The ancient city of Murom is located on the territory of the Vladimir region. The history of its existence is inextricably linked with the centuries-old history of Rus'. The city is located on the left bank of the Oka, which separates the modern Vladimir and Nizhny Novgorod regions. In the historical center of Murom there is a city park, on the edge of which there is a monument to the epic hero Ilya Muromets and an observation deck on the Oka River. Behind the wide riverbed, the opposite bank is clearly visible, gradually receding into the distance of the vast Russian land. As if guarding his native expanses, Ilya Muromets looks beyond the horizon. He raised his sword high, as if warning strangers to protect his native city and all of Rus'. Like many other settlements in our country, Murom is a small city in Russia. As of 2022, its population was just over 100 thousand people. Russian spirituality and legends associated with the centuries-old life of the city are honored here. To get in touch with the history of Rus', you need to walk along these quiet ancient streets of the central part of the city. Visit monasteries and temples, surprising with their incredible architecture, and mentally transport yourself to those turbulent years of the formation of Rus'.
History of Murom
Murom is one of the oldest cities in Rus'. It was first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years in 862 as one of the cities subject to Prince Rurik (830 - 879). This year, the Varangians were invited to Rus' under the leadership of Rurik, who became the Novgorod prince and founder of the ruling Rurik dynasty. Rurik's descendants ruled Rus' for more than seven centuries (until 1598). The dynasty ended with the death of Tsar Fyodor I Ivanovich (1557 - 1598, the middle son of Ivan the Terrible). Of course, before the arrival of Rurik and the beginning of his reign, Murom was already a city in which people lived for some time. It may have been quite a long time, but the year 862 is considered to be the year the city was founded. That is, the official history of Murom begins with the beginning of the history of the rule of the Rurikovichs.
After the death of Rurik in 879, Oleg (no data - 912, nicknamed “Prophetic”) became regent of his young son Igor (877 - 945). It unites the northern Novgorod Slavic lands and the southern Kievan Slavic lands into one large state of Kievan Rus. We can say that it was Oleg the Prophet who was the founder of the Old Russian state. He moved to Kyiv and from 882 was called the Grand Duke of Kyiv. Thus, the Kiev princely throne becomes the main one in Rus'.
Over the years, the Rurik family expanded, and the great princes placed their relatives on the princely thrones of other Slavic cities. A “ladder” system of succession to the throne appeared. According to it, the princes did not have lifelong inheritances. All Rurikovichs were considered co-owners of the state. Power was transferred according to the principle of seniority in the family. With the accession of a new prince to the Kiev throne, all the other princes were moved. They moved from less important cities to more important ones. Murom also occupied a certain status in the established hierarchy.
Gleb Vladimirovich (990 – 1015, son of Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, nicknamed “Red Sun”, who baptized Rus' in 988) is considered the first prince of Murom. Gleb's life was very short. He reigned in Murom for only a couple of years. At the beginning of 1015, Prince Vladimir became very ill and called his beloved son Boris (986 - 1015) from Rostov, to whom he was going to transfer the Kiev throne. This violated the “Ladder” system of succession to the throne and caused the indignation of his other sons: Svyatopolk Vladimirovich (979 – 1019, who later received the nickname “Cursed”) and Yaroslav Vladimirovich (978 – 1054, who later received the nickname “Wise”). Yaroslav at that time was the Novgorod prince and occupied a higher position in status than the Rostov prince Boris. After all, Novgorod and the lands subordinate to it annually paid the largest contribution to the Kyiv treasury. Having learned about the decision of his father (Prince Vladimir) to give the Kiev throne to Boris, Yaroslav stopped paying the contribution. Vladimir himself was already sick and weak. He ordered Boris and the Kyiv squad to go to Novgorod and demand that Yaroslav submit to the will of the Grand Duke. But then suddenly news came about the Pecheneg invasion, and Boris was forced to meet them halfway. Having learned about the approach of the Russian army, the Pechenegs turned back.
