We present to the attention of readers the book by P.M. Sladkopevtsev “Ancient Palestinian monasteries and the holy ascetics who glorified them,” first published in 1895–1896 in St. Petersburg. As the author himself wrote, “for a pious Christian who wants to learn from the destinies of the past the inscrutable ways of God and the example of the pious life of Christ’s ascetics and the word of their edification to gain wisdom for salvation, information about these monasteries and deserts, the men and wives who labored in them is precious.” When working on the publication, the text was brought into line with modern standards of grammar, spelling and punctuation, additional biblical references were given (the features of the author's citation were preserved) and notes; in some cases, the author's notes have been clarified (editor's additions are in square brackets). The editors hope that the book will be of interest to a wide range of readers and, in particular, pilgrims to the Holy Land.