Fire Island is located in the Belozersky district. On its territory there is a colony - the last refuge of criminals sentenced to life imprisonment.
Shadows of the past
The prison building in the past was a monastery, which was founded in 1517. There is such a legend: the Mother of God appeared in a dream to the Monk Cyril and told that Fire Island should become his place on this Earth. The clergyman left the Tikhvin Monastery and bought this island. Its territory is small - you can take a look. Many did not like the idea of St. Cyril about the construction of a monastery. The clergyman was robbed more than once, urged to leave the Fiery Island. One day, thieves with their prey got lost on the lake. The Monk Cyril, having met them, warned that the punishment for evil deeds would be sent down by the Lord himself. Coincidence or not, but it is in this place that the most cruel bandits are imprisoned today.
Repurposing
After the revolution of 1917, the monastery was no longer used for its intended purpose. Convicts under various articles began to serve their sentences in the monastery. Initially, it was a correctional labor colony of general regime. Since 1994 inThis institution began to send only those sentenced to life imprisonment. The choice for this place was not accidental: the impressive thickness of the walls of the monastery reliably protect cruel criminals from the outside world.
Fire Island today is the place where two hundred murderers are serving their sentences. Many of them ruined more than one life, and with particular rigidity. Visiting journalists are always impressed by the cards on the cell doors: from them you can find out about all the crimes of the prisoners. At this moment, it is difficult not to succumb to a comprehensive fear, because it is psychologically difficult to be among such cruel people.
There are three criminals in each cell. During infrequent walks, these people are necessarily handcuffed, they move with their hands behind their backs, in a bent position. Sometimes they leave their cells in order to undergo a medical examination. Prisoners work daily for an hour and a half - they sew mittens.
The colony has a psychologist on staff. He helps criminals overcome difficult moments. Many prisoners came to God. It is noteworthy that all the icons in the local confession chapel are made by the hands of convicts.
Daily routine
Isle of Fire, where the prison for "life prisoners" is located, exists according to its own laws. Every day of the staff of the colony goes according to a certain plan. In the morning, workers go through all the cells and ask if everything is in order. In response, they hear: "Everything is fine, there are no questions, the camera is in good condition." This kind of communication ends until the next morning. Days, years pass according to this scenario… Psychologists have found that after seven years of such a life, a person begins to rapidly degrade. The only thing that supports the prisoners is letters from relatives.
On the neighboring island live people who work in this colony. Around despondency, devastation, impassability. Fiery Island, whose photos turn out gloomy even on a sunny day, for many people has become the end of the world…