At this time, Prince Vladimir died and Svyatopolk Vladimirovich did not fail to take advantage of the current situation. With the help of his supporters, he is freed from prison, where he had previously been imprisoned by Prince Vladimir, and seizes the Kiev throne. Returning with his squad back to Kyiv, Boris stops at the Alta River. Here a messenger arrived to him, who reported the death of his father and the seizure of the Kyiv throne by his half-brother Svyatopolk Vladimirovich. The squad offered to go to Kyiv and take the throne by force, but Boris did not want bloodshed. He refused to go against his brother. After this, the squad left him. Svyatopolk himself was afraid of Boris and sent his people, who mercilessly killed him.
Murom Prince Gleb Vladimirovich was very friendly with his blood brother Boris Vladimirovich. Svyatopolk Vladimirovich, not without reason, feared that as soon as Gleb learned about these events, he would rush to avenge his brother. Ahead of the rumors, Svyatopolk sent a messenger to Gleb with a request to come to Kyiv due to the poor condition of their father, Prince Vladimir (by that time he was already dead). Gleb naturally headed to Kyiv lightly, without a squad. At a parking lot near Smolensk, a messenger arrived to him from his brother Yaroslav. He spoke about the death of his father and the murder of his brother. In the message, Yaroslav dissuaded him from going to Kyiv. The news made an indelible impression on Gleb. He began to remember his father and brother in his prayers. After some time, messengers arrived from Svyatopolk, who without hesitation took the life of an innocent person.
Boris and Gleb did not fight against their half-brother Svyatopolk. They did not even oppose his seizure of the Kyiv throne, but were still killed. This is very sad and sad. Probably, it was such a difficult time back then and they stopped at nothing to achieve their goal. Boris and Gleb are considered the first Russian saints. The exact date of their canonization (canonization) has not yet been established. The most reliable date is considered to be 1072, when their relics were transferred to a new stone church.
Over the next few centuries, many princes changed in Murom. Some reigned for a long time, while others reigned for a very short time. In 1392, the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily I Dmitrievich (1371 - 1425, son of Dmitry Donskoy) annexed Murom to the Moscow principality.
About the city of Murom
Under Prince Rostislav, the Murom-Ryazan land split into the Murom and Ryazan principalities. The Principality of Murom consisted of Murom with a district, depended on the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, and was subjected to numerous raids and devastation by the hordes of Batu. At that very time, the Russian hero Ilya Muromets stood up to defend the Russian land.
The last prince of Murom was Yuri Yaroslavich, who in 1355 was expelled from his table by Fyodor Glebovich. Later, in 1392, the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily I Dmitrievich annexed the Principality of Murom to Moscow.
In the second half of the 15th century, “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia” was created by an unknown Murom author. It tells the story of Prince Peter and the peasant girl Fevronia, who cured Peter of a serious illness and became his wife. Peter and Fevronia were so revered that after their death they were canonized. Church tradition identifies Peter and Fevronia with the Murom prince David Yuryevich and his wife. David Yuryevich is repeatedly mentioned in chronicles. Prince David reigned from 1204 to 1228. The nature of David Yuryevich’s activities does not contradict the image of the holy prince in his life. Those political events that are described in the life (the expulsion of the prince) are characteristic of the time when David reigned. The fact that the name David, and not Peter (secular), remained in the chronicles can be explained by the fact that Russian princes often had two Christian names, and when tonsured into the schema they often returned the first Christian name.
Since the 17th century, Murom has become an important craft center. Skilled leather tanners, shoemakers, blacksmiths, jewelers, tailors and other craftsmen work here. From that time on, the glory of the Murom kalachi began.
The architectural appearance of the historical part of Murom took shape in the 19th – early 20th centuries, since large-scale fires in 1792 and 1805 destroyed almost the entire old wooden city. The new city began to be built up according to the master plan approved by Empress Catherine II back in December 1788, which was developed by the author of regular plans for many Russian cities, Ivan Mikhailovich Lem. The plan provided for a transition from a radial-beam scheme of city development to a strictly perpendicular layout of streets. As a result, the blocks in the center of Murom are rectangles measuring 250 by 150 meters.
