Kizhi lake interesting facts. Kizhi Island - description, sights and excursions. On Kizhi you can also see

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In Karelia, on the wonderful Lake Onega, there is an incredibly beautiful, fabulous island called Kizhi. The island is considered an invaluable museum of architecture, the scale of which is simply amazing. Kizhi is an unusual place that has been famous for its craft for many centuries, because many artists and poets lived and worked here. If someone remembers the famous epics about Ilya Muromets or Vladimir the Red Sun, then it is worth saying that they were created on the territory of this wonderful island.

Having visited the island for the first time, just stepping on its amazing territory, you can feel a significant surge of energy, touch something bright and beautiful, breathe clean air to the full chest and find out what real freedom is.

If you move to the recent past and study a little the history of the island, you can find out that there were as many as 14 villages here. Unfortunately, only two have survived to our time, which bear the names of Vasilyevo and Yamka. One of the surviving villages is conveniently located on the eastern shore of the famous Onega Lake. The second village is located on the western shore of this wonderful reservoir. Each of the villages has only a couple of houses, but this did not become an obstacle for curious adventurers, so there are always a lot of tourists in the indicated place. Tourists from all over the world come here all year round, because such landscapes as on this island are not often found. In addition, this place is full of interesting monuments, and the rest here seems simply divine.

Excursions are regularly held in the city of Kizhi to acquaint tourists with this interesting and unusual place. River cruises on Meteora depart from Petrozavodsk, but there is not enough time for them to fully explore the unique nature of this place. To fully explore the island, see all the interesting natural places and attractions, you need to plan your travel route yourself.

The most popular attractions in Kizhi

Among the main attractions of Kizhi, it is worth noting the Church of the Transfiguration. It was erected in 1714, and not a single nail was used for its construction. The church has as many as 22 domes, which complement the brightness of the sun with their gilding. From a bird's eye view, the view of this temple will distinguish it from others, because there are no analogues to this unique monument. The temple is made in such an interesting and original way that if you take into account the cuts, a cross is formed on all four sides. The altar of this majestic temple faces west side, but on the east side there is a refectory with a porch. The view from this porch is simply amazing and it simply fascinates tourists. By visiting this architectural monument, you can enjoy not only its beauty, but also fully embrace the settlements, villages and straits.

Inside the temple radiates unearthly beauty. Everyone who comes here will feel complete peace. The altar in this majestic temple has 4 tiers, it is laden with a huge number of icons, the exact number of which is 102 pieces. The space inside is evenly flooded with calm and soothing light.

Such an architectural monument as the Church of the Intercession also deserves special attention. The temple was built back in 1764, it is wooden and has 9 domes, the shape of which is rather unusual, making the construction easier and more original. Outside, the building is decorated with wooden pillars, but inside the temple looks very modest. If you compare it with the previous version. Unfortunately, in the course of history, the very first iconostasis of this building was not preserved, and the current one was completed during the restoration of the church, in 1950.

The top three attractions of the island include the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus. History says that this attraction was built in 1391. Overeating suggests that the church began to be built after St. Basil the Monk appeared to Lazarus. It is this temple that is considered the first building belonging to the Murom Monastery. The construction of this monastery was dedicated to the Biblical story, which tells about the resurrection of Lazarus. Locals say that the temple has the power to heal from various ailments, and it is because of this that this place has become a great center of pilgrimage.

What architectural monuments of Kizhi are still worth seeing

There is also the Chapel of the Archangel Michael on the island, which is characterized as follows:

was transported to Kizhi from Lelikozero in 1961;

has a very picturesque appearance;

consists of 3 parts, which together form a rectangle;

the walls are built on the north side, and the window faces west;

the bell tower from above is successfully completed with a magnificent tent;

outside, the monument of architecture is decorated with towels with circles and rhombuses;

inside, in the center of the ceiling, there is a large icon of Christ, and the evangelists are depicted in the corners.

