The historical festival “Siege of Kirillo-Belozersky” was held on the territory of the New Town of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery-Museum-Reserve. More than 200 reenactors from various Russian military history clubs showed how the monastery withstood the attack of Polish-Lithuanian invaders 400 years ago.
Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve
From 1612 to 1618 the monastery was attacked several times.
The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery arose at the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th centuries. In 1397, the monk Kirill Belozersky dug a cave on the shore of Lake Siverskoye, where he settled. Here the history of the monastery began. From 1612 to 1618 the monastery was attacked several times. The first time was on August 20, 1612. Then the enemies burned several wooden buildings outside the walls.
In the winter of the same year they tried again. They tried to set fire to the buildings inside the fortress with “fire arrows”; 700 attackers launched an attack from all sides at once. But they were rejected.
A year later, Polish-Lithuanian troops approached the monastery again. But when they saw the mighty walls, they retreated. There was also no assault in 1614. The monastery fortifications became even stronger. In 1618, Polish-Lithuanian troops left Belozerye forever.
Seeing the powerful walls of the monastery, the interventionists retreated. Photo: Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve
The actual reconstruction of the siege was watched by thousands of spectators. In addition, there were demonstration performances by military history clubs: there was a historical fashion show, equestrian tournaments and a medieval fair. Reenactors demonstrated fencing, archery and weapon throwing techniques.
One of the organizers of the festival, Vladimir Terekhov, noted that all costumes are historically verified. Each corresponds to the era of the Troubles. Not only a tailor works on the creation of a garment, but also an entire team: a blacksmith, an engraver, a foundry man, a shoemaker.
