XXIV Международный конкурс научно-исследовательских и творческих работ учащихся
Старт в науке
Масонский Петербург
Автор работы награжден дипломом победителя I степени
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Introduction
All over the world we can find traces left by the Masonic organization. They manifest themselves everywhere: both in culture and in everyday life, for example, we can often meet them walking around the center of St. Petersburg.
The relevance of the topic of Masonic symbols in the architecture of St. Petersburg lies in the fact that it can be of interest to many people, as well as is the subject of lively discussions.
The problem with our research will be that there is no single opinion on the topic.
The object of our research is the symbols of the Masons, and the subject is the symbols of the Masons in the architecture of St. Petersburg.
To try to solve the presented problem, we put forward the following hypothesis: are the Masons really so influential that they were able to leave their symbols on the main architectural landmarks of St. Petersburg.
Based on the above, the purpose of our work is to study the Masonic symbols on the architectural monuments of St. Petersburg and create an excursion route and answer the formulated question.
To successfully achieve the goal, we have set the following tasks:
1. Get general reliable information about who the Masons are, what their organization is, what its practical functions are.
2. Find out what symbols Masons use and the meaning of these symbols..
3. Find architectural monuments with Masonic symbols on them, tell the story / reason for the appearance of these symbols on a particular monument.
4. To refute or confirm the hypothesis put forward by us.
5. Create an excursion route that includes all the listed monuments.
Research methods:
Theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific literature, information from Internet resources.
The theoretical significance of the project lies in the fact that it fills in many gaps in the topic we are studying and is of interest to people interested in cultural studies.
The practical significance of the project lies in the fact that the project can be used for conducting excursions around the center of St. Petersburg, as well as for extracurricular activities.
1. The theoretical part
1.1. Who are the Freemasons?
Freemasons are a closed society whose members go through the stages of initiation, have ranks and engage in various kinds of activities.
Freemasonry is a movement that appeared in the form of a secret society, which originates from little-known origins in the late XVI — early XVII century. The main version of the origin of Freemasonry is considered to be the version of origin from medieval masons' construction guilds. [1]
V.I. Dahl gave the following definition in his dictionary:
A Freemason is a member of Freemasonry/ secret Masonic society, which took the name of masons or builders. Freemasons and pharmacons are called here (in Russia) freethinkers, state and church.
1.2 The main ideas of the Masons
Freemasons describe their association as a fraternity, a philosophical and philanthropic progressive institution. The main goal is "moral self—improvement", knowledge of the world and the desire to improve it. For several centuries, the utopian educational idea has attracted politicians, scientists, inventors, philosophers, writers and engineers.
The basic principles of Freemasonry are based on the doctrine of Deism: faith in the Supreme Principle (the Great Architect of the Universe) and in the possibility of the immortality of the soul. Each member of the Masonic brotherhood must observe Masonic secrecy and recognize the internal hierarchy in the lodges. It is proclaimed that any person, regardless of his position in society, can join a Masonic lodge and move along the internal hierarchy.
1.3 The history of the emergence of Freemasonry
There are different theories about how Freemasonry came to be. According to the main version, it all started with the fraternities of "freemasons" in medieval England. In the XVII century, there was a large-scale construction of cathedrals. The construction could have been going on for decades. Employees united in societies to solve issues related to payments, regulate conflicts between "brothers", and support each other in difficult life situations.
Over time, the active construction of cathedrals was completed, and such fraternities came to naught. But new fraternities began to appear, which were called "third-party masons." They were increasingly joined by men who were not related to construction. They were wealthy and enlightened people with a high social status. They adhered to liberal values and disguised themselves as the brotherhood of builders so as not to attract the attention of the authorities. From the "freemasons" they inherited some symbols and moral and ethical principles that every mason should follow.
Freemasonry as we know it today originated in the early 18th century in England and Scotland. The starting point can be considered 1717, when the members of four separate London lodges came together to form the united Grand Lodge of London and Westminster. From that moment on, Freemasonry spread rapidly across the continent. Soon Masonic lodges were scattered all over Europe: from Spain and Portugal in the West to Russia in the East.
1.4 The emergence of Freemasonry in Russia
Freemasonry appeared in Russia in the first half of the 18th century. In Masonic legends, Peter I and his associates Franz Lefort and Patrick Gordon are often called the founders of Freemasonry in Russia. This version, however, has no documentary evidence.
The first reliable mention of the appearance of the first Masonic organization in Russia dates back to 1731, when the Grand master of the Grand Lodge of England, Lord Lovel appointed Captain John Philips provincial Grand Master for Russia. The widespread spread of Freemasonry in Russia began with the founding of several Masonic lodges by the General of the Russian service, James Keith, in the 1740s. The documents of the Grand Lodge of England indicate that in 1741 he was appointed provincial Grand Master for Russia. Russian lodges were initially mostly foreign—born officers in the Russian service and merchants, but soon the number of Russian-born Freemasons began to grow. In the 1750s, a lodge operated in St. Petersburg under the leadership of Count Vorontsov.
