VIDEO: Recalling Solovki, the Toughest Camp of the GULAG

Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines

October 30, 2015

The date was chosen in memory of a hunger strike by prisoners at the Mordovia detention facility, which began on October 30, 1974. The prisoners were protesting against the repressive and inhuman treatment practiced in camps and prisons.

Memorial events are now held all over Russia.

In Moscow, people traditionally gather around the Solovetsky Stone, installed on Lubyanka Square in front of the former KGB building, and read aloud the names of those who were purged. That way they “return” the names to those who were given just numbers instead, according to the camp rules.

RBTH remembers all the victims and presents a trailer of a major web-documentary prepared by our multimedia team about the Solovetsky Islands, where the toughest camp in the entire Gulag system was located.

See also
Holy Fathers of Solovki—Saints Herman, Zosima and Sabbatius Holy Fathers of Solovki—Saints Herman, Zosima and Sabbatius Holy Fathers of Solovki—Saints Herman, Zosima and Sabbatius Holy Fathers of Solovki—Saints Herman, Zosima and Sabbatius
Russia in the 15th century saw the flowering of a "Northern Thebaid." The vast forests of remote regions inimical to civilization provided a welcome refuge for those zealous to share with the angels a life of concentrated communion with God. It was for just this reason that an ascetic by the name of Herman had chosen to dwell in the sparsely populated area along the shore of the White Sea. Like other hermits, he had settled not far from a chapel to take advantage of occasions when clergy would come to offer the Holy Mysteries--Confession, Communion and Baptism--to the local inhabitants, among whom there were still a number of pagans.
A walking trek to Solovki Monastery will start from Red Square A walking trek to Solovki Monastery will start from Red Square A walking trek to Solovki Monastery will start from Red Square A walking trek to Solovki Monastery will start from Red Square
The trip’s route will repeat the famous Great Russian North Way, which is over 1000 years old. The length of the tour will be 1.5 thousand kilometers (c. 932 miles).
Faith and Works in Solovki Faith and Works in Solovki
Vasily Pisarevsky
Faith and Works in Solovki Faith and Works in Solovki
Vasily Pisarevsky
And suddenly I found myself on that very spot, that legendary place, and I was awestruck, how many people are streaming in to venerate the spiritual wellsprings of Orthodoxy. Here indeed there is an unusual atmosphere of peace and spirituality, especially for someone from New York, with its hellish rhythms. This is especially sensed on the island of Anzer, where, according to tradition, elders who were experienced in piety settled to devote themselves to prayerful podvig in the remote peacefulness.
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