A Tour of Russian History
Early in the week we worked hard to be able to take Wednesday off to visit Lake Ladoga with Pres. and Sister Childs, their first time there as well as our first time. Lake Ladoga, northeast of St. Petersburg, is the largest fresh-water lake in Europe, and about 4 times the size of Great Salt Lake in area. It is so large you can't see the far shore due to the curvature of the earth. We visited Shlisselburg, the German word for Key Fortress, now a village at the source of the Neva River. The Neva drains Lake Ladoga and wends 74 km (46 mi) to St. Petersburg and opens into the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. Huge barges move raw materials and goods from eastern and northern Russia across the lake and down the Neva to the port and thence to the sea. At the mouth of the river sits the strategically located Oreshek (Swedish word for nut), the island fortress that guards water access to St. Petersburg. This choke point has been the focus of many battles going back centuries--from the time of Nevsky, Peter the Great, the Romanovs, Lenin and Stalin involving Swedes, Russians, and Germans, all trying to seize or control the island fortress.
In World War II the Germans constantly attacked but could never root out the Soviet army which put up a heroic defense, thus protecting St. Petersburg's vital lifeline to the world during the great siege and preventing the Germans from moving down the river to attack the eastern flank. I think the banks of the Neva River were too steep to climb and the surrounding land was too swampy and forested for the movement of troops and armor by land.
When not active as a fort, Oreshek was used as a penal colony for political prisoners in Czarist times. Lenin's brother was housed and executed here. Many young dissidents and rebellious army officers at the turn of the last century were housed here, and they either died, committed suicide or were sent to Siberia. Many who survived were freed after the revolutions of 1907 and 1917. One former prisoner survived till 1975. On the site was a library of 10,000 volumes, and some of the prisoners, most of whom were highly educated, taught classes and conducted scientific research.
Map of the Fortress. Much of the outer wall is in ruins.
Russia has an extensive system of inland waterways -- rivers, lakes and canals. Moscow appears to be a land-locked city, but there are barges and cruise ships that start up the Neva River from the Baltic Sea and end up in the Moscow port.
Friday, June 30, was the annual 4th of July Party at the US Consulate in Saint Petersburg. We went with the Childs and it was a wonderful party. Americans and members of the Consular community from other countries were all invited.
The Residence of the Consul General is an amazing old house from Tsarist times that has been restored to its former glory. They had fabulous food, beautiful flowers, and a jazz quartet.
Mary Ermels and John Fletcher are the ones who help us regularly with the applications for 2nd passports that all our volunteers need to get when they first arrive. And President Childs has been invited to several events through the last three years for visiting dignitaries from the U.S.
Saturday night we hosted a farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Okhta Mall, which specializes in shish kabob and serves trans-Russian cuisine, to honor departing President and Sister Childs. We were joined by a longtime friend of the Church. Ken had beef stroganoff, a dish invented in St. Petersburg. The Childs leave early Monday morning. They will be missed.
Sunday morning we took a walk on the waterfront.
We caught this beautiful view of Smolny Cathedral, as we walked across the Neva River on the Peter The Great Bridge.
What great weather to welcome a new mission president, Brent Rawson and Sister Nena Rawson, who arrived at 1:30 pm on a long flight from Idaho!
Early in the week we worked hard to be able to take Wednesday off to visit Lake Ladoga with Pres. and Sister Childs, their first time there as well as our first time. Lake Ladoga, northeast of St. Petersburg, is the largest fresh-water lake in Europe, and about 4 times the size of Great Salt Lake in area. It is so large you can't see the far shore due to the curvature of the earth. We visited Shlisselburg, the German word for Key Fortress, now a village at the source of the Neva River. The Neva drains Lake Ladoga and wends 74 km (46 mi) to St. Petersburg and opens into the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. Huge barges move raw materials and goods from eastern and northern Russia across the lake and down the Neva to the port and thence to the sea. At the mouth of the river sits the strategically located Oreshek (Swedish word for nut), the island fortress that guards water access to St. Petersburg. This choke point has been the focus of many battles going back centuries--from the time of Nevsky, Peter the Great, the Romanovs, Lenin and Stalin involving Swedes, Russians, and Germans, all trying to seize or control the island fortress.
