IMoscow Igubha Unyaka Wayo Wama-850

“WOZA kimina, mfowethu, woza eMoscow.” Lesi simemo sikaYury Dolgoruky ebiza enye inkosana ngo-1147 sibonakala sikhuluma ngeMoscow ngokokuqala ngqá ezincwadini zomlando. Lolu suku—eminyakeni engu-850 edlule—luye lwamukelwa njengokwatholakala ngalo iMoscow, inhloko-dolobha yaseRussia, nakuba ubufakazi babavubukuli bubonisa ukuthi kwase kukudala kuhlalwa lapha.

Lapho kulungiselelwa umkhosi wokugubha unyaka wama-850 weMoscow, izakhiwo eziningi zaleli dolobha zalungiswa futhi zavuselelwa—izinkundla zemidlalo, amasonto, iziteshi zezitimela, amapaki nezakhiwo zomphakathi. Yeka ushintsho olukhexisa umlomo! “Izakhiwo eziningi ngeke usazibona,” kusho omunye umuntu waseMoscow.

Ngenkathi sivakashele eMoscow ngo-June odlule, sabona amaqembu abantu enza imisebenzi yokulungisa kuyo yonke indawo emaphakathi nedolobha, eduze neRed Square. Zazibuya emsebenzini, kusetshenzwa ubusuku nemini. Futhi izikhumbuzo zokugujwa konyaka wama-850 zazithé chithi saka—emafasiteleni ezitolo, kuyiMetro, ezigxotsheni zikagesi, ezimpahleni ezidayiswayo—ngisho nesekisi laseMoscow lalikhuluma ngakho.

Ngo-September, lapho izinkulungwane zezivakashi ezivela kuwo wonke umhlaba zitheleka emikhosini ekhethekile yonyaka wama-850, ukubukeka kweMoscow kwakukwenza ubambe ongezansi. Yebo, naphezu kwezinkathi ezimbi zokuhlupheka kuwo wonke umlando wayo, iMoscow ibilokhu isinda futhi ichuma.

Ngokusobala isazi seBhayibheli sasicabanga ngenkathi enjalo emlandweni weMoscow lapho, ngasekuqaleni kwekhulu leminyaka elidlule, sikhuluma ‘ngempi’ ehlotshaniswa ‘ne-Armagedoni’ eBhayibhelini. (IsAmbulo 16:14, 16, King James Version) Saveza ukuthi abanye bathi indawo ye-Armagedoni iMoscow, nakuba yena ngokwakhe ayengavumelani nalowo mbono.a

Kungani abanye babesho njalo? Ake ucabangele umlando othakazelisayo futhi ngokuvamile obuhlungu weMoscow.

Iye Yafa Yabuye Yavuka Eminyakeni Edlule

IMoscow isendaweni enhle eyimpambana-ndlela eduze nemifula emikhulu (i-Oka, iVolga, iDon neDnieper) kanye nezinye izindlela ezibalulekile. INkosana uDolgoruky “yabeka izisekelo zedolobha laseMoscow,” kubika umlando ka-1156, ngokusobala osho ukuthi wakha izinqaba zokuqala zobumba ezinodonga lwamapulangwe phezulu. LeKremlin, noma inqaba eyibusela, yayisendaweni engunxantathu ephakathi koMfula iMoskva neNeglinnaya, umfudlana owumthelela.

Ngeshwa, ngemva kweminyaka engu-21, inkosana yaseRyazan engumakhelwane “yatheleka eMoscow yalishisa lonke idolobha.” Yaphinde yakhiwa iMoscow, kodwa ngo-December ka-1237, amaMongol, eholwa uBatu Khan, umzukulu kaGenghis Khan wodumo, ayinqoba futhi aphinde ayishisa yaba umlotha iMoscow. AmaMongol abuye ayiphanga ngo-1293.

Ingabe ukuthola kumangalisa ukuthi iMoscow yayivuka ngemva kokucoboshiswa ngakunye? Leli dolobha labuye laba isikhungo senkolo saseRussia ngo-1326, lapho inkosana yaseMoscow, u-Ivan Kalita, ivumisa umphathi weSonto Lobu-Orthodox LaseRussia ukuba ahlale eMoscow.

