“Cave” on the Yashe-stream: the study of one ascetic practice in Karelia

In South Karelia, there is a small Yashezersky Annunciation Monastery, founded in the XVI century by Saint Jonah Yashezersky. In 2013, an archaeological expedition of the National Museum of the Republic of Karelia examined an interesting unknown monument - a “cave” in a rock crevice, located not far from the monastery. The analysis and interpretation of the object are hampered by the lack of finds. Currently, the lichenometry is one of the most widely used methods available for dating the surface age of various substrata in geological research, as well as for dating ancient stone structures. Based on the study of the growth of lichens on the stones, the “cave” construction dates back to the middle of the XVIII century or earlier. The history of the late medieval Orthodox monasteries of Karelia provides evidence for the tradition of monastic living in cell-caves as an act of faith, common for the Orthodox world. Such caves were also used for prayers by the persecuted supporters of the “old faith”. Therefore, the discovered “cave” could be created by ascetic monks or local peasants (the Old Believers). This is the first late medieval monument of this type in Karelia, studied by a comprehensive scientific expedition.