Legend of Kitezh

[Ryan]

I'd like to know if anyone can point me to in-depth sources, Orthodox or otherwise, in English, on the legendary city of Kitezh. I have seen some online articles about this legend and I'm very intrigued by it. I know there is the Rimsky-Korsakov opera but I am more interested in the legend itself and also the various testimonies people have given over the centuries around Lake Svetloyar.

[Eric Peterson]

Sounds like something out of a Russian myth or fairy tale. Could you elaborate?

[Anthony Stokes]

Ryan,
if you can give me a few days, I can come up with something for you perhaps. I wrote a pretty involved paper on the Rimsky-Korsakov opera in graduate school, but it's on a computer that crashed. But, I still have some of the sources in a folder somewhere. Very interesting story.

Sbdn. Anthony

[Ryan]

Thanks, Anthony, that would be great, as long as it's not too much trouble.

Eric- The legend says that the invading Mongols came to this city, Kitezh, by Lake Svetloyar. The inhabitants were in no position to defend their city, so instead they prayed fervently. The city miraculously sunk into the lake. Pious Christians, so it goes, can still catch glimpses of the city underwater and hear the bells. You an read more about it on Wikipedia.

[Anthony Stokes]

Thanks, Anthony, that would be great, as long as it's not too much trouble.

Eric- The legend says that the invading Mongols came to this city, Kitezh, by Lake Svetloyar. The inhabitants were in no position to defend their city, so instead they prayed fervently. The city miraculously sunk into the lake. Pious Christians, so it goes, can still catch glimpses of the city underwater and hear the bells. You an read more about it on Wikipedia.

One story also says that the city became invisible, and it is the reflection that shows in the lake. The reflection is what scared off the Mongol invaders.

Sbdn. Anthony