page_title: Baldan Bereeven Monastery
section_title: Destruction
hierarchical_section_title: Baldan Bereeven Monastery / History / Destruction
caption_attribution_description: English: Ruins of Baldan Bereeven Monestary, Khentii Province, Mongolia in 2008
context_page_description: Baldan Bereeven Monastery is a Gelugpa Buddhist monastery located in the Baruun Jargalant River valley Ömnödelger district, Khentii Province, Mongolia. First established in 1654, the monastery grew to be one of the largest and most important in Mongolia at its height in the mid 19th century, housing up to 8000 monks. The monastery and temple complex were destroyed by Mongolia’s communist regime in 1937.
context_section_description: The monastery’s fortunes suffered further with the establishment of Mongolia’s communist regime in 1921.  Many monks were driven from the monastery when large scale persecution of the Buddhist church began in the 1930s.  The government expropriated church property, legislated away the church’s independence, and levied high taxes on monasteries.  Finally, the monastery was completely razed during Stalinist purges under Mongolia’s strongman Khorloogiin Choibalsan in 1937.  Many of the remaining monks were forcibly removed, shot, and buried in mass graves while others were forcibly laicized and sent to labor camps.  Younger monks were returned to their families. The monastery’s precious relics were melted down and delivered to the Soviet Union for use during World War II.
caption: Remains of Baldan Bereeven Monastery in 2008
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