In addition to this monument, there is also the Tent Bell Tower on the island. It was built in 1863, but completed in 1874. The tent of the belfry is supported by 9 columns and ends with a cupola with a cross. In sum, the structure looks very interesting and harmonious. To illuminate the interior of the bell tower, there are 4 windows, which are made in the form of beautiful arches.

Continuing to travel around the island, tourists will be able to see a tall wooden palisade. Its original has not been preserved, but the reconstruction was able to accurately convey it. A copy was made already in 1959, in addition to these sights, on the island you can see old mills, as well as barns. All these sights are collected throughout the region and delivered to the island, which has turned into a huge museum.

Oshevnev's house can also be considered a popular place among tourists. It looks like Karelian houses that were built before the revolution. The building has two floors and is richly decorated with carvings. There is also an ancient windmill on the island, the analogues of which can no longer be found.

What else is new and interesting on the island

Monuments and churches are, of course, good, but we must not forget about the amazing nature of this place. The island has a beautiful relief, a rare forest stretches not far from the coast, meadows and the sun reflecting its reflections in the lake can be seen from afar. Many villages of the island went under water, but thanks to this, a unique museum was created here, in which more than 50 thousand original, interesting and fascinating items were collected. All these items accurately tell about the life of the indigenous inhabitants of the region and it is thanks to them that one can study history. On the island you can get to know the following items:

vintage women's jewelry;

original embroidery;

handmade toys;

household items and tools.

But the interesting aspects of Kizhi do not end there, because rare, original and interesting things are still being brought here. New expositions are constantly developing, tourists are offered to become participants in master classes that introduce old crafts. Guests of the island who come here for the holidays can watch interesting performances and become their active participants. You can get here for a few days, without any problems picking up the accommodation option.

There are no hotels on the island, but you can quite successfully stay with local residents. Kizhi is a unique place worth visiting and staying here for a few days. To see all the monuments and enjoy the unforgettable nature, you can get here with the whole family, getting an incredible boost of energy and vivacity. In general, tourists who want to visit Kizhi will definitely not regret it, it's just a wonderful place that you should definitely visit. The island fascinates and attracts attention, allows you to completely disconnect from the city everyday life, delve into history, look at beautiful monuments and just have a great time. It is for excellent impressions and positive emotions that you should go here.

The protected island of Kizhi is a real museum under open sky located in Karelia on Lake Onega. Numerous attractions, including wooden churches built in the classical Russian style, attract thousands of tourists every year. A trip to Kizhi will allow you not only to see with your own eyes all the beauties of the architecture of the north, but also to admire the untouched nature, which has been preserved here in its original form.

Description of the island

The convenient location of Kizhi in the northern part of Lake Onega, not far from the Zanevsky Peninsula, makes it easy to organize excursions here in the warm season. The total area of ​​the island is 5 square kilometers, so you can take a walking tour and see all the local attractions in just a few hours. This open-air museum is located 68 kilometers from Petrozavodsk. In the summer, river boats go here from the regional center every day with a travel time of 1 hour and 15 minutes.

In winter, Kizhi can only be reached by helicopter or hovercraft, and excursions at this time of the year are difficult. Therefore, from October to March, the Great Bay of Kizhi, where this island is located, is inaccessible to tourists.

Extremely interesting thematic tours from Moscow are organized, which include visits to various ancient cities of the Russian north. Tours in Karelia and Finland are popular, which allows you to see other countries and get to know the culture of your neighbors.

The history of this island dates back to the X-XI centuries. ekah, when small Finnish and Baltic settlements on Kizhi became part of the Novgorod principality. Orthodox Christians appeared here in the 15th century, the first buildings of churches belong to the same period, which have been preserved in their original form to this day.

In the 16th century, the creation of the Spassky churchyard began in Kizhi, which is considered one of the main attractions of the reserve and which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From time immemorial, craftsmen, poets and artists lived here, who passed on their skills, preserving the original old Russian style.

Today Kizhi Island is the largest open-air museum-reserve in Russia. Here are collected 89 monuments of wooden traditional architecture, numerous ancient chapels, barns and houses of local residents. The real gems are the Church of the Transfiguration and the Kizhi Pogost, built in the 16th-18th centuries. ekah in the style of Karelian architecture. Thematic excursions are extremely interesting, which allow you to get to know the traditional way of life of the Russian north.

