During the attack of the British frigate "Miranda" in 1854 during the Crimean War, the city of Kola was almost completely destroyed. The destruction of an outstanding monument of Russian wooden architecture - the Resurrection Cathedral - was a particularly heavy loss. The Cathedral, along with the Transfiguration Cathedral in Kizhi, was one of the largest multi-domed churches in the Russian North. It was built of large pine logs and had nineteen chapters. The central part had a height of about 37 m. Inside the cathedral there was a two-tiered rich iconostasis with icons decorated with gold, silver and pearls, including a temple icon of the Resurrection of Christ measuring 160 × 140 centimeters. According to legend, at the site of the burnt cathedral, in a heap of ash and charred remains, the altarpiece of the Mother of God was found, which remained completely unharmed.
Text of an article from the English newspaper The Illustrated London News, October 7, 1854
A small squadron of twenty-six-gun Eurydice, fifteen-gun Miranda and fourteen-gun Brisk was sent to the White Sea in July 1854 to destroy Russian shipping and the coastal fortifications of Russian Lapland. On July 23, the city of Novitska [probably meaning the Solovetsky Monastery] was attacked and burned down by Miranda and Agile. On August 23, the Miranda dropped anchor near Kola, the capital of Russian Lapland. The armistice flag was hung on the mast, requiring the surrender of the fortress, garrison and state property. The team remained in their places throughout the night, but in the morning no response from the shore was received. The armistice flag was lowered and the ship, approaching the shore for 250 yards, opened fire with cannonballs and buckshot. A troop was landed under the command of Lieutenant Mackenzie and Mate Mister Manhorpe, who, commanding the sailors and the marines, swords in hand, drove the enemy from the battery and captured the cannons. Heavy fire was opened on them from the towers of the monastery, but soon they drove out the garrison, which fled. The monastery, along with all buildings and the state arsenal, was engulfed in fire and completely destroyed.
Cola is thirty miles upriver with very difficult navigation, strong currents and often so narrow that there is barely enough room to turn the boat. Also, Captain Lyens had unreliable information about the number of the enemy, but nothing could stop his decisive actions, and in the end, as we have seen, he was rewarded with complete success. Considering the difficulties encountered, this was one of the most courageous acts shown by the sailors in the north. In the fall, the Miranda returned to England and from there went to join the British fleet in the Black Sea.
About the British attack on Cola. Report
TsGAVMF, f.19, Menshikov, d.178a, l. 82, le 6 janvier 1854.
Promotional video:
To the chief of the gendarmes, Mr. Adjutant General and Knight Count Orlov. Now a report has been received by the Arkhangelsk military governor from the city of Kola that on the 11th of this month the English steamer Miranda approached the city of Kola and demanded the surrender of the city, but the adjutant of the Arkhangelsk military governor, Lieutenant Brunner, who was there at that time and received the command, resolutely refused the enemy this requirement, then from the steamer fire was opened on the city with hot cannonballs, bombs and grenades, in addition, the enemy attempted to land several times, sending barges with armed men to the shore, but each time was repelled by Lieutenant Brunner with 50 people from the Kola invalid teams, with the help of armed residents. During the battle, which resumed on the 12th, about 110 houses, 2 churches were burned down by intensified enemy fire,of which one is a stone, a bread and a salt store, and now in the town of Kola there are only 18 houses and bread for the inhabitants of food for 2 months; there were no killed or wounded on our side, but one was wounded and 2 people were bruised. I have the honor to convey to your Excellency.
Lieutenant Colonel Sokolov
