Vladikavkaz Fiori Fiorista

On the banks of the mountain fast-flowing Terek River, there is a city named Vladikavkaz, Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The land around it is best denoted by the word “proud”: proud waters of the river, proud local residents, proud mountain peaks. According to a well-known proverbial saying, neither the wild Caucasian forests nor Ossetians got used to kowtowing. And it truly is. Tourists are welcome to enjoy the basically pristine nature of the region. Ossetia’s legendary mineral waters are still famous across the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States because of their efficacy.
Paganism, Islam, and Christianity have been melted together in this small republic. Instead of abandoning their pagan deities, quite a lot of Ossetians still worships them. No priests are required. Like Druids, they have the sacred grove in 30 km far from Vladikavkaz. The legend says that a long time ago His Serene Highness Prince Hetag was fleeing from his enemies. His pursuers wanted him to turn back to Islam. When they were about to catch him up, the son of the king prayed for help in an open field. His prayers were answered. Wastyrdhi, the messenger of the main God, sheltered him in a round grove. It measured 13 hectares. The trees themselves came up to the prince and hid him. Ashes and birches dominated in that thicket. Since then, the Hetag grove has become a sacred place. It is deeply venerated. Yet, a small wooden temple was built. Every year Ossetian villages sacrifice a bull to the Grove. Each and every village is assigned a tree of its own. The holy trees are decorated with colorful ribbons. It is believed that if you make such a gift to any of the trees in the Grove, your wish will be granted.
Please, be informed that even though Vladikavkaz is a marvelous place, there are numerous travel constrictions due to a frozen conflict between Ossetia and Ingushetia, Russo-Georgian war and proximity of the Chechen rebels. No embassy website would recommend attending the local rural territories alone.