Travel to Crimea!

View from Assumption Monastery in Bakhchisarai

Then we came to a small trade square with some orient style cafes and small shop, which is left, I think from Sovjet Union times. By the way here you have last chance to buy drinking water!!  Then we took the upper road, at the beginning of it you will see a big stone with Orthodox rood and sigh in Russian Святоуспенский мужской монастырь (in engl. Assumption Monastery). The road is very nice, along Monastery Cliff,  centuries-long forest, fresh air – 10 minutes slow walking and you are at monastery. There you can observe amazing view on Jehoshaphat’s bottomland and cave town Chufut-Kale on the opposite side. Now on territory of monastery one of the monks provides the guided tour. He told us
about the healing wonders that had happened to simple visitors of Cave Monastery and why an Orthodox person has to wear a cross, and even we heard about the process of production of woman lipstick, why it’s so harmful. Under the impression we continued our journey.

On the territory of this Crimean monastery is a holy spring, where you can take water for free, of course.

So we poured some water into our bottles, and went on where the civilization came to an end. The history of Assumption Monastery is remarkable as well as its geographical position close to Khan’s capital Bakhchisarai, and at the same time the neighbourhood with Karaites’ settlement in cave town Chufut-Kale. This place for Monastery was chosen not coincidentally, the Crimean monks –iconodules established it in 8^th century, because they found on the Assumption cliff – reprint of Holy Mother (it is seen by now ).

From the Monastery two roads branch out, we choose left one, that leads to Chufut-Kale. This road passes through Jehoshaphat’s bottomland, the holy place of Caraites. Somewhere on the half of our way we heard delightful sound, it was an old man playing. The sound of his tune was spread above all the surroundings. The man’s simple tune has created amazing atmosphere of calamity, beauty and unity with nature. Next we went on along the road that lead to East gate of Chufut-Kale through Kataites graveyard. It’s about 15 minutes slow walking. Huge Karaites graveyard is hidden in the Crimean pine forests.

to be continued

How to learn one of the most beautiful Crimean mountains in Bakhchisarai area– “mountain-fortress” Tepe –Kermen   Part I

Tepe – Kermen – slideshow

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