Свято-Троицкий Иссык-Кульский монастырь

The Holy Trinity Issyk-Kul Monastery is an Orthodox monastery on the western shore of Tyup Bay at Issyk-Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan. The complex includes the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God and other traditional Russian Orthodox buildings that form a unified ensemble.

The monastery was founded in 1881 when Archbishop Alexander Kulchitsky established it with support from the Holy Synod as a new religious center on the lakeshore. Its creation was part of Russian expansion into Central Asia during that period.

The monastery is a place where monks live together and gather daily for prayer, especially in the Church of the Smolensk Icon, which visitors can still see today. The religious community here continues Russian Orthodox traditions that have been part of this region for more than 140 years.

The site is accessible on the western shore of Tyup Bay and offers space to explore the buildings and grounds around the church. Visitors should be aware that regular religious services take place and access may be limited at certain times.

According to local accounts, the monastery bells rang on their own in 1889 just before a strong earthquake struck the area and caused buildings to collapse nearby. This event gave the monks time to leave the buildings and seek safety.