The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery in the Vologda region of Russia is located 400 km northeast of St. Petersburg. Its massive and surprisingly beautiful building rises impressively above the frozen tundra and ice-covered Lake Siversky. 
The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery was founded by St. Cyril, who was led by the prophecy to seek solitude. Another monk joins his mission and they both choose the place of the monastery. The name of the monastery is borrowed from the nearby lake - White Lake.
The whole complex of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery covers an area of ​​12 hectares and consists of several churches and a temple. This small monastery developed and grew into one of the largest and richest monasteries in Europe. Reforms of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery were made in the period between 1654 and 1680, when the monastery was turned into a powerful fortress. The fortress walls and towers can still be seen today.
Catherine the Great laid a hand on part of the lands and took several thousand serfs in 1764 from the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. The city prison was then moved to the monastic cells. Over the years, the monastery marked ups and downs, until in 1924 it was closed and turned into a state museum. It was not until 1998 that part of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery was restored for the monastic needs.

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Rating 5 from 1 voted The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Russia