Description of the attraction
Filippovskaya hermitage of the Solovetsky monastery got its name in honor of Saint Philip, who from 1548 to 1566 was hegumen of the Solovetsky monastery. Philip, while still a simple monk, came here for solitary prayer, leaving the monastery. The hermitage is located two versts east of the monastery.
According to legend, during earnest prayer, Philip had a vision of Christ the Savior in chains and a crown of thorns, with bleeding wounds from torture. At the place where this miraculous phenomenon happened, a key gushed out of the ground. A chapel was erected over the holy spring in 1565 by Abbot Philip and a carved wood image of Christ was erected in the form in which He appeared in a vision. Since that time, in the Filippovskaya Hermitage, the brethren of the monastery guarded the abbot's cell and also carefully kept the stone, which he placed under his head. Later, a wooden chapel was built on the site of the hegumen Philip's cell.
In 1839, another chapel was built on the site of a dilapidated wooden chapel. The newly built chapel was much larger and had three porches. Subsequently, it became a church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source”. Here was installed an image of the Savior, carved from wood, as he appeared to Saint Philip. Right in the middle of the church was the Holy Spring, dug up by Philip's hands. The inscription here reads about it.
In 1854, a not very large belfry and a canopy were symmetrically arranged on the sides of the temple. Soon a cell building was built. It is currently the only surviving building in the desert.
During the Solovetsky camp, a reserve was founded in the desert, in which fur-bearing animals were bred, then a chemical laboratory was organized. Nowadays, no one lives in the Filippovskaya desert. The cell building needs restoration work. On the site of the lost church, the Bowing Cross was erected. At a short distance from it is the Holy Spring.
In 2011, restoration work began in the Filippovskaya Hermitage. At the time of archaeological work, the Poklonny Cross was moved to the hill behind the cell building.
An archaeological expedition has arrived here to work. The expedition includes about 20 students. First, the necessary material was collected in the archives, then topographic, measuring and drawing works were carried out. And only after the necessary research had been carried out, the archaeologists began excavations. The excavations lasted for two months of the summer season.
During the research, the foundation of the church was completely uncovered in the name of the Life-Giving Source. In the process of removing the layers, traces of a fire that occurred in 1931 were discovered, which actually destroyed the temple.
During the excavations, it was possible to collect a whole collection of finds, which includes coins, rare ceramics that were made in the Solovetsky Monastery, a silver bracelet and much more.
The research work carried out allowed us to collect information and get an idea of the appearance of the desert. The place where the cell of St. Philip of the 16th century was located was discovered, the road that led to the church in the name of the Life-Giving Source was cleared.
As scientists-researchers believe, the obtained archaeological data will make it possible to produce historically accurate reconstruction of the objects of the desert. A restoration project is being developed, and work will soon begin to revive the unique monument.
