The underground monastery of Arapovka (Russia)

It is a tradition in Orthodox church to dig underground monasteries, where monks could live and pray in solitude. That is why there are many underground monasteries in Russia and Ukraine especially in those places where it was easy to dig underground tunnels that is in limestone or in sandstone. Since the Middle Ages till the beginning of the 20 th century monks and hermits dug caves which later received the status of monasteries. Sometimes it was done without asking the permission of the Head of Church and it was not always approved.

It is believed supposed that the cave near Arapovka was dug by several local peasants, who wanted to arrange religious services there and live there as hermits. But the bishop of Tula did not approve of this idea and the police blocked the entrance to the cave. Later some hermits made a church in the cave and now one can see niches for icons. After the revolution of 1917 the caves were abandoned and they were discovered again at the end of the 20 th century.

The tunnels of this cave long for a 0,4 km.

The photos