Святогорская Лавра

СВЯТО-УСПЕНСКАЯ СВЯТОГОРСКАЯ ЛАВРА — краса и гордость Донетчины, духовная крепость Святой Руси. Давно просияла над землей православной слава об этой обители благодаря и неповторимости ее облика, и еще  –  удивительной силе духа ее иноков, которая помогает монастырю вновь и вновь воскресать из небытия, из пепла. Святые Горы продолжают служить Церкви и Отечеству. Угодники Божии, подвизавшиеся в обители и обретшие дерзновение пред Богом, пребывая в славе Его, непрестанно молят за народ Божий. Чудеса по их молитвам и молитвам Божией Матери, Игумении обители, происходят непрестанно. Молясь у святынь Лавры богомольцы обретают благодатную помощь, духовно укрепляются. И сейчас, как и прежде, святость места, уставное и благолепное богослужение, порядок во всем, искание доброго примера, назидания и духовного утешения, желание уединенной молитвы, исповеди и причащения Святых Христовых Таинств привлекают сотни и тысячи богомольцев со всех концов Руси поклониться святыням Святых Гор. Таинства Церкви Православной везде одинаковы, но домашняя обстановка, со всей ее суетой, часто отвлекает от богомыслия и сосредоточенности. И вот народ едет и едет во Святые Горы, в эту духовную врачебницу, и днем, и ночью принимающую своих гостей. Возвращаясь в родные места, они в душе своей уносят отрадное воспоминание о Святогорской обители и разносят по всей Святой Руси добрую славу о Святых Горах. Holy Dormition Svyatogorskaya Lavra is the beauty and pride of Donetchina, the spiritual fortress of all the Orthodox people of Holy Russia. The glory of this monastery has long shone over the Orthodox world, thanks both to its unique appearance and the amazing power of the spirit of its monks, which help the monastery to rise from ruin, over and over, again and again. Today, no one is able to calculate how many times the life of prayer died off in Svyatogorye—in the past for years, and perhaps for centuries, the cells were emptied because of some epidemic of plague, because of wanderers and thieves, who plundered and killed without mercy. In the twentieth century, much more serious and complete damage was visited upon the monastery. But for everything, glory to God. For everything, thanksgiving to Him, the All-Good Creator. The brotherhood, as much as it is able, struggles for the well-being of the ancient monastery, raising up the ruined monastery churches and buildings, which had been disfigured by many years of Soviet slavery. But the monks overcame hardships, just as they overcame them over the course of centuries—through tireless labor and prayer, striving here, in this Donets (and, truly, holy) region, to create beauty and harmony that is not of this earth, but of God. They have as a helper in this God-pleasing deed the Mother of God herself, whose living and clearly present care makes itself felt in their work, serving as a constant reminder that her Motherly love is always to be had in this place. Already much has been done and has been restored; people, who come each season to the Holy Mountains, are amazed, seeing the current restoration of the holy monastery. Much that in the past brought sorrow has already passed, or soon will pass away; and it will not only pass, but will itself become a reason for joy. We ourselves also sincerely rejoice that today, as in past ages, the Svyatogorsky Monastery, receiving thousands of pilgrims, and spiritually consoling, nourishing, and guiding them, remains precious to our Orthodox people, who, as much as they are able, assist in its revival.