Travel & Adventures

Saint-Petersburg (Санкт-Петербург) - The second capital of Russia. A voyage to Saint-Petersburg including Petergof & Pushkin (Tsarskoye selo), Russian Federation, East Europe.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 22:21:00 +0400

The names that people in Russia call St Petersburg often give visitors the wrong impression. "Venice of the North" makes it sound dainty, when around its elegant streets and mesmerising art is a chaotic city of five million people. "Window to Europe" doesn’t fit either, as its days of looking at Europe from the outside are long gone. Russians have another name for their city of beauty and commotion, history and innovation: simply "Piter". Here's how to best experience Piter in a couple of days.

Saturday morning

Wake up to a Russian breakfast of blinchiki (pancakes) with sour cream or caviar at Yat restaurant, on the embankment beside the River Moyka. From there it’s a short walk to St Petersburg’s heart – the State Hermitage Museum. You could spend a lifetime exploring the Hermitage's five buildings and still not see all of its art and treasures. If you only have a couple of hours but want to see something unforgettable, find the rooms with paintings by Da Vinci, Rembrandt and Rubens.

From the Hermitage, take a walk through the sumptuous Palace Square, then stop by Yusupov Palace – where Grigory Rasputin was murdered in 1916 – and Peter and Paul Fortress, where Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov family are buried.

Saturday afternoon

After a morning breathing in Piter's classicism, spend the afternoon in some of its more eccentric places. Start with a European lunch served with a modern Russian twist at Schengen restaurant. Then brave a visit to Кunstkamera, also known as the Museum of Oddities, where exhibits include centuries-old two-headed embryos in jars. Kunstkamera is opposite the Hermitage and Winter Palace, on the other side of the River Neva.

Later on, take it a bit easier in the entertainment park on New Holland island. New Holland is a favourite spot for young couples and families with children: here you can stumble upon concerts and modern art installations, and find some more experimental places to eat.

Saturday evening

After dinner, a performance at the Mariinsky Theatre is a decadent but affordable night out. Or for something more lowbrow – but just as quintessentially St Petersburg – go to the streets around Sennaya Ploshchad for a bar crawl. Piter, after all, is the home of the mega-popular Baltika lager and Tsarskaya vodka, and is also the centre of Russia's evolving craft beer and cocktail scenes.

Sunday morning

Start your day with breakfast on the city's central boulevard, Nevsky Prospekt. Ring the buzzer on the unmarked door at number 81, and Ziferblat will introduce you to the Russian concept of an anticafe. Here the tea, coffee and cake are all free; what you pay for is the time you spend in this cosy room, playing chess or board games (and, just as often, meeting new people).

Close to Nevsky Prospekt is the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood. Its heart-stoppingly beautiful domes are one of the most iconic sights in the whole of Russia – as well they might be, as they mark the place where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Finish your morning by stepping inside the Russian Museum, to see paintings by the Russian masters Repin and Shishkin, or by climbing to the top of St Isaac’s Cathedral, for a panoramic view that shows the scale of Europe's fourth-largest city.

Sunday afternoon

For lunch, sample some food from St Petersburg's many international communities, with sushi or Georgian khachapuri (cheese bread) somewhere on Nevsky. Then stock up on Russian treats at Kupetz Eliseevs, St Petersburg's fanciest department store, housed in just one exquisite room.

If you are in the city during the White Nights festival between May and July, spend a long summer afternoon in Peterhof, the former palace and gardens of Peter the Great. Peterhof is about 30km from the centre of the city, and is reachable by train, metro and marshrutka bus (or in summer, on a boat along the Neva from outside the Hermitage). One of the highlights is the Lower Park, a beautiful green space that includes the Grand Cascade, a collection of fountains that Peter himself designed. You can dine in Peterhof at the Kladovaya restaurant, it is a couple of minutes walk from the Palace. If you are in Russia during the winter and the night is drawing in, take a shorter journey instead to Udelnaya Fair, an enormous flea market in the north of the city, and wander past the stalls full of Tsarist and Soviet-era nostalgia.

