Why did the TV tower in Sarov become a bell tower?
Belfry Holy Dormition Monastery The bell tower in the Sarov Hermitage rises in the city center and is over 225 years old. For 57 of those years, it served as a television tower—this is what saved it from destruction during the Soviet era.
The bell tower was built from 1789 to 1799 using donations. It was intended to be five-tiered, but apparently due to a lack of funds, it was built in four tiers. After its consecration and opening, it housed, among other things, a library containing rarities—700 manuscripts, including a chronicle of the Sarov Monastery written by the founder of the hermitage, Hieromonk John. The bells were located on the third and fourth tiers. The third tier housed the largest bell, weighing 1200 poods (over 19 tons). The fourth tier contained 18 bells, the largest of which weighed between 86 and 550 poods. The Sarov ringing had its own melody and sequence, and the bell ringers were blind monks.
With the advent of Soviet power and the ban on the "opium of the people," the church was closed and the bells removed. It remains unknown where the largest bell went. It was likely sunk in the Satis River. The bell tower was first used as a water tower, then converted into a broadcast tower. Fortunately, its height—81 meters—allowed this. Technical platforms and equipment were installed on it. Here's how have described this event on the website "Orthodox Sarov":
"Called to awaken the voice of God in man, to call him to prayer, the bell tower has been used for many years to the detriment of human souls, especially since the 1990s, when a flood of aggression, debauchery, and the cult of profit poured from television, corrupting the Christian roots of our civilization.".
However, it was precisely because of this misuse that the bell tower was not destroyed: in Russian regions, the churches that survived were those that were converted into museums, barns, warehouses, and repair shops during the Soviet era.
In the 1990s, believers were given back the opportunity to perform religious rites, and the restoration of religious buildings began. Broadcasting equipment was removed from the bell tower only in 2012, but until then, believers had to walk in procession around the "bell tower-TV tower." The bell tower was later restored, and its bells were once again raised.
Sarov is one of the spiritual centers of Russia. Its bell tower, one of the oldest in the country, is a landmark of the city. However, not everyone can see it: the city is closed, as it is also a center of nuclear physics. It is guarded by the Russian National Guard, and entry is permitted for visiting relatives with passes, a special invitation, or as part of an organized tour group.