In 1791, on July 14, the left bank of the river called Shelon held Shelonsky battle. This historical event happened near the village and the village Velebitsy Schirina. The village is situated in Soletsky District, in the Novgorod region. The battle took place between Moscow forces under the command of Governor Daniel Kholmsk and Novgorod militia headed by Dmitry Boretskaya (son of Martha Governor's Wife).

In the second half of the 15th century, increased pressure on the part of the Moscow principality in the Novgorod Republic .  Group boyars, headed by Martha Boretsky advocated a union with Lithuania, which, in turn, promised to help in the fight against the pretensions of the Grand Duke of Moscow .  , Ivan III tried to influence Novgorod, through diplomatic channels by resorting to the help of representatives of the Church .  Metropolitan of Novgorod reproach of treason and called to renounce "the Latin of the state", but the invasion of the Church only intensified divisions in Novgorod .  Acts of Novgorod to Moscow, regarded as a "betrayal of Orthodoxy" .  Ivan III decided to organize a "crusade" against Novgorod .  Religious color of the campaign was to unite all parties and urge princes to send troops to the "holy cause" .  Major antinovgorodskaya propaganda carried out by the Prince of Moscow, were sent "letters Razmyotnov" .  Novgorod decided at all costs to defend its independence .  Despite the internal strife in Novgorod were collected huge army of up to 40,000 people .  However, it consisted mainly of "potters and plotnitsev" .  Leaders of the army carried Boretsky Dmitry and Vasily Casimir .  In spite of the numerical superiority of the Novgorod troops managed to win a decisive victory Muscovites .  From Novgorod sources it implies that initially Novgorod managed to use the numerical superiority .  But Novgorod infantry fallen aristocratic cavalry, in this campaign, it was the main striking force of Muscovites and Ivan III .

The trial of the defeated was a quick and ruthless. Four posadniks (among whom was Dmitry Boretsky) were executed, the majority of the representatives of the Novgorod nobility were subjected to brutal repression, the host simply released.

The defeat at Shelon made imminent end to the independence of Novgorod and Novgorod Republic. Novgorod soon became a part of Muscovy, Moscow swore allegiance to the boyars.

Almost nothing has changed in the five hundred years passed in place Shelonsky battle. All also carries water in a gray Il'men beautiful and majestic Shelon. All curtains are also green and its banks. Standing here Village Schirina actually merged with Velebitsami. Life goes on. On Shelonsky field you feel that comes the story itself.

In 2009, on December 8 in a village called Schirina the place where supposedly there was a battle between the troops of Moscow and Novgorod, it was made memorable sign. After held rite of its consecration, priests Nikolay and Mikhail Biryukov Epishev served lity in memory of the fallen in battle Shelonsky not dividing and foreign soldiers on its own, to Moscow and Novgorod.

In 2001, July 7, in the village of Velebitsy held the Divine Liturgy. At the end of the service, held religious procession solemnly installed oak cross, reaching a height of six meters. Before installation of the cross was consecrated. After the service, held in the city of Soltsy historical readings, which were made by eminent historians of Veliky Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities.