The Kursk Root Hermitage is a monastery of the Kursk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, named in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. It is located in the village of Svoboda on the right bank of the Tuskar River, within the Zolotukhinsky District of the Kursk Region.
The monastery was founded in 1597 by decree of Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich on the site where, according to a legend, in 1295, a resident of Rylsk found an icon of the Mother of God The Sign at the root of a tree. In 1708, a stone gatehouse with the Transfiguration Church above it was built. Between 1806 and 1814, the following buildings were constructed: tri-level stone cells, three guesthouses, a church dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, a refectory, and stone covered staircases. By 1862, a three-story Church of All Saints was built, and by 1875, a cemetery church dedicated to the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God was constructed.
In 1920, the icon was taken out of Russia. In 1924, the Monastery was closed. Between 1924 and 1926, the cathedral was blown up; and the bell tower, the holy gates, the stairways, the cemetery chapel, and the church dedicated to the icon of the Mother of God Life-Giving Spring were destroyed. The monastery was revived in 1989.
The postage stamp provides a panoramic view of the Monastery and an icon of the Blessed Mother of God.
The stamp is also available for viewing in the AR mode in the mARka application.
Read more here.
| Paper |
Printing method |
Perforation |
Format of the stamp |
Edition |
| Chalk surfaced |
Offset + security system |
Comb 11½ |
65 × 32,5 mm |
72 thousand stamps |