Archangelsk, June 29, 2010

The students' efforts were crowned with success: they were able almost independently to determine the location of and excavate about nine meters of the stone foundation of one of the walls of the Abbot's quarters.
The main result of the expedition, however, was the students' personal discovery of the holiness of the Russian North. They learned about the ancient monastery's history and its life today from the interesting and comprehensive tours given by Hieromonk George of the monastery. The children also had an opportunity to live the life of the monastery, observe its traditions, attend the services, and sample the simple but tasty food of the Apostles' fast.
St. Anthony of Siya Monastery was founded in 1520 by St. Anthony of Siya, on a small island in lake Mikhailov near the source of the Siya River (now Kholmogorsk region, Archangelsk Province). Its main church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity.