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Massacre Of Novgorod
The massacre of Novgorod () was an attack launched by Ivan the Terrible's '' oprichniki'' on the city of Novgorod, Russia, in 1570. Although initially an act of vengeance against the perceived treason of the local Orthodox church, the massacre quickly became possibly the most vicious in the brutal legacy of the ''oprichnina'', with casualties estimated between two thousand to fifteen thousand and innumerable acts of extreme, violent cruelty. In the aftermath of the attack, Novgorod lost its status as one of Russia's leading cities, crippled by decimation of its citizenry combined with Ivan's assault on the surrounding farmlands. Origins and rationale Paranoia, power, and the oprichnina The late 1560s under Ivan the Terrible were rife with conspiracies and violence. Ivan's mental state was continually deteriorating and was exacerbated by his wars with Sweden, Lithuania, and Poland. Ivan's deep distrust of the boyars, a sentiment held from childhood, coupled with his paranoia and n ...
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Oprichnina
The oprichnina (, ; ) was a state policy implemented by Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Russia between 1565 and 1572. The policy included mass repression of the boyars (Russian aristocrats), including public executions and confiscation of their land and property. In this context the term can also refer to: *The notorious organization of six thousand Oprichniki, the first political police in the history of Russia. *The portion of Russia, ruled directly by Ivan the Terrible, where his Oprichniki operated. *The corresponding period of Russian history. The term ''oprichnina'', which Ivan coined for this policy, derives from the Russian word ''oprich'' ( 'apart from', 'except'). Causes In 1558, Tsar Ivan IV started the Livonian War. A broad coalition, which included Poland, Lithuania and Sweden, became drawn into the war against Russia. The war became drawn-out (it continued until 1583) and expensive; raids by Crimean Tatars, Polish and Lithuanian invasions, famines, a trading blockad ...
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Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, also referred to as Poland–Lithuania or the First Polish Republic (), was a federation, federative real union between the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland, Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, existing from 1569 to 1795. This state was among the largest, most populated countries of 16th- to 18th-century Europe. At its peak in the early 17th century, the Commonwealth spanned approximately and supported a multi-ethnic population of around 12 million as of 1618. The official languages of the Commonwealth were Polish language, Polish and Latin Language, Latin, with Catholic Church, Catholicism as the state religion. The Union of Lublin established the Commonwealth as a single entity on 1 July 1569. The two nations had previously been in a personal union since the Union of Krewo, Krewo Agreement of 1385 (Polish–Lithuanian union) and the subsequent marriage of Queen Jadwiga of Poland to Grand Duke Jogaila of Lithuania, who was cr ...
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Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC; ;), also officially known as the Moscow Patriarchate (), is an autocephaly, autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox Christian church. It has 194 dioceses inside Russia. The Primate (bishop), primate of the ROC is the patriarch of Moscow and all Rus'. The History of the Russian Orthodox Church, history of the ROC begins with the Christianization of Kievan Rus', which commenced in 988 with the baptism of Vladimir the Great and his subjects by the clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople. Starting in the 14th century, Moscow served as the primary residence of the Russian List of metropolitans and patriarchs of Moscow, metropolitan. The ROC declared autocephaly in 1448 when it elected its own metropolitan. In 1589, the metropolitan was elevated to the position of patriarch with the consent of Constantinople. In the mid-17th century, a series of reforms led to Schism of the Russian ...
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Skomorokhi
A skomorokh (, Ukrainian language, Ukrainian and Russian language, Russian: , , . Compare with the Old Polish , ) was a medieval East Slavic harlequin or actor, who could also sing, dance, play musical instruments and compose for oral/musical and dramatic performances. Etymology The etymology of the word is not completely clear. There are hypotheses that the word is derived from the Greek language, Greek (cf. , 'joke'); from the Italian language, Italian ('joker', cf. English language, English ''scaramouch''); from the Arabic language, Arabic ; and many others. History The skomorokhs appeared in Kievan Rus' no later than the mid-11th century, but fresco depictions of skomorokh musicians in the Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv, Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv (Ukraine) date to the 11th century. The ''Primary Chronicle'' on skomorokhs concurs with the period. The monk chronicler denounced them as devil servants. Furthermore, the Eastern Orthodox Church often railed against them ...
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Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy () or Holy Liturgy is the usual name used in most Eastern Christian rites for the Eucharistic service. The Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Lutheranism, Eastern Lutheran Churches and the Eastern Orthodox Church believe the Divine Liturgy transcends both time and the world. All believers are seen as united in worship in the Kingdom of God along with the departed saints and the angels of heaven. Everything in the liturgy is seen as symbolic, but not merely so, for it makes present the unseen reality. According to Eastern tradition and belief, the liturgy's roots go back to the adaptation of Jewish liturgy by Early Christians. The first part, termed the "Liturgy of the Catechumens", includes the Lection, reading of scriptures like those in a synagogue, and in some places, also a Sermon#Christianity, sermon/homily. The second half, the "Liturgy of the Faithful", is based on the Last Supper and the first Eucharistic celebrations by Early Christians. Eastern Christian ...
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Saint Sophia Cathedral In Novgorod
The Cathedral of Saint Sophia, the Holy Wisdom of God () in Veliky Novgorod, Russia, is the cathedral church of the Metropolitan of Novgorod and the mother church of the Novgorodian Eparchy. History The 38-metre-high, five-domed, stone cathedral was built by Vladimir of Novgorod and Bishop Luka Zhidiata between 1045 and 1050 to replace an oaken cathedral built by Bishop Ioakim Korsunianin in the late tenth century. This makes it the oldest church building in Russia outside the Caucasus ( Tkhaba-Yerdy in Ingushetia dates from before the 8th century) and the oldest building of any kind still in use in the country, with the exception of the Arkhyz and Shoana churches. It was consecrated by Bishop Luka Zhidiata (1035–1060) on September 14, in 1050 or 1052, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. (A fresco just inside the south entrance depicts Sts. Constantine and Helena, who found the true cross in the fourth century; it is one of the oldest works of art in the ca ...
