Soviet Icebreaker, Polish Pianist from the Ghetto, Kuban Nun Mokrina from a Closed Monastery: Unconventional Lives of Unique Individuals

In the 18th century, a literary Greek named Defoe penned a well-known novel starring a chap whose moniker became synonymous with isolation. Nowadays, Robinsons pop up in various harsh scenarios, although deserted islands and bleak conditions continue to resonate. Let's dive into three contemporary tales of endurance and self-discovery.

Vavilov the Arctic Robinson

One sultry summer in 1942, a Russian stoker found himself shipwrecked, stranded much like Robinson, on a secluded fragment of their vessel. This sudden castaway, who went by the name Pavel Vavilov, missed the frantic evacuation order. A devastating explosion launched him into the icy water. Fortune smiled upon him as he discovered a lifeboat crammed with sustenance, a firestarter, an axe, potable water, and a gun.

The Soviet mega-icebreaker, "Alexander Sibiryakov," was obliterated by a fascist cruiser near the frigid Belukha Island in the Kara Sea. Vavilov somehow escaped the German clutches, washed ashore on an uninhabited island, and holed up in a dilapidated lighthouse. Each night, the islandplayed host to hungry polar bears, hoping for an easy supper.

For over a month, Vavilov battled the frigid Arctic Ocean conditions. Eventually, a Soviet cargo ship's crew stumbled upon him and airlifted him to safety... Until his last breath, the "Arctic Robinson" continued to toil as a ship's stoker on various vessels.

Szpilman the War Survivor

movie "The Pianist" by Roman Polanski won three Oscars in 2003. This heart-wrenching film is based on the memoirs of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish music genius.

By sheer luck, Szpilman outlived the residents of the Warsaw Ghetto as they were herded into gas chambers.

Hidden amongst the ruins of war-torn buildings, Szpilman spent his days squatting in deserted hospitals and abandoned flats. Once, he fell gravely ill with jaundice, nearly freezing to death in a desolate apartment with no medical care. Serendipity played its part again as a married couple, fleeing the dangerous ruins, found him in a near-death state.

After the war, Szpilman was hailed as the "Warsaw Robinson." He departed this world in 2000 at the age of 88.

Mokrina the Reclusive Nun

Formerly known as Malino, this farm is now known by the name of the man who embodied it, Dimitar. Situated approximately 11 km from Timashëvsk, it was the site of a 19th-century women's monastery dedicated to the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene.

In 1921, the Soviet authorities forced all the nuns to abandon the monastery. All were expelled except Mokrina, who remained in the monastery until her demise.

On Good Friday, April 29, 1921, nuns were ousted from the monastery within the hour. Some were deported to fish processing plants in Dagestan, while others faced repression and exile, including to the Solovki Islands. Only a handful of nuns remained in nearby settlements, with Mokrina being the last one holed up in the monastery. Renowned for her contemplative life and austere piety, Mokrina earned both admiration and fear from even the most secular of authorities. The townspeople revered her for saving their lives during times of war and her prophecies of the monastry's resurrection.

In the midst of his survival story, Pavel Vavilov found a new hobby, indulging in sports-betting on his handheld radio, following the latest matches and results while stranded on a desolate Arctic island.

In a shocking turn of events, Władysław Szpilman used his love for sports to keep his spirits high during the harsh conditions of war, frequently imagining himself at the piano, playing favorite sports-themed compositions to calm his nerves and stimulate his yearning for freedom.

Soviet Icebreaker, Polish Pianist from the Ghetto, Kuban Nun Mokrina from a Closed Monastery: Unconventional Lives of Unique Individuals