Mother of God of Tabynskoye Convent

The history of the Orthodox convent built in the Tabynskoye dates back to 16th century, approximately 1570-s. According to historical documents the Hermitage of Ascension was built near the salt springs. However, the legends say that it was connected with the richest Russian monastery of that time situated in Zvenigorod city — Savvino-Storozhevskiy monastery. Hermitages were founded by the men of faith who would renounce the world and go to a «desert», an area where people did not live and where there were no civilization benefits.

The monks used to arrange their economic life, build the houses, plough and farm as they were supposed to feed themselves from "on the fruits of their labours". The first record of the Hermitage of Ascension dates back to the reign of Fyodor I Ivanovich. In 1586 he issued a Royal Charter. The tsar ordered Jonah the Elder to write down all the property of the monastery, which had been burnt by the Bashkirs from Tabynskoye lands during their rebellion.

One more monastery was built in the territory of Solevarnyi town on the left bank of the Usolka (Kugush) river in 1597. It was the Convent of Theotokos (of the Most Holy Mother of God). In 1648 the area was attacked by the Kalmyks. So, both monasteries the Hermitage of Ascension and the Convent of Theotokos as well as the Solevarnyi town were destroyed. Both monasteries were restored in 1652 blessed by of Cornelius the Metropolitan of Kazan, but since then they were considered as a united hermitage branch of Uspenskiy monastery in Ufa. The hermitage was called after the Apparition of the Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God of Kazan, and Peter, Alexius and Jonah, the Wonderworkers of Moscow. The hermitage was newly built in Solevarnyi town. The walls of the town were supposed to protect the church under the protection of its walls as the Bashkir disturbances kept on going. The monastery had stood until 1684. It was completely destroyed during the Bashkir rebellion of 1681-1684. So was the fortress.

There hadn't been any monastery in Tabynskoye lands for more than 300 years, until the end of 20th century. After the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Christianization of Kievan Rus in 1988 it was decided to restore the Orthodox churches and monasteries in Russia. The Covent of the Mother of God of Tabynskoye was established on June, 9, 1998 by a decree of Aleksiy II, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia at the request of His Grace Nikon, Bishop of Ufa and Sterlitamak. Currently the Convent is being developed, it receives many pilgrims.