In Murom, according to the design of engineer I.E. Erzhemsky, the first water supply system in the Vladimir province was built. For this purpose, in 1863, a water tower was built at the intersection of Rozhdestvenskaya and Voznesenskaya streets (now the intersection of Lenin and Sovetskaya streets, respectively), and its grand opening took place on August 26, 1864. Funds for the construction of the tower and the laying of pipes were given by Alexey Vasilyevich Ermakov, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who served as mayor in 1862-1869. The tall brick tower, which combined the functions of a water pump and a fire tower, was decorated at the top with intricate turrets and topped with a small superstructure with a spire. The windows of the tower are in three rows, with different platbands, which is why the entire structure gives the impression of not just a building for household needs, but also a genuine architectural monument. Now there are no patterned turrets, only the bases remain. After restoration in 1974, a clock was installed on the tower playing the melody “On the Murom Path”; later, at the request of residents, the melody was turned off. There are drinking water taps at the bottom of the tower.
In the 1980s, the established order of city development was disrupted. According to the project of the city's chief architect N.A. Bespalov, many streets in the center of Murom were blocked off with multi-entrance houses. The appearance of the city has undergone a change; in Soviet times, many churches were destroyed, several parish churches of the 16th-17th centuries. and completely demolished it. Among them was the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which dominated the urban development, built by order of Ivan the Terrible in the middle of the 16th century.
Now Murom is a regional center, located on the banks of the Oka east of the Vladimir region, bordering on the Nizhny Novgorod region. Distances from Vladimir - 130 kilometers, from Moscow - 300 kilometers, from Ryazan - 250. Population - over 120 thousand people, city territory - 44 square kilometers.
Despite the large area of the city, the main architectural and historical monuments of Murom are located quite compactly and can be easily explored on foot.
In the very center of the city are the revived Annunciation Monastery and Holy Trinity Convent. On the high bank of the Oka River stands the St. Nicholas Embankment Church of the 17th century. Further along the embankment, facing the Oka, rises the stately figure of Ilya Muromets - a monument by sculptor V. M. Klykov (his most famous work is the monument to Marshal G. K. Zhukov in Moscow). The monument was erected in 1999. The epic hero is depicted here in the guise of a strong monk: in a helmet and chain mail, from under which a monastic robe is visible. With his right hand he holds a sword raised high, and with his left hand he holds a cross, pressing it to his chest.
If you move further along the Oka, ahead lies the ancient Murom Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior, the oldest monastery in Russia.
In the 10th century, the city became part of Kievan Rus and for many years was an outpost on its eastern borders. The advantageous geographical position at the intersection of trade routes, on the deep and navigable Oka River, turned Murom into a large craft and trade center in the 17th-19th centuries.
Murom artisans tanned leather - the famous Murom yuft, known in Western Europe, made soap, wove canvas, and forged weapons. Murom bakers knew the secret of special rolls. These rolls are very tasty and stay fresh for a long time. Since 1781, the famous Murom rolls have adorned the city’s coat of arms.
Murom is located on the high bank of the Oka, on seven hills. Since ancient times, all travelers passing through the city have paid attention to the picturesque location of Murom. A magnificent panorama of the city as seen from the Oka was painted by Adam Olearius, secretary of the Holstein embassy, who passed through the city in the 17th century on his way to Persia.
To this day, the city is decorated with unique creations of Russian architects - churches and monasteries of the 16th-19th centuries. This is the Trinity Convent, founded in 1643 by the wealthy Murom merchant Tarasy Borisov, nicknamed Bogdan Tsvetnoy.
