The Metaphysics of the North

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The Church Stone

The photographs you see here were taken quite some time ago, back when the Church Stone — also known as the Demon Stone — stood deep within a patch of dense, swampy taiga. It’s no coincidence that locals call this a “b...

The Church Stone

The Church Stone

Last Hope: The Ruins of St. Nicholas Church in Reli

заброшка фольклор руины лужский район Leper sanctuary Abandoned church Sacred ruins Forgotten history

Last Hope: The Ruins of St. Nicholas Church in Reli

The Widow’s Lament for Her Husband

архангельская область фольклор осень кладбище погост Russian North Cemetery autumn

The Widow’s Lament for Her Husband

Haluy IV, or the Smokehouse Hut

Hurry to witness a vanishing way of life in its natural setting!

Haluy IV, or the Smokehouse Hut

заброшка деревянная архитектура крестьяне заброшенные деревни Russian North wooden house folk architecture abandoned village

Haluy IV, or the Smokehouse Hut

Teriberka Secondary School

When time is short but the urge to publish remains, there’s always a way out: we have photographs of the abandoned Teriberka Secondary School. A touch of eerie atmosphere straight from Northernfairytales.

Teriberka Secondary School

заброшка Териберка кольский заполярье крайний север Abandoned ruins Soviet-era horror

Teriberka Secondary School

Roadside Chapel of Cyricus and Julitta — Magic of Old Northern Roads

In Russian folk tradition, the Road was considered a rather eerie place, where a traveler could encounter many dangers: wild beasts, ruthless men, and of course, the Unclean Force.

Roadside Chapel of Cyricus and Julitta — Magic of Old Northern Roads

север северный архангельская храм заветы обеты Unclean Force chapel

Roadside Chapel of Cyricus and Julitta — Magic of Old Northern Roads

Lampovo: Old Believer Village near St. Petersburg

The Izhora Plateau—known in old Western sources as Ingermanland —is not the sort of place you would expect to find Russian Old Believers. No famous spiritual centers ever rose here, no wandering prophets o...

Lampovo: Old Believer Village near St. Petersburg

wooden architecture Russian North rural heritage Ingermanland winter photography northern villages folk culture старообрядчество староверие древлеправославие деревянные дома архитектура

Lampovo: Old Believer Village near St. Petersburg

Veps Castle

Did you know that in ancient times the mighty Vepsian lords built stone fortresses right into the cliffs, defending their realm and keeping the land of Vepsia independent for centuries? You’ve never heard of it? G...

Veps Castle

заброшка финны онежское озеро руины крепость вепсы онего фортификация финский ленобласть Finnish fortifications WWII ruins abandoned places Northern Russia photography Karelia autumn mystic travel Finno-Ugric culture

Veps Castle

The Stone Woman

In the Pskov lands, caught between the cultivated Enlightenment of St. Petersburg on one side and the former Baltic provinces on the other, one can still encounter relics of ancient faith that rival those of Mezen or K...

The Stone Woman

псковская область двоеверие святыня Почитаемый крест народная традиция могила medieval cross grave

The Stone Woman

Gimoretsky pogost — the town of the dead of the Russian North

On a mountain, atop a high hill, behind sturdy gates and oak walls, far from human dwellings, on the border of forest and field, there has stood for nearly four centuries a town of the dead — the Gimoretsky churchyard....

Gimoretsky pogost — the town of the dead of the Russian North

кладбище гимрека гиморецкий погост колокольня деревянная церковь graveyard wooden church

Gimoretsky pogost — the town of the dead of the Russian North

Dumino Sacred Grove: A Cemetery Shrine of the Russian North

язычество кладбище святыня архангельская погост роща поминальная реликтовые деревья Антропоморфные Abandoned graveyard forgotten north gravestones sacred landscapes

Dumino Sacred Grove: A Cemetery Shrine of the Russian North

Dumino Village

An abandoned settlement in the Kargopol lands, where you can feel like a true Robinson Crusoe. This place is an archetypal example of the coexistence of the sacred and the mundane: the silent village borders a sa...

Dumino Village

заброшка русский север заброшенное руины деревня Нежилая деревня избы Abandoned sacred cemetery grove

Dumino Village

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