Sunday evening

For a last dinner in St Petersburg, step back in time with an old-fashioned Russian supper at Severyanin restaurant.

State Hermitage Museum

Peter & Paul Fortress

The Russian Museum

St Isaac's Cathedral

Catherine Palace of Tsarskoe Selo

Mariinsky Theatre

The Grand Petergof Palace

Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood

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Russian Old Believer Community in Moscow, architectural Ensemble of Rogozhskaya Sloboda: Cathedral of Intercession of Most Holy Theotokos, Church of Nativity of Christ, Church-Bell Tower of Resurrection of Christ, Metropolis building, Rogozhskoye cemetery.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 13:17:00 +0400

Rogozhskaya Zastava Spiritual Centre of the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church.
Rogozhskaya Sloboda is a historical district of Moscow that emerged in the late 16th century. Old-rite merchant families traditionally settled there and the district became the spiritual centre for Moscow’s old believers’ community. Today, the architectural ensemble counts 50 buildings, including the cathedral Church of the Nativity of Christ, Cathedral of the Intercession, the main cathedral for the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church. The site is home to the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church’s Metropolitan.
Metropolitan Korniliy, Primate of Russian Old Believer Church: "The Old Beliefs are the Christianity that Prince Vladimir brought to Russia ten centuries ago. The Old Believers are the most Russian of all the Russian people and the most Orthodox of them as well".
The Old-believers’ Rogozhskoe cemetery in Moscow likewise bears its history from during the reign of Empress Catherine II. Cemeteries are considered special places in Old-believers’ religious culture as being secretive locations where the faithful could gather together for communal prayers without significant impediments.
The first church built was dedicated to St. Nicholas. Then was constructed a great chapel in honor of the most-holy Theotokos, in particular, in honor of the holyday of her protection (Pokrov). It was unequaled in Moscow as per the volume of its interior.
During Napoleon’s invasion of 1812, the French captured the Rogozhski complex, but the rogozhane had time to flee and hide the main treasures. At the expulsion of Napoleon from Moscow, the capitol was occupied by the Don Cossacks, most of whom were old-believers. The famous Ataman Platov (of the Don Cossacks) was also an old-believer. He presented his mobile church (still extant) to the Rogozhski complex.
The Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church (or Russian Orthodox Oldritualist Church, Russian Orthodox Old-Ritualist Church) (Russian: Русская Православная Старообрядческая Церковь) is an Eastern Orthodox Church of the Old Believers tradition, which rejected the liturgical and canonical reforms of Patriarch Nikon in the second half of 17th century (Old Believers). It is one of the two Old Believers churches that belong to the Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy - together with the Orthodox Old-Rite Church, sometimes also called Lipovan Orthodox Old-Rite Church.
Since the 18th century until the Council of 1988, the official self-designation of this Church was the Old Orthodox Church of Christ (Древлеправославная Церковь Христова) which should not be confused with Russian Old-Orthodox Church, another church of the Old Believers. Drevlepravoslavie ("Old/Ancient Orthodoxy") was the common self-designation of the Old Believers and their cause since the 17th century.

Moscow with Lonely Planet

Holy Moscow. Cathedrals, Churches, Monasteries & other Holy Places of the Capital City-Heart of Russia.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Sat, 8 Aug 2020 23:11:00 +0400

Holy Russia, keep the Orthodox faith, there is a Statement for you in it.

Русь Святая, храни веру Православную, в ней же тебе Утверждение.

https://yandex.ru/video/preview/12220321370296789275

St Basil’s Cathedral

At the southern end of Red Square stands the icon of Russia: St Basil’s Cathedral. This crazy confusion of colours, patterns and shapes is the culmination of a style that is unique to Russian architecture. In 1552 Ivan the Terrible captured the Tatar stronghold of Kazan on the Feast of Intercession. He commissioned this landmark church, officially the Intercession Cathedral, to commemorate the victory. Created from 1555 to 1561, this masterpiece would become the ultimate symbol of Russia.

