The attitude to the bell in Russia from ancient times was special. We got stories full of mysteries and sacraments, tales, traditions and epics about bells, about how bell ringing diverts devilish intrigues, diseases, storms and lightning; as the bell rang "by itself" more than once, predicting war, famine or death of the sovereign; as for the objectionable ringing at the behest of the kings, the bells were "executed" before the people: they beat the bathogs, cut off the ear and sent them into exile.