International Journal of
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Short Communication Volume 6 Issue 3
Holy springs and wells of the leningrad region
Yu N Golubchikov,1
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EI Stepanova2
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1Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
2St. Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Correspondence: Yu N Golubchikov, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, Tel +79060965189
Received: May 16, 2022 | Published: May 30, 2022
Citation: Golubchikov YN, Stepanova EI. Holy springs and wells of the leningrad region. Int J Hydro. 2022;6(3):102-105. DOI: 10.15406/ijh.2022.06.00308
Abstract
According to the results of the analysis of search queries an interest in information about holy springs has been revealed. An overview of 45 springs of the Leningrad region, attributed to the saints, is presented. Their map has been compiled (M: 1:200000). With the period of the population's self-isolation regime, Internet search queries for natural holy springs are also increasing. Statistical analysis of posts of thematic communities of the VKontakte social network by the tool "Khitalama" testifies to the social demand for information about holy springs references. These data serve as a promising source of information about behavioral geography. It is proposed to improve the network of specially guarding natural territories by including holy springs in it as objects of health, ecological, educational and pilgrimage tourism. On the example of the Leningrad Region, the foundations for the creation of a unified geoinformation system of holy springs are laid.
Keywords: holy springs, pandemic, natural monuments
Introduction
Spring water is endowed with extraordinary healing power. Legends and lores related to the sources are given. Therefore, chapels, churches or monasteries have long been located near holy springs. The springs themselves were constructed in the form of wells, grottoes, chapels and fonts.1,2
The purpose of the study
To reveal the significance of the holy springs of the Leningrad region as a resource for health routes planning and creating of ecological and educational tours during the (post)pandemics.
Research methodology
A content analysis of literature devoted to the designated topic and relevant Internet sources, both Russian and other countries, was carried out. Information about the holy springs was mainly collected using the following publicly available information resources: Yandex. People 's Map, map made and edited by townspeople (http://www.n.maps.yandex.ru), a website about the holy springs of Russia (http://www.svyato.info.ru), information service "Kosmosnimki" (http://www.kosmosnimki.ru), Google Maps mapping service (http://www.google.ru/maps), the website of the information Internet project "Blagozdravnitsa" (http://www.blagozdravnica.ru), travel guide magazine "Go!" (http://www.poezhaika.ru). The scientific literature devoted to the use of springs as a tourist resource is insufficient and our work, to some extent, can fill this gap.
The results of the study
The journey to the natural holy springs combines elements of pilgrimage, medical, educational and cultural tourism. Landscape therapy in this field is connected with spiritual elevations, and geotourism with ancient beliefs and archaic. In a number of countries of the world, sacred springs and springs are legally classified as specially protected natural territories (protected areas) or objects of natural and cultural heritage.7,8 Ideas about the sanctity of the spring are based on the following provisions: the appearance of icons of saints that have arisen or already existed on the site (for example, Paraskeva Friday, St. Nicholas); taken out of the ground by saints; received grace-giving power through the prayers of the clergy of the Church.3
With the pandemic, Internet searches for natural holy springs (and wells) revered in a sacred context have increased. The interest of the population in studying the issue of searching for information about holy springs, data on existing ecological routes to places of religious worship, determined the trend of increased popularity of search queries on the Internet. Here are the results of the analysis of the most relevant of them (Figure 1).
Figure 1 Dynamics of search queries on the Yandex Internet portal for the period March 2020 - March 2022, dynamics of the self–isolation regime of the population.
To work with search queries, the Yandex Wordstat word selection service was used, which allows you to analyze user demand for information on key phrases with reference to time.
During the analysis of the attendance of information resources on objects of religious faith (holy springs), it was found:
- The increase in the number of requests for the phrase "holy springs of the Leningrad region" coincides with the period of self-isolation of the population (March-May 2020, January 2021, April-August 2021).
