Located on the scenic Pazhe river in the village of Khotkovo, the Pokrovsky Monastery is a must-visit cultural heritage sight with a rich history. It was first mentioned in 1308 making it one of the oldest monasteries in Russia, though the exact date of its founding is not known. Its most famous inhabitants were Kirill and Maria, the parents of Sergius of Radonezh. Here they died and here they are buried, their graves considered to be a very holy place. Like many other religious places, it was shut down in 1922 and reopened only in 1989 in dire need of restoration. Life in the monastery is very active: aside from the ongoing restoration process, there are daily services delivered here, the nuns go about various tasks like icon painting, sewing, baking and maintaining the territory. The monastery also serves as an orphanage and school for girls. On the weekends children are free to attend Sunday school and visitors can make use of the monastery’s library, well-stocked with a wide selection of books and scripts.