On Thursday, May 8th, the residents of psychoneurological institutions (PNI) of Zaporozhzhye region visited Khortitsa National Reserve. They included 12 female residents of Veselovsky PSI from the Uritskoye village of Zaporozhzhye district and 17 females from Lubomirovsky PSI of Volnyansky district. Those medical and social institutions are aimed for the permanent residence of females aged 18 and above, who have special needs and/or mental diseases and need permanent care, household and medical support. The patients travel outside their institutions very rarely. As for the institutions, they are usually located outside big cities or towns. Rare trips of people with special needs and, more precisely, the lack of those trips brought the idea of arranging a weekend trip for them to the staff of the Helpus Foundation. With the help of administration of Khortitsa National Reserve and PSI directors, the ladies had nice tours to the Zaporozhzhye Cossack History Museum and the Historical and Cultural Complex “Zaporozhzhye Sech”.
A representative of the scientific and educational unit of Khortitsa National Reserve, Yelena Konovalova, told the visitors about the customs and traditions of the people who used to live in the territory of Zaporozhzhye region. Everyday objects and appliances of ancient Scythians and Sarmatians, sables and guns of courageous Cossacks, silver and copper coins, icons, ancient dishware, books and other museum pieces helped the visitors feel the spirit and the atmosphere of the bygone era.
The Mantle of Our Lady Cathedral in miniature...
After the interesting tour to the Zaporozhzhye Cossack History Museum, our group headed to the Historical and Cultural Complex “Zaporozhzhye Sech”, which is located nearby. The unique feature of the Complex is that on its territory one can find small kurens – Cossacks’ habitations, with the interior of Zaporozhzhye Sech going back to XVI – XVIII centuries.
Zaporozhzhye Sech…
Sveltana Moiseyenko, senior research worker of the Science & Education Unit of Khortitsa National Reserve with the group
Exposition “Cossack Mamay and the Pipe”
At the Mantle of Our Lady Cathedral...
The interior designs deserve special attention: “House of Koshevoy Ataman”, “Military Chancellery”, “The Mantle of Our Lady Cathedral” and the new exposition “Cossack Mamay and the Pipe”, with almost two hundred various ceramic pipes for smoking blends.
Exhibition “House of Koshevoy Ataman”
The tours proved to be interesting and informative. We would like to say thank you to the representatives of Khortitsa National Reserve for the methodological support and positive atmosphere.
Author, photo – Yulia Akhtman – Yulia Akhtman