- A sharp surge in user interest in the queries "ecological tours", "pilgrimage tourism" coincides with the first months of the pandemic (March-June 2020).
- Among the top 5 regions for the largest search queries for "holy springs" are: Moscow and the Moscow region, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, Novosibirsk Region, Sverdlovsk Region and Krasnodar Krai.
Statistical analysis of the posts of the thematic communities of the Vkontakte social network with the tool "Khitalama" made it possible to determine the presence of social groups – communities whose activities indicate the social demand for information produced by these communities (Figure 2).
Figure 2 Summary indicators of thematic communities of the Vkontakte social network (December 2020 – March 2022).
The sample was based on the topic of the community, the number of subscribers (from 1.5 thousand to 2.5 thousand), these indicators of views and reposts of posts. Thus, revealed:
- Community "Spring of the village of Srednee Devyatino". The community consists of 1,432 members; the number of views of community posts is 59,773; peaks of community activity were observed in December – January 2020, in the period May 2021 - October 2021, which reflects the dynamics of appeals and requests for holy springs that we identified earlier;
- Community "Holy springs of Russia and abroad". There are 2,030 subscribers in the community. With a small number of posts, the data on views reaches values of 8,035 (an average of 670 views per 1 post).
- Community "Weekend tours. Samarskaya Luka, holy springs". This community has 1,968 subscribers, 37 posts; 15,549 views; 139 likes. The peaks of the rise in views of community materials were observed in the periods: May 2021 – 4,500; June 2021 – 3,800; July and August 2021 – 2,600;
- The community "The Living spring of Orthodoxy". The community has 2,352 subscribers. Peaks of views (range from 530 to 1640 views) were observed in the period from December to January 2021, as well as in October 2021.
The analysis of user activity data indicates the perception of the information of these communities as the most important and valuable, the desire to broadcast this information to more people.
The Leningrad region is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations to the holy water springs. We have examined 45 holy springs of the Leningrad region from 14 districts (Figure 3). Of these, 13 objects have the form of a well, 4 are arranged in the form of grottoes, 16 springs are equipped with chapels, 11 holy springs have a font, and worship crosses have been built on 11 objects. The richest in holy springs are the Boksitogorsky, Volkhovsky, Luga, Kingisepp and Lodeynopolsky districts.4,5,6 Their greatest concentration is confined to the basins of the rivers Sominka, Volkhov, Syas, Pasha, Narva, Luga, Oyat, Svir.
Figure 3 Quantitative ratio of holy springs by districts of the Leningrad region.
The list of all objects of religious worship is presented in Table 1. We have compiled a schematic map of the holy springs of the Leningrad region (Figure 4).
A spring, a number on the cartographic chart |
A spring, wooden font and a chapel, a monastery. |
|
The Holy spring of the Leusha Icon of Praise of the Mother of God |
1 |
A spring, a concrete well, a cross. The nearest church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul of the village of Somino |
Holy Dymskoye Lake |
2 |
A lake, a cross in a lake on a stone. There is a stone-wooden chapel. The history of the temple begins with the XIII century. |
The Holy Spring in the name of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All the Sorrowing" and the Holy Spring in honor of St. Nicholas |
3 |
Spring, wooden. The address of the Church of St. John of Kronstadt: 187640 |
46 Glavnaya str., Podborovye village, Boksitogorsky district, Leningrad region. |
||
The revered spring is the upper reaches of the White River in the village of Verkhovye |
4 |
Spring on the upper reaches of the White River |
The Holy Spring of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker |
5 |
Spring, wooden well, font: wooden covered. The nearest church is the Holy Trinity Women's compound of the Tikhvin Theotokos Dormition Monastery (Trinity Hermitage) in Senno |