Ilya Muromets
The city of Murom is famous for its epic hero Ilya Muromets. According to Russian legend, Ilya was originally from the village of Karacharovo, near Murom (now the village is a microdistrict of the city). He lay on the stove for three decades, “not having control” (could not move) his arms and legs. One fine day, “walking kaliki” (an ancient name for wanderers who sing spiritual poems and epics) entered his hut. They asked Ilya to drink plain water and healing occurred.
Rising from the stove and feeling unprecedented strength, Ilya went to his parents. Together with other village residents, they tried to clear the area behind the houses for vegetable gardens, uprooting the stumps of perennial oak trees. Things moved very slowly. With great difficulty, people managed to break the stumps into pieces and drag them out of the territory in pieces. Rolling up his sleeves, Ilya began to pull them out with his bare hands. His parents were only surprised at his strength and were glad that he had grown up to be a good housekeeper. But the joy did not last long. Ilya told his parents that the “passing Kaliki” asked him to go to Kyiv and stand up for the Russian land.
The hero accomplished many feats, which are conveyed in epics. Rus' is grateful to him for this. Whether the real Ilya Muromets was now unknown for certain. Around that time, there lived an Orthodox monk with the name Ilya Muromets (Ilya Pechersky, before his tonsure he had the nickname Chobotok). In 1988, an examination of his relics was carried out and it was established that he was a warrior. It is quite possible that the epic hero was not just invented, but copied from a real prototype, who at the end of his life became a monk and received the name Ilya Muromets. In Murom the Russian hero is honored and remembered. The Gushchin family is considered his descendants. Representatives of this genus are also not deprived of power. In the 19th century, one of them was even forbidden to participate in fist fights, since he could accidentally miscalculate the force of the blow and, through negligence, take the life of his opponent. In general, the Gushchina surname comes from the location of the houses, which in those distant times were located in the thicket (thickness) of the forest. Now everything has changed. These smooth, well-groomed streets and neatly painted private houses. On one of them hangs a sign with the inscription: “House of the Gushchins. According to legend, at this place stood the hut of the glorious hero Saint Ilya of Murom.”
Murom, Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery
Ilya Muromets was canonized in 1643. His relics currently rest in the Near Caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. There is an inexhaustible flow of pilgrims who want to visit the caves and touch them. Part of the relics (the middle finger of the left hand) is located in the Transfiguration Monastery in the city of Murom. They are built into a life-size wooden replica of the saint.
Sights of Murom
Monasteries – there are quite a few of them here. They do not sparkle with domes or impress with huge churches. On the contrary, the Murom monasteries are cozy - they are not large and neat.
Religious buildings in the city coexist with Soviet buildings. Vladimir Ilyich on the square in front of the administration is always ready to lead us to the light or to the dark, as it suits you.
From such a neighborhood, Murom does not look like an ancient Russian city, rather it looks Soviet, I think I already talked about this.
Peter and Fevronia
Currently, Saints Peter and Fevronia are revered by Orthodox people for their family values. They are, as it were, a model of love, family and fidelity, which is especially important now. This is a very good example for young people who are starting their own families. Let's find out a little more about their life story. As such, the Murom prince with the name Peter is not mentioned in historical documents and chronicles. He is identified with Prince Davyd Yuryevich (no data - 1228), who reigned in Murom from 1205 to 1228. His wife was Princess Euphrosinia. At the end of their lives, they simultaneously took monastic vows. At the same time, David received a new name Peter. There is no information about the name of the wife after tonsure. In 1547, on the initiative of Metropolitan Macarius (1482 - 1563), the canonization of the prince and his wife as locally revered saints took place at the Moscow Local Council. In connection with these events, the writer Ermolai-Erasmus, who was also a monk, was commissioned to compile their hagiography (biography). Despite all the severity, Ermolai-Erasmus (Ermolai the Pregreshny) described this story in a more artistic style, using Murom oral traditions. The result was “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom.”
