Vladimirskoye on the map

The selo of Vladimirskoye is a historic selo (a larger village) in Voskresensky District, Nizhny Novgorod Region, formerly part of Makaryev Uyezd, Nizhny Novgorod Province. It is the jewel of the Vetluga Region. It serves as a center of pilgrimage (Orthodox feasts of the Vladimir Icon, Ivan Kupala, and Epiphany, held at Svetloyar Lake), ethnographic festivals, and tourism. Geographic coordinates: 56°49.484'N 45°07.527'E — see on Google Maps.

Every year, on 6 July — the day marking the miraculous deliverance from Akhmat, the last Horde ruler on whom the Muscovite princes were politically dependent — a traditional festival called "Grad Kitezh — the Soul of Russia" is held here. The history of these lands, celebrated by many Russian writers, composers, and artists, is recounted in detail Kitezhskaya Rus Museum and Educational Complex" and at the children's ethnocultural center "Kitezh".

Nature of the Phenomenon

A hub for folklore festivals (a craft fair held June 21–23), Orthodox pilgrimage, and summer tent camps for New Age enthusiasts. Vladimirskoye gained nationwide fame thanks to nearby Lake Svetloyar and the legend of Kitezh said to lie beneath its waters — where the founder of Nizhny Novgorod, Yuri Vsevolodovich, sought refuge from the hordes of Khan Batu.

Getting to Lake Svetloyar

To reach the lake, travelers typically take highway R159 from Nizhny Novgorod to Kirov, driving as far as the village of Bokovaya, after which they turn at a right angle onto road K18, which leads into Voskresensky District.

After passing through the settlements of Shipovo and Bolshiye Klyuchi, 11 km further on you arrive at Vladimirskoye; at the turn-off into the village you are greeted by a large roadside panel depicting the Mother of God (the "Umilenie" icon) and Serafim Sarovsky.

From this turn-off, travel or walk about a kilometer through the village along the main street, Sovetskaya, past the bridge over the The Lyunda River, to a fenced car park with a two-story security booth. From there, follow the birch-lined avenue for about 100 meters to the lake.

History

Until the 17th century this was a village called Lyunda, named after the The Lyunda River. When a church was built, the village was elevated to the status of a selo and renamed Vladimirskoye, after the patronal feast of the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. The Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God (state protection document no. 1327) — one of three in the village — is one of the oldest wooden churches in the Nizhny Novgorod region, having been founded in 1766. It was built in honor of the miraculous icon credited with delivering Russia from the Tatar yoke, which by tradition is held to have been painted by the Apostle Luke. According to church legend, the Evangelist Luke painted it on a plank from the table at which Jesus ate with Mary and Joseph.

Over the years Vladimirskoye was visited and studied by the writers P. I. Melnikov-Pechersky, V. G. Korolenko, and M. M. Prishvin, possibly Maxim Gorky, and the artist Ilya Glazunov.

Existing Buildings

  • The most notable structure at the entrance to Vladimirskoye from the highway toward Voskresenskoye is a tall, red-brick historic church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This church is no longer active. The Nikolsky Church dates from the early 20th century (status document: order of 24 April 2000, no. 5-OD).
  • The chapel-church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God stands on the hilly shore of Lake Svetloyar. It was built in the 1990s.
  • The highest point in the village (128 m above sea level) is known as "Kresty" (the Crosses). Four roads intersect here. To the left stands a wooden fire-watch tower; to the right is the "Santana" exhibition hall.
  • The Kitezh Museum and Ethnocultural Center.

Illusory Optical Theatre

"The Nizhny Novgorod Region Government plans to bring the Optical Theater building in the village of Vladimirskoye (Voskresensky District, Nizhny Novgorod Region) to roof level in 2010."

This was announced by Vladimir Seleznev, Deputy Minister of Support and Development of Small Business, Consumer Market and Services of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, at a meeting of the Economics and Industry Committee of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

According to him, the Optical Theater began construction in 2008, with approximately 12 million rubles invested. Construction was frozen in 2009 because no funds had been allocated in the regional budget. "In 2009 we directed all our efforts toward the 'City of Masters' museum and tourism complex in Gorodets. We completed it and put it into operation," said V. Seleznev.

The optical theatre, with a hall seating 128, will form part of the Kitezhskaya Rus Museum and Educational Complex. In addition to the theatre, the architectural complex — designed in the style of 17th-century Russian architecture — will include the following facilities: a museum and exhibition hall; a souvenir shop; administrative and auxiliary premises.

