News

On September 26 Head of Karelia Sergey Katanandov has taken part in celebrating the 360th anniversary of Olonets.

In September 1649 Olonets was awarded the status of a fortress and became the Russia's advanced post in the Great Northern War, and the first record of the settlement located there dates from as early as 1137. Development of the Russian North and distribution of Christianity among indigenous peoples originated from there.

For a long time Olonets was an administrative centre of the province of the same name, and now is the center of national culture of the region as the only town in the republic where more than 60% of the population are Karelians.

Addressing the meeting participants on the main square of Olonets, Sergey Katanandov has called it the place of origin of Karelian statehood and Karelian culture. In the opinion of the Head of the republic, attitude of care to traditions is important not only as a homage to the history of native land, but also as an essential condition of the region's competitiveness, its tourist and investment prospects.

Taking the opportunity, Sergey Katanandov has thanked the citizens of Olonets for interest to their local history, language and culture. Thus, during his visit to the Art School, Head of the republic was shown a construction project of a fortress in Olonets on the model of the one that became the foundation of the town three and a half centuries ago. The project was offered by one of the graduates of the design faculty of the Slavic institute in Petrozavodsk. The author's intention was to make the fortress the architectural decoration of Olonets, a tourist attraction and an exhibition area or a venue for public events. Head of Karelia liked the project and has promised to think of possible participation of the republic in its implementation. Besides, Sergey Katanandov has charged institutions of local government to find means to repair Art School where, besides drawing, children learn modelling, pottery and weaving.

His visit to Olonets Head of Karelia has started with the public prayer in the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. It was the first divine service after a long break. The church still undergoes reconstruction, therefore, liturgies are held in the repaired antechurch. Restoration of the church was financed from the the budget of the republic.

After the church service Sergey Katanandov has examined the reconstructed building of the regional court. This object restored at the expense of the federal budget opened just two weeks before the anniversary of Olonets. In the new building the judges have already tried more than 100 civil and about 10 criminal cases.

Walking though the centre of the town which turned into a walking zone for the celebration, Sergey Katanandov has talkes to young participants of sports competitions and has promised a special prize from the Head of Karelia to the winner. Besides, Head of the republic has stopped at the shopping street arranged on the main square which offered production of local farms and has bought some homemade butter having mentioned that he had not seen the product of quality so high for a long time.

Then Sergey Katanandov has visited the exhibition of local photographers devoted to the anniversary and history of Olonets, and has taken part in the solemn meeting where he awarded the best workers of the region. Also Head of Karelia has visited the kindergarten where new furniture should be delivered in a week, of which the personnel asked the governor during his summer visit to the region. Funds for it was assigned by the decision of the Head of the republic; tender for supply of the furniture now comes to the end. In completion of his visit Sergey Katanandov has attended the ceremony in honour of the silver wedding anniversary in the Municipal Civil Registry Office.

Talking to the town-dwellers of Olonets, Head of Karelia has emphasized that the task of the Government of the republic is to provide employment and decent living conditions in regions of the republic, so that the young people should have a stimulus to stay in their native land. Anniversaries, including the coming 90th anniversary of Karelia, are an occasion to render territories additional support. Thus, at participation of the budget of Karelia by the anniversary of Olonets in town there opened the Central regional hospital which with its up-to-date medical and diagnostic equipment has become the most advanced medical institution in the republic. Also, due to republican treasury, there had been repaired several streets of the town, the town stadium and the building of local museum undergo reconstruction, the new employment center has opened.

Besides, at the support of the Government of Karelia in the region there have been held many important actions related to preservation and development of national culture. Thus, in June Olonets hosted the VI Congress of Karelians of the Republic of Karelia devoted to the topical issues of life of the Finno-Ugric community in the region.