1.5 Masonic symbols on the buildings of St. Petersburg
It is not surprising, but the symbols and signs of the most mysterious and powerful organization, to which almost world domination is attributed, are found in St. Petersburg at almost every step.
Radiant Delta
The All-seeing Eye or Radiant Delta is an ancient Christian sign symbolizing the non-canonical image of the Holy Trinity. Later, the Masons adapted it and began to use this symbol to remind them of the pervasive gaze of divine providence.
The emblem-the unity of three separate symbols of Freemasonry: a compass, a square and the letter "G" in the center
In this emblem, the compass represents the Firmament, and the rectangle represents the Earth. The Earth is a place where a person does the job, and the Sky is symbolically connected with the place where the Great Builder of the Universe, the God, draws his plan. In the center is the letter "G", the meaning of which is unlimited. One of them may be the concept of "geometer", which the Masons themselves designated the supreme secret deity.
Star of Bethlehem (hexagonal star or pentagram)
The pentagram signifies the vitality and spirit that fills all of nature, as well as the mind that illuminates all the affairs of the Masons and guides their quest on the right path. It consists of two triangles, each of which symbolizes something: a triangle with the top up – a person aspires to God, a triangle with the top down – God descends to man. The tension between these opposite concepts (the divine human principle) in the world is a constant genesis on Freemasonry. The shining star is one of the "fixed" jewels of the lodge: it is located in the middle and is associated with the sacred fire, which guides the free mason on his way to virtue.
2. The practical part
Tour "Masonic St. Petersburg"
As a product, we decided to create an excursion dedicated to Masonic St. Petersburg. Today you will learn some legends and myths about buildings and monuments with Masonic symbols, as well as learn how to read Masonic symbols and learn what the radiant delta is and why it was important to put it in the architectural plan of the city.
The main purpose of this tour, of course, is to introduce interested citizens to the cultural and historical heritage of the city.
The fascination with Freemasonry has certainly left a significant mark on the history of Russia and is reflected in the architecture of the Northern Capital. There are many places associated with "free masons".
The tour route
We will go around the buildings that depict Masonic symbols, such as the Rotunda, a place that is considered one of the most mystical in St. Petersburg, Kazan Cathedral and its "all-seeing eye", Stroganov Palace, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Alexander Column, located on the main square of St. Petersburg and learn the secrets of these places (see Appendix 1).
The basics of Masonic symbolism
• I will tell you how to recognize Masonic symbols — you will find them everywhere on our route: at the Kazan Cathedral, Alexander Column and other urban sites.
• You will learn what the radiant delta (or the all-seeing eye) is and why it was so important to include it in the architectural plan of St. Petersburg.
Organizational details
• Target audience: the tour is suitable for adults and children from 14 years old (if the child is interested in history, literature and philosophy)
• This tour is conducted in both a group and an individual format
• Type of excursion: the tour takes place on foot
• Duration of the tour: 3 hours
• Meeting place: the tour starts from the Sadovaya metro station
Rotunda
Now we will head to our first stop – an ordinary house on the corner of Gorokhovaya Street and Fontanka River embankment, at 81 Fontanka River Embankment, closely associated with the Masons. The modest entrance door hides a beautiful colonnade of six columns with an elegant spiral staircase. The name of this is the Rotunda. There are many myths and legends associated with the Rotunda, and, according to one legend, a Masonic initiation ceremony took place in the basements of the house. At the beginning of the 19th century, the house with the rotunda belonged to Count Zubov, a well-known Freemason in St. Petersburg, who organized meetings of members of the Masonic lodge in the rotunda. At that time, the walls of the rotunda were decorated with many Masonic symbols, which were later destroyed as all the buildings were reconstructed. And here the reverse process took place - the rotunda building was restored to its original form. Two spiral staircases, twisted, one in the direction of the Sun, and the other counterclockwise, clearly hint at some kind of Masonic ritual of the Scottish rite.
There are several buildings with rotundas in St. Petersburg, and if you connect them with lines, you will get a Masonic pentagram. It is believed that this magical sign protects the city. One of the rotundas of the pentagram is located in St. Isaac's Cathedral. The rotunda on Gorokhovaya Street is central to the sign.
Some people believe that the Rotunda is an exit to the fourth dimension. At night, you can meet the Prince of Darkness here, for whom the Rotunda is a portal through which the devil descends to Earth. Another legend says that right under the Rotunda there is an underground passage leading to the Vitebsk railway station.
Kazan Cathedral
The next stop is Kazan Cathedral. Our route will take you along Sadovaya Street, and then we will turn left along Nevsky Prospekt.
