Baty's trail is a real clearing leading to a beautiful legend

One of the most beautiful legends of Russian history is the myth of the invisible city of Kitezh, or Russian Atlantis. The stories about this sunken city are connected with the concept of "Baty's trail". This is a real glade through which you can get to Svetloyar - a lake with a very beautiful and primordially Russian name.

Literary sources

The legend of the city of Kitezh caused a surge of interest after the publication of the first part of the digest of P. I. Melnikov-Pechorsky "In the Woods", which he wrote from 1871 to 1874. In this work the customs, legends, and life of the Old Believers are described in detail, from which, in fact, the "Svetloyar cult" went. Among the literary treasures of the Old Believers-runners (bespopovskoe direction) is a monument, created supposedly in the eighteenth century, under the name of "Kitezhsky chronicler", in which the Baty's trail is mentioned. This is a secret road, given to the khan by one of the traitors. The book has the second title - "The Book, the Glorious Chronicler." It consists of two parts. And, if its first section has a historical basis, the second is devoted to "earthly paradise" and is an apocryphal monument. In other words, the story of the town of Kitezh and the Baty trail itself is, in fact, an unreliable and legendary retelling, passed from mouth to mouth.

Real events

The parable tells of Kitezh as a mysterious place where true believers wait for the Second Coming of Christ. In some sources it is said that the gate of Kitezh will not open until the appearance of the Messiah, and therefore the city is sometimes called "messianic." The first part of the book tells of the real prince of Vladimir and Suzdal, Yuri Vsevolodovich (1188-1238), who lived exactly at that time and in the place in question in the literary monument. He was the third son of the famous Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest. They called him that because of the large number of wives and children. Although Yaroslav the Wise in terms of the number of children outpaced the Vladimir ruler.

The best representatives of the princely family

Prince Yuri was a righteous and pious man. Bogoroditsky monastery in Nizhny Novgorod founded by him. In 1645 he was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. There are many legends connected with this historical personage, according to which he was the founder of Little Kitezh on the bank of the Volga (later Gorodets), Yuryevets and Bolshoy Kitezh. A sad and beautiful myth is covered with the death of the prince on the battlefield. Batu cut off his head and traditionally traveled with her all the battlefield. When parts of the dismembered body were laid side by side, they merged, leaving no trace. At the same time, the deceased's right hand was raised like a living one. He is credited with several statements and predictions.

The destroyer of the Russian land

According to legend, Batu, after pursuing the retreating prince, captured and ruined Little Kitezh. From the inhabitants of the city he learns about the existence of the Great Kitezh and directs his army there. But on the road an impenetrable wall stands a forest. Baty learns from the captive, where you need to cut through the clearing. This is how the Baty trail appears. This is the real road. Here, fiction and reality are intertwined. Before the eyes of the Mongol-Tatar army appeared a beautiful and completely unguarded city. The inhabitants were engaged in a passionate prayer for salvation, turned to God. And in front of the amazed conquerors, numerous fountains began to be beaten from the ground, and the city went under water. The last to disappear was the golden cross of the main temple. On the site of the city that just existed, the oval lake Svetloyar appeared in the correct form . Kitezh became invisible and unassailable for enemies. The Lord heard the pleas of the townspeople and hid them. Before this miracle Baty stepped back.

Source of inspiration

Svetloyarsk Lake itself, its origin is a topic for disputes and conjectures. Its correct form gives reason to think that it is a meteorite crater. However, to the heart of a beautiful legend of Kitezh, which speaks of the power of Russian faith and is something more than a myth. She inspired talented people to create beautiful musical and artistic works included in the treasury of Russian culture (the above-mentioned epic and the famous opera by Rimsky-Korsakov). Numerous canvases of artists, inspired by this theme, cause delight. The main essence of the legend is that the invisible beautiful holy city is shown to the eyes only to the true righteous, and man is sinful from the beginning.