Foundation

The idea to establish the monastery of the Holy Trinity and St Nicholas, inspired by God, belonged to Archbishop of Kamchatka Innokenty (Veniaminov) in 1862. Just over thirty years later, in 1893, the light of Christianity was first lit in the Far East of Russia as the monastery was founded by hieromonk Alexy (Alexander Oskolkov).

The place originally chosen for the monastery was a location by Lake Petropavlovskoye. However, after careful examination, it was discovered that the site was not suitable as it was often flooded.

Father Alexy then discovered a new location in the South Ussuryisk region - an area boasting a better climate, more transport links and a lot of people moving into the region. All of these reasons contributed to the decision to establish the monastery there, so that its spiritual and moral influence could spread over the neighbouring areas and countries.

Having found a suitable place, Fr Alexy undertook numerous hard tasks in order to provide a suitable foundation to the cloister. It is indeed amazing how an elderly person such as him was able to find the strength to go through with the project. It is therefore hardly surprising that, in the summer of 1895, Fr Alexy, shattered physically and spiritually, asked for retirement from this difficult task.

Fr Alexy then retired to Mount Athos, and the position of abbot was taken up by Fr Sergey (Ozerov) from Valaam monastery, who did an enormous amount of work for the monastery during 1896-1923.