Ekugcineni, ngesikhathi kubusa u-Ivan Omkhulu (kusukela ngo-1462 kuya ku-1505), iMoscow yayingasabuswa amaMongol. Ngo-1453 idolobha laseConstantinople (manje eliyi-Istanbul) labuswa ama-Ottoman Turk, okwashiya ababusi baseRussia bewukuphela kwababusi abangama-Orthodox ababesele emhlabeni. Ngenxa yalokho, iMoscow yaziwa ngokuthi “iRoma Yesithathu” futhi ababusi baseRussia babebizwa ngokuthi ababusi noma okesari.

Ngasekupheleni kokubusa kuka-Ivan Omkhulu—lapho uChristopher Columbus ehambela amazwekazi aseMelika—iKremlin yanwetshwa, futhi kwakhiwa izindonga nemibhoshongo yezitini, okusekhona namanje futhi okungakashintshwa. Izindonga zingaphezu kwamakhilomitha amabili ububanzi, zingaba amamitha ayisithupha ubukhulu, ziphakeme ngamamitha angu-18, futhi zizungeze iKremlin, engaba ngamahektare angu-30.

Kungakumangaza ukuthi maphakathi neminyaka yawo-1500, kwakuthiwa iMoscow inkudlwana kuneLondon. Kwabe sekuthi ngo-June 21, 1547, kwagadla inhlekelele lapho leli dolobha lasha khona langqongqa, okwenza cishe bonke abantu basala dengwane. Abantu baseMoscow abanamasu baphinde bayakha. Manje kwabe sekwakhiwa neSt. Basil’s Cathedral, eyayakhelwa ukugubha ukunqoba ezimpini namaTatar, noma amaMongol, eKazan. Ngisho nanamuhla, lesi sakhiwo sobungcweti esiseRed Square (esaqedwa ngo-1561) siseyisakhiwo saseMoscow esihlonishwa kabanzi.

Ngemva kweminyaka engaba yishumi, ngo-1571, amaMongol aseCrimea afohla ayinqoba iMoscow, okwaba nomonakalo ongakholeki. Ashisa cishe yonke into kwasala iKremlin. Umlando wembula ukuthi kubantu baleli dolobha abangu-200 000, kwasinda abangu-30 000 kuphela. “UMfula iMoscow wawugcwele izidumbu kangangokuthi waphambuka emzileni wawo, namanzi ayebomvu tebhu kuze kuyofika ezansi,” kubika abahleli bezincwadi zakwaTime-Life kwethi Rise of Russia.

Kwadingeka ukuba iMoscow iphinde ivuselelwe. Futhi yavuselelwa! Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, leli dolobha lanwetshwa lisuka eKremlin, izindonga ezilandelanayo zizungeze izindawo ezibizwa ngokuthi iKitai Gorod, iWhite City neWooden City. Nanamuhla iMoscow isami njengesondo, iKremlin izungezwe imigwaqo eyindilinga esikhundleni sezindonga.

Ngalesi sikhathi abantu baseMoscow babecindezelwe kakhulu ukubusa ngonya kuka-Ivan Owesabekayo, umzukulu ka-Ivan Omkhulu. Kwathi ngo-1598, indodana ka-Ivan Owesabekayo neyamlandela ngokubusa, uFyodor, yashona ingenandlalifa. Kwabe sekuqala inkathi eyabizwa ngokuthi i-“Time of Troubles,” (Isikhathi Sezinkathazo), incwadi ethi Rise of Russia eyibiza ngokuthi “inkathi yezinxushunxushu nesanganisa kunazo zonke emlandweni waseRussia.” Yathatha iminyaka engaba ngu-15.

Ibekezelela Inhlekelele Engakaze Ibonwe

Ngemva nje kokuba uBoris Godunov, umlamu kaFyodor, ethathe izintambo zokubusa, iMoscow yagaselwa isomiso nendlala embi kakhulu. Phakathi nenkathi eyizinyanga ezingu-7 ngo-1602, kubikwa ukuthi kwafa abantu abangu-50 000. Sebebonke abantu abafa kuleli dolobha phakathi kuka-1601 no-1603 bangaphezu kuka-120000.

Kungakabiphi kwenzeke lenhlekelele, indoda eyazibiza ngeNkosana uDmitry, indodana ka-Ivan Owesabekayo, yahlasela iRussia ngosizo lwamasosha asePoland. Eqinisweni, ubufakazi buveza ukuthi uDmitry wangempela wayebulawe ngo-1591. Lapho uGodunov efa ngokuzumayo ngo-1605, owayaziwa ngelikaDmitry-mbumbulu watheleka eMoscow futhi wabekwa njengombusi. Ngemva nje kokubusa izinyanga ezingu-13, wabulawa izitha.

