Neighbourhoods of Navahradak. Part 3. Litoŭka

The first settlement on the site of the village of Litovka was founded by Polabian tribes which came from the territory of Germany between the rivers Labe (Elbe) and the Oder. The name of Litovka probably comes from the name Litouga which is known in the Mecklenburg Land (Germany).
In the XIII c. Litovka belonged to Bishop Christian who baptized Duke Mindovg and 600 other noble families. After the decline of the Catholic bishopry it was granted to the Lithuanian Orthodox Metropolitanate which was set up in 1316 with the center in Novogrudok and was owned by Orthodox metropolitans ever since.
The valley of lake Litovka is the scene of the events described by Adam Mickiewicz in his epic poem "Grażyna. A Lithuanian story." At the heart of the poem lies a legend about Litavor, the Prince of Novogrudok who signed a treacherous agreement with the Crusaders, and his bold wife Grazyna who headed Lithuanian troops against the Crusaders and saved her country from disgrace at the cost of her life.
In 1969 Vladimir Vysotsky, a highly popular Soviet poet and bard, theater and film actor, and his wife, French actress of Russian origin Marina Vlady stayed for a few days in Litovka during the filming of the movie "Sons go into battle" (director Victor Turov).

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