Tour - Solovki island/White Sea (5days):
DAY 1 FLIGHT MOSCOW-ARCHANGEL-SOLOVKI ISLAND (WHITE SEA)
DAY 2-4 ACCOMMODATION AT SOLOVKI HOTEL
DAY 5 FLIGHT TO MOSCOW
Bed & breakfast, all transfers. From $650.
On the Island we are offering following optional sightseeing:
Monastery and History of mysterious SOLOVKI Island from Ivan the Terrible to 21 century Museum of "Dark history of GULAG Camp"
Boat trip to Canals, ancients Neolite Labirynth. Monks Botanical Gardens White Sea Beluga (rare white whales)watching.
SOLOVKI HOTEL RATES (breakfast included)
| Standard/Twin Room (single occupancy) |
$130 |
| Standard/Twin Room (double occupancy) |
$140 |
| Junior Suites (double occupancy) |
$190 |
| Suites |
$250 |
| VIP Suites (double and single occupancy) |
$290 |
The Solovetsky Archipelago is situated in the Onega gulf of the White Sea. It consists of six large and a several tiny islands, the total area of which comes to about 300 square km - take a tour.
The Archipelago is usually called by diminutive form of its name, Solovki. The islands lie only 150 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, but winters are not severe because of the warming influence of the Norwegian Current, a northern arm of the Gulf Stream. During the coldest months temperatures only as low as 10 or 20 degrees below, which considered to be very mild winter. The Island's picturesque relief, shaped by the steep hills, low sandy banks and covered with large stones, forms unique setting for the diverse nature zones and creates an abundance of floral and animal wild life. Archipelago's special microclimate is also determined by the influence of the White Sea and 564 lakes located on the islands. People tried to master Solovki Islands since the ancient times. The evidence of these early attempts is the remains of the temporary Neolithic settlements and mysterious stone labyrinths. Solovki were also known to by the local Northern tribes of the Saams, who used islands for their ancient burial grounds, and the Pomors who hunted and fished on the Islands' shores.
However, the first men to permanently settle on the Islands in 1429 were two hermits, Sabbatius and Herman, who came to the island in search of seclusion. For six years the hermits, who had to bear severe cold and starvation, struggle to survive, and then they left Solovki. Soon after Sabbatius died (he was later sanctified by the Orthodox Church), but Herman returned to the Islands with another hermit, Zosima, and ever since, Solovki has been regarded as a holy place.
The year 1436 is generally accepted as the year of the Monastery foundation. The monastery's first years of existence were full of bad luck and hardship. The monastery's buildings and churches were completely destroyed by fire. In addition to hard labor of planting and harvesting their own food, monks also had to produce salt from seawater in order to swap it for bread. Moreover, they had to fight not only the severe nature, but also the local tribes who regarded the Islands as their territory.
Eventually, the Solovki Monastery strengthened its positions, and by the middle of the 16th century it became an important religious and political center of Russia. The monastery's ludicrous wealth came from salt, mica, pearl, lime, iron, fish and sea animals' products trade; it also owned large lands along the White Sea coast.
