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Not far from Izborsk, near a forest lake, in a picturesque valley, stands the Malsky Spasso-Rozhdestvensky Monastery. According to the place (the village of Mala) and the name of the founder of the monastery, the small monastery is called the Onufriev Hermitage.
The rich history of the ancient monastery begins in the middle of the 15th century. The exact date of the founding of the Malsky Monastery is unknown, the annals mention the year of the death of the first desert-dweller Onufry - 1492.
According to indirect references in some sources, historians suggest that the monastery was founded in 1471. The Monk Martyr Cornelius baptized the local Setos, and instead of a lonely skete, he erected the stone buildings of the monastery. The monastery of the ascetic Onufry flourished until 1581. This year, the Hungarian legionnaires of the King of Poland, Stefan Batory, were unable to take the fortress of the Pskov-Pechory Monastery; in retaliation, they destroyed the unprotected Onufriev Hermitage and killed the inhabitants.
Almost a century later (1675), the destroyed monastery was restored, the Church of the Nativity of the Savior was built, and the bells sounded again. In 1710, the forest monastery was attacked by the Swedes, 20 years later, by order of Empress Anna Ioannovna, the temple and the bell tower were restored. During the reign of Catherine II, a small monastery was abolished into a parish church, and the place was called "Small churchyard".
The architecture of the Pskov churches is notable for its simplicity and conciseness of forms; the appearance of the Malsky Monastery has a feel of the Moscow school of architecture. The unique ensemble consists of a five-domed church, which is adjoined by a refectory chamber, with a belfry-bell tower attached to it from the western side. The church is located above a spring flowing directly from under the altar. A deep valley, along the bottom of which a stream runs merrily, a forest lake, a healing spring, centuries-old trees are the natural setting of the Malsky Monastery, “hidden” in the thickets of the forest.
The current name of the monastery is the Spaso-Onufriev Skete of the Pskov-Pechersk Monastery. The ruins of the refectory temple are in need of serious restoration, despite this, monastic life continues here. June 25 is the day of memory of St. Onuphrius. On the first Sunday (after St. Peter's Day), the local cherished feast of Malach is celebrated in memory of the miracle that happened thanks to the prayers of St. Onufry. In the cemetery of the Malsky churchyard there is the grave of a righteous man - the sick Matthew, who was honored with the gift of clairvoyance for torment and patience.
Countless pilgrims who believe in the resurrection of the monastery are attracted by the beauty of the Malsky places, the peace and grace emanating from the Onufriev Hermitage. People come to pray, venerate shrines and drink water from the holy spring.
It is not difficult to get to the Malsky Monastery: a shuttle bus runs along the route Pskov - S. Izborsk. The monastery is located 39 km from the city of Pskov and 18 km from the Caves Monastery, using a navigator or a map, you can find the small village of Mala, and behind it - holy places.
