Kuremäe

Kuremäe is a village in the Estonian community Illuka, Ida- Viru. It has 271 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2000).

Lakes

The five idyllic lakes of Kuremäe ( Puhatu järv, Puhatu Martiska järv, Pahanselja järv, Viinamardi järv and Korponi järv ) are popular destinations for hikers and anglers.

Nunnery Pühtitsa

Famous is Kuremäe for the Russian Orthodox nunnery of Pühtitsa ( German Püchtitz ). The monastery was founded in 1892-1895.

After an orthodox legend, it came in the 16th century in Kuremäe a phenomenon. Later said to have been found under an old oak an icon. According to current theory, it is said to have then traded to the remains of a chapel of the Votes. He was then place in Estonian " sanctified " called ( pühitsetud ).

At least since 1608 in an orthodox chapel Kuremäe detectable. 1888 sent a nun Ipatios Monastery in Kostroma three sisters after Virumaa to heal the sick. These received permission in 1891 by the Russian authorities to build a nunnery in Pühtitsa. Patron of the building was the governor of the province of Estonia. The establishment of the first Orthodox monastery in Estonia called the resistance of the Lutheran Baltic German landlords on the scene, but could not prevail.

At the center of the monastery is an oak tree with a diameter of 4.3 m. It is regarded by the faithful as a sacred tree. Around the tree, the buildings of the monastery are located: the living quarters of the nuns, the Winter Church ( eating house ), a hospital, the main church, the bell tower, the holy gates, a school, and the guest house. The main church with its five domes was built in 1908 until 1910. There are three altars and a magnificent carved iconostasis and valuable wall paintings in it. The church holds 1,200 people.

During the Second World War, the German Wehrmacht occupied the monastery and taught in a POW camp for Soviet prisoners of.

Today the monastery is subject again to the Patriarchate of Moscow and All Russia. There live about 100 nuns and novices in the monastery. The sisters maintain a traditional way of life. They offer but also for those interested nights and guides.