Holy Spring in the name of Saint Spyridon |
6 |
A spring, a cross, a concrete well. Consecrated 1.07.2012 |
The Holy Spring of the Mother of God and her icons are the Joy of All Those who are Grieving |
7 |
A spring, a wooden bathhouse. There is a font and a chapel since 2003. The service has been conducted since 18th. The nearest church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul of the village of Somino |
The Holy Spring of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa |
8 |
The spring does not work. The chapel was destroyed in 1961 |
Holy spring in the village of Sosnitsy |
9 |
The spring. There is a supraclades chapel |
Holy spring in the village of Khotnezhi |
10 |
Spring, worship cross |
The Holy Spring of Panteleimon the Healer |
11 |
The spring. There is a wooden font, a chapel since 2004 |
The Holy Spring of Eupraxia |
12 |
A spring, a closed wooden well, a wooden cross, a wooden open font. The spring begins its history with the 18th century. Since 27.09.2003, the procession from the Assumption Monastery has been held annually. |
Holy Spring of the Icon of the Kazan Mother of God |
13 |
A spring, a wooden well 3x3 m., there is a font, a wooden chapel since 1996. The service is conducted on July 21 and November 4 |
Holy spring and font in the name of St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa in Staraya Ladoga |
14 |
The spring. There is a stone font, a wooden cross. The spring begins its history from the 9th century. |
The well of the holy vic. Barbarians in the Assumption Convent in Staraya Ladoga |
15 |
The well. There is a wooden chapel above the altar since 2011. |
The Holy Spring is Bottomless |
16 |
The well. Icon “Our Lady of Kazan” |
|
||
Spring of Martiria Zelenetsky |
17 |
The well. There is a wooden chapel above the altar |
Holy Spring in Sertolovo |
18 |
Wooden well |
Holy spring near the village of Rozhdestveno |
19 |
Cave, font |
The Holy Spring of Vybye |
20 |
The spring. There is a wooden font and a wooden chapel |
The holy spring of the vic. Catherine |
21 |
The spring. Pipe in the cliff |
Spring in Manuilovo |
22 |
The spring. Wooden Cross |
Ilyinsky Holy Spring |
23 |
Springs in the pond. There is a chapel. |
Holy Spring of the Most Holy Theotokos |
24 |
The spring. There is a wooden font since 2006, a wooden chapel since 2006. The history of the existence of the spring has been conducted since 1700. |
Holy spring in Vasilkovo |
25 |
A spring on the Ingor River. The Cross of Worship |
Holy spring in the name of the Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All the sorrowing" Zmeeva Novelty |
26 |
The spring. There is a chapel above the spring, a log font, a wooden chapel since 1995. The spring has existed since the 19th century. |
The Holy spring in Lezye near Mga |
27 |
The spring. There is a wooden font. There has been a spring, a stone stake, for more than 150 years. |
The Holy Spring of the Icon of the Mother of God is an Unexpected Joy |
28 |
The spring. Stone Sculpture of the Mother of God Sovereign. There is a Church of All the Sorrowful Joy 2007-2010 on the hill. The history of the spring dates back to 1917. Consecrated 21.03.2007 |
The Holy spring of the Icon of the Theotokos is a life-giving spring |
29 |
A spring, a pond is located nearby. There is a closed bathhouse since 2011, in 2005 there was a chapel over the spring. |
The Holy Spring of Alexander Svirsky |
30 |
The spring. There is a stone chapel above the altar from 1791. The history of the holy spring begins with the XVI century. Holy Trinity Alexander Svirsky Monastery. |
Holy spring in the name of the Icon of the Tikhvin Mother of God |
31 |
The spring. There is a wooden chapel from 9.07.2004. The history of the spring begins with the 18th century. |
Holy Spring of the Tervenichi Icon of the Mother of God |
32 |
A spring on the shore of the lake. There is a stone font, a stone chapel above the altar since 1997. The service takes place every Sunday, on the Intercession of the Most Holy Queen, Mother of God there is a night service |
The holy spring of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa near the village of Syabero |
33 |
The spring. A font is being built, there is a wooden chapel since 2013. The first chapel was built by A. Nevsky 13th century. The revered stone "Paraskeva-matushka". |
