The Metaphysics of the North

Caves and rocks

Kegrin Päivä: the Krampus of the Karelian Forests

In olden times, in late autumn—at the beginning of November, when the days grow colder and shorter—the Karelians celebrated Kegrin päivä, a now-forgotten feast connected with the coming of the god Kegri—the Krampus of ...

Kegrin Päivä: the Krampus of the Karelian Forests

Kegrin Päivä: the Krampus of the Karelian Forests

Tepe-Kermen

Winter, snow, mountain passes, peaks, a medieval hillfort… Do you think we like that? You don’t even have to ask.

Tepe-Kermen

forgotten places winter Crimea Bakhchisaray cave city medieval fortress Crimean cave towns mountain Crimea ancient caves горный крым пещерный город

Tepe-Kermen

Peshtor: A Sacred Place of the Oyat Veps

In the lands of the Middle Veps, in the chambers of the Vepsian Forest, one kilometre from the bank of the beautiful Oyat River and 300 kilometres from Saint Petersburg, there is an unusual place called Peshtor—which t...

Peshtor: A Sacred Place of the Oyat Veps

место силы северная природа Святая скала вепсское место силы Атмосферные зимние фото чудотворец атмосферный ethnography sacred sites Veps folklore ritual stone folk Christianity animism shrine legends

Peshtor: A Sacred Place of the Oyat Veps

Devil's Church — Pirunkirkko: The Mystical Rocks of Karelia

To visit the Church of the Devil, you can travel far to San Francisco to meet the followers of the hedonistic Anton Szandor LaVey, or you can visit the surroundings of the Karelian village of Kurkiyoki, located in what...

Devil's Church — Pirunkirkko: The Mystical Rocks of Karelia

место силы финны финно-угры язычество скалы дьявол нечистая сила святилище Finno-Ugric peoples anomalous zones ancient Karelia pagan