Main Attractions

Numerous wooden churches, chapels and churchyards in the Old Russian style have been preserved in Kizhi in their original form. Armed with various tourist brochures and guides, you can either explore all the beauties of this island on your own or take advantage of the offer of local guides, who immediately upon the arrival of tourists at the river station form small excursion groups. Organized tours allow not only to get to know the many local attractions, but also to listen to fascinating stories of professionals about the history of these places and its inhabitants.

Church of the Transfiguration

The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord on the island of Kizhi is clearly visible from anywhere on the island. The 11-storey building is made in the traditional Russian style of architecture with wooden domes. A feature of this building are 20 beautiful domes made of aspen and located at different heights. The log cabin of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord is made by hand, without iron nails, tow and moss.

This church is interesting:

• unusual architecture;
• interior decoration;
• original building technology.

Currently, the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a functioning church. where a service is held every weekend. Inspection of the interior decoration, preserved in its original form, is possible only on certain days and hours, so tourists need to clarify when the church is open to the public. The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord is the hallmark of Kizhi Island and one of the most famous local attractions.

Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God

A small wooden church built in the original style with domed domes. Unlike the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the entrance to the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God is open all the time, in the hallway there is an exhibition dedicated to the history of the Kizhi parish and ancient Russian icon painting. The exposition of the exhibition includes ancient paintings painted by both local artists and famous Russian masters.

The Church of the Intercession was built as a winter church, so services were held here only in severe frosts. The temple was built in the architecture traditional for the northern culture, with a winter road and a high bell tower. Construction was carried out for almost 50 years in the XVI-XVII centuries. ekah. Not so long ago, the reconstruction of the church was completed. During the restoration of the structure, ancient technologies were used, and the work was carried out by local craftsmen who preserved the ancient methods of felling a log house. The church was built without a single nail and in full accordance with its former appearance.

Eight-wing windmill

The wooden eight-winged windmill is one of the few monuments of industrial architecture that have come down to us. Such buildings are typical only for the north of Russia and Karelia. Due to their special shape, air mills were efficient, allowing grain or other cereals to be quickly ground. In the sixties and eighties of the last century, when a museum was created on the island of Kizhi, this wooden building was practically destroyed and subsequently restored by local architects based on a few drawings and photographs.

The structure of the mill is extremely interesting, the building of which is located on movable wooden piles-supports. The inner frame is made axial, which makes it possible to cope with significant wind loads, which are typical for Kizhi in autumn and winter. The structure itself can easily turn, orienting its blades to the blowing breeze from the lake. To date, the mechanism is in good working order, so the mill is often used for its intended purpose.

Of great interest is the water mill, which was cut down in 1875. She was brought to the island from the village of Berezovaya Selga. It was used in antiquity by local residents and worked on the basis of a completely wooden unique mechanism, which is still in good working order. The water mill is open to the public, and inside a small museum collection there are exhibits related to rural life of the 18th-19th centuries. ekov.

Hip bell tower

The hipped bell tower is another iconic landmark of Kizhi Island, built in the original style, with high arched windows, an elongated and narrow silhouette. The single dome creates a feeling of lightness, reminiscent of the gothic pickaxes of the Baltics. This is one of the youngest buildings on Kizhi, erected on the site of an old dilapidated bell tower.

Every year in Kizhi competitions are held for bell ringers who come here from all over Russia. In summer, there are numerous concerts of early music, which are considered a great success for every lover of Russian folklore.

In total, 14 bells operate on the island, the heaviest of which was cast in St. Petersburg in the 19th century and weighs about 800 kilograms.

wooden churchyard

The architectural ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost is the most famous and significant exposition site on the island. It includes the Churches of the Transfiguration and the Intercession, the Tent Bell Tower and the preserved old cemetery with a wooden palisade. The ensemble is located in the southern part of the island and is the center of the entire Kizhi Museum-Reserve. At the end of the 20th century, this attraction was included in the UNESCO Heritage List and is now protected by the state.

