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Russian writer and researcher on Church history
Actuality of the Solovki Islands:
Notes from Solovki Photos & Documents Exhibition
Mystery of the Calvary of Solovki
How many wonderful ancients Solovki could give, if the huge gate in Videraksha had not carried them away! And the liturgical candles lit up over the Solovki swamps that dried out due to the shed tears. Mosquitoes were biting the prisoners to death. The faces were swollen; it was sometimes impossible to utter a word with such a face. The liturgies were being served in such a way. It was rather howling, sobbing than speech. But what a price was given to such a sacrament! As during the disease one bow is equal to one hundred bows, also one Solovki spoon of Holy Gifts is more than the Gifts of all the gorgeous temples put together.
Gastronome
Three-storied, brickwork-house. Prisoners called it between themselves «Gastronome». From here day and night voices of tortured victims were heard. In the basement were situated torture cells, on the 2nd and the 3rd floors lived guardians.
Prisoners knew: anybody taking «to the Gastronome» had no way back.
Because the thought alone: “to be taken to the Gastronome…” - one might have mortal heart collapse.
Naked were led to the tortures. That earthly hell couldn`t be endured by anybody.
Those who had belief were tried to witness their faith. Bloody medley on the fact, damaged liver, broken ribs…
Tomorrow you will hear the same: «Do reject your God!»
The Mount Sekirnaya
The holy sacrifice was wrapped in a sack, a log was tied up to it and was thrown down from this infernal ladder three hundred rungs long.
The Petersburg tram
Selyodochnitsa («Herring-room») - people were crowded and pressed in this room. An iron door was closed behind them. Victims were standing breathing on each other and then they died one after another. Living ones were standing hugging the dead. This infernal torture guardians humorously called «The Petersburg tram».
Cannibal chamber
Torture, that could be invited only by satan himself. The prisoners were brought inside, then tied to chairs with wire. And after that they deliberated the rats. Horrorful…
«Videraksha»
Videraksha is situated on a small island. There was a very old church there. Two nuns lived there. During the tide a boat came to the island, brought some bread. People were being deported to Uglich or Belomorkanal (White Sea Channel). Did anyone protect them? Angels. One could not survive without them. Those who were in the sphere of the Solovki silence, stayed alive and those who were protected by heavenly guards were not touched by the sadists.
During the low-tide in Videraksha the great sea-gates were opening. One could reach the middle of the sea by foot. Thousands went seeking fish and spreading hands and nets. In few seconds the water turned back. The multitude of people didn`t manage to return – thousands were drawn to the open sea.
The stone island
Prisoners were thrown out onto it right from a ship for the sake of an experiment. They died there from hunger and cold.
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