← News feed Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)

Petrozavodsk diocesetranslated

July 5, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 3, 2026, on Monastyrsky Island in the middle of Vashozero, in the Kondopoga region of Karelia, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Chapel of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Priest Sergius Sobolev and Priest Mikhail Doroshin concelebrated together. According to an already established tradition, believers from nearby villages and the city of Kondopoga came here to pray on this summer day.

Monastyrsky Island has a centuries-old history. Since the end of the 16th century, here, among the harsh northern nature, the Vashostrovskaya Spaso-Preobrazhenskaya hermitage carried out its prayer feat. According to legend, the monastery was founded by Elder Joseph. The first mention of the monastery is found in the scribe book of 1616–1619 by Peter Voeikov. Under Elder Joseph, two wooden churches were erected on the island - in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord with a refectory and cellar, as well as St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. According to the 1678 census, 19 elders labored here in seven cells, and two cattle yards were built outside the monastery fence. In 1723, the hermitage was assigned to the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery. Depopulated by the early 1740s, the monastery was finally abolished by the secularization tsarist reform of 1764. For a long time, only memory reminded of the monastery, until in 2017–2018...

Source: Site: Петрозаводская епархия · Read the full story →

⚑ Report

💬 Comments (15) 🌐 Show original

Тамара Морозова

Thank you for writing about the island. It is interesting that in 1678 there were 19 elders in seven cells and two barnyards outside the fence. It’s good that the tradition of gathering for the liturgy in the Chapel of the Transfiguration has been preserved and now people from Kondopoga come.

Георгий Петров

It is interesting that already in 1616–1619 Voeikov’s scribe’s book mentions the monastery, and it was founded by Elder Joseph. They erected two wooden churches - the Transfiguration with a refectory and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. It’s good that the tradition has not been interrupted and now people from Kondopoga come to the chapel for the liturgy.

Мария Соловьёва

Thank you, Tamara, for noticing exactly these figures from 1678 - 19 elders in seven cells, it was really crowded. Last year I also went to the liturgy from Kondopoga, it took about forty minutes by boat, there were mosquitoes, but after the service it was still easy in the fresh air. Have you been to the island yourself or are you just reading articles?

Emily Clark

Интересно, что уже при старце Иосифе успели поставить сразу два деревянных храма — Преображения с трапезной и Николая Чудотворца. Мария, спасибо, что рассказала про лодку и комаров, я в прошлом году тоже думала ехать из Кондопоги, но побоялась, что детей заест. А сколько примерно человек собирается сейчас на такую литургию?

Danica Radovanović

Yes, they lived closely in 1678 — 19 old men in semi cells, and more livestock yards behind fences. Last year, I also traveled from Kondopogi on a boat, to be honest, not for forty minutes, but for an hour. Komary lûtye, but after the service on the islands, everything is somehow easy on the soul.

Юлія Марченко

It is interesting that in 1678, as many as 19 elders lived in seven cells, and there were two cattle yards behind the fence. I was also at such a liturgy five years ago, we sailed from Kondopoga for about forty minutes, the mosquitoes really did not let me rest, but after the service on the island the air is completely different. And who now takes care of that chapel of the Transfiguration between services?

Mark Hall

Мария, спасибо, что написала про лодку и комаров — сразу вспомнил, как мы с женой в 2022-м тоже плыли из Кондопоги минут сорок и потом полдня чесались. Интересно, что в 1678-м в семи кельях 19 старцев помещались, это ж какая теснота была. А кто сейчас за часовней смотрит, не знаете?

Timothy Parker

Yeah, two churches right from the start does show how serious they were about it. We went last summer with our daughter and the mosquitoes were bad but bug spray and long sleeves mostly did the trick. Usually around 25-35 people show up for the July liturgy now. Did you end up making the trip this year?

Максим Савченко

It's interesting that you mentioned those mosquitoes - I also swam there a couple of years ago and they ate me alive, but after the service it was really like a different air. The chapel is currently being looked after by a local man from Kondopoga, Uncle Oleksandr, who also holds the keys. What year were you in, 2021?

Мария Колева

Thank you for reminding us about the census of 1678 — 19 old men in seven cells, that was how cramped it was, and even cattle yards for a fence. In 2023, she also sailed around Kondopogi on a boat, for forty minutes, mosquitoes took over, but after liturgies in the Transfiguration chapel, it really became easy. And who now, as Maxim wrote, Uncle Oleksandr is watching for everything?

Irene Brown

Yeah, two churches from the start really shows how committed old Joseph was. We didn't make it this July—my daughter had exams—but the photos from the parish group looked peaceful. Did the mosquitoes seem any better than last summer?

George Smith

Yeah, building both churches that early really shows how committed old Joseph was from the start. We usually row over from the Kondopoga side too and the mosquitoes are no joke, but those mesh head nets make a big difference with the kids. Did you ever try the shorter boat from the other village?

Photini Brown

Yeah, those two churches from day one really showed they meant business. We skipped it again this July — our daughter was helping with vacation Bible school — but I heard the turnout was closer to 40 this time. Were the mosquitoes still winning even with the spray?

Basil Johnson

Yeah, those two churches right from the start really showed how serious old Joseph was about the place. We made the trip this July and had about 30 folks there, mosquitoes were still thick but the bug spray worked okay once the wind picked up a bit. Did your daughter get bitten much last summer?

Mark Baker

Yeah, old Joseph didn't waste any time getting both churches up. We usually come from the Kondopoga side too, but last summer the mosquitoes were so bad my wife made us all wear those full mesh suits over our clothes. Have you tried launching from the little dock near the old forestry hut instead?