V. Novgorod – the native land of Russia

8. Novgorod the Great - the native land of epic hero Sadko - the centre of medieval trade

On the Novgorod earth the present reality fancifully intertwines with a fairy tale. The native land of Russia has the unique ancient magic which has given a life to many beautiful legends.

In the heart of a city, the Novgorod Kremlin, admiring by sight majestic Sofia and bypassing walls, it is possible to leave into place where there is no time walls of a cathedral of the sacred Boris and Gleb erected by legendary epic hero Sadko, an embodiment of spirit freedom-loving новгородцев rose. The proud free merchant lived and traded on Novgorod, increasing greatly glory of the native land and eulogising it in the overseas countries.

And other hero of the Novgorod bylinas, Vasily Buslaev, Maxim Gorky considering with its embodiment of Russian daring soul highly appreciated.

During walk on Yaroslav Court   present, that you go in those places where still to ганзейских merchants other epic hero was engaged in state affairs, athlete Dobrynja Nikitich - Novgorod Dobrynja which christened an ancient Russian city and under the legend pagan idol Perun, who came back on the place against a current three times has dumped to Ilmen.

…And coming back in comfortable hotel, do not forget to throw a coin to Volkhov that it is obligatory to return to a city which it is necessary to grow fond.

9. Novgorod the Great - the native land of Russian geniuses

Destinies of many well-known Russians are connected with the Novgorod earth. Eight years of veins were created also in Staraya Russa by world famous writer Feodor Dostoevsky - and today it is possible to pass on those picturesque small streets of this cosy small town on which heroes of the novel «Brothers Karamazov» went - its events are based on Old Russian realities. The pacification for the is eternal wandering smother the well-known poet Gavrila Derzhavin has found in manor Zvanka of the Novgorod province. The mysterious lady of the Silver age Anna Ahmatova sincerely loved Novgorod the Great, confirming the indissoluble communication with it.

Novgorod the Great for great musician Sergey Rakhmaninov became a special, most expensive and unique city. The ingenious Russian pianist and the composer was born in the Novgorod province and has passionately grown fond of an ancient city which named the small native land and to which has been in many respects obliged by the musical inspiration. Today, standing at the Sofia belfry and listening attentively to a melodious ringing, it is necessary to recollect Rakhmaninov's word: «One of the memoirs of the childhood most expensive to me is connected with four notes, executed by the big bells of the Novgorod Sofia cathedral. Bell ringers were actors. Four notes developed in again and again repeating melody, four silver crying notes surrounded incessantly varying accompaniment …». And much later, being in emigration, he admitted that desperately misses on a ring of the Novgorod bells.

Residents of Novgorod honour the great fellow countryman: in the autumn and there pass annual Days of Memory of Sergey Rakhmaninov in the spring. Twice in five years the International competition of young pianists and the International festival of a name of S.V.Rakhmaninov on which the well-known masters of musical art recognised as critics of all world by live symbols «all the best in musical art» traditionally act is held.

10. Novgorod the Great - Anniversary

In September, 2009 Great Novgorod has celebrated a national Russian holiday - 1150-year-old anniversary from the date of the city basis.

On celebrating of anniversary to Great Novgorod there have arrived representatives of Administration of the President led by the president of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, representatives of the Government of the Russian Federation, the Federation Council, the State Duma, heads of the federal ministries and departments, heads of regions, mayors 18 Russian cities and 8 foreign twin-cities and partners of Great Novgorod.

Together with residents and official visitors participants of celebrating of the 1150 anniversary of Great Novgorod of a steel about 500 thousand persons, including representatives of clergy, business, business, the creative collectives, the trading organisations organised and unorganized tourists.

The program of celebrating of Anniversary has been broken into thematic blocks. The first day of celebratings: «Sources of Russia» have been devoted a theme of origin and development of the Russian state. Holiday opening ceremony has begun with the official reference of the president of the Russian Federation - Dmitry Medvedev to visitors of celebrating. And has come to the end with the dramatized representation «the Novgorod veche» in the Kremlin and laser show in river Volkhov water area «the Legend on a sovereign Great Novgorod».

The second day «the Treasury of Russia», representing trade and economic cooperation and a cultural contact residents of Novgorod with neighbours, has begun with a celebratory morning liturgy in the Sofia cathedral. Trade and a walk on ,Yaroslav Court   a place of the ancient Auction, were accompanied by arrival of merchants and fishermen from lake Ilmen, folk theatres, work of food and craft numbers within the limits of Festival of ethnic cuisine and Fair of national crafts. The presentation market of cities-visitors Here has taken places.

The same day there has passed ceremony of a bookmark of park of the 1150 anniversary of Great Novgorod. Delegations of cities have brought with themselves the earth in which “the life tree” - the century oak symbolising a unification of last, modern and future Great Novgorod and Russia has been planted.

The third day has been devoted a theme «a wisdom Praise». This day Great Novgorod was visited by the Most holy Patriarch, there were representatives of the Moscow Patriarchy, clerics of the St.-Petersburg, Tver and Novgorod Diocese,  religious monasteries of the Tver and Novgorod areas.

On the Sofia belfry there has passed VII inter-regional festival of bell music «Golden dawn rings», spent at support of church and leading academic choruses from various corners of Russia.

Within the limits of celebrating of Anniversary in Great Novgorod the Festival of clubs of the historical reconstruction, the dramatized and interactive programs «Cathedral of military teams» and «the Old Russian shooting range» has taken place.

Within all three days on scenic platforms of a city creative collectives of Russia and Europe represented modern and classical art.

At joint session of presidiums of the State Council and Council at the president of the Russian Federation on culture and art which has taken place in Great Novgorod in days of its anniversary, the president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev has supported the offer on celebrating in 2012 of the 1150 anniversary of the Russian statehood. Along with Moscow and Kiev, the most ancient city of Russia - Great Novgorod becomes the basic centre of celebrating.

References:

1. http://www.visitnovgorod.ru/

2. http://www.novgorod1150.ru/

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