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| The Oreshek fortress was built in the time of the Swedes in this area, but it was strengthened by Peter the Great in the early 1700's. We call this photo "Larry and the Grate." [Pres. Childs' first name is Larry] |
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| Statue to Peter the Great in Schlisselburg. |
In World War II the Germans constantly attacked but could never root out the Soviet army which put up a heroic defense, thus protecting St. Petersburg's vital lifeline to the world during the great siege and preventing the Germans from moving down the river to attack the eastern flank. I think the banks of the Neva River were too steep to climb and the surrounding land was too swampy and forested for the movement of troops and armor by land.
When not active as a fort, Oreshek was used as a penal colony for political prisoners in Czarist times. Lenin's brother was housed and executed here. Many young dissidents and rebellious army officers at the turn of the last century were housed here, and they either died, committed suicide or were sent to Siberia. Many who survived were freed after the revolutions of 1907 and 1917. One former prisoner survived till 1975. On the site was a library of 10,000 volumes, and some of the prisoners, most of whom were highly educated, taught classes and conducted scientific research.
Map of the Fortress. Much of the outer wall is in ruins.
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| This was one of the most beautiful days we have seen. The sky was so blue and everything was clear. This is the lee side of the island looking northeast to southeast, so not so windy. |
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| Wherever we go Sue has to stick a toe in the water |
Russia has an extensive system of inland waterways -- rivers, lakes and canals. Moscow appears to be a land-locked city, but there are barges and cruise ships that start up the Neva River from the Baltic Sea and end up in the Moscow port.
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| Church in the middle of the Fortress is in ruins, and has been turned into a war memorial for WW2. |
On Thursday, President and Sister Childs put on a "Thank You" lunch for the Office staff
that they have worked with for the last 3 years. This includes the Physical Facilities group,
the Travel/Visa group, and the mission drivers. We all had a good time eating too much
chicken, yummy salads, and amazing desserts -- especially the coconut cake brought
by Tatiana Oleshenko, our housekeeper.
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| From bottom left, around the table: Elder DeVol (Assistant), Sister Efimova (apartments), Tatiana Oleshevko (housekeeper), Sister Allen, Sister Childs, President Childs, Gennady Petrov (Visas), Dima Kyshinsky (driver) Misha Kotov (driver), Elders Muhlestein & Gerratt (Officeniki), Andrey Lermantov (Facilities) Igor Kiselev (Facilities), Andrey Leostrin (maintenance) Elder Allen took the photo |
Friday, June 30, was the annual 4th of July Party at the US Consulate in Saint Petersburg. We went with the Childs and it was a wonderful party. Americans and members of the Consular community from other countries were all invited.
The Residence of the Consul General is an amazing old house from Tsarist times that has been restored to its former glory. They had fabulous food, beautiful flowers, and a jazz quartet.
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Left to right: Sue, Ken, Mary Ermels (Asst for American Citizen
Services), President & Sister Childs, John Fletcher (Mgr,
American Citizen Services), Rachel and Tom Leary (Consul General)
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Mary Ermels and John Fletcher are the ones who help us regularly with the applications for 2nd passports that all our volunteers need to get when they first arrive. And President Childs has been invited to several events through the last three years for visiting dignitaries from the U.S.
Saturday night we hosted a farewell dinner at a local restaurant in Okhta Mall, which specializes in shish kabob and serves trans-Russian cuisine, to honor departing President and Sister Childs. We were joined by a longtime friend of the Church. Ken had beef stroganoff, a dish invented in St. Petersburg. The Childs leave early Monday morning. They will be missed.
Sunday morning we took a walk on the waterfront.
We caught this beautiful view of Smolny Cathedral, as we walked across the Neva River on the Peter The Great Bridge.
What great weather to welcome a new mission president, Brent Rawson and Sister Nena Rawson, who arrived at 1:30 pm on a long flight from Idaho!
It was surprising to see KFC in Russia. We love seeing all the scenic places you visit.
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