Pühtitsa Dormition Monastery - Orthodox monastery in the north-east of Estonia in the village Kuremäe. Kuremäe - is a small village, which is home to about 350 people. The monastery was built in the area, which the Orthodox residents living here, called the "Mother of God the mountain."

According to tradition some 200 years ago Estonian shepherd on the mountain saw a woman dressed in a beautiful radiant garment. However, when he began to approach the mountain, the vision disappeared. Shepherd and returned to his flock and again saw a notable Lady on the mountain. This was repeated several times. Back home, the shepherd told the villagers about what they saw. The next morning, some of the locals went to the mountain. They also saw a woman who disappeared as soon as they approached. On the third day the whole situation was repeated again. When they went up to the mountain, in the place where she was a woman, they found an old image. Since they themselves were Lutherans, they sent him to a nearby manor Russian Orthodox peasants who lived in the village Yaamy, and told the circumstances under which the image was found. Orthodox immediately guessed that it was the image of Our Lady of the Assumption.

Received a gift of an icon, the Orthodox residents Pühtitsa region in the 16th century chapel was built on the lower ledge Bogoroditskaya mountains. The phenomenon of the Mother of God is embodied in a special icon, which is called Pühtitsa. Feature writing of the icon that shows the Virgin standing on the ground. In times of war and unrest locals guarded Pühtitsa shrine in the destruction always restored chapel. For security reasons, the miraculous icon hranilasv Narva. When Syrenets built in the village church, the chapel of the Assumption attributed to her, and the miraculous icon was transferred there. After this event, the Orthodox residents decided annually on 15 August, the day of the Assumption, religious procession to the chapel on the hill with Bogoroditsky icon.

In 1885 it was established Pühtitsa Orthodox parish. However, local landlords harassed Orthodox worshipers. In this situation drew the attention of the governor of Estonia Prince SV Shakhovskoy they were taken some measures to protect the interests of the Orthodox population. In 1891, when the church was the beginning of the women's community, which was built in Pühtitsa Convent in 1892. In the same year, he was returned here icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God of Syrenetskogo temple.

Every year in July takes place the solemn transfer of the miraculous icon of the village Syrenets, where she remained until 13 August. Since 1896 annual holy icon brought to the city revel in the 2nd week of Pentecost for 8 days in the village of Olešnice in the period from 7 to 10 September. Near the monastery are the graves in which, according to legend, buried Russian soldiers who served in the St. Alexander Nevsky and Ivan the Terrible. The funds of the monastery contains the different institutions: in Puhtitsa - hospice, outpatient clinic, a hospital for women and children, the community of the Sisters of Mercy, a shelter for Orthodox girls, two-year school for children of both sexes; Ievve in the town - a free clinic.

In Soviet times, the monastery was the only nunnery in the entire USSR. Now there are about 150 nuns and novices from Estonia, Ukraine, Russia. Here you can book a tour, learn the history of the nuns of the monastery, cells and refectory show. Near the monastery is the healing spring and a pool, in which women were allowed to bathe only in shirts.