Description of the attraction
Not far from the Solovetsky Monastery, or rather 5 km in the southwestern side, there are two islands, which are conditionally divided into the Big and Small Zayatsky Islands. The area of the islands is 2.5 sq. km, and they differ markedly from the rest of the islands of the Solovetsky archipelago. There are no forests, swamps or lakes on these islands, or anything majestic, memorable or grandiose. In these places there is a lot of tundra vegetation, which is represented by undersized shrubs, berry bushes, dwarf trees, mosses and grasses; in addition, there are boulders and placers of stones throughout the territory. On Bolshoi Zayatsky Island, the highest point is Signal Mountain, which is 31 meters high.
The foundation of the St. Andrew's Hermitage took place in the 18th century. The construction of a new church, consecrated in honor of one of the holy apostles Andrew the First-Called, was directly related to the visit of the great Tsar Peter the Great to the Solovetsky Islands. In the summer of August 10, 1702, thirteen warships landed on the pier of Bolshoy Zayatsky Island. Peter the Great, accompanied by close servants and persons on a small ship, went straight to the Solovetsky Monastery. Archimandrite Firs knew about the sovereign's arrival, and he met him. As soon as Peter the First approached the monastery, he bowed to her and throughout the entire time was present at the service.
According to the decree of the Great Sovereign, on Bolshoi Zayatsky Island, next to which the fleet was located, a small wooden chapel was built for several days, consecrated in honor of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, who is the patron saint of the entire Russian fleet.
On the territory of the island was located not only the monastery port, but also the necessary economic building, which became a place of safe haven for all travelers. The harbor, built of large boulders, with a small pier, as well as stone chambers, were erected on this island during the stay of Hegumen Saint Philip here - during 1548-1566. A boulder cellar built in the 19th century and a small cookery have been well preserved to this day. On the coastal areas of the island there were many different votive crosses made of wood, the erection of which was the work of seafarers.
On this island, as well as on other Solovetsky islands, the Solovetsky camp was located. They began to be called "islands of penalty trips", on which tortured prisoners inevitably died.
After the life in the Solovetsky Monastery was revived again, in 1992 the Great Russian Patriarch Alexy II gave his blessing for the Divine Liturgy in all the remaining and preserved churches, as well as in the side-altars of the Solovetsky Monastery. In the summer of July 13, 1994, on the day of the celebration of the date of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, the Divine Liturgy was held for the first time in the Church of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, located on Bolshoi Zatsky Island.
Today, all the monastic brethren of the St. Andrew's Hermitage no longer live in these places. Here, not only the temple has been preserved, but also all the outbuildings, which still require global repair and restoration work. In the summer season, services are held here, but this does not always take place. But nevertheless, every year on July 13 - on the day of the holy holiday - the inhabitants of the monastery come to the island and, as before, hold the Divine Liturgy in the Church of St. Andrew the First-Called. In the summer, you can often meet pilgrims here, and you can light a candle in the temple, but as soon as the last pilgrim leaves the temple, the candle must be extinguished, because the temple is built of wood. From the temple, after walking 300 meters, you can get to the holy spring, which is the only fresh one on the entire Bolshoi Zayatsky Island. All who come to this place must collect holy water from the log house.
In the winter season, when the whole sea is covered with thick ice, the monastic brethren come to St. Andrew's Hermitage to pray in peace and silence in a sacred place.
