Approximately half kilometer separates Chelter from a small monastery, situated in the cliffs Shuldan, which translates as "who gives the echo." The monastery consisted of twenty caves, most of which are now destroyed, and two temples. The main temple is particularly well preserved, it is spacious and high. Once the barrier separated the apse, hewn in the rock. The iconostasis was made of wood - the floor can be considered for installation undercut the King's Gate. In the apse of the church housed the bishop's chair, and was located in the center of High place. In the northern wall cleared the bench. At the point where it connects to the Altar, carved tomb in the form of arkosolii, under it in the floor - the grave. In the south wall of the doorway displays on the site over the precipice, there is carved a niche with a window.
From the main temple could get into the chapel, in the northern part of the tomb is located in the floor beneath the tomb. An arched entrance of the sanctuary led to the baptistery, where in a niche cut down the font, which covered wooden shield. To the west of the baptistery can find the remains of another room with a round hole. On her appointment, are divided. Perhaps, this was previously baptistery, and then, after the opening of a new baptistery, it was converted into a chapel, and the pit - the grave.
Second temple of the monastery complex Shuldan located in the second tier of caves on the eastern entrance. To get there you can from the natural grotto on the stone staircase, which is now partially destroyed in the eastern wall in an arched niche is a throne, on a ledge of the southern wall - the altar. Along the entire north wall is a bench, calling at the altar. In ancient altar from the rest of the temple separated the wooden barrier.
Altar - the most important part of the temple priests to conduct services here and here is the main sanctuary - a throne, on which the mysterious presence of the Lord himself and performed the sacrament of communion of the Body and Blood of the Lord. In the cave temples carved throne, usually made of stone. On it were sacred objects, which could touch only the priest. The word "altar" means "exalted altar. When you visit the cave monasteries remember: do not go to the altar and touch the throne - it can only do the clergy.
Scientists believe that in the XIII-XIV centuries in the rocks above the valley Shulskoy emerged a small monastery. In the heyday of the Principality of Theodoro, he expanded and rebuilt, there is a new baptistery. Episcopal chair, preserved in the main altar of the temple, suggests that Shuldan was the residence of Metropolitan. A monastery Chelter , whose inhabitants were engaged in active business activities, could be a town house, serving yard Bishop.
lot of time and effort required the monks to carve into the rock, even a folded rather "soft" limestone rocks, cells, and temples. One of the first researchers of cave monasteries of Crimea P. Koppen these words expressed his admiration: "What pains izsech this house of God? What patience must have been those who, left alone, this monument, itself immersed in the darkness of oblivion".
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