The sacred spring is located on the bank of the Lovat River, in Peregino, 20 km from Poddorye. Of the 12 apostles, Saint Andrew was the only one to visit the Russian lands. According to church tradition, this apostle of Jesus Christ set out to spread his teacher’s word. During his journey, he reached the Black Sea coast, and then followed the Dnieper upstream, blessed the Kiev hills and put up a cross as a promise of the advent of the Christian faith there. He then followed the route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” in reverse and reached what is today northwestern Russia. According to a local legend, Andrew the Apostle stayed in Peregino on his way to Valaam. Those who come to this spring believe that its water can heal those who are suffering. It is also here, according to local legends, that old-settlers saw the Mother of God icon “floating in the air.” But every time those who saw it tried to reach for the icon, it would disappear. Every year, locals from Poddorye, as well as tourists, visit the spring on Epiphany. There is a plunge pool near the spring.
