Svyato-Uspensky Monastery is not only one of the oldest sights of the city, for the Orthodox this place is truly sacred.
The history of the foundation of the monastery is connected with tragedy. The land on the seashore near the Big Fountain, where the monastery is located now, previously belonged to the Moldavian nobleman Alexander Teutul. Here he built his estate with an extensive farm. In 1804 Teutul met Metropolitan Gabriel and told him that he wanted to build a church and a lighthouse on his estate. But the nobleman was in no hurry to realize his plan. And one day in 1813 there was a disaster: during the festivities with guests on the high seashore, the nobleman ignited fires, which sailors, going to the port of Odessa on a Greek ship, took for the lights of the port lighthouse. The ship crashed on the rocks, and Teutul and his guests managed to save only a few — most of them died. The nobleman took this incident as a punishment for not fulfilling his promise and in 1814 gave his estate to the church.
Kishinev Metropolitan Hierarch Gavriil, who had earlier blessed the place of construction of the Odessa seaport, as well as the sites for future churches, settled in the estate. In 1824, at his request, the Holy Dormition Monastery was established here. Within two years, a wooden church was built here, the construction of a lighthouse began, which was later rebuilt and relocated several times.
In 1825 in place of the wooden church was built a stone cathedral in honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also by this time on the territory of the monastery planted vineyards, arranged wells, was erected a stone fence, hotel and bishop’s house.
The second temple — in honor of the icon of the Mother of God «Life-Giving Spring» was erected in 1834 at the expense of a local merchant. Also, a little later was built and the third small church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, which in the 90s of the XIX century was updated and has survived to this day.
In the 20s of the last century all the property of the monastery was confiscated, and the first church was blown up by the Bolsheviks in 1936, now there is a water chapel in its place. For this reason, the second church was later consecrated in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After the Patriotic War the monastery began to revive.
Today the monastery has several temples, one of which — in honor of the icon of the Mother of God «Life-Giving Spring», was built in 2009 on the left of the cemetery behind the Assumption Church. This two-tiered temple in the old Russian style can accommodate 3 thousand parishioners. The upper part of the temple, which is crowned by five domes, consists of three side chapels, and the gate bell tower is recognized as a masterpiece of Odessa architecture. The lower church is consecrated in honor of St. Kuksha.
As for the Church of the Assumption, its architecture has been preserved since 1834. During the war only a part of the building and the dome were slightly damaged, but now they have been restored: this two-story three-priest church was erected according to the project of the architect L.Ts. Otton, its height is 56 meters, and its capacity is up to 5 thousand people.
Despite the fact that the monastery has experienced periods of decline, in this landmark of Odessa to this day have preserved the most important relics: here are kept the relics of St. Kuksha of Odessa, who raised a little girl from the dead, the ark with the relics (left foot) of St. Andrew the Apostle, part of the tree of the Honest and Life-Giving Cross of God, part of the veil of Christ the Savior. Also kept here are the relics of the saints: the Apostle Luke, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary Anna, the First Martyr Stephen, the Healer and the Great Martyr Panteleimon.
Among the shrines of the monastery and the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God «The Mammal Bearer», written in the XVII century by Athonite monks, the icon «Apparition of the Mother of God to the Monk Sergius of Radonezh», granted to the monastery by Patriarch Alexy I.
Holy Dormition Monastery is a quiet and cozy monastery, the road to it leads through a plane-tree alley, thanks to which even at the approach creates a sense of peace. Around the temple there is a small pond and a beautiful mosaic wall depicting the Nativity, and to the right of the temple there is a monastery cemetery, where some of the parishioners always pray.
And now the stories about wise elders living in the monastery and helping people go far beyond Ukraine, so people even from neighboring countries come here.