Ezinye izimbangi zalandela, kuhlanganise noDmitry-mbumbulu wesibili, naye owayesizwa iPoland. Ubuqili, impi yombango nokubulala kwaba insakavukela. INkosi uSigismund III Vasa, yasePoland, yahlasela iRussia ngo-1609, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi kwasayinwa isivumelwano esasamukela indodana yakhe uWładysław IV Vasa njengombusi waseRussia. Lapho abasePoland betheleka eMoscow ngo-1610, leli dolobha labuswa abasePoland. Kodwa ngokushesha abaseRussia bahlangana bamelana nabasePoland futhi babaxosha eMoscow ekupheleni kuka-1612.

Lezi zinkathi ezimbi zenza iMoscow yaba ‘ihlanze eligcwele amakhakhasi nokhula esikhundleni semigwaqo eyayikhona.’ Udonga lweWooden City lwalushe lwangqongqa, kanti izakhiwo zeKremlin zazonakele. Isithunywa saseSweden esasivakashile saphetha ngokuthi: “Kwakuyisiphetho esibi nesiyinhlekelele sedolobha elidumile laseMoscow.” Nokho, sasishaye phansi.

Ngo-1613, kwakhethwa umbusi waseRussia emkhayeni wakwaRomanov, futhi lombuso omusha wababusi bakwaRomanov wahlala iminyaka engaphezu kuka-300. Nakuba kubikwa ukuthi lombusi owayesemncane nowayesanda kuthatha izintambo, uMichael, “wayengenandawo yokuhlala” ngenxa yomonakalo, iMoscow yakhiwa kabusha futhi yaphinda yaba idolobha elibalulekile emhlabeni.

Ngo-1712, umbusi uPeter Omkhulu, umzukulu kaMichael, wasusa inhloko-dolobha yaseRussia eMoscow wayiyisa eSt. Petersburg, ayeyakhe kuyiBaltic Sea. Kodwa iMoscow yahlala “iyisithandwa” saseRussia. Eqinisweni, umbusi waseFrance uNapoléon Bonaparte, efuna ukuyinqoba, kubikwa ukuthi wathi: ‘Uma ngingase nginqobe iPetersburg, ngiyobe ngiyishaye ekhanda iRussia, futhi uma ngingase nginqobe iMoscow ngiyobe ngiyibulale inhliziyo [iRussia].’

UNapoléon wayihlasela iMoscow, kodwa njengoba umlando ubonisa, yinhliziyo yakhe eyafa, hhayi iMoscow. Okwenzeka eMoscow kwakukubi kangangokuthi cishe yikona okwenza abanye bayihlobanise ne-Armagedoni.

IMoscow Iyavuka Emlotheni

Entwasahlobo ka-1812, uNapoléon wahlasela iRussia ngebutho lempi elalingaba nabangu-600000. Besebenzisa inqubo “yokuqothula izwe,” abaseRussia babaleka futhi bangasishiyela noluncú isitha. Ekugcineni, banquma ukuhamba bayishiye kwabaseFrance iMoscow!

Izincwadi eziningi zithi abaseMoscow yibo abashisa idolobha labo kunokuba bavume ukuba lidliwe abaseFrance. “Isivunguvungu somoya senza umlilo waba isihogo uqobo lwaso,” kubika incwadi yomlando waseRussia. AbaseFrance abashiyelwanga kudla nafolishi, njengoba lencwadi ichaza: “Abantu baseRussia abalinikanga nelilodwa isaka likafulawa noma utshani obomisiwe ibutho laseFrance.” Bengenakwenza ngokunye, abaseFrance bayishiya iMoscow ngemva kwamasonto angaphansi kwayisithupha beyihlasele futhi cishe balahlekelwa yilo lonke ibutho lapho bephindela emuva.

Isibindi sabantu baseMoscow sasilisindisile idolobha labo elihle, futhi benokuzimisela okuqinile, balivusa emlotheni. U-Aleksandr Pushkin, ngokuvamile obhekwa njengembongi yaseRussia enohlonze kunazo zonke, wayeneminyaka engu-13 lapho uNapoléon ehlasela iMoscow, idolobha likaPushkin eliyisilomo. NgeMoscow, wabhala ukuthi: “Yeka imicabango evuswa yilelo gama kumuntu waseRussia othembekile! Yeka isenanelo esijulile esizwakalayo!”

