The Pealing Bells of Russian Harbin

Long before the advent of the internet—or even computers—there existed, and continues to exist, a vibrant, living, and deeply cherished city within the virtual reality of collective memory: Russian Harbin.

In a sense, it has become a reflection of its legendary predecessor—the city of Kitezh, a mythical place said to lie beneath the waters of Lake Svetloyar in the Voskresensky District of the Nizhny Novgorod region, in central Russia. According to legend, when the army of Khan Batu prepared to attack the city in the 13th century, Kitezh vanished, shielding itself from the gaze of the unrighteous. As the tale goes:

"To this day, the city remains invisible—it shall be revealed only at the Last Judgment of Christ. Yet, on a quiet summer evening at Lake Svetloyar, one can see the reflections of its walls, churches, monasteries, princely palaces, boyar mansions, and the homes of common townspeople. And at night, the muffled, mournful tolling of the bells of Kitezh can be heard."

In the case of Harbin, the role of those pealing bells has been taken up by stories passed down by word of mouth—from the original residents of Harbin to their descendants. Through these accounts, the vanished city continues to live on in the memory of its people.

Much like Kitezh, the voice of Russian Harbin—carefully preserved in human memory—now resonates across the globe. The film Remembering Russian Harbin, produced by the "Russian Path" studio at the House of the Russian Diaspora, serves as a great bell; its powerful peal is echoed by smaller bells in cities all over the world, reminding everyone of the life and destiny of this remarkable city.

Joining this joyful, almost Easter-like chorus are the bells of the belfry at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brisbane. Responding to a call from senior members of the parish council—and with the blessing and support of the rector, Father Gabriel—the cathedral’s youth group (ROYA) organised a film screening on Sunday, October 11, in the cathedral hall.

The enthusiasm and hard work of the young organisers deserve the highest praise. The event felt like a Hollywood blockbuster premiere: special commemorative tickets were printed, a red carpet was rolled out for guests, and members of the organising committee wore the distinctive caps once worn by ushers and ticket takers—the kind one might only see today in old films depicting such occasions. Velvet ropes added a touch of elegance and sophistication, while bags of popcorn handed out to every guest truly captured the atmosphere of a genuine movie premiere.

There were also "seats of honour" for guests such as the Honorary Consul General of the Russian Federation, I. Brook; the Dean of the Russian Orthodox Church in Queensland and Rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Father Gabriel Makarov; Father Boris Metlenko; and others.

The cathedral’s sisterhood also contributed by providing light refreshments—tasty treats and beverages.

In this way, a simple film screening was transformed into a grand celebration dedicated to the memory of Russian Harbin, allowing its history to resonate once again for the whole world to hear.

And much like the legend of the bells of Kitezh, which are said to ring out across the waters of Lake Svetloyar, stories of Harbin continue to echo across different continents, passed down from one generation to the next. They preserve the memory of a city that, while belonging to the past, will never truly vanish.

Many thanks to the young organisers and to Father Gabriel for their efforts and for keeping the memory of our history alive—for those who forget the past lose their future.