A feature of this ensemble is the unique architectural old Russian style of architecture, preserved only in the far north in the Onega region. In the 50s of the last century, all three structures were surrounded by a powerful wall, the base of which was huge stone boulders. Such a three-meter fence makes a strong impression, organically complementing the ensemble of the three main attractions on the island of Kizhi.

Houses of peasants Oshevnev and Sergeev

Of great interest to tourists are the houses of northerners who lived on the island in the 18th-19th centuries. ekah. The most famous such attraction is the house of the peasant Oshevnev. This is a massive building, built in the traditional style of Karelian architecture, skillfully decorated with carvings. The roof of the house covers both the main building and outbuildings with a barnyard. Oshevnev could do business and take care of animals without leaving home.

Today, the house of the peasant Oshevnev has been turned into a small museum, the exhibits of which allow you to get acquainted with the traditional life of the Russian north in the 17th-18th centuries. ekah. The building itself is authentic, including carved columns, window frames and interior decor. The interior of the late 19th and early 20th centuries has been completely recreated. The exposition presents various cradles, kitchen utensils, household and household items.

On Kizhi you can also see:

• numerous old baths;
• ancient pier;
• old cemetery.

Sergeev's house, which was built at the beginning of the 19th century, has also been perfectly preserved. The building has the shape of a square, richly decorated with carvings, the facades are painted in the traditional northern style. Inside you can see a small exposition of the folklore of Zaonezhye and applied art of Karelia. Items for the exhibition were collected not only from the island of Kizhi, but also from the entire northern region of Russia.

In total, there are six chapels on the island, revealing the richness and originality of the northern school of architecture. The unique buildings that have been completely preserved to this day are distinguished by their modest size, they are similar to each other, but each is original and original.

There are the following chapels on the island:

• Savior Not Made by Hands.
• Peter and Paul from the village of Volkoostrov.
• Signs of the Virgin.
• Mother of God of All Who Sorrow Joy.
• Kirik and Ulita.
• Bell tower of Varlaam Khutynsky.

Chapels are located not only on Kizhi, but also on nearby islands, so you can get to them by hiring a small boat with an escort. Such excursions are popular with tourists because they allow you to enjoy the beauty of the local northern nature and see the original original buildings.

18.01.2018

The Kizhi Museum-Reserve on the islands of the same name in Lake Onega is the most famous landmark of the Russian North, where wooden architectural monuments are collected (brought from different places). The pearl of the Kizhi churchyard is the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior with 22 domes. What kind Interesting Facts and details can be told about Kizhi?

