The Holy Mountain -- Svyatogorsk

After leaving Lugansk, we spent a week in Donetsk in order to help orient the couple who have been called to replace us in the mission office.  Our dear friend, Anya had a day off or work and offered to take us to a lovely, out of the way monastery called Svyatogorsk, or the holy mountain. 

This riverside sanctuary was housing refugees in it's chalk caves as long ago as 1526 when it was noted by a German ambasador that this mountain and it's secluded caves were viewed in awe by local inhabitants of the area.  In 1844 a Monastery was founded here.



Elder and Sister Coleman joined us.





 The models above show the early monastery as it appeared in 1844 with a cutaway of the chalk caves where persecuted Christians took refuge.

Women must keep their heads covered to show respect for the people who worship here and for their beliefs.

Old furnishings displayed in the monastery museum.

Many young couples choose to make their wedding vows here.  To symbolize the lasting nature of the comittments they are makiing each couple leaves a lock on the bridge crossing the river to the sacred mountain.