Znamensky Monastery
Знаменский монастырь
One of the oldest monasteries in Eastern Siberia, founded in 1689. A monument to Admiral Kolchak stands outside its gates, and the grounds hold the tomb of explorer Shelikhov.
Znamensky Monastery sits at the mouth of the Ushakovka River, a tributary of the Angara. It was founded in 1689, and the main cathedral that stands today dates from the 18th century and is a fine example of Siberian Baroque, with white walls, blue-green and gold domes, and an ornate iconostasis inside. The monastery cemetery holds the remains of Russian explorer Grigory Shelikhov, founder of the Russian-American Company, along with Ekaterina Trubetskaya, wife of a Decembrist, and others. Outside the gates stands a monument to Admiral Alexander Kolchak, who was executed nearby in 1920. The statue remains controversial to this day. The monastery is a working religious site and entry is free. Women should cover their heads and wear skirts below the knee, men should remove their hats, and photography inside the church is discouraged. Getting there: about 2 km north of the city center, roughly 10 minutes by bus or taxi. It's on the way to the riverside embankment near the Icebreaker Angara, so you can easily combine the two.
Opening hours
About 08:00–20:00
Nearby sights
- Moscow Triumphal Gates & Angara Embankment
- Epiphany Cathedral
- Decembrist House Museum
- Shastin's Lace House (Europe House)
- Irkutsk Central Market
- Sukachev Irkutsk Regional Art Museum
- Church of Our Lady of Kazan
- Church of the Holy Cross