The small Russian town of Belev, which inhabits only 13 thousand inhabitants, is located in the south-west of the Tula region, on the high bank of the Oka River, at the junction of the borders of three regions - Oryol, Kaluga and Tula. At approximately the same distance (a little over 100 km), it is remote from all three regional centers.
A bit about the city
The city of Belev is practically the same age as Moscow - the first mention of it has been preserved in chronicles dated 1147. In the 4th century, it was ruled by Lithuania and for some time it was the center of the specific principality. As part of the Russian state, he was an important strategic point.
In the XVIII century Belev lost its military significance and turned into a quiet provincial town, which remains to this day. Despite the small territory occupied by the city, there are many interesting and memorable places: temples, monasteries, museums. Description of Belev sights and photos we present in this review.
Museum of Local Lore
We suggest you start your acquaintance with the city by visiting the Museum of Local Lore, which was founded in 1910 as a museum of educational and visual aids. The basis of the exposition was items that were purchased at the agricultural exhibition by the Zemstvo Duma of Belev. A series of portraits of Russian emperors and princes was presented by the artist P.V. Zhukovsky, the son of a famous poet. He became the first trustee of the museum, where by that time the works of Repin, Aivazovsky, Savrasov, Shishkin had already been exhibited.
After the death of Zhukovsky (1912), the museum received his name. After the revolution, the collection was expanded and the museum was given the status of Local Lore. In 1941, the building in which the exposition was located was destroyed by fire. Some exhibits were lost. Only in 1960, it was decided to reopen the Museum of Local Lore in the city. Today it is one of the main attractions of the city of Belev in the Tula region.
The museum today occupies two floors in a merchant's mansion of the XIX century. Its main fund is more than 18 thousand exhibits, which is replenished every year with new finds. Here are departments that are dedicated to the history and nature of the city, as well as art.
Transfiguration Monastery
One of the most popular attractions in Belev. The Transfiguration of the Savior Monastery is the only surviving religious building of the XVI century in the Tula region. It was founded by local princes in 1525. In its heyday, it was a rich and large monastery. His estates included the estates of the individual princes, who, by order of Tsar Ivan IV, were transferred to the cloister, as well as land on the banks of the Oka River with a length of more than one hundred kilometers with lakes and tributaries. The monastery owned thirteen villages with peasants and estates.
In 1921, the monastery was closed by the new authorities. Domes and utensils were looted, some rooms were converted into residential ones. Today, a dilapidated monastery is being restored, however, not very quickly.
The monastery has preserved the Vvedensky church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, the temple of Metropolitan Alexy. In the necropolis lie the remains of honorary citizens. The relics of St. Nicephorus, which is especially revered by the locals, have been preserved here.
Christmas temple
One of the most famous sights of Belev in the Tula region is the ancient Orthodox church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was founded at the beginning of the 18th century. The temple building was one of the first stone structures built after a severe fire in 1719.
Over the long history, it was reconstructed several times, but the work was partial and had a local character. Bright examples of later buildings include the bell tower, built in 1876 in the pseudo-Russian style. In the course of yet another reconstruction of the temple (early XIX), two limits appeared. They are consecrated in honor of Sergius of Radonezh and Nicholas the Wonderworker.
The cathedral was closed in 1930, but quickly enough reopened in 1943. From that moment on, he never ceased his activities. It operates today. Today, this famous landmark of Belev has received the status of the cathedral of the Tula diocese. This is one of the most revered Orthodox churches in the region. Specialists recognize the condition of the building as ideal. Services are regularly held in the church, and the parish is famous for its missionary and charitable activities.
Makarievskaya Zhabyn desert
Along with the famous "places of power" of Tibet, Stonehenge and others in Russia there are several places whose energy is no less strong. In such places in antiquity pagan temples were located, and later monasteries were built. There is such an attraction in Belev.
On the grounds of the monastery of Macarius of Zhabynsky is the Macarius Cathedral, in which the relics of this saint are carefully preserved. Not far from the temple is a holy spring with a furnished bath. Near the source you can see an ancient oak tree, whose branches are hung with ribbons left by visitors.
Like many attractions of Belev, the source has a beautiful legend. In the Time of Troubles, when the Polish-Lithuanian invaders moved to Russia, Makarii lived on this land. Once an ascetic met a Pole from the army of Pan Lisovsky in the forest. He was dying of wounds and thirst.
Macarius felt sorry for the enemy and hit the ground next to him with his staff. Immediately at this place began to beat the life-giving key. The warrior quenched his thirst, washed his wounds, and started recovering. According to legend, he later even converted to Orthodoxy.
Several inexplicable events that occurred after the 1917 revolution are connected with this attraction of Belev. Believers consider them the providence of God. In the thirties of the last century, when the monastery was converted into a school, a door had to be cut through in one of its walls. The workers categorically refused to do this work, because Jesus Christ was depicted on the wall, and the door had to be cut at the level of the Lord’s knees.
However, a daredevil was found who completed the task. Three months later, a plate at another construction site collapsed on an atheist, breaking his legs in his knees. In the 60s of the XX century, Belev authorities decided to open the tomb of St. Macarius. The reason for such a strange decision is unknown. A huge pit dug more than five meters deep was dug, but the builders did not find relics under the cancer. The monks are sure that the Lord transferred the remains of the saint in order to prevent reproach.
Spring of Vasily the Prozrenny
The healing spring on the banks of the Oka is a very popular attraction of Belev. Locals claim that water from it heals many eye diseases. According to legend, once at this spring there was a chapel in honor of St. Basil. It contained an icon, the salary of which was decorated with a glass pendant in the shape of an eye.
It is believed that if a person suffering from eye disease, poor vision, rinses his eyes several times in this water, the disease will go away, and his vision will improve.