Ukusinda Nokuchuma

Abaningi abaphila namuhla bayazikhumbula izikhathi ezinzima kakhulu iMoscow eyabhekana nazo ngesikhathi sezinguquko zaseRussia ezaqala ngo-1917, kungaba bazibona ngamehlo noma emabhayisikobho. Nokho, leli dolobha alisindanga nje kuphela—lachuma. Kwakhiwa umzila ohamba ngaphansi komhlaba kanye neMoscow-Volga Canal eyayizonikeza leli dolobha amanzi. Ngokuyinhloko, ukungakwazi ukuzifundela kwaqedwa, futhi ngasekupheleni kwawo-1930 iMoscow yayisinemitapo yezincwadi engaphezu kwenkulungwane.

Owayengumphathi-dolobha waseManchester, eNgilandi, ngo-1937 wabhala encwadini ethi Moscow in the Making: “Uma kungase kungabi nempi enkulu, . . . ngikholelwa ukuthi, ngokuphathelene nempilo, izinto ezenza ukuphila kube lula nenhlalakahle yazo zonke izakhamuzi zayo, ngemva kohlelo lweminyaka eyishumi iMoscow iyobe isisondela ekubeni idolobha elikhulu elihleleke kahle kunawo wonke umhlaba owake walazi.”

Kodwa ngo-June 1941, iJalimane yasusa uchuku yahlasela iRussia, izwe elalisayine nayo isivumelwano sokuxazulula izinkinga ngokuthula eminyakeni engaphansi kwemibili ngaphambili. Ngo-October, amasosha aseJalimane ayefinyelela ebangeni elingamakhilomitha angu-40 ukusuka eKremlin. Kwacaca ukuthi iMoscow izokuwa. Cishe ingxenye yezakhamuzi zaseMoscow ezingaba izigidi ezingu-4,5 zase zibalekisiwe. Amafektri angaba ngu-500 ayesethuthe imishini yawo ayithumela ezindaweni zawo ezintsha empumalanga yeRussia. Nakuba kunjalo, iMoscow yatibila. Ngomqondo ongokoqobo, leli dolobha lamba imisele, lazibiyela futhi lawaxosha amaJalimane.

IMoscow yathinteka kabi kakhulu, njengoba kwaba njalo nangamanye amadolobha amaningi aseRussia. “IMoscow ibhekane nokuningi kakhulu ngekhulu elilodwa leminyaka,” kubhala intatheli yaseMelika eyayihlala khona ngeminyaka yawo-1930 nawo-1940, “kangangokuba ngiyamangala ukuthi iye yasinda.” Ngempela kuyamangalisa ukuthi iMoscow yasinda yaba elinye lamadolobha amakhulu nabaluleke kunawo wonke emhlabeni namuhla.

Namuhla, iMoscow inabantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-9 kanti indawo yayo ingamakhilomitha-skwele angaphezu kwenkulungwane, okuyenza ibe nkudlwana futhi ibe nabantu abaningi kuneNew York City. Uchungechunge lwemigwaqo eyindilinga luzungeze iKremlin, kanti iMoscow Ring Road engamakhilomitha ayikhulu ubude yenza okusamngcele ongaphandle weMoscow. Imigwaqo emikhulu isuka phakathi nedolobha iye ngaphandle, njengezipoki zesondo.

Nokho, abantu abaningi baseMoscow bahamba ngeMetro yedolobha enhle kakhulu, esinemizila engu-9 neziteshi ezingaba ngu-150, ehamba kuzo zonke izingxenye zedolobha. I-World Book Encyclopedia ithi iziteshi zeMetro zaseMoscow “zinhle kunazo zonke emhlabeni.” Ezinye iziteshi ungathi izigodlo, zihlotshiswe ngezibani eziwubukhazikhazi, imifanekiso, amafasitela ahlotshisiwe nenqwaba yemabula. Empeleni, iziteshi zokuqala ezingu-14 ezakhiwa zinamamitha-skwele emabula angaphezu kuka-70 000, ezedlula zonke ezigodlweni ezakhiwa abakwaRomanov eminyakeni engu-300!

Idolobha Liyalungiswa

Lapho sivakashile ngehlobo elidlule, sahamba ngeMetro siyobona esinye sezakhiwo ezinkulukazi esakhiwe kabusha—iLenin Stadium enkulu ethatha abantu abangu-103 000, eyakhiwa eningizimu yeMoscow ngeminyaka yawo-1950. Ngesikhathi sifika kwakufakwa izihlalo ezintsha, futhi sacabanga ngophahla olusukayo olungenza sikwazi ukuba nemibuthano unyaka wonke.