The plot of the story is very interesting. In those ancient times, Prince Pavel lived and a fiery serpent (an evil spirit, a mythological creature in Slavic legends) began to come to his wife. It was very difficult to recognize him, since he appeared in the image of the prince himself. No matter how hard the snake tried, he could not deceive the woman’s heart. The wife told her husband about these events. The prince understood that it would not be possible to defeat the snake in an ordinary battle and asked his wife to find out why he would die. To the question asked, the serpent answered: “... from Peter’s shoulder, from Agrikov’s sword.” The prince had a brother named Peter, who immediately agreed to kill the snake. But where can I find Agrikov’s sword? According to legend, it was forged by Agric, the son of King Herod. In Russian legends, this sword is identified with a treasure sword, which allows one to cut through any warrior’s armor. Before the events described, it was transported from Vladimir and hidden in one of the Murom temples. An angel appeared to Peter in the form of a boy and showed him where the sword was kept. Peter took the sword and went to his brother. After sharing the good news with him and showing him the sword, he decided to return home. Passing by the princess's room, Peter again heard his brother's voice and immediately realized that it was a snake in the guise of a prince. Suddenly bursting into the room, Peter killed the snake, which before death took on its real appearance. Dying, the serpent splashed Peter with blood from its wound.
No matter how strong Peter was, he became very ill (sick) after a while. His body was covered with ulcers that no one could cure. Once in a dream, Peter seemed to see that Fevronia could help him. She was a simple peasant girl from the Ryazan village of Laskovo. Her father was engaged in beekeeping (from the word “bort” - tree hollow. Extracting honey and wax from hives located in tree hollows). Peter clung to every opportunity to recover, even the most absurd. He sent a messenger to Fevronia with a request to help him. The girl agreed, but on one condition. After recovery, Peter will have to take her as his wife. The fact is that during the treatment process, the naked patient will need to be rubbed with ointments and steamed in a bathhouse. At that time, a girl and a man could only be alone in a bathhouse if they were spouses. Otherwise, no one will simply marry Fevronia after this.
Peter had only one desire to be cured. In this state, he could promise anything. Peter agreed with this condition, but Fevronia was not a stupid girl at all and understood that they were from different walks of life. Just in case, she played it safe and left one unhealed wound on her leg. Peter did not notice this and decided to say goodbye to Fevronia, generously rewarding her for her work. It’s not that Peter was a bad person, but the marriage of members of princely (or royal) families has always been a matter of state. Alliances of such people were concluded to strengthen principalities and countries. Peter simply could not take a simple peasant woman as his wife. He was very worried about this. After all, the girl was smart and pretty. During their short acquaintance, Peter really liked her.
Some more time passed, and the disease began to return. Peter again turned to Fevronia and asked for treatment. The girl accepted her situation and completely cured the patient. Despite all the obstacles, Peter took Fevronia as his wife. Their family happiness was built on love, mutual respect and trust in each other.
After some time, the prince dies and Peter takes his place. The nobility immediately rebelled. She did not want to tolerate the princess being a former peasant. Things got to the point that the nobles put forward a condition to Peter: “Either let go of your wife, who offends us all with her origin, or leave Murom.” The prince took Fevronia and sailed along the Oka on two ships. Not even a few days had passed before they rushed to catch up with them, as unrest began in Murom. Everyone wanted to take the princely throne. In response to requests, Peter and Fevronia returned. They lived their lives happily, and before their death they took monastic vows and died on the same day.
Centuries have passed since then, and Peter and Fevronia (before the tonsure of David and Euphrosyne) are to this day a model of a family. Overcoming all difficulties, they created a good family union, which was based on love and respect for each other. Some modern people who are skeptical about Peter and Fevronia sometimes argue that they did not have children. Indeed, this moment is simply not reflected in “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom,” but in life Davyd Yuryevich and Efrosinia had two sons and a daughter.
Great Legacy
Murom was first mentioned in the 9th century. Nestor the Chronicler, the author of The Tale of Bygone Years, mentions the Murom tribe, the translation of which means “fun”. This means that there is a place in Russia that can be called a “city of fun.”