The cathedral’s apparent anarchy of shapes hides a comprehensible plan of nine main chapels. The tall, tent-roofed tower in the centre houses the namesake Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God. The four biggest domes top four octagonal-towered chapels: the Church of Sts Cyprian & Justina, Church of the Holy Trinity, Church of the Icon of St Nicholas the Miracle Worker, and the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Finally, there are four smaller chapels in between. Each chapel was consecrated in honour of an event or battle in the struggle against Kazan.

Legend has it that Ivan had the architects blinded so that they could never build anything comparable. This is a myth, however, as records show that they were employed a quarter of a century later (and four years after Ivan’s death) to add an additional chapel to the structure.

The Church of St Vasily the Blessed, the northeastern chapel on the 1st floor, contains the canopy-covered crypt of its namesake saint, one of the most revered in Moscow. Vasily (Basil) the Blessed was known as a 'holy fool', sometimes going naked and purposefully humiliating himself for the greater glory of God. He was believed to be a seer and miracle maker, and even Ivan the Terrible revered and feared him. This 10th chapel – the only one at ground level – was added in 1588, after the saint's death. Look for the icon depicting St Vasily himself, with Red Square and the Kremlin in the background.

Novodevichy Convent

The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 to celebrate the taking of Smolensk from Lithuania, an important step in Moscow’s conquest of the old Kyivan Rus lands. The oldest and most dominant building on the grounds is the white Smolensk Cathedral, with a sumptuous interior covered in 16th-century frescoes. Novodevichy is a functioning monastery. Women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders when entering the churches, while men should wear long pants.

From early on, the ‘New Maidens’ Convent’ was a place for women from noble families to retire – some more willingly than others. The convent’s most famous residents included Irina Godunova (wife of Fyodor I and sister of Boris Godunov), Sofia Alekseyevna (half-sister of Peter the Great), and Eudoxia Lopukhina (first wife of Peter the Great).

Enter the convent through the red-and-white Moscow-baroque Transfiguration Gate-Church (Преображенская надвратная церковь), built in the north wall between 1687 and 1689. All of these striking walls and towers, along with many other buildings on the grounds, were rebuilt around this time, under the direction of Sofia Alekseyevna. The elaborate bell tower (Колокольня) against the east wall soars 72m over the rest of the monastery. When it was built in 1690 it was one of the tallest towers in Moscow (second only to the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in the Kremlin).

The centrepiece of the monastery is the white Smolensk Cathedral (Смоленский собор), built from 1524 to 1525 to house the precious Our Lady of Smolensk icon. Previously surrounded by four smaller chapels, the floor plan was modelled after the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. The sumptuous interior is covered in 16th-century frescoes, which are considered to be among the finest in the city. The huge gilded iconostasis – donated by Sofia in 1685 – includes icons that date from the time of Boris Godunov. The icons on the fifth tier are attributed to 17th-century artists Simeon Ushakov and Fyodor Zubov. The tombs of Sofia, a couple of her sisters, and Eudoxia Lopukhina are in the south nave.

Sofia Alekseyevna used the convent as a residence when she ruled Russia as regent in the 1680s. During her rule, she rebuilt the convent to her liking – which was fortunate, as she was later confined here when Peter the Great came of age. After being implicated in the Streltsy rebellion, she was imprisoned here for life, primarily inhabiting the Pond Tower (Напрудная башня). Sofia was later joined in her enforced retirement by Eudoxia Lopukhina who stayed in the Chambers of Eudoxia Lopukhina (Лопухинские Палаты).

