Holiday in the tower based on blood

Kobrin → Creativity of fellow countrymen → Marchuk Nina Grigoryevna

Day of the Belarusian writing in the last twelve years was spent in the cities connected with names of the Belarusian educators and first printers. For the first time in 1994 the holiday took place in Polotsk, then in Turov, Novogrudke, Nesvizhe, Orsha, Pinsk, Zaslavle, Mira. In 2003 returned to Polotsk, in the 2004th again — in Rounds. And in 2005 the city of Kamenets of the Brest region was chosen.

The city at the intersection of roads...
The city of Kamenets to that arose seven centuries at the intersection of roads and the waterway Volhynia — Baltic. By the way, today this waterway is lost. And once it passed across the Western Bug, the river Lesnoy, then across Narevka, and further across Vistula. An overland way called amber. It went from Baltic through Kamenets (along the former Litovskaya Street), then to Brest and to the countries of Europe. And the Royal way connected Vilno to Krakow. There was also a little-known salt way. Salt was cooked in Zakarpatye and brought to Kamenets on salt warehouses.

27 percent of the territory of the area are occupied by Bialowieza Forest. Today 8,7 thousand people live in Kamentsa. Near the 234th settlement in which 42 thousand people live.

At schools about 5,7 thousand pupils are trained, among them there are 1,2 thousand preschool children. There is a gymnasium, 18 high schools, 8 basic, 2 boarding schools, 3 — initial. In the area more than 600 teachers work. In 2006 Kamentsu "will knock" 830 years. In 1276 it was based by the prince Vladimir Volynsky.

The Kamenetsky pillar constructed "on blood"
The city began with a tower fortress. Called her differently: Kamenetsky pillar, White vezha and Red vezha. Béla she was named, but painted white color in 1957. But in 1998 the tower was washed from a lime, and it gained dark red alternately with yellow color. From a distance it red.

Built a tower 30 meters high of 8 or 10 years. The brick was special. Trained him from local fine-grained clay in special wooden tubs where clay was shaken up so that it became similar to wax. Then in furnaces it was burned and dried on the sun 3-4 years. The durability provided also lime which was extinguished in the earth of years 100, becoming soft and plastic as oil. And places where it was got, were a family secret. Added to lime still an egg yolk and blood of wild animals. By the way, from here and expression — "to build on blood".

And still. The tower was built during a warm time of year in sunny days. For the winter already constructed was wrapped up with straw. For that time the tower was unapproachable. In addition nearby Bialowieza Forest. And bogs. So to attract the stenobitny car to the enemy it was problematic! And if storm to take a tower, then on the heads of the enemy flew not only arrows and stones, but also tar and var.

Around a tower on tens of kilometers there were patrols. Bad messages were transferred by ignition of forest fires. On a chain... But with a current of centuries of the road began to pass to the north. Also tactics of fights changed. And the tower became a monument. In 1985 the fire service suspended pilgrimage of tourists in a tower. Fears were caused by a wooden ladder and overlappings. Restoration dragged on for long nine years.

All best — by a holiday
Kamenets prepared for reception of guests in advance. All work on preparation for carrying out a holiday the republican organizing committee headed by the deputy prime minister of Republic of Belarus Vladimir Drazhin directed.

About readiness the city reported by August 25. Asphalt on 40 km of roads and streets is in addition put, facades of houses are painted and blocked by a color tile of a roof in the downtown — everything looks purely and festively. All was offered to the buyer and the viewer the best that is in folk art: it and self-woven products, products from straws, jewelry of amber, shod products. The pottery, abundance of a wooden container was pleasing to the eye. She was trained here.

Also local culinary specialists did not stand aside. Festive loaves not only sold, but also free of charge gave on test. However the book was the main hero of a holiday. Domestic state and non-state publishing houses published about 6 thousand books with a circulation up to 20 million copies, including in the Belarusian, Polish, English languages. There were also fine gift editions, but 50 — 60 thousand Belarusian rubles not to everyone on a pocket. It was pleasant to see Mikhail Ptashuk, Vasyl Bykov, Vladimir Korotkevich's books.

Program and guests of a holiday
There is a lot of guests: from the USA, France, Lithuania, Vietnam, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Slovakia, Russia, representatives of OSCE, the Holy See.

Morning in Kamentsa began with Religious procession and the Festive liturgy in Saint Simeon's church. Five-dome blue color with a high tent of a belfry with a poppy-head, on the hill, it from a distance attracts a look of any who approaches the city of Kamentsa. Impresses also internal furniture of church, a special three-storied carved oak iconostasis, icons of the XIX century.

At Kamenetskaya's wall knit on the improvised scene the holiday was opened by the deputy prime minister of Republic of Belarus Vladimir Drazhin. On "litaraturnay belaruskay to mova" without crib (what you will not tell about others) Vladimir Nesterovich kept attention of the gathered minutes seven. Then the chairman of the Brest regional executive committee Konstantin Sumar, the Bishop of Brest and Kobrin father Ioann and others acted. It was told about the printing word, about the famous educators, about poets and writers. Spoke about events which are cultural heritage of our nation.

And exactly at 13:00 the high-ranking guests went to open an exposition of the museum "Kamenetsky Tower". Not many journalists managed to become the first visitors of the museum. But I was lucky. What was seen, of course, impresses. Climbing a spiral staircase on new levels (and them five there), I saw exhibits 500 — 700-year. It is a military armor, use objects, oven tiles, jewelry. The municipal coat of arms of Kaments and the coat of arms of Grand Duchy of Lithuania of "Ezdets" representing the horse knight with a sword on a white horse "at the field chyrvony" with a six-pointed cross.

On the fourth tier our ancestors received guests. On a good tradition and us met the tables laid by viands. There in an easy situation there was a confidential straight talk. And then on an abrupt ladder in a three-meter wall (on the same, as 700 years ago) we rose by an observation deck at 30-meter height. Journalists uncovered the chambers and cameras again. The show is tremendous. And weather promoted that.

Wooden sculptures

By Day of the Belarusian writing walls of an old tower had ten four-meter wooden sculptures. These are cultural figures of last centuries: Simeon Polotsky, Francis Scorina, Euphrosyne of Polatsk and others. After a holiday they will decorate with themselves city streets.

Nina MARChUK, "National Will", No. 177, 13.09.2005

Materials







Our partners