Belozersk

Belozersk ( _ru. Белозе́рск), known as Beloozero ( _ru. Белоо́зеро) until 1777 (lit. "White Lake Town"), is a town in Vologda Oblast, Russia, situated on the southern bank of the Lake Beloye, from which it takes the name. Population: ru-census|p2002=10975|p1989=12352

History

First chronicled in 862, Belozersk was one of five original Russian towns (the other being Ladoga, Novgorod, Polotsk, and Rostov). On several occasions, the settlement was moved from one bank of the lake to another.

In the 11th century, the region was still inhabited primarily by Finno-Ugric tribes who fiercely resisted attempts at Christianization. In 1071, the local pagan priests rose in rebellion, which was put down by the Kievan commander Yan Vyshatich. The Primary Chronicle reports that the dead bodies of priests were suspended from an oak tree, until they were torn to pieces by a bear (regarded by pagans as a holy animal).

Beloozero was the capital of a small princedom between 1238 and 1370. Its medieval monuments include the Assumption church (1552) and the Saviour cathedral (1668). The wooden shrine of St. Elijah was built in 1690. The neighbourhood is rich in old cloisters, such as Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and Ferapontov Convent.

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