Kozheozersky Monastery, Orthodox monastery in Onezhsky District, Russia
Kozheozersky Monastery stands on a peninsula in Lake Kozhozero, a remote lake in the Onezhsky District of northern Russia. The monastery consists of several buildings set on a low strip of land surrounded by water on nearly all sides, with dense forest covering the shores.
The monastery was founded in 1560 by two monks who chose this remote lake as a place to build a spiritual community far from any settlement. By the end of the 16th century it had received formal support from the Tsar, which helped establish it as a recognized religious site.
The monastery embodies a Russian Orthodox tradition of deliberate isolation, where monks chose to build spiritual communities far from towns and villages. This choice reflects how religious life was understood as requiring separation from worldly concerns.
Reaching the monastery requires a multi-day walk through wilderness terrain, so visitors need solid outdoor experience and good physical condition. There are no facilities along the route, so careful preparation and appropriate equipment are essential before setting out.
Since reopening in 1999, the monastery has been home to just one permanent monk who continues daily religious practice there alone. Before becoming Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Nikon lived at this monastery in the 17th century, which gives the site an unexpected place in church history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
