Vikings were defeated again or “Sugorye 2017” was arranged in new way!

The boats that arrived from Murom under its own steam, 70 Viking warriors, craftsmen, historical exhibitions and ethno music – guests of the Fourth Interregional Historical Festival “Sugorye 2017” could see all this on August 5 and 6!

The Kuzino pier wasn’t quiet during these days – modernized antiquity reigned there. Over 2,5 thousand people attended the festival and everybody got what he or she wanted!

Guests of the Fourth Interregional Historical Festival “Sugorye 2017” organized together with the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve this year had a chance to learn about the way of life of the people in Ancient Russia visiting the estate “Princely Yard”. Unique “live” museums – “Princely Reception Hall” and “House of Vikings” - were open for them there. They saw the collection of medieval arms and armour belonging to Sergey Udod and the exhibition of Alexandra Vladimirova, master of folk artistic crafts of the Vologda region.

The young master of Kirillov shared her impressions and emotions with us, “It is my first one-man exhibition. One can say it is my debut! It is very pleasant that its presentation has taken place at such a superb festival. “Saint George and the Dragon” is also displayed here. It took me 12 months to carve this article. Nevertheless, the brightest icon “The Virgin of Kazan” has aroused much interest. Almost everybody came to see it”.

Famous potter Sergey Fenveshi delivered master-classes for dozens of visitors near the exhibition of carved icons created by Alexandra Vladimirova. Besides, Olga Pestereva presented her birch bark articles at the festival and People’s Artist of Russia Marina Vasilieva delivered a unique master-class and gave a lecture on calligraphy. The entrance to a mysterious hiding place was located right behind the craftsmen. A real underground passage under the “Princely Yard”! It was the place for seekers of treasures and adventures where they could get after one of the most spectacular events – the Vikings’ attack on the Old Russian fortress. Most of the people came to Kuzino to see this reenactment.

The Interregional Historical Festival “Sugorye” has been held for the fourth time and every time it is arranged in a new way. The script is changed and supplemented with some new attributes and colours. This year’s attack on the fortress began from the river. A very beautiful boat that the masters from Murom had made during two years docked to the Sheksna bank. Dwellers of the Princely Yard were doing usual everyday things: children were walking, women were busy with their regular work… and all of a sudden everything changed: the enemies attacked the native land. First they wanted to take the fortress by stratagem – they said they came to trade, but then started to crowd the local residents. They didn’t succeed in it and began to fire on using the catapults they had brought. The shells launched by the Vikings flew high and hit the target. Numerous spectators were delighted with everything that was going on. They watched the reenactment of the attack standing behind the red fence line.

By the way, the Vikings couldn’t take the fortress – the defenders of Prince of Belozersk were stronger! Somebody certainly was killed on the field, but the warriors considered it to be a great honour. But the last,battle-equipped team got tough with the rest.

The guests that came to see the reenactment of the Vikings’ attack on the Old Russian fortress climbed huge round stones to watch everything from above. “The warriors, greet the audience!” said the master-of-ceremonies. They raised their arms and smiled to the participants of the festival as if something went wrong. And then 70 strong Vikings with axes ran towards the defenseless spectators who immediately stepped back from the fence line in alarm. Later they asked them, “Did you feel that adrenalin that people used to get in a battle?” Somebody laughed; the hands of others were over their hearts. One thing was clear: everybody liked it.

The overwhelming emotions required outburst. Where? Anywhere! At the medieval shooting range, in the relay game “Varangians’ Invasion” and at the concert of medieval music performed by the band “Argemonia”, coloratura sopranist Lyubov Yershova and Sergey Balakin, famous gusli player from Novgorod!

Their voices and the sounds of their instruments delighted the ear and improved the weather – it was raining hard since morning. Soon the sun began to shine over “Sugorye” pleasing the participants with its golden rays.

Listening to the music people went boating, played medieval games, tasted different dishes and learnt a lot of interesting things about Ancient Russia visiting the exhibitions and interactive programs and contemplating the antiquity.

The Sugorye Festival 2017 lasted for two days. It united thousands of amateurs of history and historical reenactment. We will look forward to seeing everybody who hasn’t come to the Kuzino pier on these days in the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve on August 12. The club of historical reenactment “Sugorye” will also present its program at the Festival “The Soul of Belozeriye”.

Over two and a half thousand spectators attended the Sugorye Festival 2017 held by the Historical and Ethnographical Complex “Sugorye” and the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve.