The feat of the peasants Nikon Shilov and Peter Slots

Monument to the peasants Nikon Shilov and Peter Slot in Sergiev Posad, near the walls of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

The peasants Nikon Shilov and Peter Slota, who at the cost of their own lives destroyed the trench under the Pyatnitskaya Tower

The monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh, which played a crucial role in the XIV century during the invasion of Temnik Mamai in Russia, was to re-enter the military arena now during the Time of Troubles and the Polish-Lithuanian occupation.

At a time when many Russian people, having lost their spiritual sense and political orientation, fell into the fetters of an impostor and recognized his authority, the monks of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery retained their wisdom. The monastic authorities saw right through the true goals of the impostors, and therefore came to the defense of the national interests of Russia and Orthodoxy. For the interventionists, the seizure of the monastery, which remained a powerful political and religious center, was no less important than the capture of Moscow and the Kremlin, where the government of Vasily Shuisky was located.

In early October, the 1608, the invaders took the monastery, which at the same time was a powerful fortress, under siege and made several attempts to capture it. Secretly they drove under the Pyatnitskaya Tower, its explosion would have provided access to the monastery.

At the same time, there were regular clashes between the defenders of the monastery, who made forays beyond the monastery walls, and besiegers. In one of the attacks, the Russians captured several opponents who reported on the upcoming dig, which would be ready for Mikhailov's day - November 8.

In order to thwart the enemy’s plan, several attacks were undertaken, which the Poles repulsed. Then the defenders went on an extremely risky step, two detachments of Russian soldiers were to distract and bind the main forces of the enemy, and the third, commanded by the head of Ivan Vnukov, at that time undermined the undermining.

The charge was successfully laid, but there was no time left to blow it up safely for life, the Poles noticed the actions of the bombers and quickly headed towards them. At a critical moment, when the operation was about to break down, two peasants Nikon Shilov and Peter Slota (Solota), sacrificing themselves, carried out an undermining.

The feat of the peasants immortalized the Russian militaryhistorical society. At the entrance to the main - the Holy Gates of the Lavra, on the right side there is a plate with the inscription: “On November 9, 1608, during the memorable siege of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra by Polish and Lithuanian troops, the enemy undermining led under the Pyatnitskaya Tower was heroically destroyed by Nikon's Clementine peasants Shilov and Slot, right there in a trench and burnt down ... ”*

The destruction of the tunnel, prevented the explosion of the Pyatnitskaya Tower and the seizure of the monastery, but this victory was bought at a high price, 174 was killed during the operation and 66 defenders of the fortress were injured.

Defenders of the "heart of Russia" will have to keep 15 siege months, faith will help withstand it, along with courage and heroism it will help expel the invaders from the borders of the Fatherland.

* The historian Tyumentsev believes that this event occurred on November 11 of the year 1608.

Comments

[parusnik]

Taking advantage of the confusion in the camp of the besiegers that occurred as a result of the blasting, one of the detachments participating in the sortie attacked a line of batteries firing at the monastery from the west and captured "the entire outfit."

[thinker]

Monument to the peasants Nikon Shilov and Peter Slot in Sergiev Posad, near the walls of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

The question immediately arises - who is the third? From now on I will know.

The monument is a sculptural image of Shilov and Slots, behind which stands the cell of the Trinity Monastery Avraamy Palitsyn, from the notes of which they learned about their feat.
(Kelar translated from Greek as "barn" - the head of the monastery table, pantry with food supplies)

[Dart2027]

There is a good book about the siege of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery "Trinity Sidekeepers"
https://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/4632861/
I don’t remember if this episode is there, I read about 10 years ago.

[Monarchist]

Cyril, thanks for telling us about an interesting but little-known fact of our history. Unfortunately in our history there are still a lot of little-known and forgotten episodes. Somehow it turned out that we we forgot a lot of vivid episodes from our history. After all, at one time this episode and many others were remembered in society, and then the era changed and people began to forget.

[Mordvin 3]

Quote: Monarchist

, and then the era changed and people began to forget.

And we still do not understand, to whom do we classify ourselves more - to Europe, or Asia? Wow, I'm lying! To Europe, naturally.

[wax]

"Russia itself is a universe and no one needs it." Catherine II

[Orang]

Lavra defense is a glorious page in our history. We can mention the warriors Ananias Selevin and the Mute.
Abraham Palitsyn in "The Legend of the Siege of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery" (1608 - 1609 gg.) Talks about two Russian soldiers; horsemen Anania Selevina and footman Nemom, who were not afraid to attack the Polish troops together: "Anania was courageous: he brought 16 noble captives to the besieged city, and none of the strong Poles and Russian traitors dared to approach him, they only caught a chance to kill him from a rifle from afar. After all, everyone knew him and, leaving the others, took up arms against him. And many recognized him on the horse, for that horse was so fast that he ran away from the thick of Lithuanian regiments and couldn’t catch him. Often the two of them together with the aforementioned Nemy went out on combat, the dumb one always walked with him on foot, and the two of them, armed with spears of the Poles, turned back with bows.Alexander Lisovsky, once saw this Anania among his opponents, went against him, trying to kill him. Ananias quickly hit his horse and, shooting Lisovsky from a bow in his left temple, shot him with his ear and plunged him to the ground, and he rode away from the thick Cossack regiments; for he shot well from a bow, as well as from homemade.
Once this Anania, beating black people from the Poles in the bush, was torn off by two companies from his squad and, fleeing, escaped. Dumb disappeared among the stumps and saw the plight of Ananias; in his hand was a large quiver of arrows; and he jumped out like a lynx, and, firing at the Lithuanians, fought fiercely. The Lithuanians turned to him, and immediately Ananias broke out to him, and they became close. And they hurt many people and horses and left unscathed, only a horse near Ananias wounded.
The Poles only thought how to kill a horse near Ananias, for they knew that they couldn’t take him alive. When Ananias went to the battle, everyone shot at the horse. Always in many sorties, his horse was wounded six times, and killed on the seventh. And Ananias became worse in battle. And then Ananias was wounded from squeaking in the leg, in the big toe and the entire metatarsus was crushed; and his whole leg was swollen, but he still fought well. And seven days later he was wounded in the knee of the same leg. Then this strong husband returned. And his leg swelled to the waist, and a few days later he died in the Lord. "