1. Kizhi churchyard is often called the central architectural ensemble of the island. The word "pogost" in the 10th century denoted an administrative-territorial unit - part of the province, then moved to settlements with central functions, where there was a church and a cemetery, and from the 17th century it began to denote only a rural cemetery, although it was preserved in the names of some settlements .
2. The unique architecture of the island became known in the middle of the 19th century, when the study of the northern provinces of Russia began.
3. The beginning of the 20th century was a period of pilgrimage to Kizhi for creative people - architects and artists who aspired to learn and capture the local beauty.
4. The Kizhi churchyard acquired the status of a monument in 1920, and became a museum in 1966, after a long period of post-war restoration work and collection of exhibits on other islands.
5. Restoration and reconstruction of many objects was required due to dilapidation, disrepair and lost artistic elements - interior paintings.
6. During the war, the monuments on the island were not damaged, because they were in the zone of Finnish occupation, and Finland treated them very carefully, planning to include Kizhi in its territory and explore in detail.
7. One of the Finnish veterans of that war told a legend that they were still going to bomb the churchyard, but when they saw its beauty, the pilots dropped bombs into the lake. However, no written confirmation, for example, of orders to bomb the island, was found.
8. Two churches and an 18th century bell tower - the most famous buildings on the island - are included in the list world heritage UNESCO since 1990.
9. The walls and towers of the Transfiguration Cathedral (1714) were built without the use of nails, but when covering the domes with wooden “scales” (ploughshares), they were still used.
10. The plowshares of the temple are made of aspen - it is the wood of this breed that shimmers in the sun and changes color.
11. The main body of the temple was cut down from pine only with the help of axes.
12. In the 80s of the XX century, in order to preserve the monument, a metal frame was installed inside the Transfiguration Cathedral. At the same time, he damaged part of the structures, roughly crashing into logs, and the floor, the painted "sky" and the iconostasis of 102 icons were completely dismantled.
13. The last restoration began in 2010, and in 2018 it is planned to complete it and allow visitors to enter the temple.
14. To restore the structural elements, the temple was lifted on jacks by the method of lifting and divided into belts, which are removed and restored one by one so that the monument does not lose its integral appearance.
15. The Kizhi churchyard headed by the Transfiguration Cathedral is the hallmark of the island and the reserve. However, in total, the museum-reserve includes 10 sectors, some of which are located on other islands, on the "mainland" and even in Petrozavodsk.
16. In addition to churches and chapels, the museum's exposition includes residential buildings, outbuildings, workshops, bathhouses, mills, barns, rigs, a smithy and even a wooden building of a zemstvo hospital in Petrozavodsk.
17. Despite the fact that in colloquial speech there are two variants of stress in the name - Kizh and and K and zhi, linguists and philologists (however, as well as local residents) argue that the second option is correct with the stress on the first syllable, i.e. To and live.

At present, when the Kizhi churchyard finally fell into the hands of professional restorers. There is hope that in the near future it will be possible to see the monument in its historical form with restored interior decoration. It is planned to study it and improve the surrounding area, although even without this, the unique monument attracts tourists from all over the world.

Kizhi is beautiful island located in Lake Onega, in Karelia.

Open and inhabited since ancient times, Kizhi Island is a huge museum of architecture.

From time immemorial, Kizhi has been famous for its craft. Once upon a time, artists and poets lived here, passing their skills down through the generations. It was here that epics about Ilya Muromets and Vladimir the Red Sun were created ...

Having taken the first step on the island and inhaling the first breath of air, you begin to feel the spirit of bright antiquity and unlimited freedom.

Once there were 14 villages on the island, but only two remained - Yamka and Vasilyevo. One is located on the eastern shore of Lake Onega, the other is on its western shore.

The villages consist of several houses, but this does not prevent tourists from all over the country from coming here all year round to admire the amazing landscapes and unusually beautiful architectural monuments.

Excursions to Kizhi are held on Meteors from Petrozavodsk and as part of river cruises.

But there is little time on the island, much less than when visiting the island of Valaam.

Therefore, you need to prioritize yourself: What is interesting, what to see, what sights to visit and see.

Perhaps the most important attraction is Church of the Transfiguration(1714). The church was built without a single nail and has twenty-two gilded domes, the bird's-eye view of which separates the temple from other architectural monuments of the island. The temple is made in such a way that, together with the cuts from the four cardinal points, it forms a cross.

The altar is facing west, and on the east side there is a refectory with a huge porch, the view from which is more than beautiful. Villages, straits, settlements are open to the gaze.

The interior of the temple produces an indelible feeling of peace. Inside there is an altar made in four tiers and lined with 102 icons, and the whole space is filled with calm and pure light.

Another beautiful temple Church of the Intercession(1764). The temple is made of wood and has nine domes, the unusual shape of which gives the temple some lightness and airiness. Outside, the temple is decorated with wooden pillars.

Of course, the Church of the Intercession is inferior to the Church of the Transfiguration and is more like an addition to it.

The interior decoration is very modest.

The first iconostasis was lost in the course of history. The current iconostasis was made in 1950 during the restoration of the temple.

The third attraction in a row, immediately attracting attention - Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus.

Tradition says that this temple was built by the Monk Lazar himself, who died in 1391.

They also say that it was built thanks to the appearance to Lazarus of St. Basil the Monk, Bishop of Novgorod.

