The chime of bells echoes for miles around the iconic Solovetsky Monastery. But these bells are new—the original ones vanished under mysterious circumstances.
In the 1920s, churches were demolished by the Soviet government. Many religious artifacts were seized, and the bells of the Solovetsky Monastery were no exception. They were loaded onto a barge, but the barge sailed out to sea and was never seen again.
In the 1970s, an expedition tried to uncover their fate but came up empty-handed. Sergey Golubev, who has spent decades investigating this mystery, has pieced together countless details in his search for the lost relics. Some suggest the barge was deliberately sunk to keep the bells hidden. After all, the monastery had a history of safeguarding its treasures. During the Crimean War, the monks carried out a secret plan to hide valuables. Could they have done it again?
Authors
The Bells of Solovki. The mystery of the disappeared Solovetsky monastery bells
