The Pearl Legend

The Pearl Legend: From Ladoga to Onega is an exhibition-a guide to the places of Orthodox faith, architecture, folk traditions and artistic crafts of four northern regions of Russia: Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Leningrad regions and the Republic of Karelia. There are three national parks on the way: Ladoga Skerries, Vodlozersky and Kenozersky.

These places occupy a special place in Russian culture. According to Academician Likhachev, this is an amazing combination of the present and the past, modernity and history, man and nature, the watercolor lyricism of water and sky and the formidable power of stone and storms. "People come here to experience the moral healing power of the North."

The name of the project comes from the European pearl pearl fishery that once flourished here. Our route almost completely coincides with the area of its recent habitat - numerous rivers flowing into the White Sea, Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega. The European pearl pearl and the pearls that originate in it are the main symbols of our project, symbols of the preservation and revival of natural, cultural and spiritual heritage.

Moving around the virtual map, the guests seem to string together the precious pearls of the route: the cities of Sortavala, Pitkyaranta, Olonets, Vytegra, Pudozh and Kargopol; the historical villages of Lodeynoye Pole, Vinnytsia, Sheltozero, Lyadiny and Oshevensk, where wooden churches with painted "heavens" are still preserved in the frame of historical buildings.

The "pearls" of the spiritual power of Christianity are ancient Orthodox monasteries and churchyards. These are the Valaam and Konevsky monasteries revered by pilgrims on the islands of Lake Ladoga, and the forgotten but at one time no less significant monasteries of Poonezhye - Alexandro-Oshevensky, Kirillo-Chelmogorsky and Muromsky.

The unique technology of artistic pearl sewing served as the hallmark of the Russian North. Replicas of women's headdresses from the northern provinces of the 17th and 19th centuries can be seen at the exhibition.

Ladoga region is represented by straw weaving, Karelian birch and birch bark products, woven panels and tapestries, spinning wheels, and forged rings.

The folk craftsmen of the Kargopol region continue the traditions of local weaving with elements of the ancient mesyatslov ornament and the creation of the world-famous bright and cheerful Kargopol toy.

The Novodevichy Monastery Church Museum and the organizer of the exhibition Ladoga Skerries National Park hope to continue to introduce our fellow citizens to the spiritual heritage, folk traditions and riches of nature in Karelia and the Russian North, inspiring them to take a real journey through the harsh but beautiful northern lands.