In the village of Bogdanovsky, Ustyansky District, Arkhangelsk
Region, 100 meters from the road, near a stream, there is an amazing Gorachy Kamen/ Hot stone.
The stone resembles a bar with a length of 1.5 and a height of about
1 meter. The top and side faces of the stone are flat, and it seems
that it is hewn by a human hand. At the same time, the side faces of
the stone are lowered to the lower base so that the top is 75
centimeters wide, and the bottom is about 1 meter. Its upper base is
parallel to the ground. The stone is oriented in such a way that its
end protruding from the ground is directed to the stream to the
north. In the upper end zone one can see wedge-shaped notches, which
are noticeably different from natural chips and depressions, which
are caused by the influence of natural factors.
Nobody knows
where this stone came from and how. All of its outlines indicate
that it is some kind of ancient, mysterious historical monument.
Most likely, the definition of its affiliation is associated with
the history of the development of the Ustyansk region. Its analysis
leads to the events of a thousand years ago, to the times when the
Chudi Zavolochskaya lived in these parts (the Finno-Ugric population
of Zavolochie, first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years).
Looking around the area, attention is focused on a niche in the
ground near a stone. One gets the impression that here the earth
began to sink into some kind of underground abyss. Maybe the stone
marks the location of the dugout in which the Chuds are buried or
self-buried. But the area around is teeming with stones. It is not
easy to dig a dugout here and it is completely impractical. In the
old days, in the spring, the brook was more full-flowing and would
simply flood it. Probably, this depression was formed due to the
natural drift of stone by the earth from the other side.
Perhaps the stone is a remnant of the sanctuary of the Chudi
population. Currently, more than one such sanctuary has been found
in the town of Kokshenga. Tarnogsky local historian A.A. Ugryumov
noted that the Chudi had special temples (prayers), which are the
places of pagan sacrifices to Yomal, her main god. These
supplications unfolded among the huge firs. Between them was a huge
stone and 2 smaller ones, various wooden and stone idols were
exhibited. Images of God, signatures and various designations were
carved on a large stone. For example, scientists discovered a prayer
site with inscriptions in Koksheng, which they still cannot
decipher.
Fir trees grow in this cleared area, but 2
noticeable small stones are not visible. However, higher, at a
distance of about 20 meters, there is a stone chamber made from
stones placed from above. Maybe they are part of the stone-room, and
the niche in the man-made stone is a recess from one of them. Chud
temples were traditionally located on the heights. This is located,
however, in the bottom of the stream, but on the slope of one of the
two large eels, between which the stream runs.
For the last
100 years this stone has been called "Hot". In the summer, at night,
young people came to him. The stone practically did not cool down
until dawn. It was a meeting place for lovers, where they confessed
their pure and bright intentions. Perhaps to this day the "Hot"
stone is a Chudish god who has become a Christian shrine, if the
church touches it, then it fulfills its holy mission - to sow peace
and goodness among people.