Name - Internet Anthology "Sobornaya
Storona" (Land of catholicity).
Registered in the Ministry of press, broadcasting and mass communications
of the Russian Federation.
(Registration number ЭЛ 77-4085, issued on 5.09.2000)
Major anthology divisions: "Staraya Russa land",
"Path to the church", "Dostoyevsky's city", "Wonder-working
icon", "Torches of Orthodoxy", "Society of antiquity
lovers", "Legends, traditions, fairy tales", "Time
machine - Archeology", "Bow to your ancestors", "Echo
of the War", "Father Ilmen", "We say like this",
"Fates of names", "Folk crafts", "World of music,
songs, traditions", "Heroes of faith make Russia strong",
"Childrenland", "Leafing through papers and journals",
"Lyric line", "City inquiry office", "News".
Towns Staraya Russa and South Priilmenie at all times
were keepers of national traditions that manifested in the historical
geography and area reclamation, in the abundance of archeological, historical,
cultural and architectural monuments, in everyday life, customs, traditions,
way of life and hospitality of the Rushans. Now that we stepped into the
new century and new millennium, it is especially important to revive historical
memory of generations, give strength to the people's conscience and restore
ruinous, lost or dilapidated sanctities of the Staraya Russa land, symbols
of its spirituality, moral purity and strength.
Internet anthology "Sobornaya storona" was
founded as an enlightening, educational and informative edition, taking
an active part in the revival of culture in our common Motherland, Russia,
and Staraya Russa land of Novgorod region, small Motherland. Russian people
will overcome disorder of the world only thanks to the knowledge and careful
preserving of its rich and eventful history and faith in God.
Staraya Russa is a museum-town, resort-town, warrior-town,
town of Feodor Dostoyevsky. The Staraya Russa land is a treasury of spiritual
values, historical traditions and experience of old masters. Day by day
"Sobornaya Storona" gathers and renders to you, our dear compatriots,
this invaluable historical memory of generations.
Like some clever man has recently said, Internet users
are paratroopers from the future, sent to us to help the future to come
true. Year 2002 (like the entire century) will be the year of information
technologies. We hope that they will help Russia in overcoming hardships
and trials, to fully and readily assimilate historical, cultural and spiritual
traditions of the past, that they will help our children and grandchildren
to grow as genuine and faithful patriots of their Fatherland! It may and
should happen only under the condition of information freedom and glasnost.
Only during the first year of our Internet-anthology
from October 2000 till October 2001 it was visited by over 10 thousand
people, and many of them became permanent readers of "Sobornaya Storona".
Our readers live in 300 cities of 92 countries, the majority - in Moscow,
Veliky Novgorod, St.-Peterburg, Novosibirsk, Ekaterinburg, Stavropol,
Tomsk, Minsk, Kiev, and some in the USA, Canada, Germany, Latvia, Australia,
France, Belgium, Great Britain and other countries. In the first year
of its existence the anthology rated among the first hundred of the best
Russian Internet-sites on history and local studies, shifting in the beginning
of 2002 from 50th to 25-30th place in the Yandex' rating. Printing all
pages in 20 topical divisions of our anthology about history and archeology
of Staraya Russa land, sanctities and heroes of faith, folk crafts, talented
Staraya Russa painters, poets, musicians, teachers, museum members, researchers
of local lore and historical relics, Staraya Russa as a city of Dostoyevsky,
warrior-city, toiler-city, resort-city, would make a 8 000 pages thick
book, containing over 800 color and black-and-white pictures - photos
and drawings.
The reason for naming the Anthology "Sobornaya Storona"
is the following. From old times till today one of the most beautiful
historical districts of the city is called Sobornaya Storona, with its
spiritual and architectural dominant - the central church of Staraya Russa
- The Voskresensky (Resurrection) Cathedral of the XVII century, standing
at the confluence of the Polist and Porusie rivers. That is why such a
geographical name like "Sobornaya storona" appeared in Staraya
Russa. In the old Slavonic language the word SOBOR in addition to the
meaning "main city church" and "conference of pastors of
Christ's Church" had one more meaning: "meeting of the believers
on the second day of a feast to glorify the person, who played an important
role in the commemorated event, e.g. Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos."