The theatre will use a special technology to present light-and-sound shows recreating the era and storylines of the legend of Grad Kitezh.

It was also previously reported that the Nizhny Novgorod Region Government planned to allocate 93 million 416,900 rubles in 2008–2010 for the construction of the optical theatre with a boiler room in the village of Vladimirskoye. Over the entire construction period, co-financing from the Voskresensky District budget was to amount to 7 million 631,510 rubles.

Completion of the optical theatre was scheduled for 20 December 2010. The total built-up area was expected to be 851.7 sq. m.

V. Seleznev also noted that the regional government had taken on the obligation of constructing the theatre building, while an investor would procure for it unique equipment that exists as a one-of-a-kind item.

The optical theatre is planned to open in 2012, the Deputy Minister concluded.

<..> Meanwhile, as previously reported, construction of the optical theatre in the village of Vladimirskoye (Voskresensky District, Nizhny Novgorod Region) will be completed in 2011, Alla Morozova, head of the tourism development and folk arts department of the Ministry of Support and Development of Small Business, Consumer Market and Services of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, told the NTA-Privolzhye agency in January.

<..> It was previously reported that in December 2008, Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Valery Shantsev laid a time capsule in the foundation of the optical theatre in the village of Vladimirskoye.|author=NTA-Privolzhye. 18.03.2010 13:31. The Nizhny Novgorod Government plans to bring the optical theatre building in Voskresensky District to roof level in 2010}}

Official Ideology of Vladimirskoye Village and Lake Svetloyar

In 2003, as a pilot project, the Nizhny Novgorod Region Government adopted a concept for the socioeconomic development of the territory of the Vladimirskaya rural administration, on which the federally significant natural monument Lake Svetloyar is located.

The ideology of the concept is as follows: Lake Svetloyar and the historic village of Vladimirskoye constitute one of the holy places of the Russian Land — a place for the transformation of human souls.

Regardless of nationality, faith, or attitude toward religious doctrine, every seeker and sufferer finds within the depths of their heart an echo resonant with the ringing of the bells of the heavenly and spiritual Kitezh". The distinctive feature of this place is "the immersion of the Human Being, through mythological and Christian thinking, into noospheric interaction with the surrounding natural environment (in which the Human Being is viewed as a part of Nature, not its master)." The foundational aim of the concept is the revival of the Russian village as a socio-spiritual hearth in terms of self-preservation and self-development.

In 2012, Nizhny Novgorod Region head Valery Shantsev signed the regional targeted program "Development of Domestic and Inbound Tourism in the Nizhny Novgorod Region for 2012–2016," which envisages marketing of the Nizhny Novgorod tourism product both domestically and abroad, state support for investment projects related to developing the material base of the tourism industry and enhancing the competitiveness of the Nizhny Novgorod tourism product, the creation of new tourist attractions, and assistance in training personnel for the tourism industry.

Looking ahead, the historic village of Vladimirskoye is envisioned as a distinctive, universal, and publicly accessible center for cultural communications, the testing and implementation of new world-class educational technologies, and the provision of informational and cultural services.

Today the village of Vladimirskoye has six information points: the information center of the Povetluzhye Nature Park, the Nizhny Novgorod Zavolzhye Development Center, the rural information center (based at the S. V. Afonshin village library), the Kitezhskaya Rus exhibition hall, the Kitezh History and Art Museum, and the exhibition hall of the Kitezh children's cultural center — all of which together create a coherent image of the territory, oriented toward the cultural education of residents and tourists, the broadening of their horizons with the aim of preserving Lake Svetloyar and reviving the historical traditions associated with the lake and the image of the Kitezh, while also providing an impetus for the sustainable development of the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

29.10.2006, A. B. Groza

Interesting Facts

  • The "Vladimirskaya" festival is held one day before "Ivan's Day" — the ancient Slavic festival of Ivan Kupala — which was traditionally celebrated at Lake Svetloyar (archive).
  • The village received its original name from the river on which it stands — the The Lyunda River.

Administration

  • Head of the Vladimirsky rural council administration: Lepyokhin Sergey Vitalyevich
  • Tel.: 8 (831 63) 3-52-68; 3-53-48

Kitezh History and Art Museum

  • Tel.: 8 (831 63) 3-52-58

Hotels in Vladimirskoye

  • Pankratova Irina Alexandrovna (head of the excursion department of the nature park).
  • Tel.: 8 (831 63) 3-52-49; mobile: 8-950-362-65-44.

Additional Information

See Also