Ingaphambili lesitolo esikhulu esidumile iGUM, esingaphesheya kweRed Square uma useKremlin, lalungiswa laba lisha. Ngalé kweKremlin, lapho kwakugobhoza khona iNeglinnaya ngaphambi kokuba iphambukiselwe ngaphansi komhlaba ekhulwini leminyaka elidlule, kulungiswe ingadi kwafakwa nomfudlana omelela owakudala. Ngaphesheya kwalomfudlana, kwakwakhiwa udedangendlale wesitolo esingaphansi komhlaba esinezitezi eziningana, kuhlanganise nezindawo zokudlela nezinye izakhiwo. Umlobi waseMoscow wasibiza ngokuthi “isikhungo sezitolo esikhulu kunazo zonke eYurophu,” kodwa wanezela, “okungenani bacabanga kanjalo eHhovisi Lomphathi-dolobha.”

Kwenye indawo ebude buduze neKremlin, imishini yokufukula izinto ezisindayo yayisakazeke yonke indawo, futhi zazibuya emsebenzini wokwakha. Ezindaweni ezimbiwe kwatholakala amagugu emivubukulo, kuhlanganise nendawo yokufihla izimpahla eyayinezinhlamvu zemali zaseRussia nezaseNtshonalanga Yurophu ezingu-95 000 ezisukela ekhulwini le-15 kuya kwele-17.

Amasonto ayelungiswa futhi amanye akhiwa kabusha. I-Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral, eseRed Square, eyacekelwa phansi ngo-1936 futhi esikhundleni sayo kwakhiwa izindlu zangasese zomphakathi, yayisiqediwe. I-Cathedral of Christ the Savior enkulukazi, eyayakhelwe ukugubha ukunqotshwa kukaNapoléon, yayibhidliziwe ngo-1931 phakathi nomkhankaso wamaKhomanisi wokulwa nenkolo. Ngesikhathi sivakashile yayisizoqedwa ukwakhiwa esizeni sayo esidala, okwase kuyiminyaka eminingi siyindawo yedamu lokubhukuda elikhulu, elingaphandle, elinamanzi ashisayo.

Kwakumnandi kakhulu ukuhambela lezi zindawo zezakhiwo, ikakhulu lapho sicabanga ngendlela eyayiyobe ibukeka ngayo iMoscow ekupheleni konyaka. Nakuba kunjalo, esakuthanda eMoscow abantu bakhona. “Isivakashi simangazwa ubungane obusuka ngaphakathi abantu baseMoscow abangaba nabo,” kwasho umlobi waseMoscow. Sakuthola kuyiqiniso lokho, ikakhulu njengoba sasithe bú etafuleni lasekhishini elincane, sijabulela uthando olufudumele nomoya wokungenisa izihambi womkhaya waseRussia.

Siyajabula nangokuthi sathola ukuthi abantu abaningi baseMoscow sebeyitholile incazelo yangempela ye-Armagedoni, impi uMdali wethu ayohlanza ngayo wonke umhlaba. Lokhu kuyongenisa isikhathi lapho bonke abamthanda ngeqiniso bengahlala khona ndawonye, bengabandlululani futhi bengasolani, kodwa bahlale ngokuqondana nangokwethembana, njengabantwana bakaNkulunkulu, abathandanayo nabakhonza uNkulunkulu ngobunye. (Johane 13:34, 35; 1 Johane 2:17; IsAmbulo 21:3, 4)—Inikelwe.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Isithombe ekhasini 13]

Izindonga zase-Kremlin neSt. Basil’s Cathedral, izinto zase- Moscow ezihlonishwa yonke indawo

[Isithombe ekhasini 15]

Yonke indawo kunezikhumbuzo zokugujwa konyaka wama-850

[Isithombe ekhasini 16]

Isitolo esikhulu sodumo iGUM, esilungiswe saba sisha

[Isithombe ekhasini 16]

Iziteshi eziningi zeMetro ungathi izigodlo

[Umthombo]

Tass/Sovfoto

[Isithombe ekhasini 16, 17]

Kulungiswa iLenin Stadium

[Isithombe ekhasini 17]

Zilungiswe kabusha izingadi ngaphandle kweKremlin

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Imishini efukula izinto ezisindayo ikuyo yonke indawo, futhi zazibuya emsebenzini wokwakha