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

This opulent and grandiose cathedral was completed in 1997 – just in time to celebrate Moscow's 850th birthday. The cathedral’s sheer size and splendour guarantee its role as a love-it-or-hate-it landmark. Considering Stalin's plan for this site (a Palace of Soviets topped with a 100m statue of Lenin), Muscovites should at least be grateful they can admire the shiny domes of a church instead of the shiny dome of Ilyich’s head.

The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour sits on the site of an earlier and similar church of the same name, built in the 19th century to commemorate Russia’s victory over Napoleon. The original was destroyed in 1931, during Stalin’s orgy of explosive secularism. His plan to replace the church with a 315m-high Palace of Soviets never got off the ground – literally. Instead, for 50 years the site served another important purpose: the world’s largest swimming pool.

The Cathedral replicates its predecessor in many ways. The central altar is dedicated to the Nativity, while the two side altars are dedicated to Sts Nicholas and Alexander Nevsky. Frescoes around the main gallery depict scenes from the War of 1812, while marble plaques remember the participants.

The original cathedral was built on a hill (since levelled). The contemporary cathedral has been constructed on a wide base, which contains the smaller (but no less stunning) Church of the Transfiguration. This ground-level chapel contains the venerated icon Christ Not Painted by Hand, by Sorokin, which was miraculously saved from the original cathedral.

Assumption Cathedral

On the northern side of Sobornaya pl, with five golden helmet domes and four semicircular gables, the Assumption Cathedral is the focal church of pre-revolutionary Russia and the burial place of most of the heads of the Russian Orthodox Church from the 1320s to 1700. A striking 1660s fresco of the Virgin Mary faces Sobornaya pl, above the door once used for royal processions. If you have limited time, come straight here. The visitors' entrance is at the western end.

The interior of the Assumption Cathedral is unusually bright and spacious, full of warm reds, blues and gold. The west wall features a scene of the Apocalypse, a favourite theme of the Russian Church in the Middle Ages. The pillars have pictures of martyrs on them, as martyrs are considered to be the pillars of faith. Above the southern gates are frescoes of Yelena and Constantine, who brought Christianity to Greece and the south of Russia. The space above the northern gate is taken by Olga and Vladimir, who brought Christianity to the north.

Most of the existing murals on the cathedral walls were painted on a gilt base in the 1640s, with the exception of three grouped together on the south wall: The Apocalypse (Апокалипсис), The Life of Metropolitan Pyotr (Житие Митрополита Петра) and All Creatures Rejoice in Thee (О Тебе радуется). These are attributed to Dionysius and his followers, the cathedral's original 15th-century mural painters.

The tombs of many of the leaders of the Russian Church (metropolitans up to 1590, patriarchs from 1590 to 1700) are against the north, west and south walls. Near the west wall is a shrine with holy relics of Patriarch Hermogen, who was starved to death during the Time of Troubles in 1612.

Near the south wall, the tent-roofed wooden throne is known as the Throne of Monomakh. It was made in 1551 for Ivan the Terrible. Its carved scenes highlight the career of 12th-century Grand Prince Vladimir Monomakh of Kiev – considered to be Ivan's direct predecessor.

The iconostasis dates from 1652, but its lowest level contains some older icons. The 1340s Saviour with the Angry Eye (Спас ярое око) is second from the right. On the left of the central door is the Virgin of Vladimir (Владимирская Богоматерь), an early 15th-century Rublyov-school copy of Russia's most revered image, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God (Владимирская Икона Богоматери). The 12th-century original, now in Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery, stood in the Assumption Cathedral from the 1480s to 1930. One of the oldest Russian icons, the 12th-century red-clothed St George (Святой Георгий) from Novgorod, is positioned by the north wall.

The original icons of the lower, local tier are symbols of victory brought from Vladimir, Smolensk, Veliky Ustyug and other places. The south door was brought from the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral in Suzdal.

Overlooking the river, the Ascension Church, sometimes called the ‘white column’, is Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve's loveliest structure. Built between 1530 and 1532 for Grand Prince Vasily III, it probably celebrated the birth of his heir, Ivan the Terrible. It was a revolutionary structure at the time, which experts attribute to Italian masters.

