With the Kind Heart and Open Soul

The event so much expected has finally accomplished. On August 16 Old Ladoga with much eclat celebrated its 1250th anniversary.

Since an early morning people were arriving to the ancient capital: the organized gropes of tourists and individuals getting here by themselves even by bicycles, the citizens of Volhovsky district and the locals. VIP guests moved around Old Ladoga with their guides, the watchers drifted along from the fortress to Malisheva Mountain to the field where a bright fair racketed. The special attention was given to St. Nicholas church and to the new sightseeing of landing port stepped by the President.

The boyar maidens and the ancient warriors smoothed with bright funny wigs, foolish hats and colorful balloons. The craftsmen opened their secrets to the interested customers at the fair. The craftsmen from all around Leningradskaya oblast, from St. Petersburg, Volhov and Volhov district offered their goods of different price but of the same high quality: amulets made of abaca and birchbark, ceramics, woodcarving, painting, openwork knitwear…

The celebration began at the fortress at 14 p.m. It was worthy to see the Princes who’s names are connected to the history of this land, Nestor the Chronographer, the wonderful predacious birds, the pride of the falcon hunt, the State academic orchestra of Russian folklore instruments “Metelitsa”, the singers and dancers from Leningrad region. The toll played by the ensemble of the bell music of Vladimirsky church from St. Petersburg finishing the performance was spreading all over glorifying the ancient capital of Russia. Ladoga has been the polyethnic city for centuries, 1250 after its foundation the city revealed on its squares and streets the mix of languages and styles, goodwill and openness.