Kyzyltash Monastery

Kyzyltash Monastery is an Orthodox shrine located at 400 meters elevation in a mountain valley near a sacred spring dedicated to Saint Stephen. The site contains several buildings including churches and residential quarters where monks currently live and maintain the grounds.

The monastery was founded in 1856 by Archbishop Innokenty of Kherson and saw major growth under Abbot Parfeny until his death in 1866. After wartime destruction and Soviet closure, full reconstruction of the complex began in 1995.

The monastery holds the veneration of Orthodox saints whose relics are kept within its walls. Visitors and pilgrims come to honor these spiritual treasures.

Identification documents are required due to proximity to military installations near the site. It is advisable to arrange a guide in advance or gather information beforehand, as access can be challenging and paths in the area are sometimes steep.

The monastery was deliberately destroyed in 1950 to make room for a nuclear weapons storage facility, making it a site with a complex past. Its rebuilding after the weapons were removed represents a story of restoration and renewal.

Location: Krasnokamianka

GPS coordinates: 44.92778,35.06722

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:57