As the first brick church with a tent-shaped roof (previously found only on wooden churches), it represents an important development in Russian architecture. This break with the Byzantine tradition would pave the way for Moscow's great St Basil’s Cathedral, which was built 25 years later. There is an exhibit on milestones in Kolomenskoe history in the tent-roofed gatehouse near the church.

With its two golden domes rising above the eastern side of Sobornaya pl, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower is the Kremlin's tallest structure – a landmark visible from 30km away. Before the 20th century it was forbidden to build any higher in Moscow. Purchase a ticket to the architectural exhibit inside for a specifically timed admission to climb the 137 steps to the top for sweeping views.

Ivan the Great houses a multimedia presentation of the architectural history of the Kremlin complex. Using architectural fragments and electronic projections, the exhibit illustrates how the Kremlin has changed since the 12th century. Special attention is given to individual churches within the complex, including several churches that no longer exist. The 45-minute audio tour ends with a 137-step climb to the top of the tall tower, yielding an amazing (and unique!) view of Sobornaya pl, with the Church of Christ the Saviour and the Moskva-City skyscrapers in the distance.

The bell tower is only open when weather allows. Purchase your ticket (for a specific admission time) at the ticket office in Alexander Garden before you enter the Kremlin grounds. The number of people admitted for each time slot is extremely limited, so it may require some flexibility.

The bell tower's history dates back to the Church of Ioann Lestvichnik Under the Bells

, built on this site in 1329 by Ivan I. In 1505, the Italian Marco Bono designed a new belfry, originally with only two octagonal tiers beneath a drum and a dome. In 1600, Boris Godunov raised it to 81m. Local legend claims this was a public works project designed to employ the thousands of people who had come to Moscow during a famine, but historical documents contradict the story.

The building's central section, with a gilded single dome and a 65-tonne bell, dates from between 1532 and 1542. The tent-roofed annexe, next to the belfry, was commissioned by Patriarch Filaret in 1642 and bears his name.

Archangel Cathedral

The Archangel Cathedral at the southeastern corner of Sobornaya pl was for centuries the coronation, wedding and burial church of tsars. It was built by Ivan Kalita in 1333 to commemorate the end of the great famine, and dedicated to Archangel Michael, guardian of the Moscow princes. It contains the tombs of almost all of Muscovy's rulers from the 14th to the 17th century.

By the early 16th century the Archangel Cathedral fell into disrepair and was rebuilt between 1505 and 1508 by the Italian architect Alevisio Novi. Like the nearby Assumption Cathedral, it has five domes and is essentially Byzantine-Russian in style. However, the exterior has many Venetian Renaissance features, notably the distinctive scallop-shell gables and porticoes.

The tombs of all Muscovy's rulers from the 1320s to the 1690s are here. The only absentee is Boris Godunov, whose body was taken out of the grave on the order of a False Dmitry and buried at Sergiev Posad in 1606. The bodies are buried underground, beneath the 17th-century sarcophagi and 19th-century copper covers. Tsarevich Dmitry, a son of Ivan the Terrible who died mysteriously in 1591, lies beneath a painted stone canopy.

It was Dmitry's death that sparked the appearance of a string of impersonators, known as False Dmitrys, during the Time of Troubles. Ivan's own tomb is out of sight behind the iconostasis, along with those of his other sons: Ivan (whom he killed) and Fyodor (who succeeded him). From Peter the Great onwards, emperors and empresses were buried in St Petersburg; the exception was Peter II, who died in Moscow in 1730 and is here.

The 17th-century murals were uncovered during restorations in the 1950s. The south wall depicts many of those buried here; on the pillars are some of their predecessors, including Andrei Bogolyubsky, Prince Daniil and his father, Alexander Nevsky.

