The sacred and Bogoyavlensky Kuteinsky monastery in Orsha

The Epiphany Kutein Monastery is one of the oldest male monasteries of the Vitebsk and Orsha Diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox Church. It is located in Orsha, near the confluence of the Kuteinka River with the Dnieper. The monastery was founded on May 19, 1620, with the blessing of Patriarch Theophanes III of Jerusalem.

History of the Monastery’s Foundation

On September 19, 1623, Bohdan Stetkevich donated funds for the monastery’s development, marking the official beginning of its history. The first leader of the monastic community was Hieromonk Ioil (Trutsevich). The initial structures included the wooden Epiphany Cathedral (1635), the Trinity Church, a bell tower, and utility buildings. Part of the monastery was surrounded by a stone wall, remnants of which still exist today.

Cultural and Religious Significance

In the 17th century, the monastery was considered an important spiritual center and was directly subordinate to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. In 1629, it received the Belykovshchina settlement as a gift. In 1631, the Orsha Icon of the Mother of God was discovered here, becoming famous for its miracles.

Kutein Printing House and Contribution to Education

In 1630, the monastery established the largest printing house in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1631, printer Spiridon Sobol published the first “Bukvar” (Primer) in the Belarusian language here. Other significant publications included Pamhil Berinda’s “Lexicon,” Silvester Kosov’s “Didaskalia,” religious books, and collections of musical notes.

Events of the 17th–19th Centuries

In 1648, a brotherhood school was opened at the monastery. In 1655, part of the brotherhood, led by Igumen Ioil, evacuated to the Valday Iversky Monastery. In 1762, the monastery was classified as a third-class institution, and in 1805, it was granted the status of an archimandry. In 1812, the monastery was looted by French troops.

Decline and Revival

In 1918, the monastery was closed, and its buildings were repurposed for economic needs. In 1939, the complex was included in the list of historical and cultural monuments of the BSSR. In 1992, by the decision of the Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church, the monastery was revived and consecrated in 1993.

Modern State

In 1995, the Holy Trinity Church was restored, and in 2017, the monastery’s bell tower was reconstructed. Daily services are held at the monastery, and on September 18, a religious procession takes place in honor of the Orsha Icon of the Mother of God.