Church bells saved from becoming enemy shells, Russia, 1915
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Church bells saved from becoming enemy shells, Russia, 1915
Placed together for safety in the Nikolsky Monastery near Moscow, some of the 300 Russian church bells removed to prevent invading Germans re-using them as metal for shells. Some of the bells are ornamental in design and decoration, showing medallions of priests and bishops in bas relief. Date: 1915
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Media ID 14146760
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Ammunition Bell Bells Conservation Copper Enemy Germans Monastery Moscow Munitions Recycled Recycling Removed Salvage Salvaged Shells Conserved
EDITORS COMMENTS
1. Title: "Saved in Time: The Church Bells of Nikolsky Monastery, Russia, 1915" Amidst the chaos and destruction of the First World War, the preservation of cultural heritage often took a backseat to the urgent demands of war. However, in the face of imminent danger, the Russian Orthodox Church took extraordinary measures to safeguard its most precious treasures. One such instance is the story of the church bells from the Nikolsky Monastery near Moscow. In 1915, as the German forces approached, the monastery's monks made the decision to remove and hide the monastery's 300 precious bells. The bells, which ranged from ornate and decorative to simple and functional, were a vital part of the monastery's religious practices and historical significance. Fearing that the invading Germans would melt down the bells to be used as metal for munitions, the monks worked tirelessly to transport and hide them in various locations. Some of the bells were taken to the depths of the monastery's underground cellars, while others were hidden in the homes of local villagers. The largest and most valuable bells were transported to the safety of the Kremlin in Moscow. This photograph captures a selection of the saved bells, which were carefully placed together for safekeeping in the Nikolsky Monastery. The bells, which date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, are adorned with intricate bas-relief decorations depicting priests and bishops. Their copper surfaces, which would have once resonated with the melodic sounds of church bells, now lay silent, waiting to be reinstated in their rightful place once the war had ended. This remarkable act of salvage and conservation serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Russian Orthodox Church during a time of war and upheaval. The story of the Nikolsky Monastery's bells is a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage, even in the face of adversity.
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