Annunciation Cathedral

The Annunciation Cathedral, at the southwest corner of Sobornaya pl, contains impressive murals in the gallery and an archaeology exhibit in the basement. The central chapel contains the celebrated icons of master painters Theophanes the Greek and Andrei Rublyov.

Many of the murals in the gallery date from the 1560s. Among them are the Capture of Jericho in the porch, Jonah and the Whale in the northern arm of the gallery, and the Tree of Jesus on its ceiling. Other murals feature ancient philosophers Aristotle, Plutarch, Plato, Socrates and others holding scrolls with their own wise words.

The small central part of the cathedral has a lovely jasper floor. The 16th-century frescoes include Russian princes on the north pillar and Byzantine emperors on the south, both with Apocalypse scenes above them.

But the chapel's real treasure is the iconostasis, where restorers in the 1920s uncovered early 15th-century icons by three of the greatest medieval Russian artists. Theophanes likely painted the six icons at the right-hand end of the deesis row, the biggest of the six tiers of the

iconostasis. Andrei Rublyov is reckoned to be the artist of most of the paintings at the left end of the festival row – above the deesis row – while the seven at the right-hand end are attributed to Prokhor of Gorodets.

The basement – which remains from the previous 14th-century cathedral on this site – contains a fascinating exhibit on the archaeology of the Kremlin. The artefacts date from the 12th to 14th centuries, showing the growth of Moscow during this period.

Donskoy monastery

Moscow's youngest monastery, Donskoy was founded in 1591 as the home of the Virgin of the Don icon, now in the Tretyakov Gallery. This icon is credited with the victory in the 1380 battle of Kulikovo; it’s also said that, in 1591, the Tatar Khan Giri retreated without a fight after the icon showered him with burning arrows in a dream.

Most of the monastery, surrounded by a brick wall with 12 towers, was built between 1684 and 1733 under Regent Sofia and Peter the Great. The Virgin of Tikhvin Church over the north gate, built in 1713 and 1714, is one of the last examples of Moscow baroque.

In the centre of the grounds is the large brick New Cathedral, built between 1684 and 1693. Just to its south is the smaller Old Cathedral, dating from 1591 to 1593.

When burials in central Moscow were banned after the 1771 plague, the Donskoy Monastery became a graveyard for the nobility, and it is littered with elaborate tombs and chapels.

Donskoy Monastery is a five-minute walk from Shabolovskaya metro. Go south along ul Shabolovka, then take the first street west, 1-y Donskoy proezd.

Church of the Trinity in Nikitniki

Hidden between big government blocks, this little gem of a church is an exquisite example of Russian baroque. Built in the 1630s, its onion domes and tiers of red-and-white spade gables rise from a square tower. Its interior is covered with 1650s gospel frescoes by Simon Ushakov and others. A carved doorway leads into St Nikita the Martyr’s Chapel, above the vault of the Nikitnikov merchant family, who were among the patrons who financed the church's construction.

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Putinki

When this church was completed in 1652, Patriarch Nikon responded by banning tent roofs like those featured here. Apparently, he considered such architecture too Russian, too secular and too far removed from the Church’s Byzantine roots. Fortunately, the Church of the Nativity has survived to grace this corner near Pushkinskaya pl.

Novospassky Monastery

Novospassky Monastery, a 15th-century fort-monastery, is about 1km south of Taganskaya pl. The centrepiece of the monastery, the Transfiguration Cathedral, was built by the imperial Romanov family in the 1640s in imitation of the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral. Frescoes depict the history of Christianity in Russia, while the Romanov family tree, which goes as far back as the Viking Prince Rurik, climbs one wall. The other church is the 1675 Intercession Church.

Under the riverbank, beneath one of the towers of the monastery, is the site of a mass grave for thousands of Stalin’s victims. At the northern end of the monastery’s grounds are the brick Assumption Cathedral and an extraordinary Moscow-baroque gate tower.