Holy Spring of the Most Holy Theotokos "Pecherskaya" in Turovo |
34 |
The spring. The well of the stream. There is a font since 2002, a wooden chapel since 2013. The spring has been known since the 16th century. The procession with the Holy Water prayer takes place on the first Friday of the Petrov Fast |
Holy cave spring "Kuzovnitsa" in Kleskushy |
35 |
Spring. Grotto. The history of the existence of the spring begins in the 15th century |
Holy spring of the Holy Martyr Tryphon Gorodetsky in the village of Gorodets |
36 |
Spring, a well made of a wooden frame, a chapel-bath with a font. The story begins in the 16th century. Procession and illumination January 18, 2015 |
Holy spring in the name of the blessed Princes-passion-bearers Boris and Gleb |
37 |
The spring, the spring is landscaped, there is an open font and a place for changing clothes, a worship cross is installed nearby |
St. Nicholas Holy Spring on Lake Slavyanka |
38 |
A spring on the shore of Lake Slavyanka. There is a pillar with an icon of St. Nicholas |
The Holy Key |
39 |
The spring is swampy, not used |
The Holy Spring of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Dolozhskaya cave |
40 |
The spring. Dolozhskaya cave on the bank of the Dolgaya River. A stone in the river with a trace of the Virgin. View: cave, worship cross. There is a font in the Dolgaya River. The history of the spring begins with the 18th century. Service: 28.08.2011 - Procession in Zaruchye |
The Holy spring of Praskeva Friday |
41 |
A spring on the shore of Lake Penino. There is a wooden font, a stone chapel from 1901, consecrated by John of Kronstadt |
Holy spring of Kushela (Ivan Ruchy, Ivanovskie ruchy) |
42 |
Grotto. The history of the source from the 18th century |
Karst springs "Kipuny" near the village of Lukino |
43 |
12 powerful karst springs united under one name "Big Cascade" or "Kipuny" |
Holy Spring in Shapki |
44 |
Spring. Has a memorial cross |
Holy spring in the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the village Pesochnoe (Grafskoe) |
45 |
Spring. There is a wooden chapel over the spring in the name of Seraphim of Sarov since 1997, History - more than 100 years since the end of the 19th century. |
Table 1 Holy springs of the Leningrad region
Figure 4 Map-diagram of holy springs in the Leningrad region. The numbering corresponds to Table 1.
According to the results of the expedition of the project "Springs of the Leningrad region 2019" and the analysis of water samples in the certified laboratory of the company "Khvalovsky Waters" ,9 water samples were taken in 18 holy springs. Only 10 springs were found to have suitable water for drinking: the holy spring of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (the village of Senno), the holy spring near the village of Rozhdestveno, the holy spring of Vybye, the holy spring of the Great Martyr Catherine (the city of Kingisepp), the holy spring of the Most Holy Theotokos (the village of Pillovo), the holy spring in Lezye near Mga, the holy spring Alexander Svirsky, the holy spring of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa near the village of Syabero, the holy spring of the Most Holy Theotokos "Pecherskaya" in Turovo, the holy spring of St. Martyr Trifon Gorodetsky in the village of Gorodets (source numbers on the schematic map: 5, 19, 20, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 34, 36).9
Conclusion
The growing demand for the creation of new educational and health tours to natural holy springs has been revealed. The necessity of assessing the prospects of holy springs for their inclusion in the network of guarding areas of the region is determined. Measures for their protection, control and monitoring are important for the preservation of the national wealth and culture of the country. The result of the development of the information base for the implementation of the development of new tourist routes in the Leningrad region will be the creation of an open GIS information system with route maps and GPS tracks for navigation to holy springs throughout Russia.
Acknowledgments
None.
Conflicts of interest
The author declares there is no conflict of interest.
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