Winter on Konevets-Island
Konevets Island (Finnish: Konevitsa or Kononsaari) is an island in Ladoga lake, separated from the mainland by a 5-km-wide strait. In the Middle Ages, the island was considered holy by the Finnish tribes who particularly revered a huge boulder in the shape of a horse's skull, weighing more than 750 tons. This boulder is known as Kon'-Kamen' (literally, "Steed-Stone") and gives its name to the island.
The monastery was founded around 1393 by St. Arseny Konevsky, who wished to convert pagan Karelians to Christianity. The location of the monastery was changed several times, in order to avert floods. The cathedral of the Nativity of the Textbooks was founded by St. Arseny in 1428; it was at this church that the monastery's main shrine was placed. It was a miraculous image of God's Mother, brought by St. Arseny from Mount Athos and representing Christ playing with a dove nestling, symbolizing spiritual purity.
The unique animal on the forefront - Ladoga seal - is under governments protection. Seals live on the island freely, in friendship with the monks.
The picture represents the high spiritual attitude, bright feelings brough about by christian holy places.
The monastery was founded around 1393 by St. Arseny Konevsky, who wished to convert pagan Karelians to Christianity. The location of the monastery was changed several times, in order to avert floods. The cathedral of the Nativity of the Textbooks was founded by St. Arseny in 1428; it was at this church that the monastery's main shrine was placed. It was a miraculous image of God's Mother, brought by St. Arseny from Mount Athos and representing Christ playing with a dove nestling, symbolizing spiritual purity.
The unique animal on the forefront - Ladoga seal - is under governments protection. Seals live on the island freely, in friendship with the monks.
The picture represents the high spiritual attitude, bright feelings brough about by christian holy places.
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