Time passed and the derivative of this word "SOBORNY" brought
also the meaning "common, related to everyone, national, public"
in our speech. In connection this I would like to underline: we have chosen
the name "Sobornaya storona" for the anthology not only as an
important historical and cultural symbol of Staraya Russa and its visual
image, but rather as a symbol of spiritual unity and common work for the
sake of revival of the city.
Development of Staraya Russa and its land on the basis
of historical generation memory, spiritual values and experience of ancient
Russian masters, search of necessary solutions and funds for their realization,
intensive spiritual enlightenment and informative activity are the top
priorities of the Internet-anthology "Sobornaya storona" and
its Moscow subsidiary of Staraya Russa's countrymen.
We remember wise words of His Holiness Patriarch Alexey
II of Moscow and all Russia, said in 2001 in the Holy Trinity St.Servius
Laura on the feast of Pentecost: "Let us recall the prokimen of the
Pentecost vespers: "What god is as great as our God? Thou art God
who workth wonders". Indeed, God works wonders, and we become witnesses
of these wonders that we see with our own eyes occurring in our life.
Could our predecessors even think 20-30 years ago that faith in Christ
would revive in Russia, that churches would be restored and new ones built,
cloisters opened, that the sanctuaries destroyed in the past would live
again?
It is the mercy that the Lord manifests to us. And we
have to be his faithful servants and followers and bear the ministry entrusted
to each of us worthily and honestly knowing that the Lord is with us."
Dear Staraya Russa people and all the residents of Staraya
Russa town saved by God!
Dear guests of Novgorod land!
Turning to prayer intercession of the Mother of God,
pouring out our sorrows and joys before Her long-prayered wonder-working
Staraya Russa icon, we receive consolation and help.
May the Queen of Heaven preserve us! May the Queen of
Heaven help us in our good deeds and cover our Staraya Russa land with
her pall! Pour Your grace, our God, on our Fatherland, Russia!
Mikhail GORBANEVSKIY,
professor, editor-in-chief mivigo@dol.ru
Staraya Russa - Ancient Town, Young Town
...Staraya Russa. Many historians associate the name
of the ancient Russian State - 'Rus' - with this town. Supposedly, the
definition "Staraya", or, "Old", proved the fact that the town Russa was
older than the new town - Novgorod. But, unfortunately, this version which
is so much flattering for the heart of each Russa dweller, have not been
confirmed by the written sources. From 12th to 16th century in the name
of the town there was only one letter 'S'. And, only when there appeared
other 'Rusas', the town with this name located in Novgorod province started
to be called "Staraya Rusa". A hundred years later, the word Russa started
to be spelled with double 'S'.
Spaso-Preobrazhenski monastery, XII с.
The first record of this town in the annals dates back
to the year 1167, when the prince Svyatoslav was exiled from Novgorod.
Further records in the. written sources reflect the events that took place
in the end of the 12th century. There, Russa was already represented as
' the established town, with housing, network of streets, squares, and
churches.
But let us go back to the moment of formation of the town. If historians
cannot help us, then let's resort to the legends. The most known one was
written in 17th century.
Two warriors, brothers Sloven and Rus, as they moved far to the North
from the Black Sea area, had been looking for quite a long time for a
good place for settlement. At last, they saw a beautiful lake. They named
it Ilmen, after their sister. And, by the advice from the Magi, the elder
brother founded the city, Slovensk-the-Great. And, he named the river
'Volkhv', to commemorate the wise Magi, or, Volkhv, in Russian. The younger
brother founded the town Rusa at the confluence of two rivers. And, named
those two rivers 'Polist' and 'Porusya', after his wife and daughter.
The legend about Sloven, Rus, Polist and Porusya
The legend does not say anything about the native population. However,
these lands had been populated already in the 2nd millennium B.C. The
findings of first archaeological expeditions of thirties and fifties have
proved that.
