The Solovetsky Monastery — The Place Where Icon Painting Once Thrived

In this day and age, studying the past seems to be smooth sailing, considering how many modern people can access the information. Nonetheless, the historic memory tends to erode and vanish with time if it is not revisited, so it becomes harder for people to enliven knowledge of bygone days.

Today, we want to tell you about one particular place that once played a pivotal role in the development of iconography as a craft. We are talking about the Solovetsky Monastery, a monumental community that gave birth to hundreds of icons, many of which were distributed to numerous cities in Russia and abroad.

Before we get to the importance of the Solovetsky Monastery, let’s talk briefly about the history of this sacred place. Back in 1429, it was founded by Zosimah and Sabbatius. Located on the Solovetsky Islands in northern Russia, the monastery was destroyed by fire twice and was sieged for about eight years. Yet, it was rebuilt many times, which says a lot about its cultural value for people. What, then, distinguishes this site from others?

Many consider the Solovetsky Monastery a historically significant architectural object for a couple of reasons. One of them is that it is home to the internationally recognized Solovetsky iconostasis that has managed to preserve its integrity thanks to the real quirks of history. Solovetsky icons hold a special place in the world of Russian icon painting. The fact is that all of them, despite being included in the same iconostasis, were painted using different styles, which is quite unconventional.

Solovetsky icons have become some of the biggest contributions to the world of Russian icons. Many iconophiles would give their all to obtain at least one of the icons from the monastery collection. Besides, the Solovetsky Monastery is one of the first Russian sites to have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and a remnant of a once momentous historical period.