In the method for growing large-volume monocrystals crystal raw material is heated
in a melting vessel with heating elements to a temperature above its melting point
until a melt is formed. A monocrystal is then formed on the bottom of the melting
vessel by lowering the temperature at least to the crystallization point. A solid/liquid
phase boundary is formed between the monocrystal and the melt. The monocrystal
grows towards the melt surface in a direction that is perpendicular to the phase
boundary. A vertical axial temperature gradient is produced and maintained between
the bottom of the melting vessel and its upper opening and heat inflow and/or heat
outflow through side walls of the melting vessel is prevented, so that the solid/liquid
phase boundary has a curvature radius of at least one meter. A crystal-growing
device for performing this process is also described.