History

For centuries, the Pechersk Monastery was the spiritual center of the Estonian Orthodox, especially the Seto, people. However, when Estonia regained its independence, the monastery remained on the Russian side of the border, and monastic life in the Estonian Orthodox Church quietly faded away.

For years, an Orthodox male monastery was the heart's desire of Metropolitan Stefanus of Tallinn and all Estonia, and various options were considered. The project began to take concrete shape in 2024, when Hieromonk Damaskinos, a member of the brotherhood of the Xenophontos Monastery on Mount Athos, was elected Bishop of Haapsalu of the Estonian Orthodox Church.

Here, the entrepreneur Urmas Sõõrumaa proved to be an invaluable benefactor. Thanks to his generosity, the brotherhood acquired a property in the village of Kirikla in Harju County in 2026, 40 kilometers from Tallinn, which will become the location of the future monastery. Until the construction is completed, the monastery will be temporarily located about a kilometer from the future location on the Üiso farm, which Mr. Sõõrumaa gave to the brotherhood in 2025. This temporary residence now houses both the monastery chapel and the brotherhood’s living quarters.