Solovki History

History is known to be the science reflecting our idea about the past. If it is possible, of course, to name with the word «science» the approximately structured memoirs, evidences, legends, myths, reflections of political situations and natural cataclysms. Subjectivity of human history is obvious: history is made and described by people, who have principally different goals. One try to change the world, others immortalize it. But history… it is always somewhere in the middle…

The same with Solovki History: every one can appreciate it and understand it subjectively. Only well-known and indisputable historical facts are objective.

Brief Chronicle of Solovki History

V-III millenium B.C.

The tribes of primitive fishers and hunters begin to ihhabit the archipelago.

III-I millenium B.C.

The tribes of southern and western coasts of the White Sea construct sanctuaries and seasonal settlements on Solovki Islands. Domination of «culture of northern labyrinthes».

The second half of I millenium B.C.

Habitable site of primitive man appears on the Big Zayatski Island. Decline of «culture of labyrinthes».

I-XIV centuries

Tribes of the White Sea use archipelago as fishing and hunting areas.

X-XI centuries

Sea campaigns of Scandinavians to the White Sea. The beginning of exploring of the White Sea coasts by Russian colonists.

The first half of XV century

Solovki are the part of sea trade area, belonging to Karelian woman Khovra Toyvutova.

1427

Savvatii goes to Valaam where he spent two years. After that he secretly left the monastery and came to the White Sea coast. He met monk Herman over there.

The second quarter of XV century

Occurrence of a monastic settlement on Solovki. Monastery «The life of the Fathers» dates the arrival of Savvatii and Herman to the Big Solovetsky Island 1429. 1436 is considered to be the date of foundation of Solovki monastery. It is the time when Zosima comes to Solovki.

September, 27, 1435

Death of Savvatii, solovki thaumaturge.

The 60s of XV century

Granted letter from Great Novgorod lets the monastery own Solovki Islands. Wooden churches are constructed: Transfiguration, St.Nickolas and Assumption with dinning chamber. 

1478, April, 17

Death of Zosima, solovki thaumaturge.

1478

The bell of German moulding – one of the most ancient naval trophies of Russia – is granted to a monastery after one of the successful military campaigns.

1479

Death of Herman, solovki thaumaturge. Granted letter from Ivan III to Solovki monastery, confirming the Novgorod letter.

The end of XV — the beginning of XVI century

Abbotship and traveling of prior Dosifei, oustanding solovki bookman. He composed the first variant of biography of St. Zosima and St. Savvatii.

1514

Drawing up of the first inventory of Solovki monastery, one of the earliest documents of a similar sort. The beginning of special reverence of a monastery among monasteries of the Moscow Russia.

1520.

Death of the first solovki prisoner heresiarch Silvan.

30-50s of XVI century

Several granted letters are given to the monastery from sovereign Ivan the Terrible about various privileges and donations.

1547

Canonization of Zosima and Savvatii by Russian Orthodox church.

1548

The beginning of priorship of abbot Philippe (Kolichev).

The middle of XVI century

Stone construction in the monastery begins under the direction of prior Phillip.

1554

The reference of hegumen Artemii to Solovki. Artemii was a  prior of Trinity – Sergeis’ monastery.

1556

The first successful escape from Solovki prison of prior Artemii, the former prior of the Trinity – Sergeis’ monastery.

50-60s of XVI century

The time of intensive development of monastery economy on the islands and on the continent. Construction of roads, canales, harbours and numerous economic institutions on the islands.

1557, August, 15

The stone Assumption church of Divine Mother with dining and cellarer’s chambers is consecrated.

1566

The end of construction of Transfiguration cathedral. Prior Philippe is nominated metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia. Arrival of the English expedition to Solovki.

1568

Laying down of Philippe from metropoly. The reference of Philippe to Tver’ monastery.

1569, December, 23

Philippe's death.

1571

Swedish military ships appear in the White sea.

1578

Michael Ozerov is sent to Solovki as waywode.

1579

Construction of a wooden fortress on Solovki. Waywode Michael Ozerov is killed in skirmish by Swedes.

1582

The beginning of construction of stone monastery fortresses

1591

Transferring of relics of St. Philippe from Tver monastery to Solovki.

1614 / 1615

The beginning of life of a hermit of Eliazar Anzersky

1620

The foundation of Saint Trinity minor-monastery on the Anzer Island.

1626 / 1627, September, 13

Death of Avraamii Palitsin. Avraamii was solovki monk, well-known writer of the beginning of the XVII century, former cellar of the Trinity-Sergei’s monastery and former prisoner of Solovki monastery.

1633

The letter of Tsar Michael Feodorovich establishes the independence of Trinity minor-monastery on Anzer Island from Solovki monastery.

1635

Extraordinary rising of sea level: ground floors of monastery buildings are flooded; water reaches a porch of Transfiguration cathedral.

1630-s

Making the future patriarch Nikon a friar in Trinity minor-monastery.

