The ruins of an ancient Christian temple dating back to the 6th century have been found in the southern Russian republic of Adygea.

The discovery was made by the monks of the nearby Michael-Athos monastery.

A team of scientists is preparing to explore the site.

The ruins of the ancient Christian temple date back to the 6th century.

The Michael-Athos monastery is located near the Lago-Naki plateau in the southern Russian republic of Adygea.

For centuries this region remained a predominantly Christian territory. Now most of the locals practise Islam, but they co-exist peacefully with Orthodox Christians.

The republic's government recently returned the monastery to worshippers.

In the 1920s the Bolsheviks seized the monastery. Since then it has gone through several transformations.  At various times it was a recreation centre for coal miners; a hospital for KGB officers; a tourist base; and even a hotel with discos and night clubs.

The monks were only allowed to return in 2003.

Newly erected cross marks the baptistry of the ancient temple

There are 50 brothers in the monastery. They live mostly off the land. What they can't grow themselves they bring from the nearest town, by horse or by car.

The Michael-Athos monastery is also a big construction site. With their own hands the monks are rebuilding what the Bolsheviks destroyed. The whole ensemble, including ancient sanctuaries, is popular with pilgrims.

“Even without the newly found temple the monastery attracts ordinary people. Moreover, it's very important for Russia's southern regions. It's like a southern outpost,” says Farther Gerasim.