The history of the city is replete with many events, including tragic ones. In 1293, Murom was completely burned by the Mongol invaders and ceased to be mentioned in chronicles. This was the case until 1351.
The ancient city is part of modern Murom. Tourists come here from different parts of the country to visit ancient monasteries, see unusual architecture, and catch the aroma of “that time.”
Samples of ancient Russian art and art exhibits can be viewed in the city local history museum. The museum's collection includes sixty thousand exhibits.
Murom during the Great Patriotic War
During the Great Patriotic War (1941 - 1945), Murom was a rear city. Its streets were not touched by the boots of the conqueror, but the city made its contribution to the victory over the enemy. Many residents of Murom went to the front and remained on the battlefields. Those who were on the labor front forged victory in the rear. City enterprises tried to provide the Red Army with everything they needed. The railway workers of the Murom junction gave a gift to the front - an armored train. It was created by “the whole world.” In their free time from their main work, the workers of the carriage depot made armored platforms. There were four of them in the armored train (two closed, with two turrets from a T-34 tank each, and two open with anti-aircraft guns and M-8-24 multiple launch rocket systems). Foundry workers from Kulebak supplied the required amount of armor, which was manufactured at the Murom plant named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky. a reservation has been made. The result was a very good armored train.
Murom, monument to the armored train Ilya Muromets
The people who made it decided to give the armored train the name of the legendary hero Ilya Muromets. The workers' joy was very short-lived. Colonel Neplyuev, who arrived to pick up the armored train, wanted to call it “For the Motherland,” but no one did this. On February 8, 1942, a rally was held to mark the departure of the armored train to the front. Those gathered saw the inscription “Ilya Muromets” on its board. This moment greatly angered the officer. The inscription was ordered to be erased, but in many documents and in the minds of people he remained as Ilya Muromets. Subsequently, this name stuck with him.
The armored train Ilya Muromets was included in the 31st separate special division of armored trains. It was called special precisely because it was armed with rocket artillery (M-8-24). When Ilya Muromets was included in the division, the armored train was assigned serial number 2. In addition to him, the 31st division already had the armored train Kozma Minin at No. 1. To resolve staff and economic issues, the division had a special train, which included service cars (headquarters, first-aid post, workshop, kitchen, bathhouse and several residential ones). The division's vehicle fleet consisted of two BA-20 armored vehicles, three M-72 and IZH-9 motorcycles, six GAZ-AA trucks, two M-1 passenger cars and two GAZ-64 all-wheel drive vehicles.
31 armored train divisions were in the active army from May 1942 to May 9, 1945. At the end of 1942, the head of the main armored department issued an order dated December 05, 1942, on the basis of which the armored trains received new numbers (armored train No. 1 Kozma Minin received No. 659, and armored train No. 2 Ilya Muromets received No. 702). During these three long war years, the division covered the battle route from the Volga to the Oder and destroyed a large amount of enemy manpower and military equipment.
In June 1944, near Kovel there was a battle between the armored train Ilya Muromets and a German armored train. This is a rare case during the Great Patriotic War. Usually armored trains did not engage in open combat with each other. Here the German armored train brought a lot of problems to the Red Army troops. The Germans used it as a permanent mobile artillery battery. He drove out, fired several volleys and quickly drove back. Our command decided to destroy the German armored train as soon as possible. One day, Ilya Muromets positioned himself as close as possible to the expected line of action of a German armored train. Soon observers from Ilya Muromets noticed smoke, and the commander gave the command to fire a salvo. The German armored train also saw the danger, but in a hurry, the fire from its batteries turned out to be not so accurate. The final point in this battle was set by rockets fired from the Ilya Muromets armored train. After the liberation of Kovel, soldiers of the 31st division visited a broken German armored train. While examining it, one of the fighters noticed a train cover lying nearby. One half of it was damaged in battle and it was impossible to read anything, and on the other half it was written “Adolf Hitler...”. They immediately assumed that the German armored train was called “Adolf Hitler”. A young correspondent of one of the military newspapers came to look at the previously formidable military equipment, now lying like a defeated beast. It seemed symbolic to Hume that Ilya Muromets defeated Adolf Hitler. To inspire our soldiers at the front, an article with this loud title was written. Unfortunately, everything was not so pathetic. No documents were found confirming that the name of the German armored train was named after Chancellor of the Third Reich Adolf Hitler. This does not diminish the feat of the soldiers of the Ilya Muromets armored train. They defeated the German armored train, but what name it had was not so important to them. Let historians sort this out.
