Материал по страноведению "Старооскольский край" на английском языке

 Water is the beginning supporting our life. Every person is closely connected with the element of water and our native Stary Oskol district is rich in springs. Nowadays it has 22 springs; some of them are inconspicuous, others are Holy Springs, which are known not only by locals, but also by visitors.[1]

 Let's begin our tour around holy springs, taking the traffic police post Kaplino as the starting point. After travelling 2 km to the east, we turn to the country road and after 150 m we can see the birch grove in the depths of which stands a wooden well deck. It’s Zhukovsky well, named after the village of ?hukovo which was here a long time ago. The depth of the well is 3.5 m. According to the legend, during the reign of Tsar Nicholas, The Kursk-Root Icon of Our Lady of the Sign rose to the surface of this well. The water of this spring has healing powers and cures many ailments.[2]

Returning to the starting point we go on the central road 50 km ahead and then turn to the right. We are met by the village of Sorokino in which there is a 12 m. high chapel. In this chapel there is a spring consecrated in honor of John the Baptist. It is possible to see many icons with holy figures on the walls of this chapel. The sanctification of this spring took place on July 7, 1987. The water of this source has medical power. [3]

Now we come back to the central road and go 48 km in the southern direction to get to the village of Babaninka. There is a holy spring here which is consecrated in honor of the Holy Virgin Mary and the icon of the Sign. The spring has a well with a shade and a set of icons. As villagers say there was a woman who was washing hands in a stream and saw the face of the Holy Virgin Mary. She was shocked as she saw a healing stream running. Since then worship services are conducted near this spring. [3]

Then our path lies to the south-east of the village of Zmeevka. There is the holy spring which is consecrated in honor of Saint Nicholas. According to the legend, in 30s of the XX century a grandfather Anton the resident of the village saw the icon of Saint Nicholas at the bottom of the well. All attempts to get the icon out were unsuccessful. Only after the prayer service people managed to get the icon out and the well was consecrated in honor of Saint Nicholas, and it is called the "Sacred Well". Stary Oskol District residents visit this holy place, asking the blessing and healing, sprinkling themselves with sacred water.[3]

The following holy place is situated in the north-east of Stary Oskol district between the villages of Sergeevka and Znamenka. At the foot of the cretaceous mountain there is the spring where the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov was found, so this spring was consecrated in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The well was built here and the stairs leading to the baptismal font. Church services are held here and residents say about the healing of all people who suffer, who pray to God and dip into the sacred font. [4]

Driving along the country road to the northeast we get to the village of Rogovatoye. Then we have to go 800 m to the east from the rural church and we’ll see the well with spring water named "Jordan". The residents of the village and Stary Oskol district drink water from this well, sprinkle their dwellings and outbuildings to get a blessing.[3]

Near the village of Rogovatoe there is the village of Nikolaevka. We can get there if we go to the northwest. There is a spring of the Holy Prophet Elijah. This is, perhaps, the most unusual holy spring as it is dangerous to dip there but it is useful to drink its holy water. Moreover, unlike other sacred sources, church services aren't carried out here.[5]

The last point of our excursion about holy places is the village of Logvinovka. Here is the spring "Potudansky" which is consecrated in honor of the St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is located. The equipped top platform is capable to place many people during Church services. Many pilgrims receive healing thanks to sacred waters of this spring. [6]

If you look at the route of our trip to the holy places you can see that their locations form a cross. Kaplino-Zmeevka-Sorokino, Babaninka-Sergeevka, Znamenka Rogovatoe, Novonikolaevka, Logvinovka. Who knows, maybe it is not accidental and the location of the holy springs protects our Stary Oskol district.

Используемая литература:

1.       Богданович Н.В. «У чистых истоков»//Старый Оскол.:ОООТНТ,2003.

2.       Икона Божьей Матери//Божий мир. 2006г. №6

3.       http://www.svyato.info/

4.       http://oskol.ru/

5.       http://znam.oskoluno.ru/

6.       http://ashkalov.ru/