There are many monasteries in Russia with an ancient history. The Central Urals Nunnery, located 20 km from Yekaterinburg, is not one of them - it is notable for the fact that it arose at the beginning of the current century, literally before the eyes of living people.
The monastery was founded on a place known in these parts as the “German Farm”, where during the Great Patriotic War there was a camp for prisoners of war. The Holy Synod made the official decision to establish the monastery in the spring of 2005, but construction began back in 2002. All that was at that time was a wooden gatehouse where four nuns and two tents for workers lived. By 2011, 4 churches, a four-story cell building, a school, workshops were built, and the number of inhabitants reached 300. For the creation of a monastery, such terms can be called record.
Icon of the Mother of God
The monastery is dedicated to the icon of the Mother of God, the “Sporelitel loaves". It was painted in 1890 and is notable for its unconventional iconography - such images of the Mother of God have not yet been. The Mother of God is depicted without a baby sitting on clouds with arms outstretched in a blessing gesture. At the bottom is a compressed field with sheaves.
The Monk Ambrose Optinsky gave the icon the name "Bread dispenser", thereby emphasizing that the Mother of God helps Christians not only in spiritual, but also in earthly labors.
In honor of this icon, a monastery was created. Earthly works of the natives are numerous. The monastery has its own farm, including cattle, apiary. Those who had lunch in the monastery’s dining room claim that locally made cottage cheese and honey are simply excellent.
And, of course, there is no shortage of charitable deeds. The nuns keep and raise orphans and abandoned children, look after cancer patients, take them to a special medical center. One of the nuns serving now in the monastery initially got there in that capacity, without any hope of healing, but was healed in the monastery.
