Gora Sekirnaya, Mountain summit in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia
Gora Sekirnaya is a hill on the island of Bolshoy Solovetsky in Arkhangelsk Oblast, topped by a small Orthodox church that doubles as a lighthouse. It is one of the highest points on the island, with a view that reaches over the surrounding forest and the sea beyond.
The hill has been linked to the Solovetsky Monastery since the 15th century, when monks settled on the island and treated the summit as a sacred place. During the Soviet period, it became part of the SLON labor camp, one of the earliest sites of the Gulag system.
The Ascension Church at the top of the hill is an active Orthodox place of worship that draws pilgrims from across Russia. The church is visible from far away and gives the whole island of Solovki a recognizable skyline.
The summit is reached by a forest path that takes about half an hour on foot from the main monastery complex. The path can be slippery in winter and muddy in spring, so sturdy footwear is a good idea year-round.
During the Soviet camp years, the church at the top was used as a punishment cell, and prisoners were reportedly rolled down the hill tied to logs. A memorial at the base of the hill now marks the memory of those who died there.
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