This temple later became the first building of the Murom Monastery.

The construction of the monastery is dedicated to the biblical event of the resurrection of Lazarus from Bethany, in order to strengthen people's faith in Jesus Christ.

There are rumors among the local population that the temple has a healing power from ailments. Saint Lazarus was declared a saint, and his temple became a place of pilgrimage for believers from all countries.

Once the Chapel was a landmark in the village of Lelikozero, but in 1961 it was moved to Kizhi Island.

The Chapel looks very picturesque.

It consists of three parts and is presented in the form of a rectangle stretched from west to east.

On the north side, a vestibule is attached to the chapel, and a window is turned to the west.

In some places, a double roof can be seen near the chapel, when one roof, as it were, emerges from the other, surprising the audience with the skill and virtuosity of the architect. Above the vestibule you can see a wonderful bell tower, which tops off with a magnificent tent.

The outside of the chapel is decorated with towels carved in diamonds and circles. The tes of the roof is red, ending in the form of a peak.

Inside the chapel is the "heaven".

In the center of it is the icon of Christ the Temperant, and in the perimeter - the forefathers. In the four corners are images of the evangelists.

Studying the island, the eye will certainly fall on hipped bell tower, built in 1863 on the site of the old bell tower.

In 1874, the bell tower was rebuilt, since it was not possible to complete the octagon.

The bell tower looks like a quadrangle on an octagon. Above the octagon rises a belfry and nine columns that hold the tent, ending with a cupola with a cross. Chetverik from north to south is cut by a passage with large arches.

The inner space of the bell tower is illuminated by four windows made in the form of arches and a large window in the wall of the octagon.

No matter how you describe it on paper, to understand it, you just need to see it.

Kizhi ... they are.

A copy of the fence was recreated in 1959, in the likeness of the surviving fortifications.

In addition to the ancient temples, there are others on the island of Kizhi, no less interesting places.

These are all kinds of mills, old huts and barns.

They are collected from all over the region and taken to the museum island to be re-created.

Among these buildings, the most notable is Oshevnev's house.

It was brought from the village of Oshevnevo and looks like Karelian houses before the revolution. This is a large, two-story building, decorated with various architraves and carvings.

An example of an outbuilding - barn brought from the village of Kokkoyla.

Svetelka, delivered to the island from the village of Oshevnevo, will tell us about the life of local peasants.

Do you think the simple life is not interesting? Wrong... :)

And here is wooden windmill, brought from Volkostrov to the island of Kizhi. There are no more such mills in Karelia.

But Kizhi is famous not only for its monuments.

The nature of the island is so amazing that it is simply not possible to take your eyes off such splendor.

Already approaching the island, you can see the fabulous outlines of the island's relief, a strip of rare forest stretches along the coast, meadows can be seen in the distance, the glare of the sun plays on the waves of the lake.

With the organization of dams on the Svir and the White Sea-Baltic Canal, many villages went under water. in order to preserve the unique heritage of Karelia, the Kizhi Museum-Reserve was created.

The museum has about 50,000 various items that tell about the life of the indigenous peoples of the region.

On the island, tourists can see how in the old days they wove pearl earrings, embroidered women warriors, made toys and much more.

For half a century, Kizhi Island has been a unique museum, striving to preserve all the historical and architectural monuments of Karelia.

Kizhi is constantly evolving.

Not only new expositions are opening, but the emphasis is shifting towards interactive: handicraft workshops where you can hold a master class and make an interesting Karelian toy yourself.

Participate in performances (but if you're lucky - they are arranged "on the occasion", for some holidays.

Be that as it may, on Kizhi you need to cherish every minute. There are no hotels here and you can’t go with accommodation for either 2 or 3 days.

Of course, you can buy a simple tour to Karelia - live in a hotel on the mainland, and visit Kizhi daily.

But this does not make much sense: there are other interesting places in Karelia that are worth seeing: the same Martial waters, Ruskeala. Kivach waterfall and even a trip to Solovki (it's not as far from Kizhi as it seems).