As we can see, right above the entrance to the Kazan Cathedral, on the pediment, there is a Masonic symbol. The radiant delta, according to some researchers, is borrowed from Christian symbolism. The eye is the "All-seeing eye" of the Lord, and the triangle is the holy Trinity. During the time of Alexander I, this sign was used to decorate orders and medals after the war of 1812.
Stroganov Palace
To get to the next stop, we will walk along Nevsky Prospekt to the Stroganov Palace. Alexey Sergeyevich Stroganov (the son of the owner of the palace) was a Freemason, and the lodge meetings were often held in the Stroganov Palace.
According to legend, this happened in the Physical Office of the palace, it is also called the Egyptian one. The Kazan Cathedral is perfectly visible from it - for those who are interested in this information and are trying to find this office.
If you visit the Stroganov Palace, you will not find it on the diagram. He's gone! After a fire at the end of the XVIII century, the original decoration was almost completely destroyed, and the former architect of the palace, Andrei Voronikhin, known for his affiliation to Freemasonry, restored it. According to legend, the interior of the palace was filled with Masonic symbols. For example, the sequence of ceremonial halls symbolizes the ritual path of Masonic initiations, and the patterns on the walls include emblems of spiritual rebirth.
St. Isaac's Cathedral
Next, we will walk along the Moika River embankment through St. Isaac's Square.
We're here. Let's admire the splendor of the cathedral and go inside. Pay attention to the following icon - above it is depicted the all-seeing eye, which the Orthodox consider a symbol of the Masons. If you look at the floor, you can see a symbol meaning the Sun, to which this temple is dedicated, but in this context it is not a Masonic symbol.
Alexander Column
And now we will head to our last stop on Admiralteysky Prospekt - Alexander Column.
The Alexander Column was erected in 1834 by architect Auguste Montferrand by decree of Emperor Nicholas I in memory of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812.
The Montferrand monument depicts a Masonic symbol – an all-seeing eye framed by laurel leaves. The "All-seeing Eye" is one of the main symbols of the Masons, which monitors passers-by and tourists from the pedestal of the Alexander Column.
Auguste Montferrand was a Freemason. he would not have risked installing such a sign without Nicholas I's permission without his approval. This was Nicholas's recognition of the merits of the officers and Masonic generals who contributed to the defeat of Napoleon.
This is the end of our tour. We hope that you enjoyed it and you revealed the secrets of the most famous places and monuments of St. Petersburg. For those who could not attend the tour, we suggest visiting a virtual tour, just follow the link https://cms.izi.travel/Масонский Петербург.
3. Conclusion
Based on the results of the work done, we can say that the Masons did not play a decisive role in creating the architectural appearance of St. Petersburg, despite the fact that the city was extremely heavily influenced by Western European countries, these symbols are not always reflections of Masonic ideology. For example, there are many temples on the pediment of which there are "strange" images that confuse "seekers of truth", in fact, they do not refer to the buildings of Masonic architects at all. This means that the symbol carries a long series of diverse meanings, among which you need to look only for the one that is specific to this particular era. It is not necessary to make hasty conclusions without understanding the history of the construction of the building, the biographies of its creators, the symbolism of philosophical trends peculiar to this time.
We can definitely assert that the appearance of a symbol that can be attributed to Freemasonry is associated with Freemasonry, and not with anything else, only in some cases, which are exceptional.
4. List of references
1. Масоны: чем они занимаются и что значит всевидящее око // рбк тренды URL: https://trends.rbc.ru/trends/social/64a66dac9a79475f71d85725 (дата обращения: 21.11.2024).
2. Масонские знаки на домах и сооружениях в Петербурге // Петербург Центр URL: https://peterburg.center/ln/marshrut-masonskie-znaki-na-domah-i-sooruzheniyah-v-peterburge.html (дата обращения: 29.11.2024).
3. «Всевидящее Око» на Неве. Путешествие по масонским местам Петербурга // Аргументы и факты URL: https://spb.aif.ru/city/event/1344450?ysclid=m7osxztckg896741365 (дата обращения: 2.12.2024).
4. Знаки и символы масонов в Санкт-Петербурге // Соглас-проект URL: https://soglas-proekt.ru/blog/znaki-i-simvoly-masonov-v-sankt-peterburge.html?ysclid=m7oszmq627120438393 (дата обращения: 10.12.2024).
5. Масонский Петербург или тайные знаки Северной Столицы // Тари-тур URL: https://www.tarispb.ru/blog/cnt/masonskiy-peterburg-ili-taynye-znaki-severnoy-stolicy?ysclid=m7ot1ir26z745295327 (дата обращения: 25.12.2024).
6. Мифы или реальность: масонские места Санкт-Петербурга // Горбилет блог URL: https://gorbilet.com/blog/spb/news/mify-ili-realnost-masonskie-mesta-sankt-peterburga?ysclid=m7ot399pa3725364225 (дата обращения: 12.01.2025).
7. Даль Владимир Иванович Толковый словарь русского языка. - М.: АСТ, 2023. - 640 с.
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