The history of shungite

The history of shungite usage in Russia

The healing properties of shungite have been known for more than 300 years. The first formal reference to its wonder-making power dates back to early XVII century and is associated with the name of Tsarina Marfa Ioanovna (boyar Xenia Romanova). While being in exile in Tolvuysk Pogost in Zaonezhje (*the region in Karelia on the bank of the Onega Lake) the Grand conventual was hanging between life and death tortured by some kind of epileptic disease. However soon after an unexpected pardon signed by Boris Godunov the local peasants showed her a healing spring of a great wonder-making power where the water is infused on the black stone they had used this water to heal themselves from time immemorial. Thanks to the life-giving water the boyar lady fully recovered from her illness. Soon she gave birth to a baby. Seven children she had given birth to before the exile had died in infancy, while the new-born boy, Mikhail Fyodorovich Romanov, became the founder of a new dynasty which would reign in Russia for 300 years. In memory of boyar Xenia the spring was called “Tsarina’s springâ€, however, it was soon forgotten and only rare inhabitants of the nearby villages used its water.