Returned ringing

Bells of the St. Danilov Monastery again in Russia

For the first time in 78 years, the ringing of the bells of the St. Danilov Monastery was heard yesterday on Russian soil. All this time, the Orthodox belfry was located in America at Harvard. The desire of the clergy, the assistance of the authorities and the financial support of businessmen helped bring the shrines home.

The ancient bells stood all day yesterday on St. Isaac's Square. Almost 80 years ago they were taken from St. Petersburg, and they returned to St. Petersburg. And the residents of the northern capital became the first Russians to see these shrines and hear their voices fused into metal by ancient craftsmen. People began to gather at St. Isaac's Cathedral from nine o'clock in the morning. And it was not only the return of relics that attracted people there. After all, this temple is a museum of federal significance. And services there are held very rarely. And in honor of the newly acquired shrines, the diocese, with the permission of the authorities, planned a liturgy there. Which, with the blessing of Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, was served by Archbishop Konstantin of Tikhvin.

The belfry of the St. Daniel Monastery was bought by the American businessman Crane after the Civil War. He took it to the USA and donated it to Harvard University, where it was marked on the bell tower of Lowell House. Russian shrines were there all this time. Changes have not yet come to Russia. 25 years ago, the authorities allowed the church to remember the shrines preserved by the Americans. Since then, the metropolis has not given up hope of returning them. The “Link of Times” foundation of businessman Viktor Vekselberg helped. The negotiations went on for a long time and ended successfully. Harvard agreed to part with the bells, but in exchange asked for replicas of them. The Link of Times Foundation raised funds and cast 17 new bells. And the Americans liked their voices.

Briefly telling this story, Father Konstantin reminded the laity of the words of the New Testament that a camel would rather go through the eye of a needle than a rich man would go to heaven. But he reminded us about philanthropy and that charity pleases the Lord. Having thus secured the oligarch, he invited everyone outside to serve a prayer service. After which the confessors and officials spoke solemn words from the rostrum, organized right on the steps of St. Isaac's Cathedral.

Vladyka Vladimir shared with the people the thoughts that washed over him when he saw the bells. He said that he was born in the village, in a house with clay floors, and that apart from the morning and evening bells ringing, there was nothing else remarkable there. Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Viktor Lobko said that he was proud that the northern capital was the first to meet these shrines, and regretted that Governor Valentina Matvienko could not come to this majestic ceremony. Harvard Engineering Director Peter Riley said Harvard people loved the bells and had a hard time parting with them. But they understood everything and considered that the ancient belfry should return to its homeland, especially since the copies already hung on the bell tower of Lowell House sound no worse than the originals. Therefore, at the end, when Viktor Vekselberg came to the podium, the townspeople greeted him and saw him off with a standing ovation, despite the fact that he did not say anything interesting.

And then the bells took the floor. They started their song very quietly. Only they could be heard. Everyone noticed that the city was quiet. On the scaffoldings placed on the surrounding buildings, drills and grinders fell silent. Passers-by stopped. Everyone who was within range of the sound turned to the belfry to hear the amazing sound of the bells.

After the spiritual melody was sung, everyone gradually dispersed. The area around the bells was empty, and the curious, as they were supposed to, began to climb onto the platform where the shrines stood - to make faces and take photographs. But that was not the case. If the police initially watched all this through their fingers, the old praying women remained on guard. They began to squeal and curse, interspersing their words with signs of the cross. And they didn’t stop until the guards cleared the platforms of the “atheists.”

Mikhail TELEKHOV, St. Petersburg