The John the Baptist hermitage is referred to as the "heart of the Optina monastery". It makes a part of the monastery, but the most secretive, living by a special charter. It was founded in 1821. The beginning of pious hermitage in the place, currently occupied by the Optina skete, was launched by schema monk Ioannikii. Six years after his death, hermits moved there from the Roslavl forests. Among them were Elders Moses and Antony, who were entrusted with arrangement of the hermitage.
Since 2005, visiting the hermitage territory is prohibited for women and secular men (apart from the hatched area near the pilgrimage hotel). An exception is made on the feasts of the Cathedral of John the Baptist, the Nativity and the Beheading of John the Baptist, as well as on Easter Monday. The St. Ambrose’s cell in the "hovel" has become a memorial and is open to visitors.
The postage stamp features the panorama of the John the Baptist hermitage and the image of Holy Prophet St. John the Baptist, in whose name the main temple of the hermitage was consecrated.
| Paper |
Printing method |
Perforation |
Format of the stamp |
Edition |
| Chalk surfaced |
Offset + security system |
Comb 11¾ |
65 × 32,5 mm |
108 thousand stamps |