The schedule of excursions must be built evenly so that the trip is rich and interesting.

Why Kizhi?

Why did Kizhi become the place where monuments from all over Karelia were brought?

Kizhi Pogost was a rich administrative center back in Tsarist Russia. Life here was in full swing even before Peter the Great.

Rich copper factories could afford to give money for the construction of the most unique churches. They sent ore to the arms factories of Olonets and Petrozavodsk.

Industrialization bled the Karelian villages, people moved to the cities.

However, the trail of History passed through the Kizhi Pogost so strongly that there was simply no other similar place on the route of river cruises.

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It is difficult to find an adult educated person in Russia who would not know about Kizhi island. Everyone knows that this is a fantastic monument of wooden architecture, included in the list of world cultural values ​​of UNESCO.

The Orthodox are convinced that the island in Lake Onega with its wooden churches is almost the most sacred place in the Russian North.

Linguists argue which of the northern peoples gave the name to the island of Kizhi - Veps or Finns. It's not even clear what it means. According to the Vepsian version, the name of the island comes from the word "kizh", that is, "moss". There is more than enough moss in these places!

Kizhi architectural ensemble. About 1900

But the same Veps also have another word - “kizi”, that is, “games, folk festivals”. Opponents believe that the island was named by the Finns or Chud, Merya or Karelians close to them in language. And in fact, before it was called Kizha-saari, which again translates as "the island of games." But we do not mean folk festivals, but prayers in sacred forests and on sacred shores to the Finno-Ugric gods.

Simply put, Kizha-saari was the center of a pagan cult. With ritual dances, chants and sacrifices. In ancient times - bloody.

This non-Russian land

The island became relatively Russian only in the 11th century, when Novgorodians came to these northern lands. They themselves, of course, did not live on the island, but they kept the “attached” population with a firm hand. Kizhi, like other islands of Lake Onega, and the shores of this lake, were part of the Obonezh Pyatina - one of the administrative-territorial units of the Novgorod Republic.

Of course, Christian Novgorod sought to bring the light of the new faith to the lost Finno-Ugric souls. So the local people received an Orthodox church in the sacred place of their games. It was in this unobtrusive way that Orthodoxy was introduced to the lands of the pagans.

True, what this church was - no one knows. It is clear that it was made of wood (it is not very good with stone on Kizhi), but we don’t know how it looked and whether it was similar to the current temples. Baptized local residents (probably, as in other places) willingly went to church and prayed to the pagan gods no less zealously. That is, "kizha" continued for quite a long time, even in the 17th century.

This, however, did not prevent the island from becoming a stronghold of Onega Orthodoxy. In 1478, the independent Novgorod Republic fell, and Moscow princes became the new masters of the northern lands. To strengthen their power, in 1496 they made Kizhi the center of a new administrative unit - the Spaso-Kizhi churchyard.

Now about 130 villages and villages on other islands and on the mainland, Unitskaya Bay and the entire south of the Zaonezhsky Peninsula were subordinate to Kizhi.

Local authorities settled in Kizhi, people's meetings took place here, trade was conducted and litigation was dealt with. In the cadastres of the late 16th century, 12 villages on the islet and two wooden churches are mentioned: “The Graveyard of Spassky in Kizhi on Onega Lake, and on the graveyard the Church of the Transfiguration of Spasovo, and another Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God.”

There were also two parish churches: on the Great Guba and on the Lychny Island of Lake Sandal. Both island churches were built on the so-called Maryanina Hill, where pagan games used to be held.

According to one of the legends, one day lightning struck them and burned the buildings to the ground. The legend probably didn't come out of nowhere. It is known that the Finno-Ugric peoples contrived to perform pagan rites in Orthodox churches!

The fate of the metropolitan

Through Kizhi in that era lay the pilgrimage route from Moscow to the Solovetsky Monastery. The legend about the young years of Metropolitan Philip (Kolychev), who became famous for his dramatic confrontation with Ivan the Terrible, is also connected with Kizhi.

