Travel Guide Vetka (Ветка)

The history of this small village not far from Gomel is linked to the events of the Russian Church schism. In 1653, Nikon, the Patriarch of Moscow, introduced reforms in Russian orthodoxy which are not accepted by the unanimity of the faithful. Called Old Believers, persecution has begun against them. To save themselves, they seek refuge in the border areas, even to the first Territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, where in 1685 they founded the town of Vetka. As well as Catholics, Uniates, Orthodox, Jews and Muslims, Old Believers were protected by the laws of the Polish-Lithuanian Union. At the beginning of the 40 000 th century the population of Vetka reached inhabitants, mainly craftsmen and tradesmen. Today, Vetka is a small town with a few thousand inhabitants, who have suffered greatly from the impact of radiation caused by the Chernobyl disaster. Nevertheless, this is where the old traditions of the Old believers still live. There is also local crafts, and beautiful wooden houses, finely decorated, which seem to be out of a fairy tale.