So, on the place where the Resurrection church in Staraya Russa is now
located, the remnants of residence of prehistoric man have been found,
- the stone axe dating back to the late Neolithic period, a piece of flint,
a fragment of ceramic pottery. Maybe, the first dwellers in these picturesque
places were attracted by the mild climate. Winter, though long, is not
cold. Summer is relatively warm, with prevailing sunny days. Rivers and
lakes rich with fish, forests full of wild animals and birds. The Finno-Ugric
tribes used to live here in prehistoric time. They made their living at
the expense of the natural resources of the area, without any embellishment
or change of the original nature. Everything changed with the coming of
Slavic tribe headed by Sloven and Rus to these virgin lands. The newcomers
were more advanced. They were not satisfied with little. They started
to construct the town of log houses. They started to make salt, the queen
of spices in medieval times, from the natural salty springs which were
abundant here.
Saltworks opened the glorious page in the history of the ancient town
on Polist' river. And, now we are going to narrate about it.
Birch-bark letter from Staraya Russa, XIII c.
... Undoubtedly, it was exactly the saltworks that developed the town.
Expeditions have found the remnants of evaporating kilns and salt trays
in the earliest archaeological layers. Saltworks became the basis of the
economy of Staraya Russa and the main occupation of its inhabitants for
many centuries. In ancient times, salt was the commodity of strategic
importance. Merchants offered 12 measures of wheat for 1 measure of salt.
Natural mineral springs on the southern shore of the lake allowed to extract
salt with least cost and in considerable volumes. Owners of Staraya Russa
saltworks, princes, boyars and monasteries, made big profit from sales
of salt. The richest and most influential people tried to get possession
of saltworks in Rusa. The salt springs were not less valuable than the
gold deposits. Low-cost salt and convenient geographical location of the
town promoted development of trade. Here passed waterways connecting the
Baltic, the Black and Caspian seas. Salt attracted merchants from Denmark,
Baltic states, Poland and Asia. The famous waterway "from Varangians to
Greeks" passed through Staraya Russa.
Axe-shaped amulet, XII c.
Apart from salt, the traded merchandise included wax,
honey, fat, flax, hemp, tar, furs, handicraft items. The written sources
narrate, and archaeological findings prove that by the end of 12th century
Rusa was the established rich town. The scholars studying the region say
that on the place where the most ancient Our Savior's Transfiguration
church is located, there used to be the first temple built by Christians.
It was made of wood. In May, 1198, the foundation of the stone church
was laid. It took only 70 days to build the temple. 22 years later, the
Kosinsky monastery was founded. Unfortunately, now this architectural
monument of the 13th century is abandoned and deteriorating. All inhabitants
of the town are looking forward to the revival of the ancient sacred temple.
The first steps towards this are made at the expense of voluntary contributions.
In 14th dud 15th centuries Rusa achieved its peak of economical development.
Salt output then was several hundred tons per year. By the end of 15th
century the town area exceeded 200 hectares. By its population and number
of households the town ranked fourth among all Russian towns, going after
Moscow, Pskov and Novgorod.
Excavations on Borisoglebsky site , XII c.
At the turn of 70-ies of 19th century, because of the
competition from cheaper salt from Volga and Kama regions, the Staraya
Russa saltworks started to degrade. But the generous gift of Mother Nature
- the mineral springs - did not allow the saltworks town to perish. From
the middle of 19th century, Staraya Russa bесamе known as the resort town.
Since ancient times Russa dwellers had known about the curative qualities
of mineral springs and used them to cure different illnesses. Once the
doctor from Saint-Petersburg, Ranch by name, saw how adults and children
were getting soiled in the mud pool. By his recommendation, the curative
muds from Staraya Russa were analyzed, and the construction of the medical
treatment facility with mud baths, or, mineral water institution, was
started. Since the middle of 19th century, the institution became the
property of the emperor's family. The excellent qualities of the water
and muda, which were not worse than the famous European ones, brought
good reputation to Staraya Russa. Scrofula, eye diseases, backaches and
leg problems, suffocation and chest, cough, skin diseases and women's
illnesses brought many noble people here each summer. Some premises of
this curative institution were built for lower rank visitors.
The health resort " Staraya Russa" in XIX c.
The first theatre in Novgorod province was built here for entertainment
of the public. Since 1904 here performed one of the best provincial theatre
troupes under the guidance of the famous impresario Konstantin Nezlobin.
