Kiyostrovsky Monastery

Kiy Island Exaltation of the Cross Monastery (Russian: Кийостровский мужской монастырь в честь Воздвижения Животворящего Креста Господня) was founded on the Kiy Island by Patriarch Nikon. In 1632 hieromonk Nikon, the future Patriarch, when was a storm and his life was at peril, began to pray to the holy cross and soon his boat was cast ashore on Kiy Island, where he erected a wooden cross to thank heaven. Twenty years later, he visited Kiy-Island and was pleased to see his wooden cross still standing. Upon becoming the Patriarch a year later, Nikon ordered a monastery to be established on the spot. The minster was dedicated to the True Cross in 1656, whereupon 4537 peasants were declared its property. Under Nikon's supervisionbecame one of the richest in the region. The patriarch sent to the monks a huge cypress cross, commissioned by him in Palestine as "an exact replica of the True Cross" and lavishly decorated with jewels. In 1660 he visited the monastery for the last time and dwelled there for a year. It is believed that the wayward patriarch personally selected the location of and designed most buildings to suit his taste. It was for his own use that a singular choir loft was built within the cathedral. A large portion of monastery buildings, including the cathedral, were constructed from local granite, to be in harmony with the rocky setting.