Nizhny Novgorod Region. Lake Svetloyar. Kitezh
Neither Russian historical thought, nor Orthodox theology answered the question “where did the Russian land come from” so plainly. But it is precisely known "where the Russian land has gone". Under the water. She drowned back in the 13th century. To find it, it is recommended to dive into Lake Svetloyar, the goal is the "Underwater Kingdom of Kitezh".
In 1237, when the Tatar evil spirits were burning holy Russia, a certain traitor showed the invaders the way to Kitezh. The city was located in a remote swampy area, so refugees flocked there in the hope that the invaders would pass by. The Mongols found the city, laid siege to it, and for several days stormed the Kitezh walls. It was here that the mystical and unknown happened. When it became clear that the city would be taken, all of its inhabitants closed in numerous churches and prayed for salvation.
The chronicle says that the miracle happened. In front of the astonished enemy soldiers, Kitezh disappeared - its churches, towers, and chambers disappeared under the water. Where Kitezh had just stood, Lake Svetloyar appeared. Since then, bell chimes, church chants, chirping birds, barking dogs and similar special effects have been heard from under the water.
To this day, the legend of Kitezh is associated with the belief in the existence of a spiritual and mystical center on the Russian earth, opposing the Antichrist and all evil.
Russian spiritual and mystical center
One of the first documents describing a journey to an enchanted place was a letter from a certain soldier, dated 1702. Relatives considered him dead, but, as follows from the message, all this time he lived in Bolshoy Kitezh. In a letter, the soldier talks about the religious practices of the holy inhabitants of the city: "Every night their prayers rose into the sky like pillars of fire, and in this light one could freely read and write."
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The first archaeological expedition to the lake was organized in 1968. It was then that the geologist V. Nikishin established that Svetloyar was formed at the site of the collapse of the earth's crust. Scuba divers and hydrologists found that the bottom of the reservoir consists of three levels located at different depths: 9.23 and 31 m. Analysis of the rocks raised from the bottom made it possible to determine that the deepest part of the sinkhole arose 1,500 years ago, the second - 700 years ago. the third - 400. Thus, scientists have confirmed that in the XIII century there was a serious natural disaster. In addition, they found the remains of civilization at the bottom - shards and bones.
Despite all your sins, you have a very good chance to “hear and see”. They say that everyone who spends two or three months near the lake receives their portion of holiness. Some see a column of monks walking on the water at night, others - Central Russian beauties in kokoshniks dancing in the middle of the lake during the day. Members of the community "Kitezh" (more than twenty people permanently residing here) can tell dozens of similar cases-visions. Where there is Castaneda with his mescaline.