Therapeutic tree

In the square of Yuri of Spasskalsky in St. Petersburg, the memorial tree of Life Medica Peter the Great Robert Areskin appeared

Last year ago, the anniversary of Yuri Pavlovich Spassions gave Pskov another tradition. A year ago, on June 3, on the day of the centenary of Yuri Pavlovich Spasgalsky, in Pskov, at the Church of Nikola, the first commemorative tree in the history of the city - golden maple , was planted from the Sosokha in the history of the city. It was not by chance that the place for the maple was chosen - the Church of Nikola from the Usokhi was restored after the Great Patriotic War on the project of Yuri Spassky. On June 12, 2009, in the square on the corner of the streets of Prejozhzhinskaya and Blagoev, to land memorial trees in memory of Yuri Spsagalsky (ash) and Olga Arshakuni (Swedish mountain ash), Petersburgers brought a photograph taken in Pskov on June 3, 2009 . Almost a year later, on May 15, the Spegalsky Square was replenished with a memory tree of Life Medica Peter the Great Robert Areskin. During landing in the square, an exhibition of drawings of Yuri Spassky was deployed.

Yuri Spegalsky was present at the landing of the memorial tree of Robert Areskin virtually - in the photographs and his drawings of Pskov of the XVII century. Photo: Ekaterina Nazarenko

On May 15, in the Square Square on the corner of the streets of Prejzhzhinskaya and Blagoev in St. Petersburg, the action “Tree Areskin Squve of Space” was held in excellent weather, several dozen local residents gathered in the square. Like a year ago, the action was organized and conducted by the Green Wave regional public movement, the Living City movement, the SP Babai group and the Psk-Pskovichi Purrats in St. Petersburg.

The named tree of Robert Areskin and several more trees and shrubs were planted. There were so many people that there were not enough trees and shovels for everyone. Some participants in the action believe that it would be possible, but the square is very small, most of it is already planted, and you still need to leave a place for the playground and rest of residents who consider the square to their native place.

After the Robert Areskin tree took its place, a small concert of the SP Babai group took place, on which the leaders of the group Mikhail Novitsky and Tatyana Golubchik sang their new song “This is our city”. The representatives of the “living city” were invited to sing along the words, but from the second verse, all those who had already come to the square sang along.

The central event of the action was the landing of a named tree from the botanical garden dedicated to the memory of Robert Karlovich Arreskin (1677-1718)-Life Medica Peter the Great , the main keeper of the Kunstkamer and the founder of the botanical garden. Robert Areskin, Tsar Peter the Great, called the "slave doctor." A tree for a square is a gift of the botanical garden to residents of the microdistrict.

At the same time, a mini-exhibition of drawings by Yuri Pavlovich Spassky (1909-1969), a famous scientist, artist and architect who lived in house No. 16 on Prevzhzhinskaya Street, worked in the square for participants in the action. The drawings dedicated to Pskov of the XVII century were created by the author during the years of the Leningrad blockade.

The leaders of the group "SP Babai" Mikhail Novitsky and Tatyana Golubchik sang their new song "This is our city." Photo: Julia Alexandrova

The square on the corner of Prejozhzhinskaya and Blagoev literally in front of his eyes turns into one of the open cultural centers of St. Petersburg. It hosts promotions, concerts, exhibitions.

In the fall of 2008, the ballerina Alla Osipenko , film director Alexander Sokurov , actress Lyudmila Dmitrieva and other famous Petersburgers planted their personalized trees in the square. They supported the locals, speaking in defense of the square from development.

In the summer of 2009, the leader of the group “SP Babai” and “Green Wave” Mikhail Novitsky , the editor-in-chief of the Pskov Province, Lev Schlosberg , and the chairman of the Pskov Pskov in St. Petersburg, Vladimir Rautian , were planted in the square, brought from Pskov: Yasen Yuri Spagalsky-to the 100th anniversary of his birth, and the Swedish Rybin memory of memory of his memory Olga Arshakuni , the wife of Spsa, the wife of the Spasskoye.

In the same year, on the initiative of the Living City movement, a concert of youth music groups, a competition and an exhibition of children's drawings were held in the square.

On the Petrograd side, in a small square, a new memorial zone, a music platform and an open-air art gallery arose. Local residents, even before the verdict of the toponymic commission, had already christened the square in the name of the architect and artist Yuri Spsalsky. The name has taken root.

The tree of Areskin became the second monument to the associate of Peter the Great in the northern capital. In October 2008, on the territory of the museum of urban sculpture - in the Lazarevskaya Tomb - a commemorative sign was opened at the burial place of Robert Areskin (his grave was lost). The initiators of the action believe that the Young Tree of Areskin in the memorial square on the Petrograd side will help preserve a grateful memory of the scientist and will become a living monument to the founder of the Botanical Garden.

The memorial tree of Robert Areskina took its place in the square of Yuri Spasgalsky on the corner of the streets of Prejzhzhinskaya and Blagoev. Photo: Ekaterina Nazarenko

Robert Areskin was born in Scotland in 1677. He graduated from Oxford University with a diploma of Doctor of Medicine and Philosophy. In 1704 he came to Russia. Accepted for royal service. A few years later he was appointed Life Medica Peter I. He accompanied Peter on traveling in Germany, Holland and France.

He headed the entire medical unit in Russia. He stood at the origins of the founding of the Botanical Garden ("Pharmaceutical Garden"). He served as the main keeper of the Kunstkamera - the First Museum of Russia. He passed away in 1718. He was buried in the Lazarevskaya tomb of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The portrait image of R. Areskin was not preserved, but his coat of arms with the motto is well known: "I think more."

Yuri Pavlovich Spegalsky was born in Pskov in 1909. He graduated from the Construction Institute in Leningrad. Specialty-architect-restorer. He worked together with climbers for the repair of high -altitude monuments of architecture of Leningrad. In 1941-42 In the blockade Leningrad, he created a cycle of drawings “according to Pskov of the XVII century”, some of which are presented at an exhibition in reproductions.

In the days of the blockade, he met with Olga Arshakuni, who then became his wife. After the war, he returned to Pskov. Restored the monuments of ancient architecture. He proposed to create architectural reserves in order to preserve the historical center of the city. Forced to leave Pskov. He moved to Leningrad. He worked at the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He continued to restore high-altitude structures, including church monuments of old St. Petersburg: Petropavlovsky, Isaac, Smolny, Prince-Vladimir Cathedrals. In 1968 he returned to Pskov. He passed away in 1969. He was buried in the Miroositsky cemetery in Pskov.

The trees of one of the creators of cultural Petersburg by the Scotsman Dr. Areskin and one of the saviors of the city on the Neva of the Petersburg and Pskovich Architect of Spassky are now growing nearby and protect the green corner of St. Petersburg, treat the wounded soul for a lot of suffering city.

Alexey Alesin.
Based on the materials of the Living City movement (St. Petersburg)