1651

Solovki prior Ilija becomes an archimandrite. Since this time all solovki priors have a dignity of archimandrite.

1656, January, 13

Death of St. Eliazar Anzersky

1658

Solovki monks refuse to accept checked prayer books issued within the framework of reform of patriarch Nikon and sent from Moscow to Solovki.

1667

Opponents of Nikon’s reforms have refused to accept the new prior of a monastery, archimandrite Joseph, appointed by decree of sovereign Alexey Mihajlovich.

1668

Attorney Ignatii Volokhov is sent to Solovki with the group of bowmen.

1669

The supporters of peaceful «standings for orthodox religion» are exiled from the monastery.

1672

Cossacks from Stepan Razin's broken groups run to Solovki.

1673

The beginning of blockade of Solovki monastery; tumult among bowmen.

1674

Waywode Ivan Meshcherinov is sent to Solovki. Fights on approaches to the monastery. Solovki hermits have stopped to pray for sovereign.

1675

Unsuccessful storm of the monastery by bowmen.

1676, January, 22

Capture of the monastery with the help of treachery, severe execution of rebels.

1694

The first visit to Solovki of Sovereign Peter I who has rendered «great favour» to the monastery.

1701

Disgraced Ioann, the former confessor of imperial family, is exiled to Solovki. He is cut with name Iov (ascetic name Jesus). Iov has founded Crucifying minor-monastery on the Golgotha mountain (the Anzer Island).

1702

The second visit to Solovki of Peter I. The beginning of military operation «Sovereign’s road».

1720

Death of Iov (Jesus), the founder of Crucifying minor-monastery.

60-s of XVIII century

Imperial decrees about secularization of the monastery property.

1777-1793

The edition of «Solovki Annals» — the first printed work on the history of Solovki monastery.

1814

Disarmament on Solovki. Solovki fortress is accepted from the list of Russian military fortresses.

1819-1825

Abbotship of archimandrite Makarii, the founder of Makarii’s hermitage and Solovki Botanical garden.

1826-1836

Abbotship of archimandrite Dosifei Nemchinov. The edition of fundamental «Geographical, Historical and Statistical Description of Solovki monastery».

1844

Grand duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, oustanding naval figure (epoch of reforms of Alexander II), comes to Solovki.

1854

English ships «Brisk» and «Miranda» come to Solovki. Bombardment of the monastery.

1855, June

English ships again appear near the monastery. Ineffectual negotiations with archimandrite Alexander about updating the stores of Englishmen.

1858

Emperor Alexander II comes to Solovki.

1873

The first edition of «Solovki Life of the Fathers».

1886

Abolition of a military command in Solovki monastery.

1895-1917

Construction of interlake navigable system of canales on the Big Solovki Island.

1899

The edition of «History of Solovki monastery» — the most complete work on a history of a monastery.

1913

Great princess Elizaveta Fedorovna, the foundress of Marfo-Mariinski monastery comes to Solovki.

1917

Overthrow of archimandrite Ioannikii. The first democratic elections in Russia. Monk Veniamin becomes an archimandrite.

1917-1920

Abbotship of archimandrite Veniamin Kononov. April, 17, 1928 archimandrite Veniamin is burnt alive in wood deserts near Arkhangelsk.

1918

Red Army detarchment comes to Solovki. Part of monastery stocks is confiscated.

1918-1919

Summary division of interventionists is accommodated on Solovki.

1920

Commission with Michael Kedrov arrives to Solovki. Actual liquidation of Solovki monastery and the reference of its management. The organization of the state farm «Solovki» and the camp of forced hard labour.

1923

Organizing of Solovki Camps of Special Destination. (SLON). The first execution on Solovki.

1936

Reorganization of camps into prison. (STON).

1939

Liquidation of prison on Solovki. The archipelago is transferred to the Northern Fleet. The organization of Training Unit of Northern Navy on the Islands.

1942-1945

Activity of the school for ship-boys in the structure of Training Unit of Northern Navy.

1944

Organizing of the Island Council on Solovki (since 1971 – the Rural Council).

1967

Organizing of the department of Arkhangelsk Regional museum of the local lore (since 1974 – Solovki State historical, architectural and natural museum-reserve).

1987

Organizing of Regional Council on Solovki. The settlement has got its official name «Solovetskii».

1990

Renewing of Solovki Transfiguration man's monastery.

1992

Moscow and all Russia Patriarch Alex II visits Solovki monastery. Returning of sacred relics of Saints Savvatii, Zosima and Herman – the founders of Solovki monastery.

1994

Solovki historical and cultural complex is included to «The list of the world heritage» of UNESCO.

2000

Establishing of a new orthodox holiday – the Cathedral of Solovki new martyrs and confessors (August, 23).

2001

President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin comes to Solovki in the company of Moscow and all Russia Patriarch Alex II.

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia come to Solovki.

2003

Prince Charles visits Solovki.