Plays staged by him, by reminiscences of theatre connoisseurs, were noted
for good actor performance, and the repertoire was much the same as that
of the best capital theatres. The troupe gave up to 5 performances a week,
and there were balls held on Sundays.
On the stage of Staraya Russa theatre the Russian theatre stars performed,
too. The legendary actresses Vera Komissarzhevskaya, Maria Savina, Maria
Andreyeva. Maria Andreyeva, was accompanied at the resort by Alexei Maksimovich
Gorky. In a mocking manner, in the letter to his little son, the writer
gave the following characteristics of Staraya Russa: "I am living in the
town where there is not a single book shop. Instead, there are springs
of very salty water coming from under the earth... I swim in the salty
water, and I have become as salty as herring myself."
The reminisсеnсеs of the resort town became sо unforgettable that several
years later they found reflection in the novel by Gorky "Klim Samgin".
There is another depiction of Staraya Russa in the Russian literature.
Our town is the location where action of the novel "Brothers Karamazovs"
by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevski takes place. It is known that Dostoyevski
suffered from a serious disease epilepsy. And, he had medical treatment
by mineral waters of Staraya Russa. For the first time the writer came
to the resort in 1872. After that, for 8 years this town became a constant
recreation place for himself and his family. As he said, "the place of
physical and moral peace".
Their first summer the Dostoyevski family spent at the house of Roumyantsev,
the priest of the St. George's church. In 1873, they moved to the separate
house on Pererytitsa river. 3 years later, the family bought this summer
cottage from the lieutenant colonel Gribbe, the former house owner. Later,
many immortal masterpieces were created here: part of the novel "Demons",
almost the whole of the novel "Teenager", the bigger part of the "Brothers
Karamazovs", several issues of the writer's diary". Needless to say, how
dear is this house for each one who respects the talent of this great
humanist. Every year, in May, in the memorial house museum of the: writer,
the international literature conferences in the memory of Dostoyevski
are held. For several days the leading experts who study the creations
of Dostoyevski, gather here from around the world, to the shade of the
willows of Staraya Russa.
F.Dostoyevski (1821-1881)
Dostoyevski was living a secluded life in Staraya Russa,
dedicating himself to work and family. Far from the noise of the capital
life, the fits of epilepsy happened to him less frequently, and were not
so strong. From time to time, the writer received guests. Among guests
of Dostoyevski therewere Agrippina Menshova, who was the prototype of
Groushenka, Ivan Roumyantsev, the friend and confessor of Dostoyevski.
As a believer, Fyodor Mikhailovich frequently went to the St. George's
church. And, for sure, he happened to visit the Resurrection church where
the second, more perfect replica of the miraculous icon of the Virgin
of Staraya Russa was kept.
The icon of the Virgin has been adored by Russa inhabitants for a long
time, and our story about Staraya Russa would be incomplete if we did
not mention this holy icon, which came here for the first time from Greece
and became the favorite of Russa dwellers. Then, it was lost for three
hundred years, found and lost again...
The miraculous icon of the Virgin of Staraya Russa
This icon of the Virgin appeared in Russa miraculously - it was a gift
in 1470 from the compassionate people from the Greek town Oleopol to their
brothers in God, the Russa inhabitants, after they learned about, the
terrible plague that took away the lives of 28 priests and 1300 monks
in Russa. The priests of Oleopul sent their blessing to Russa with the
icon, which they adored themselves. A hundred years later, the dwellers
of the town of Tikhvin asked Russa people to let the wonder-working icon
go to them, to help them get rid of misfortunes and epidemics, just in
the way it helped Russa once. Russa people did not object.
The Tikhvin town, which believed into the miraculous qualities of the
icon did not want to part with the Staraya Russa icon. Only three centuries
later, it became possible to return the Defender icon thanks to the protection
of the great prince Vladimir Alexandrovich Romanov, who was cured at the
resort. On 17th of October, 1888, the original icon of the Virgin was
returned from Tikhvin to Staraya Russa.
St. George's church, XV c.
It is definitely known that the icon was kept
in Staraya Russa till June 1941. Sine then, its location is unknown. And
the Orthodox believers can only guess what happened to it, - whether it
had been taken abroad by Nazis, or, it has been kept somewhere in a secret
storage, away from malicious people.
