The small city of Murom located on the steep bank of the Oka in Vladimir Region doesn’t belong to the cities of the Golden Ring, but is rightly worth visiting. Murom was founded in 862, so it can be referred to the most ancient cities of Russia.
There are three ancient monasteries in the center of the city: Trinity Convent, the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior and Annunciation Monastery. The Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior is considered to be one of the most ancient ones in Russia, as it was mentioned in the chronicles of the 11th century.
However, most Russian people go to Murom in order to visit Trinity Convent and give a bow to the relics of the saints Peter and Fevronia. In Russia they became the patrons of family and marriage, and the day of July, 8th is the official Day of the Beloved. Unfortunately, so far this holiday isn’t as popular as St. Valentine`s Day, but maybe everything is ahead.
Oka Park is near the river, where one can see a big statue of Ilya Muromets. As is known, the Russian bogatyr (hero) was born in the village Karacharovo, which is on the outskirts of Murom. Although the bogatyr is generally referred to Russian epos, historians believe it was quite a real personality. At the end of his life Ilya became a monk of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and died in 1198, and was sanctified as the venerable Ilya Muromets by Russian Orthodox Church in 1643. Today one can see his relics in the near caves of the monastery.
According to modern investigations of orthopedists, the lower extremities of Ilya Muromets of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra have been inactive because of some birth injury for a long period of time. Then the injury was healed, and Ilya could move. This confirms the story of Russian epos.