During the northern wanderings, Philip (then not yet a metropolitan and not even a monk yet) allegedly hired a worker for a wealthy peasant named Sidorko Saturday in the village of Zharenskaya. The peasant assigned him to herd the sheep. Local residents suffered greatly that year from snakes, they were even afraid to graze cattle near the village. The future saint drove away the snakes.

He also set up a fence that the wolves could not overcome. And once he caught a sturgeon in the lake waters and brought it to a peasant for an Orthodox holiday. But he was a modest man, and when they began to say around him that he worked miracles, he immediately set off again on his journey to Solovki.

Two more legends are also connected with the name of Philip - about Svyat-pillow and Smol-pillow. These are two capes that look at each other. One is on the southern tip of Kizhi Island, the other is on the northern shore of Bolshoi Klimenetsky (Klimetsky) Island. Between them lies a never-freezing strait.

According to legend, when Kolychev approached the strait to cross to the mainland, he transported him local, nicknamed for the color of the hair Smolyu. The cape where Kolychev stood became known as Svyat-pillow, and the cape where Smol stood became Smol-pillow. The strip of non-freezing water was named St. salma or "holy polynya".

The name of Philip, who suffered from the ruthless Tsar Ivan the Terrible, was very loved in the Russian North. It is not surprising that the pilgrims who flocked to the Solovetsky Monastery connected it with the islet of Kizhi, gradually acquiring a halo of holiness.

Without a single nail

In the XVII century, after the reign of Ivan the Terrible and the end of the Time of Troubles, the island's churches fell into some decline. Local legend even says that they were deserted and began to collapse. It was then that lightning burned them to the ground. However, a century later, Peter the Great ordered the restoration of the temples.

In 1714, the construction of the Church of the Transfiguration began, but not on Maryanina Hill. One of the legends says that Peter personally designed this temple. Allegedly, he sailed past Kizhi, saw how everything was deserted there, moored to the shore and drew a plan of the future temple with a cane on the coastal sand.

Another legend says that the project of the church belongs entirely to the carpenter Nestor - he designed the church and built it himself. And without a single nail. And when the construction was completed, Nestor threw an ax into the waters of the lake and said: "Never happened, never will." That is, no one has built anything like this before, and no one will build anything like this again.

Both legends have nothing to do with historical truth. And Peter had nothing to do with the construction of the Church of the Transfiguration, and the carpenter Nestor did not exist. And in general, six years before the construction in Kizhi, a similar wooden structure was erected in the village of Anhimovo, which is located very close to Kizhi.

The legend that the many-domed northern churches were built without a single nail is also incorrect. Yes, the main structures were interconnected with the help of grooves, like the details of the designer. But the wooden scales on the domes had to be properly strengthened, otherwise the domes would have “bald” and lost all their beauty in the very first year. They were fastened with iron pins, that is, they were practically planted on nails.

In addition to the Church of the Transfiguration, the Intercession Church was erected, as well as a hipped bell tower. But the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin was built half a century later - in 1764. And the hipped bell tower - and at all in 1863, on the site of an earlier building that had fallen into disrepair and had fallen into disrepair.

In ancient times, the complex of church buildings was surrounded by a wooden fence, which was supposed to play the role of a fortress wall. The fence, of course, was not preserved. The one that exists today is a modern reconstruction.

However, in ancient times the fence was of little use. The invaders of Kizhi did not even need it for nothing. Even with the Swedes there were no military clashes. But behind this fence in 1769-1771, the Kizhi authorities hid from the rebellious ascribed peasants.

Soldiers had to be sent to put down the rebellion. Perhaps this was the only serious protest of the inhabitants of Kizhi against their superiors. For the most part, life on the island was peaceful and quiet.

From the 17th century, the island was mastered by industrialists for the smelting of copper, and then iron. Over time, the Spaso-Kizhi churchyard turned into the Kizhi volost. Neither two Russian revolutions, nor two world wars touched Kizhi.

Kizhi has never been blown up and never bombed. So the wooden buildings managed to be preserved in the form in which they were from the moment of construction. So they still delight our eyes today.