Now, it is the time to tell about terrible times, when Godless actions,
disastrous for the town, took place. The loss of the miraculous icon,
which was the defendant of the tow»), became one of the misfortunes that
came to the land of Staraya Russa...
During its long history, Staraya Russa more than once suffered from the
destructive raids from the West. But never had it been so close to complete
elimination as during the Great Patriotic war. "The town that will never
be revived", - wrote Nazis on the postcards with the views of ruined Staraya
Russa. Invaders did not have any mercy to the ancient town and its inhabitants.
Of almost three thousand constructions, which were there before the war,
only four houses survived; of 40 thousand people - only 165 people left.
On the 5th of July, 1941, first bombs fell on the town. Since then, the
enemy's raids continued without a stop. The invasion of German intruders
to the town was accompanied by construction of gallows. On the streets,
the mass executions took place. Nazis organized a garage in the Resurrection
church. The cruelty of Nazis was such that citizens went to the woods,
where they joined the partisan troops and revenged the enemy for their
humiliated land and killed relatives. Successful operations of partisans
forced Nazis to maintain substantial forces here, thus keeping them off
the besieged Leningrad.
On the 18th of February, 1944, the town was taken back by soldiers of
the 1st Army. Those who were first to enter the town witnessed a horrible
picture. The military journalist Yuri Korolkov wrote: "Gloomy February.
Not a single live soul among the ruins. All is dead and abandoned... There
has been no ancient town with a thousand year old history. Even among
our long-suffering towns, swept over by the war, Staraya Russa has suffered
the most bitter lot."
Unknown soldiers of Great Patriotic War
Unfortunately, the war took away actually all historical
monuments of the civil architecture. They had to be restored according
to the remaining drawings and photographs. The diversity of constructions
of 18th century and the beginning of 19th century had to be restored bit
by bit. And, though today's Russa is in a way different from what it used
to be, Russa's inhabitants managed to revive their city from ashes, and
this is most important. Time and capital investments will solve the task
of returning the beautiful original appearance to the town.
Today Staraya Russa is the administrative district center.. Its area constitutes
24 square kilometers, its population is 40,5 thousand people. In Staraya
Russa district there live another 20 thousand people. Total area, including
arable land, is over three thousand square kilometers. The town is connected
by railroad and automobile highways with Moscow, St.Petersburg, Novgorod,
Pskov, Baltic and Byelorussian cities.
Staraya Russa is the administrative district center
Staraya Russa is the third by the size town in Novgorod
region, one of cultural and industrial centers of the non-blacksoil region
of Russia. An organic combination of the past and contemporary features
is one of attractive peculiarities of the town. Quiet, smooth-paced lifestyle
of this provincial town, its clean air are so much characteristic of the
Russian province. But, the health resort and large industrial enterprises,
which continue developing despite the difficulties in connection with
the economical reforms in the country, make Staraya Russa the town with
big perspectives.
The 123rd Аircraft Repair Plant
The central, town developing enterprise is the 123rd
aircraft repair plant, which belongs to the armed force of Russia. In
1997, the enterprise obtained the certificate of the federal aviation
service of Russian Federation, which gave to the company the right to
repair civil aviation equipment. The company was also granted certificates
of correspondence for all kinds of operative and periodical technical
maintenance of airplanes AN-12 and IL-76.
The enterprise performs relatively inexpensive and good quality overhaul
of aircraft of different modifications, engines for airplanes and power
stations, re-equipment of military aircraft for the civil purposes, including
measures for making airplane less heavy, re-equipment of the interior,
and operation of aircraft at international routes. Repair of air propellers
and components, of aircraft and engines is arried out. Painting of aircraft
of different types is offered by the enterprise, including polyurethane
paints. The plant implements the latest technologies, - computer, laser,
electric erosion, plasma technologies. R&D is carried out in the area
of automatization of production. The 123rd aircraft repair plant takes
an active part in international aviation and space exhibitions, cooperates
with companies dealing with operation of aircraft locally and abroad.
