In the southeast of Optina Hermitage, beyond the territory of the brotherly necropolis, the guests of the monastery are greeted by a small chapel of the Resurrection of Christ. It was placed at the burial site of three monks who died in the monastery in 1993. In recent years, this small temple has become a real pilgrimage site, and there are always many pilgrims and tourists in it.
History and chapels
A neat chapel is located on the outskirts of the monastery cemetery - between the wall of the monastery, one of the cell buildings and an openwork chapel-canopy. It was erected in 2008 and is dedicated to the tragic event.
Chapel-canopy against the background of the Chapel of the Resurrection of Christ
On the night of April 18, 1993, before Easter, a procession was held in the monastery. Hieromonk Vasily (Roslyakov), who took part in it, was entrusted with carrying the icon of the Resurrection of Christ. Early in the morning, when the monastery was just getting ready for the early liturgy, the hieromonk went to the Baptist Skete for confession. At this time, the festive ringing of bells resounded over the monastery. It was the monks Ferapont (Pushkarev) and Trofim (Tatarnikov) who were ringing the bells on a small wooden belfry located near the Vvedensky Cathedral.
Suddenly the bell ringing was cut off. The worried hieromonk Vasily went to the belfry to find out what was the matter. A man in a greatcoat ran out to meet him. He stopped near Father Vasily and suddenly thrust a dagger more than half a meter into his back. The hieromonk fell to the ground. He did not die immediately, but for some time still tried to read prayers.
View of the chapel from the chapel-canopy
So three innocent people died at the hands of a mentally ill person. On the handle of the murder weapon were the numbers "666", so the killer was considered a Satanist. 6 days after the tragedy, he was arrested, declared insane and sent to a closed hospital for treatment. In 2005, in Optina Pustyn, they decided to perpetuate the memory of the perished monks and build an Orthodox chapel on the burial site.
Architectural features of the temple
The small chapel was designed by a Moscow architect and member of the Union of Architects of Russia Yuri Georgievich Alonov. It is a one-domed temple with two entrances. The snow-white building is decorated with brick inserts, cornices, columns and pilasters. A helmet-shaped dome covered with gold rises on a faceted deaf drum, and at the very top you can see a golden openwork cross.
General view of the chapel
There are three graves inside the chapel, over which there are large wooden crosses. Above them, on the wall, there are two letters "ХВ" - "Christ is Risen", reminding that the tragedy in the monastery took place precisely on Easter. There are stands in front of the stone sarcophagi, where visitors can leave memorial candles.
The area around the temple has been improved. The chapel is surrounded by a picturesque metal fence lined with beautiful lanterns. Flower beds are laid out on the lawns, and slender spruces and thuja grow.
Inside the chapel
The chapel today
The Orthodox Church is open to believers and tourists all year round. You can look into it at any convenient time. Every day, near the graves of the murdered monks, priests serve a liturgy.
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