Irkutsk bell ringers gave a master class for everyone

According to the Russian Orthodox tradition, on Bright Week, any believer can freely climb the church belfry and ring the bells with prayer. However, this year, restrictions on visiting temples introduced due to the coronavirus epidemic have made adjustments to this practice. In order not to deprive believers of a particle of Easter joy, the bell ringers of the old Irkutsk Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands installed a 'mobile belfry' on the street in front of the entrance and arrange master classes on bell ringing for everyone.

Of course, simpler bells of modern production are used for training. And on the stone belfry of the Church of the Savior there are nine bells, and each of them has its own history, usually starting in the 18th or 19th century. For example, one of the bells with a rich pattern was cast by the Irkutsk bourgeoisie Innokenty Goreshnikov, as indicated by the inscription on it; the unusual ornament and brand on the other have yet to be deciphered by specialists.

Alexander Ippolitov, who conducts master classes on the street, once founded the School of Bell Ringers at the Church of the Savior, which is now known throughout Siberia. He can talk endlessly about the bells on the belfry of the temple - about the most large ones, those that are smaller and the smallest ones - zazvonniki.

During the master classes, social distance is respected; everyone - both the teacher and the students - are wearing masks. During the lesson, everyone who comes can try their hand at playing one or another melody on the bells of the mobile belfry. There are many of them - and those who come to the master classes sincerely hope that, by the grace of the Lord God, the alarm bell will never be heard over Irkutsk.