In 1971, a monument was erected in Murom in honor of the armored train Ilya Muromets. It is a real-size copy of an armored steam locomotive, almost identical to the original. Nearby there is a memorial plaque, which marks the combat path of the armored train in the Great Patriotic War.
Legends and landmarks
If you enter Murom-grad from the regional center of Vladimir, then an epic stone will stand on the way. This is not without reason, because Murom is considered the birthplace of the hero from Russian epics - Ilya Muromets. Exhibitions, expositions, creative evenings, and meetings related to the figure of Ilya Muromets are constantly held here. There are scientists who dispute Murom’s right to the title of the birthplace of the famous hero.
There is an opinion that the hero of the epic was from the Bryansk region, another opinion is that from the Chernigov region. However, the residents of Murom unanimously answer the question - what region is the birthplace of Ilya Muromets? Of course, Vladimir region, the village of Karacharovo, near Murom.
Ilya Muromets is known not only for his heroic strength, but also for his deep faith. The hero is included in the Orthodox calendar, and parts of his bodily remains are kept in several churches in Murom.
There is a functioning monastery in the city. The full name is Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. One of the brightest pages in the history of the monastery is the erection of the Transfiguration Cathedral by Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1555. Leading the campaign against Kazan, the tsar stopped in Murom. Where he made a vow in case of his victory to erect a temple of stone. When Kazan was taken, Ivan the Terrible fulfilled his promise.
People coming to the monastery can take a walk by the local picturesque pond, visit the mini-zoo and taste bread from the monastery bakery.
Murom today
Currently, Murom is one of many small towns in Russia, but its age allows the city to take its rightful place in the history of the state. Many tourists come here who want to see these ancient places with their own eyes. Wonderful excursions are held in Murom, and Orthodox pilgrims are sure to visit its monasteries. After all, the relics of Peter and Fevronia are kept here, as well as part of the relics of Ilya Muromets. This is a quiet and peaceful city where good people are always welcome. If visiting Murom is associated with good intentions, then here you will be greeted as if you were one of the city’s native residents.
Murom: attractions, what to see in one day
Murom is a city in the Vladimir region of the Russian Federation, located on the left bank of the Oka. The ancient city was founded in 862. According to legend, the village of Karacharovo near Murom is the birthplace of the main Russian hero Ilya Muromets. Other famous natives of Murom are the future saints Peter and Fevronia. Many magnificent monuments of ancient Russian architecture increase the tourist attractiveness of the city.
Murom is included in the extended list of cities of the famous Golden Ring of Russia. According to some reports, the absence of the city from the main list is a consequence of the presence of defense enterprises in it and its closedness to foreign tourists during Soviet times.
The development of Murom was positively influenced by the visits of royalty, on whose orders numerous churches in the city were built. On the street Moscow preserved examples of civil architecture - two-story merchant buildings. Interestingly, only the first floor was made of stone. The residential second floor was built of wood, which was considered more beneficial to health. In the 19th century Murom joined the very few cities with a telegraph, running water (the water tower remained) and evening lighting.
A nearby holy spring with a bath began to flow from the blow of the hooves of Ilya’s mighty horse.
