Belogorsky Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Kungursky District, Russia
Belogorsky Monastery is an Orthodox monastic complex in Kungursky District, Russia, situated on White Mountain with a large cathedral and several buildings spread across elevated terrain. The site includes living quarters, workshops, a main church with white walls and golden domes, and paths connecting different parts of the hillside complex.
In 1891 a five-sazhen cross, called the Tsar's Cross, was erected on White Mountain to mark Crown Prince Nicholas's escape from danger in Japan. The first wooden church was consecrated in 1894, and the stone Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross was begun in 1902 and consecrated in June 1917. The monastery was closed in 1923; from 1946 to 1986 the buildings housed a home for invalids.
The monastery was nicknamed the "Ural Athos" for the strictness of its rule. Since 1912 it published the Orthodox-patriotic journal "Golos Dolga" (Voice of Duty), edited by hegumen Serafim (Kuznetsov). A school for orphaned boys operated here, teaching literacy, church singing and crafts; by 1917 it had raised 25 orphans.
Visitors reach the site by following paths that climb from the valley floor up the hillside, and walking around the grounds takes time on uneven terrain. The main church is generally open during daylight hours, and sturdy footwear helps on the sloped walkways.
The monks once ran a printing press producing a journal that circulated across the region, covering religious topics and monastery life. The site also operated a school for orphaned boys who learned reading, singing, and practical trades within the walls.
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