khan in 1240. "Escaped from the sword of Tatar, - says one of the chronicles - went to the surrounding forests and thickets and founded their homes in the mountains of picturesque Donets River. According to other legends, Svyatogorsk monastery was founded by monks of the Holy Mount Athos.

This is confirmed by the method of burial of the monks according to Athonite custom. There is an opinion that Svyatogorsk emerged as a defensive item in the south of the country and served our forefathers as the protection from the raids of hostile nomadic tribes.

The very first official evidence of the existence of the monastery belongs to 1624. This is the Sovereign's charter for the monastery's annual maintenance with money and bread.

At that time the main temple served as the Cave Church of St. Nicholas. The rapid development of the monastic complex on the banks of the Donets River began in the XVIII century, thanks to the care of the famous Ukrainian military leader, Colonel of Izyumsky Slobodskoy Regiment - Fyodor Shidlovsky.

However, in 1787 the monastery was closed by the decree of Catherine II. Its restoring happened 57 years later with the active participation of Prince Potemkin. In this period the new rectory, fraternal, communion bread, economic, housing, hotels, dining hall were built.
 
Also temples and cave churches have been updated. In addition, a new church with a bell tower was built and the Church of Transfiguration on the mountain top, the Assumption Cathedral and the hermitage church of Arseniy the Great were laid. In 1922 Svyatogorsk monastery was again closed, but on its territory holiday home for workers of the Donbass was organized.

Post war period was marked as a time of the greatest destruction. But exactly 100 years later the monastery was restored. Most of the unique monuments of architecture was restored. On March 9, 2004 the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsky monastery was granted the status of Lavra at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Henceforth it is called the Holy Dormition Svyatogorsk Lavra.


From the bridge over Donets River a majestic panorama of chalk mountains with two monuments of different epochs standing on the their tops, opens. There is a unique Nicholas Church on one of the mountains, established together with the chalk cliff and surrounded by natural landscape. Exactly in this place St Filaret said: "It's so close to heaven, and so far from the earth! If you can't learn to pray here, then where?".

There is a monument to revolutionary Artem on the other hill, built in 1927 in the style of cubism by the architect George Kavaleridze. Ironically, they do not disturb each other, but quite the contrary - they are complementary, emphasizing the difference between the spiritual worlds. Winding roads give to both mountains. But fans of thrills can climb straight one of the many trails leading up the steep slopes.

There is an iconic store just after the bridge, where you can buy spiritual literature and everything necessary for the church ceremonies, and a variety of souvenirs. The main entrance to the monastery is guarded by Cossacks, vigilantly watching the match of the look of guests to the moral foundations of the monastic life. Past the hotel buildings path leads to the Holy Virgin Protection Church.

Built in 1850 by architect Konstantin Ton, the church, like several centuries ago, remains a kind of head of monastery. At the bell the chimes are installed, made in the monastery by a master self-taught father Antonin, who was called Edison of Svyatogorsk by the writer Vasily Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko.

They say that the sound could be heard for ten miles. Incidentally, the five monasteries collected 54 bell towers, and the largest of which weighs over 6 tons. Assumption Cathedral - is the main church of the monastery. Erected in 1859-1868 on the design of the St. Petersburg academician M. Gornostaeva, it amazes with its magnificence. Byzantine in its form on the top, the cathedral is completed by Russian onion-like dome.

Near the Cathedral of the Dormition there is Peschernik (Cave), or, as it is called, Lower Pavilion of pilgrims. As before, it takes the pilgrims visiting the cave of the chalk cliffs. Over the Cathedral of the Dormition there is the economic yard with various workshops.

Today, products of Svyatogorsk smiths decorate the territory of the reviving monastery. Closely pressed to the rock, the temple is the entrance to the underground church of the Holy Saint Anthony and Theodosius. Narrow steep turn goes to the heart of the mountain. The length of this ancient part of the monastery is over 800 meters.

Tortuous way leads to the very top, where from the area of the Upper pavilion a beautiful view on the left bank of the Seversky Donets is opened.

Excursion-tourist zone of Svyatogorsk is unusually rich in historical and cultural, archaeological and natural sights. In the vicinity of Svyatogorsk 129 archaeological monuments and 73 - story monuments are identified. On the territory of the national natural park "The Holy Mountain" 123 species of rare plants grow, 48 of which are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, 12 species - in European red list.

The implementation of the plan and program development of the city has already started. The monastery is expanded by renovating buildings and structures of sanatorium named after Artem.

The reconstruction of the Potemkin's palace is also planned. There will be built an excursion and tourist center and a pier for boats, as well as the playground for fairs on the right bank near the bridge. In addition, ethnographic museum is being organized in the open air.

For the construction of water attractions the Lake Bath is being cleaned, a cascade of artificial reservoirs of water park along the ancient Seversky Donets River is being created. On the territory of the park area there will be also created artificial ornamental lakes, where will live swans, wild ducks and other birds.

The project foresees the construction of four large hotel complexes with a total capacity of 800 beds and five small separate low-rise hotels with 40-50 seats of year-round operation, with limited scope of services and the moderate cost of living.

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