The Vavilov spouses are developing the culture of the Kryashens and weaving camouflage nets for the fighters of the Special Military Operation.

      Angelina Petrovna and Mikhail Petrovich Vavilov have lived together for more than half a century. And each of their days resonates in unison with folk melodies.

      Bright Lake is a village with a telling name. And the people here live up to it — bright, hospitable, and tireless. On July 21, exactly on the feast day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, it has been 54 years since Angelina Petrovna and Mikhail Petrovich Vavilov tied their fates together. Their marriage is a true alloy of love, hard work, and unwavering devotion to their native land.

      Meeting in the city and the road to the village

      The story of this beautiful couple began not in the picturesque surroundings of Bright Lake, but in the noisy Naberezhnye Chelny, in a student dormitory. Mikhail, a native of the village, was already working as a crane operator on the legendary construction site of the KAMAZ plant. Angelina came from the Mamadysh district to visit a relative, and fate arranged for them to meet there. Young hearts beat in unison, despite their busyness. Mikhail was mastering a construction specialty, while Angelina was building her career at an experimental plant, rising from a storekeeper to a senior master and engineer. But wherever the Vavilovs lived, their souls always longed for their roots. 32 years ago, they decided to return to Mikhail Petrovich's small homeland — to Bright Lake. Here, they were awaited not just by familiar walls, but by a great mission — to revive traditions.

      Guardians of the holiday

      Upon arriving in the village, the Vavilovs immersed themselves in public life. Together with like-minded Svetlana Krainova, Angelina Petrovna took on what seemed impossible — to revive the forgotten feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God. “There were no artists before, everything was done by our own efforts,” recalls Angelina Petrovna. “A lot of people gathered. Both adults and children joined in a huge round dance. To the accordion of Ivan Shugulev and Ivan Atlasov, the whole village sang and danced. It was here that I truly fell in love with and learned to sing Kryashen songs. They are amazing, soul-piercing.” Today, Angelina Petrovna is the unwavering leader of the folklore ensemble "Keryashen Moni," which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. She worked at the Bright Lake House of Culture as both artistic director and accompanist, putting her heart into every student and every song. Her talent and boundless energy allow her to preserve the unique cultural heritage of the Kryashens for future generations.

      Living chronicle

      Angelina Petrovna is not only a talented performer; she is a true chronicler and guardian of Kryashen rituals. She sings virtuously and knows the history of her people, the subtleties of their culture and everyday life, which are carefully passed down from mouth to mouth. A particular interest among ethnographers who came with an expedition from Kazan was sparked by a family relic — an old dress sewn in the 1920s for Vavilova Anastasia Nikiforovna, who was born in 1894. The age of the garment has surpassed a hundred years, but for Angelina Petrovna, it is not just a family value, but an important historical source. She told the scholars in detail about the features of the women's costume of the Kryashens, the significance of each element of the decorations, and the traditional embroidery, which the researchers were able to study through this unique dress. Thanks to people like Angelina Petrovna, the ancient culture of the Kryashens is gaining a voice and will not fade into oblivion.

      Family hearth and volunteer feat

      The Vavilov family raised three children, and they are now grandparents to six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. The secret to a long and happy family life, according to the spouses, is simple: “The most important thing is to respect each other and yield. Without this, it’s impossible. We are very different in character, but we always tried to listen to each other. If one insists, the other yields, and then — vice versa. That’s how we live. There has never been a time when we sulked for long or slept in different rooms. We don’t hold grudges — they only destroy. We talked, sorted things out, and that’s it. And also — to be able to rejoice in little things. Having tea together in the morning, boasting about the grandchildren, laughing at something. This is happiness — when there is a person next to you who is dear to you, and you are dear to them.” But life in Bright Lake is not limited to caring for relatives. Angelina Petrovna and Mikhail Petrovich are people with an active civic stance. In a difficult time for the country, they found themselves once again at the forefront of good deeds. As soon as they began weaving camouflage nets for the soldiers of the special military operation at the House of Culture, the Vavilovs could not remain indifferent. It was Mikhail Petrovich and Angelina Petrovna who personally made the frames for weaving, without which the work would have been impossible.

      “We learned to weave from Elena Khisamutdinova, who was at the origins of this movement in Zainsk. We are trying very hard to bring our Victory closer. We believe that the camouflage nets we weave will save the lives of our soldiers,” says the volunteer. The concern of the Bright Lake residents for the fate of the defenders of the Motherland was duly noted. At the Kazan holiday, Angelina Petrovna was recognized as an activist of the volunteer movement "Maskseti 'Zainsk with You'." She was also presented with a letter of gratitude from the chairman of the Kryashen society, Pyotr Mineev. The Vavilov spouses are an example of how one family can become a center of attraction for the entire village. They prove that age is not an obstacle to an active life, and love for the Motherland begins with love for one’s family, one’s song, and one’s history.

      Photo by the author

      Roza Ilaltdinova

      More news about the event:

      The Vavilov spouses promote the culture of the Kryashens and weave camouflage nets for the soldiers of the special military operation. Angelina Petrovna and Mikhail Petrovich Vavilov have lived together for more than half a century. 18:07 02.08.2026 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

      The Vavilov spouses promote the culture of the Kryashens and weave camouflage nets for the soldiers of the special military operation. Angelina Petrovna and Mikhail Petrovich Vavilov have lived together for more than half a century. 12:56 02.08.2026 News of Zainsk - Zainsk