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| The village of Mõla lies 5 kilometers north of Izborsk, on the slope of the valley. About 200 years ago the village was inhabited by Seto folk, today it is a Russian village. Even today we can find the typical Seto farmsteads here with closed inner courtyard and limestone gate posts and arches. From 1920 to 1940 Setomaa belonged to Petserimaa County of the Republic of Estonia. The specific feature of the county was the existence of Russian villages side by side with Seto villages. According to folk tradition, the village of Mõla belonged to Irboska nulk, one of the twelve parts Seto folk divided Setomaa into. The village church holiday is Mõlapäev, celebrated on the Sunday after St. Peter’s Day (July 12). On that day the church service is held, followed by religious procession around the church and the ruins of the monastery. In the evening, kirmask - the village party is held in the village of Pokolduva. Near the path taking to the church is an ancient stone cross dating probably from the 15th century. Mõla church was established about 600 years ago. The present stone church is 500 years old. From under the church flows out a creek that is said to have magic power. Around the church is a cemetery. In the near vicinity you will find the campanile and ruins of the monastery established by Saint Onulfri. The monastery was destroyed in 1581 during the military campaign of Stefan Batory, the King of Poland. A little aside from the church is Lake Mõla the water of which is very clear and deep. Through the lake flows the Optyok River that picks up water from Lake Linnjärve near Izborsk fortress and flows into Lake Pihkva. Most probably these waterbodies were used for travelling from one place to another at the time of the Vikings, i.e. 1200 years ago. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||