"Staroruspribor" factory
"Staroruspribor" factory, founded in 1959, is another
flagship of the economy of Staraya Russa. The factory used to be the leading
enterprise of the Soviet instrument-making. The public joint-stock company
"Staroruspribor" remains to be the leading company at the market of Russia
and New Independent States. The company specializes in production of components
for boilers with the capacity of 15 kWa up to 3.15 MWa. the manufactured
equipment provides for automatization of control and safe operation of
boilers. It consists of control units, gas burners, sensors, valves, igniters
and controlling electrodes.
Now, special attention is paid at the factory to production of metering
devices for measuring the consumption of heat and liquids in different
branches of industry - nuclear power generation, oil refineries, public
utilities. At the factory there have been developed and are successfully
functioning the management system adapter to the market economy, the Quality
Control and personnel training systems.
At its own expense, the factory is carrying out the projects of modification
and creation of new prototypes of equipment, with orientation on the leading
world technologies.
For several years already, "Staroruspribor" factory has been successfully
manufacturing consumer goods which are demanded at the market: gas burners
and boilers of different capacity for autonomous heating of individual
cottages. One of departments of the factory manufactures non-standard
equipment according to the drawings and sketches of the customer. "Staroruspribor"
factory is a reliable partner who abides by the principle of responsibility
in cooperation.
Governor M.Prusak and prof. M. Gorbanevski - editor-in-chief of
"Sobornaya Storona" internet - almanach
The third company in Staraya Ruysa by the size is the
factory of chemical machine building, "Staroruskhimmash". The factory
has the license issued by "Gosgortechnadzor", the state supervisory body,
which gives the right to develop and manufacture equipment for biological,
chemical, oil refinery, metallurgical and other production, made of carbon
steel, alloys and titanium, where there is the risk of fire and explosions
and hazardous production, and with operating pressures above 10 MPa.
"Starorushimash" factory
Serial products manufactured at the factory provide
the ecologically clean production process, which has been confirmed by
the ecological expertise. The factory offers its services for development
and manufacturing of equipment with good quality and to the time schedule,
according to the specification and the customer's project. The best in
town - designers work at the factory. Devices manufactured by the chemical
machine building factory function reliably and without breakdowns at hundreds
of enterprises of Russia and in dozens foreign countries.
Since in Staraya Russa district the agricultural sector is strongly developed,
it is quite natural that the processing companies play an important role
in the town economy. In Staraya Russa there arc large factories for processing
meat, flax, milk, food production companies. Local authorities are doing
their best to help enterprises in the complex conditions of economic reforms.
The emphasis is made on the investment projects, which can support production.
The favorable investment climate has been created on the territory of
the district. Joint ventures are exempt from local taxes till the complete
pay-off of investment projects.
The former cheese-making company "Alpha", which is now the limited liability
company "Lacto-Novgorod", can be considered as the example of beneficial
influence of foreign investments. In the beginning of 1998, the Estonian
enterprise "Lacto" purchased 86% of shares of the former company, and
thus helped to solve a series of economical problems, increase the assortment
of products, production output, improve product quality and generally
improve the image of the factory. Now, «Lacto-Novgorod» produces packed
and bulk milk, several types of cheese, 2 types of kefir, sour cream with
20% fat content, fat and fat-free cottage cheese, milk sugar and technical
casein. Products of «Lacto-Novgorod» are in demand not only in Staraya
Russa, but also in Saint-Petersburg, Moscow and many other cities in the
Northwest region of Russia.
But, undoubtedly, the real pearl of the town on Polist’ river is the health
resort «Staraya Russa». In September 1998, the resort celebrated its 170th
anniversary. Today, It is one of the oldest and most popular resorts in
Russia. This can be explained not only by the beneficial geographical
location. The resort «Staraya Russa» is a complex facility. The whole
family can both recreate and, undergo medical treatment here. Convenient
buildings are at the service of patients. Simultaneously up to 930 visitors
can be accommodated in single, double and de luxe rooms. Here patients
with different diseases are treated: diseases of digestion organs, limbs,
bones, peripheral nervous system, gynecological diseases. There is a large
experience of curing children. Visitors who have a rest here, spend a
lot of time outside, in the fresh air, swim in salt lakes, sunbathe on
the well-equipped beach.