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Volkhov River
The Volkhov ( ; ; ) is a river in Novgorodsky District, Novgorodsky and Chudovsky Districts of Novgorod Oblast and Kirishsky District, Kirishsky and Volkhovsky Districts of Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia. The Volkhov River, Volkhov, which forms part of the basin of the Neva, is the only outflow of Lake Ilmen, and connects it with Lake Ladoga. The length of the Volkhov is , and the area of its drainage basin is . The city of Veliky Novgorod, the towns of Kirishi, Volkhov and Novaya Ladoga, and the historically important village of Staraya Ladoga are located along the Volkhov. Etymology A number of etymologies, none universally accepted, have been proposed for the name of the river. In his ''Etymological dictionary of the Russian language'', Max Vasmer doubted some philologists' opinion that the river's name is related to the Finnish ''velho'' ("magician") or Russian ''volkhv'' ("pagan priest"). Geography The Volkhov flows out of Lake Ilmen north into Lake Ladoga, the la ...
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Streltsy
The streltsy (, ; , ) were the units of Russian firearm infantry from the 16th century to the early 18th century and also a social stratum, from which personnel for streltsy troops were traditionally recruited. They are also collectively known as ''streletskoye voysko'' (). These infantry troops reinforced feudal levy horsemen or ''Landed Army, pomestnoye voysko'' (). The first units were established by Ivan the Terrible as part of the first Russian standing army. The streltsy were under the administration of the ''Streletsky prikaz'' from 1571. Peter the Great curtailed the influence of the streltsy, and following the streltsy uprising of 1698, streltsy units began to be disbanded. However, it was not until the 1720s that this process was completed. Origins and organization The first streltsy units were created by Ivan the Terrible sometime between 1545 and 1550 and armed with Arquebus, arquebuses. During his reign, Russia was fighting wars almost continuously, including ...
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Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich Of Russia
Ivan Ivanovich (; 28 March 1554 – 19 November 1581) was the second son of Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible by his first wife Anastasia Romanovna. He was the tsarevich (heir apparent) until he suddenly died; historians generally believe that his father killed him in a fit of rage. Early life Ivan was the second son of Ivan IV of Russia ("the Terrible") by his first wife Anastasia Romanovna. His brother was Feodor, who would eventually succeed his father as tsar. The young Ivan accompanied his father during the Massacre of Novgorod at the age of 15. For five weeks, he and his father would watch the '' oprichniki'' with enthusiasm and retire to church for prayer. At the age of 27, Ivan was at least as well read as his father, and in his free time, wrote a biography on Antony of Siya. Ivan is reputed to have once saved his father from an assassination attempt. A Livonian prisoner named Bykovski raised a sword against the tsar, only to be rapidly stabbed by the tsarevich. Ma ...
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Tver
Tver (, ) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city and the administrative centre of Tver Oblast, Russia. It is situated at the confluence of the Volga and Tvertsa rivers. Tver is located northwest of Moscow. Population: The city is situated where three rivers meet, splitting the town into northern and southern parts by the Volga, and divided again into quarters by the Tvertsa River, which splits the left (northern) bank into east and west halves, and the Tmaka River which does the same along the southern bank. Tver was formerly the capital of a powerful medieval state and a model provincial town in the Russian Empire, with a population of 60,000 by 14 January 1913. The city was known as Kalinin () from 1931 to 1990. Etymology According to one hypothesis, the name of the city is of Finnic languages, Finnic origin, ''*Tiheverä''. History Medieval origins Tver's foundation year is officially accepted to be 1135.Charter of Tver, Article 1 Originally a minor se ...
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Tver Oblast
Tver Oblast (, ) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast). Its administrative center is the city of Tver. From 1935 to 1990, it was known as Kalinin Oblast (). Population: Tver Oblast is a region of lakes, such as Seliger and Brosno. Much of the remaining area is occupied by the Valdai Hills, where the Volga, the Western Dvina, and the Dnieper have their source. Tver Oblast is one of the tourist regions of Russia with a modern tourist infrastructure. There are also many historic towns: Torzhok, Toropets, Zubtsov, Kashin, Vyshny Volochyok, and Kalyazin. The oldest of these is Rzhev, primarily known for the Battles of Rzhev in World War II. Staritsa was the seat of the last appanage principality in Russia. Ostashkov is a major tourist center. Geography Tver Oblast is located in the west of the middle part of the East European Plain. It stretches for 260 km from north to south and 450 km from west to east. The area borders Yaroslavl Oblast in the east, ...
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Klin, Klinsky District, Moscow Oblast
Klin (, lit. ''a wedge'') is a town and the administrative center of Klinsky District in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located northwest of Moscow. Population: 94,000 (1985 est.). History It has been known since 1317. In 1482, it was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Moscow with the rest of the Principality of Tver. Town status was granted in 1781. Klin was taken by the Germans briefly during the Battle of Moscow in 1941. The German occupation lasted from November 23 to December 15, 1941. A short time later, on December 19, the British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and the Soviet ambassador to the United Kingdom Ivan Maysky visited the town with more than twenty correspondents during Eden's first diplomatic mission to Moscow. Administrative and municipal status Within the framework of administrative divisions, Klin serves as the administrative center of Klinsky District.Resolution #123-PG As an administrative division, it is, together with sixty-one rural ...
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