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Pechory
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The surroundings of Pechory were first inhabited approximately 400-500 years ago, some finds indicate to a settlement one thousand years ago. Pechory became more widely known due to the establishment of the monastery in 1473 on the slopes of the creek of Kamenka. The Pechory Monastery got its start from hermit monks and the caves and cave church dug out by them in a solid sandy hill. The total length of the caves extends up to 200 meters. Buried in the caves are the first holy hermits, the establishers of the monastery and monks. At first only 3 - 6 monks lived in the cloister. The most important superior all through the history of the monastery was Father Kornily (1529 - 1570). He innovated the liturgy following the example of the Greek Athos Monastery. He had the walls of the monastery expanded, churches and schools built in the province of Liivimaa that was a possession of Russia at that time. The town of Pechory began to grow around the monastery and the adjacent market-place. The direction and names of the streets are suggestive of the main historical trading and traffic directions: Pihkva (Pskov), Riia (Riga), Tartu and Võru streets. From 1920 to 1940, Pechory was a part of the Republic of Estonia and the administrative centre of the Petserimaa County. In 1928 there were 5 banks, 80 shops, 2 chemist’s shops, 3 pastry shops and 8 restaurants in Pechory. Today there are three other churches in the town besides the churches of the Monastery: the Forty Martyrs’ Church, Varvara Church with Seto congregation and the Lutheran St. Peter’s Church the tower of which can be sighted from afar. The greatest holiday in Pechory today is Maarjapäev (St. Mary’s Day) on August 28. Pechory Secondary School No.2 (tuition is in the Estonian language) is the successor of the Russian Higher Elementary School, established on September 27, 1913 and turned into a gymnasium on January 24, 1919. In 1920 two departments, the Estoniam and the Russian departments were formed in the school. Till the present day the school operates as the centre of cultural life for the Setos living in Russia.