Monastery of Mup'äqi Šä

The monastery of Mup'äqi Šä is an old Áçäwal located in the eastern Serme Mountains.

Priesthood

The monastery has three pastors: the grandpastor, and her two helpers, who are old women. The pastors can be recognised from a large horned head dress that they wear. The most of the priests are also women. They take care of all the daily religious activities of the monastery. Only a couple of men live permanently in the monastery, even though some visit during the summer, or live in the village nearby.
The priests are helped by local commoners, children and servants. They do the cleaning and cooking, chop firewood and transport goods in and out of the monastery.

Architecture

The monastery appears to be ancient. When approaching on the narrow road leading to the temple, a visitor will first see layers of old fortifications, the older ones have crumbled to pieces during the centuries, while newer have been built after the times changed again. The monastery is built on a small flat area, hanging under the steep mountain peak.

Tourism

The monastry has never been a location of much interest, as it is situated in a rarely travelled borderland. It is mostly known for two famous visitors. First a Hero Kauteirin the Fair hid in the monastery during the Giant Wars in 1st century BH. Later Ván of Sankai, following in the footsteps of Kauteirin, spend the winter of 698AH there.
Pilgrims from the surrounding areas visit the monastery to pray and learn, mostly during the summer months. During the winter it is mostly isolated, cut of by the snowfall in the crossings.