The curative muda of the health resort "Staraya Russa"
Material, technical and medical base of the resort is constantly improving
and developed. According to a special project, there have been constructed
the mineral water gallery, water curative center, mineral water swimming
pool, sports hall.
The resort «Staraya Russa» now possesses 100 hectares of the natural park
with three salt lakes and seasonal flood areas, mud and mineral water
medical treatment facilities, polyclinic, including all required equipment
and diagnostics facilities, equipped with modern equipment. By the curative
properties of its mineral springs, the resort «Staraya Russa» ranks among
such world-known resorts as Wiesbaden, Kreutznach, Baden-Baden. The curative
properties of Staraya Russa muds are the best in Europe. There are 9 mineral
springs on the territory of the resort. Two of them are springs with low
mineralization. The rest are with high mineralization. The salt lakes
never get frozen all year round. They create zones with increased ionization
of air in the park, a special microclimate which beneficially influences
the patients.
The Muravyovski spring
The Muravyovski spring is considered to be the symbol
of the resort. It was made in 1858. The strongest in Europe natural mineral
water spring demonstrates the limitless natural stock of Staraya Russa.
The whole life-style of the resort, its order and environment demonstrate
the high culture of this institution, care and attention of personnel
to its patients.
However, the Northern resort town gives not only health. It provides opportunities
for a nice leisure here. You can have a pleasant and useful pastime. In
the first place, the town, which, according to one scientific version,
gave the name to the whole power, has a very interesting past. Each year,
archaeologists go deeper and deeper into the thick cultural layer of soil
in the center of the old town.
12.07 - The Day of Staraya Russa, the official holyday
By now, scientists have already found the wooden pavement, which dates
back to the 12th century. The unique findings of archaeological expeditions,
including the birch bark documents, make the town of Russa older and older.
All these findings are exhibited, in the exhibition hall of the local
regional museum. Here you can also see most interesting displays, which
narrate about life and household activities of ancient Slavs. There is
the art gallery located in one of the premises of the museum complex located
inside the former monastery of Our Savior's Transfiguration (Spaso-Preobrazhenski).
"The boat on Ilmen-Lake" A.Konstantinov (water-color)
One can also get acquainted with the works of local artists in the exhibition
hall, which is located in the building of the center of folk crafts and
trades. Amateurs of handicraft will be definitely interested in the works
of craftsmen of Staraya Russa. Lace, ceramics, items made of beads, clay,
birch bark, twig and other natural materials.
Experienced tour guides can get you acquainted with the places of interest
in the town. Very diverse routes are offered: the On
resort, historical and architectural ensembles of the town, and trips
to the Ilmen lake, which before used to be called the
Slovenskoe sea, to the Life-giving spring, to the Leochnovski monastery.
The setting of sun on the Ilmen lake…
The local tour agency offers group tours around the
historical places in Novgorod and neighboring Pskov regions, with visits
to the ancient kremlins, Pskov and Pecherski monastery, Izborsk, Pushkin
national park. Adorers of Dostoyevski can visit the memorial house-museum
of the writer and go on an interesting excursion around the places connected
with his novels written in Staraya Russa.
The young folk-dancers (Staraya Russa Art School)
In the local museums and art galleries, visitors can
buy paintings, handicraft items, different souvenirs reminding of the
town and the resort. Those who like to spend time in the fresh air, can
enjoy an exotic real in the most picturesque hook — the hunter's log house
on the lake. Here it is possible to hunt and fish all year round in the
Russian way: to hunt a bear, a moose, a wild boar, to hunt a hare with
hound, to hunt a wolf with flags, a wood grouse or a black grouse, to
go with a gun for a woodcock. After hunting and fishing, you' are welcome
to the recreation base with the Russian steam-bath, swimming-pool, sauna.
Many things in Staraya Russa attract and enchant visitors who came here
once. Having visited our small provincial town, you will definitely want
to come back again to the quiet streets and alleys.
Each year the cultural sister-city relations of Staraya Russa become stronger.
It has friends not only in Europe and Scandinavian countries, but also
on American and Australian continents. And when the big friend of Staraya
Russa, academician Dmitri Likhachev was asked by Russian immigrants, where
they had to go «to breathe in the motherland» and «where Russia could
be seen», he answered: «Come to Staraya Russa!».
