On October 11, 2026, pupils of the Peshaya Sloboda detachment at the Sunday school of the Spassky Cathedral in Penza, together with their parents, went on a pilgrimage trip with local history to the village of Lermontovo, Belinsky district. The journey combined prayer, pilgrimage, acquaintance with the history of the native land and lively communication between children and adults.
The trip began in Penza with a prayer service at the Savior Cathedral, which was served by priest Vyacheslav Shigurov for the participants of the trip. On the way, the participants read the morning prayer rule together. Then the journey became a real lesson in local history: several families prepared stories about the settlements located along the route: Batrake, Kevdo-Melsitovo and Kaldusy. The children especially remembered the story about the origin of the names of the surrounding forests. So the road to Tarkhany turned into a fascinating journey through the history and geography of the Penza region.
Arriving in Lermontovo, the pilgrims first visited the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, where they prayed for the Divine Liturgy. The temple was built in 1839 at the expense of Elizabeth Alekseevna Arsenyeva, the grandmother of the famous poet Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov.
The participants of the trip listened attentively to the sermon, admired the beautiful singing of the choir and worshiped the shrines of the temple. For many children and parents, this part of the trip has become especially important: the trip began with prayer and participation in church life.
After the service, the students went to the Tarkhany State Lermontov Museum-Reserve, the Arsenyev family estate, where the great Russian poet Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov spent his childhood and adolescence. There, the participants of the trip had a rich excursion program around the estate. The children visited the manor house, where they learned about Mikhail Lermontov's childhood and saw the personal belongings of the Lermontov family.
The young travelers also visited the Chapel of Mary of Egypt, the housekeeper's house and the servants' hut. The boys and girls were particularly interested in the old mill – the children were able to visualize how the life and economy of the noble estate of the XIX century were arranged.
The Tarkhany Museum-Reserve includes a manor house, a family tomb, temples, outbuildings, a park with ponds and gardens, so exploring the estate allows you to see not only the poet's life, but also the way of life of an entire epoch.
After the tour, the children went for a walk around the vast territory of the estate. The October sun, the rustle of leaves underfoot, the quiet surface of ponds and golden autumn colors created a special mood. The most active participants managed to feed the ducks and pet the horses.
The event was organized by Sunday school teacher Ekaterina Vladimirovna Chikarova. The trip was not only a rest for the pupils of the school, but also an opportunity to feel the atmosphere of the place that inspired Lermontov and preserved the memory of his childhood.
The participants of the trip returned tired but happy. I remember the prayer in the cathedral, the liturgy in the ancient church, stories about my native villages, encounters with history and nature, as well as many beautiful photographs.