The flooded Solovki bells found in the Bannoe lake on the island of Anzer

Participants in the expedition searching for the Solovki bells found them at the bottom of the Bannoe lake on the island of Anzer, but have not managed to life them.

Members of the expedition have searched for the flooded barge with the bells from the Great Solovki island during last summer. They worked in the archives, did researches in the sea and in many lakes. It was only towards the end of the season that powerful instruments showed a metal mass in the Bannoe lake. People living on the shore also point at this site – the narrow part of the lake.

The expedition brought special equipment, such as powerful pomps to wash away the silt. Lifted from the bottom of the lake were hanks of wire, old anchors and the 800-litre barrel. The unexpected happened at the attempt to lift a bell.

Anatoly Karanin, leader of the Arkhangelsk group of the expedition said: ‘When we began to wash away the silt, gas was emitted. Water around the boat boiled, and two whirlpools appeared. When all calmed down, we began to search for a bell and found it one meter deeper’.

It was decided to continue the work next year. It is possible that this bell will remain at the bottom of the lake.

Human bones were found in the lake. They are supposed to be the remains of the female prisoners. It was impossible to dig a pit at winter, and some prisoners were buried in the lake.

Members of the expedition suggested to raise money for casting a new bell for the belfry of the Golgotha skete. Its restoration will be completed next spring.

A. Karanin suggested to cast a new bell weighting 420 kg as a gift from the residents of Arkhangelsk and call it ‘Arkhangelskiy’.