Description of the attraction
The name of the village of Klyukoshitsy, according to the stories of local residents, was born because craftsmen lived here who made long staves or crooks from juniper for Novgorod monks (once these lands belonged to Novgorod).
The modern stone church of Saints Florus and Laurus was erected in 1872. But long before this building, there was a wooden church on this site, built in 1566. Probably, it was rebuilt more than once, since wooden churches were often burned. Information has reached our days that it was altered in 1864 as well. And already in 1872, instead of a wooden building, a stone one was erected, surprisingly well preserved to the present, despite the times of hard times, wars and destruction.
The temple stands at the highest place and is visible from afar. It is surrounded by a high stone wall with turrets at the corners and looks like a fortress or a small monastery. Old-timers say that when they decided to build a new church, they decided to move it to the other side of the Tesova River, where the road passes. The work was begun, the cornerstone was laid, and everyone went home, it is said, to celebrate. When morning came, the stone disappeared. After searching, they found him in the courtyard of the former temple. They were very surprised, but dragged him back. The next morning, the same story happened: again the stone was in the same place. He was again dragged across the river. The next day, at dawn, they went to see what the stone had in mind. And he again lies in the courtyard of the former temple. At this point it was decided that it was the will of God, and they built a church where it stands today.
Horses have long been bred in Klyukoshitsy. Wealthy owners of horse farms donated funds for the construction of the church. They say that before the revolutionary events on the patronal feast day (August 31), the locals decorated the horses with bows and brought them to the church, where the priest sprinkled them with holy water.
An icon has been preserved in the church, on which there are Saints Flor and Laurus surrounded by horses. There are many ancient icons here, which were brought by residents of Klyukoshits and surrounding villages and villages during the war years, when the church was opened by the Germans.
In 1939, the temple was closed. First there was a warehouse, and then a club. Almost half of the bell tower was dismantled into bricks, so now it looks strange: below the main dome is a memory of those times.
In 1942, the Nazis allowed to open a church and bring a Russian priest here. After the war, the priest was repressed, but the temple continued to operate.
The interior decoration of the church has been preserved much worse than its appearance. Once upon a time, the walls of the temple were painted, but at club time blue oil paint was roughly applied to the delicate murals, and during the war years a shell hit here. Around the church there is a cemetery, where they are buried even now.
In 2011, the wiring in the Church of Florus and Laurus was renewed, new lighting fixtures appeared outside and inside, and the fence was renewed.
The twin holy brothers Flor and Laurus lived in Byzantium in the 2nd century and were skilled stonemasons. They were martyred for their faith. After many years, their holy relics were found and sent to Constantinople. On the icons, they are depicted surrounded by horses, which, according to legend, were taught by the Archangel Michael himself. In agrarian Russia of the pre-revolutionary period, the veneration of these saints was very great. They were addressed with prayers for the loss of livestock. August 31 is the day of remembrance of Saints Florus and Laurus. It was also called the "horse festival". On this day, the horses did not work, they were given rest from any work, they were fed their fill, bathed, decorated and brought to the temple to wash them with holy water.