Leisure and relaxation
The map of the city of Murom contains a lot of places where you can have a great time and take great photos. The main ones are:
1. Old town, namely the buildings of the 19th century. The architecture of that period is distinguished by the fact that the lower floors were made of stone, and the top of the buildings was built of wood. People living in the 19th century were convinced that stone housing was harmful to health. The first floors served as work premises, and the 2nd and 3rd floors, built of wood, were residential.
Unfortunately, ancient streets remarkable for their curvature have not been preserved in Murom. By decree of Empress Catherine the Great, all narrow streets were rebuilt into wide avenues.
2. Shopping arcades of the nineteenth century attract tourists with the Empire style - the style of late (high) classicism.
3. It is worth paying attention to the water tower, which in the 19th century the then mayor built with his own savings. Surprisingly, at that time there was no running water in many Russian large cities, for example in Vladimir. Water was pumped from springs, and the tall water tower itself served as a fire tower. The water was redirected to the houses of the townspeople, as well as to sixteen fountains. The pipes through which the water flowed were made of hardwood. There are chimes on the tower, the music on which was turned off at the request of residents of nearby houses - due to the sound being too loud.
4. Oksky Park is another attraction that can be shown on the map of Murom. The place attracts with attractions for children, alleys for walking, and benches for relaxation. There is a gorgeous observation deck here that offers an incredible view of the city. It is here that there stands a huge statue of the epic hero Ilya Muromets, 21 meters in size. And lovers of extravagant photos will love the suspension bridge over the Oka River against the backdrop, which creates unusual shots. These attractions are the hallmark of the ancient Russian city in the modern world.
5. City guests who come with children are strongly recommended to take their kids to the bread room. It is open at a local bakery and here the children will definitely be offered to paint their own gingerbread with icing. The children make their own frosting for baking. And on the eve of holidays, such as Maslenitsa or Christmas, the most interesting master classes on preparing delicious baked goods are held in the upper room.
6. Lovers of antiquity should check out the Murom Historical and Art Museum. Exhibits are stored here indicating that primitive people lived on the territory of Murom.
7. Murom has an Ice Palace where you can go ice skating, as well as cinemas, restaurants, nightclubs, bowling alleys, children's entertainment centers and many other interesting places.
In memory of Murom
Those who saw the coat of arms of the city of Murom, of course, paid attention to the three golden rolls. What do these baked goods mean on the coat of arms of the ancient city? Old-timers say that Murom has been famous throughout the country for its baked goods since the time of Catherine the Second.
Rolls of all sizes are sold in bakeries and branded stores. The most popular kalach among the people is baked in the shape of a castle. Such a roll will be an excellent gift from the city of Murom.
In Murom souvenir shops, the following are in particular demand:
- Figures of fairy-tale and epic heroes. The first place in popularity is, of course, occupied by Ilya Muromets.
- Skillfully made copies of ancient jewelry.
- A free souvenir from Murom is clean spring water.
Map of Murom, Vladimir region. Characteristics of the city
Murom is a city in Russia, located in the southeastern part of the Vladimir region. The city is an important transport hub on the Oka River and one of the oldest cities in Russia with more than 1000 years of history:
- 862 – the first mention of Murom in written sources;
- 1096 – internecine war in the city;
- 1127 - formation of the independent Principality of Murom;
- 1392 – annexation of the principality to Moscow;
- 17th century - the city becomes a major craft center;
- 1792 and 1805 - major fires occurred in Murom, which gave rise to the beginning of stone construction;
- 19th century – an iron foundry and a mechanical plant, a cotton factory were opened;
- 1961 – mass unrest in the city due to a conflict with law enforcement agencies;
- 2012 – the 1150th anniversary of Murom was celebrated.
The online map of Murom shows that the city is located on the border with the Nizhny Novgorod region.
The city is the administrative center of the Murom urban district.
Murom has a population of 110 thousand people. National composition of the population: Russians 97.5%; Ukrainians and Tatars 0.5% each; Belarusians and Armenians 0.2% each; other 1%.
