Maksatikhinskiy District: Monasteries, Churches and Museum

• The Nikolo-Terebenskaya Pustyn in the village of Truzhenik is a convent dating from the 18th to 19th centuries.
• Churches in Maksatikha, Seltsy, Kostretsy and Klyuchevoye are associated with the years 1827, 1828, 1876 and 1905.
• The Maksatikhinskiy Local History Museum, named after Anton Efimovich Smusenok, presents regional history, everyday objects, and a reconstructed peasant-house interior.
• The “Troitskiy Khorovod” festival was held for the sixth time on June 18, 2022.

The Nikolo-Terebenskaya Pustyn is located in the village of Truzhenik and is an active convent dating from the 18th to 19th centuries. The convent stands alongside several churches whose recorded dates offer different points of historical reference.

The Church of All Saints in Maksatikha dates from 1827. Seltsy is home to the Church of the Joy of All Who Sorrow, dating from 1828; Kostretsy has the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, dating from 1876; and Klyuchevoye has the Church of the Nativity of Christ, dating from 1905. The three churches in Seltsy, Kostretsy and Klyuchevoye are architectural monuments. Together, these dates span the period from 1827 to 1905; they help place the religious buildings at different points in history, without reducing them to a single construction date or uniform style.

The Maksatikhinskiy Local History Museum, named after Anton Efimovich Smusenok, focuses on the present and past of the Maksatikha region. Its exhibitions include old objects, photographs, manuscripts, books and letters. Alongside individual objects, written and visual records of the region are also a central focus.

A reconstructed old peasant-house interior complements these themes with kitchen utensils and tableware. An area devoted to folk art displays embroidered towels, shirts and tablecloths, as well as headdresses. Visitors interested in regional everyday life and craft culture will find both historical materials and examples of folk textile art here.

On June 18, 2022, the open-air “Troitskiy Khorovod” festival was held for the sixth time in Lesiny, a district of the village of Truzhenik. The program included folk traditions and performances by soloists and cultural groups. Women from the Raikovo cultural center also presented Karelian cuisine and baked pancakes on a log. This edition combined a stage program with a specific culinary demonstration; it should be understood as an event from 2022.

The Great Bezhetsk Cross Procession route begins at the Nikolo-Terebensky Monastery and heads toward the Mologa River. The monastery is therefore a named starting point for the route. The stated direction leads to the river, without specifying the full course of the procession route.

In the wider destination of Tver Oblast, the Central Forest Nature Reserve offers a distinct perspective on nature. Guided tours are available on the ecological trails “Tayny Okovskogo lesa” and “Lesnaya azbuka.” The “Boloto Staroselskiy mokh” educational trail runs through a raised bog with broad open areas completely covered in moss and unusual plants.

The hike to the “Barsuchikha” ranger station can be taken as a day trip or with an overnight stay in a forest hut; along the way, visitors see southern taiga forest and a raised bog. Visitors use their own vehicle for the excursion to the “Staroselskiy mokh” raised bog. These nature experiences are part of the wider destination of Tver Oblast and offer a different focus from the churches, monastery and local history museum in Maksatikhinskiy District.

To explore the destination options, you can also visit Podsosenye. Discover more destinations: Konakovo District, Udomelskiy District, Penovsky District, Kalyazinskiy District, Kimrskiy District, Selizharovskiy District and Tver.

Where is the Nikolo-Terebenskaya Pustyn located?

The convent is located in the village of Truzhenik and dates from the 18th to 19th centuries.

What can you see at the Maksatikhinskiy Local History Museum?

The exhibitions include regional objects, photographs, manuscripts, books and letters. A reconstructed peasant-house interior and an area devoted to folk art also display everyday objects and embroidered textiles.

What was included in the 2022 “Troitskiy Khorovod” program?

The sixth edition, held in Lesiny on June 18, featured folk traditions and performances by soloists and cultural groups. Women from the Raikovo cultural center presented Karelian cuisine and baked pancakes on a log.

For the wider travel overview: Tver Oblast.