Monastery reached top of its power and influence during the administration of the Father-Superior Phillip (Father Phillip's secular name was Phiodor Stepanovich Kolychov). Father Phillip was a descendent from a noble boyar family. He came to Solovki in 1538, and received the position of the monastery's Superior in 1548. During his administration, Father Phillip instituted numerous improvements: first island roads were built; marshes dried and artificial pastures created; domestic animals were brought to the Islands and fish breeding areas were developed. To improve transport, Father Phillip ordered constructions of the stone bay for the Zayatsky Island, and elaborate single connection channel system for Island's 52 lakes. At the same time he recruited Novgorod's masonry masters, who began to work on the new stone monastery. Czar Ivan the Terrible, who was also a childhood friend of Father-Superior Phillip, donated one thousand rubles for the construction of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, the main cathedral in the monastery (1558-1566). This was also considered unusually large amount of money at that time. Later Father Phillip was called to Moscow by Ivan the IV and made the metropolitan of the Church, but he soon lost the title because his opposition to "oprichnina". He was sent to exile, imprisoned and tortured to death. Despite his fall from grace, Father Phillip's life, which played a great role not only in the monastery's history but also in the history of the whole Russia, was honored by the Orthodox Church and Russian people. He was canonized 1591, and is worshipped in the monastery ever since. In the 16-17th centuries the Solovetsky Monastery's treasures drew the attention of the country's Western neighbors. The patrimony estates of the monastery were often raided and destroyed by Swedes, Germans, and Finns. This constant menace forced Solovki inhabitants to take steps to defend themselves. Moscow was also interested in the fortification of its northern borders; it helped to build the monastery's defence with various privileges and donations; twelve years later, under the guidance of the monk Triphon, a fortress was built. It was made of giant stones and was regarded as one of the best fortresses in ancient Russia. At the same time, by fortifying the local Pomor settlements - Sumsky Ostrog, Keret, Kola, Soroka, and Kem, the monastery was also building the unified defense system in Belomorie. By the seventeenth century, Solovki had become one of the biggest monasteries in the world, with 300 monks and 600 workers who were mostly involved in salt production.
One of the most interesting events in the Solovki's history is the famous Solovetsky Revolt (1668-1676), which is also regarded as the greatest event in the history of Russian schism. The Revolt started when Solovki monks refused to accept the reforms conducted by the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Nikon. Long negotiations between the Russian Orthodox Church and Monastery had no result. Rebellious monks were branded as heretics and Czar Alexei Michailovich ordered troops of marksmen to be send to Solovki. For seven years the monastery held the siege and successfully defended its walls. Nevertheless, in January of 1676, it was seized because of the treason by monk Pheoktist. The Czar's troops plundered monastery's vaults and executed rebellious monks. After that, Solovki Monastery remained one of the richest, but, its economy never fully recovered. Czar Peter The Great twice visited Solovki. It was from here that his march along the "sovereign road" from Nuhcha to Povenets began. A small wooden Andrew Pervozvannyi Church is a memorial of his presence on the islands.
The Solovetsky Monastery gradually lost its significance as a fortress after the Catherine the Great held secularization reform of the church lands. However, in 1854, during the Crimea War, it had to go through one more ordeal. It was also the last time when Solovki Monastery took part in military action. When English troops demanded the surrender, the monastery's head Archimandrite Alexander refused to give in. A nine-hour fire siege followed, but the fortress built in the 16th century, was invincible. The Solovetsky Monastery was the greatest cultural and religious center of Russia till its very abolition. Antique books were collected here for centuries; and the monastery's library was believed to be one of the best in the world. Its collection of icons, church utensils, and embroidery was also considered priceless.
From the middle of the 19th century Solovki become the place of exile of many notable political and religious figures, but most tragic events were written in the history of Solovki during Soviet times, in the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1921 Solovki monastery was closed and its new history as Solovetsky Concentration Camp of Special Designation (SLON, which means "elephant" in Russian) began. From 1923 to 1939, it came to be one of the most feared gulags in the Soviet Union.
After being closed for more than 70 years, the monastery was recently reopened; and it instantly became places of pilgrimage. In 1967 a reserve-museum was created on the Solovetsk Islands. The St. Nicholas Church and buildings inside the kremlin, such as the Assumption Cathedral and Transfiguration Cathedral, has been beautifully restored, and regular services are conducted there. The museum includes about 170 archeological, historical and architectural monuments and memorable places. In 1989 Solovki was also recognized as one of World Heritage of UNESCO landmarks. Annually, thousands of people come to Solovki to see one of the most worshipped monasteries, to pay respect to famous Russian saints, to marvel at the wonderful historical, architectural and hydro technical monuments. They also come to be surrounded by the atmosphere of the past, and to get under the spell of the magnificent Russian Northern nature.
KEM
Kem is a small town that still has all the charm of old time living. You will stay here overnight before your departure to Solovki.
Get Quote
White Sea & Solovki Island
