Belopesotsky Convent and nearest lands.

Belopesotsky Convent is a Russian Orthodox Convent. It is the preeminent landmark of Stupino, the town 99 kilometers south of Moscow. The monastery in that place was found in the end of XV century by Vladimir Belopesotsky (former boyar from the town Rzhev, the monk of Khytun monastery near Novgorod). It was found near Oka river, which was the border of Russian lands in that time. Along the river were built many fortresses which protected Russian lands from devastating raids of Krimean tatars. The new monastery also had defensive meaning and could serve the role of fortress it it was necessary. In the second half of XVII century the monastery lost its military significance and became poor.It lost all its lands because of Secularization decree during the reign of Catherine the Great. However Belopesotsky monastery continued to exist until October revolution. 50 monks lived there in 1916. The part of monks was shot in 1918 and in 1924 the monastery closed. From mid-1930-ies the buildings of the monastery housed the dormitory for workers and a prison for prisoners engaged in the construction of the bridge across Oka river. After that Belopesotsky monastery was abandoned for a long time. The revival of the monastery began in the late XX century and in 1993 the monastery was ultimately restored and became a Convent.

Kashira is the closest town to the Stupino. It's situated on another bank of Oka river. In 1941, in the time of Second World war Kashira became the area of heavy combat actions. In November of 1941 German army bypassed Tula and showed up in three kilometeres from Kashira. Pillboxes of Belopesotsky fortified district were built to protect automobile and railway bridges across Oka river. Some of them still remained in the forest and fields around the Convent.

One of the pillboxes was built right at the bottom of the Convent's tower. Another tower of the same design near the entrance in very poor condition now. And it also has a pillbox at the bottom.

The view from other side.

Another one in 100 meters from the Convent.

Front side.

The pillbox near the bank of Oka river. The town Kashira is situated on the other bank of the river.

This one in the worst condition.

The locals've said me that there are several other pillbxes in the forest, but I didn't go there and returned back.

The view of local pond, by the way I've taken these photos at the first of January. Do you see the snow? Not, me too. This is modern type of Russian winter.