Danilov Monastery

The headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church stands behind white fortress walls. On holy days this place seethes with worshippers murmuring prayers, lighting candles and ladling holy water into jugs at the tiny chapel inside the gates. The Danilov Monastery was built in the late 13th century by Daniil, the first Prince of Moscow, as an outer city defence.

The monastery was repeatedly altered over the next several hundred years, and served as a factory and a detention centre during the Soviet period. It was restored in time to replace Sergiev Posad as the Church’s spiritual and administrative centre, and became the official residence of the Patriarch during the Russian Orthodoxy’s millennium celebrations in 1988.

Enter beneath the pink St Simeon Stylite Gate-Church on the north wall. The oldest and busiest church is the Church of the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, where worship is held continuously from 10am to 5pm daily. Founded in the 17th century and rebuilt repeatedly, the church contains several chapels on two floors: the main one upstairs is flanked by side chapels to St Daniil (on the northern side) and Sts Boris and Gleb (south). On the ground level, the small main chapel is dedicated to the Protecting Veil, and the northern one to the prophet Daniil.

The yellow neoclassical Trinity Cathedral, built in the 1830s, is an austere counterpart to the other buildings. West of the cathedral are the patriarchate’s External Affairs Department and, at the far end of the grounds, the Patriarch’s official residence. Against the north wall, to the east of the residence, there’s a 13th-century Armenian carved-stone cross, or khachkar, a gift from the Armenian Church. The church guesthouse, in the southern part of the monastery grounds, has been turned into the elegant Danilovskaya Hotel.

Church of the Intercession at Fili

West of the center, Fili is a residential neighbourhood that was once the estate of Lev Naryshkin (brother-in-law to Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich and uncle to Peter the Great). The story goes that Naryshkin’s brothers were killed in the Moscow uprising of 1682. In their honour, he constructed this spectacular church. A pink-brick wedding cake topped with gilded domes, it's an archetypal example of the architectural style that came to be known as Naryshkin baroque.

From the Fili metro station, walk two blocks north on Novozavodskaya ul.

Church of St Nicholas in Khamovniki

This church, commissioned by the weavers’ guild in 1676, is among the most colourful in Moscow. The ornate green-and-orange-tapestry exterior houses an equally exquisite interior, rich in frescoes and icons. Leo Tolstoy, who lived up the street, was a parishioner at St Nicholas, which is featured in his novel Resurrection. Look also for the old white stone house, built in 1689, which housed the office of the weavers’ guild and textile shop (Бывшая ткацкая гильдия; ul Lva Tolstogo 10).

Monastery of the Epiphany

This monastery is the second-oldest in Moscow, founded in 1296 by Prince Daniil, son of Alexander Nevsky. The current Epiphany Cathedral – with its tall, pink, gold-domed cupola – was constructed in the 1690s in the Moscow baroque style. If you're lucky, you may hear the bells ringing forth from the old wooden belfry nearby.

The little church occupying this site is a 1993 replica of the original 17th-century beauty, which was built in thanks for the 1612 expulsion of Polish invaders.

Kazan Cathedral

The original Kazan Cathedral was founded on this site at the northern end of Red Square in 1636. For two centuries it housed the Virgin of Kazan icon, which supposedly helped to rout the Poles. Three hundred years after it was built, the cathedral was completely demolished, allegedly because it impeded the flow of celebrating workers during holiday parades.

Zaikonospassky Monastery

This monastery was founded by Boris Godunov in 1600, although the church was built in 1660. The name means ‘Behind the Icon Stall’, a reference to the busy icon trade that once took place here. The now-functioning, multitiered Saviour Church is tucked into the courtyard away from the street.

On the orders of Tsar Alexey, the Likhud brothers – scholars of Greek – opened the Slavonic Greek and Latin Academy on the monastery premises in 1687. (Mikhail Lomonosov was a student here.) The academy later became a divinity school and was transferred to the Trinity Monastery of St Sergius in 1814.

Church of the Grand Ascension

In 1831 poet Alexander Pushkin married artist Natalia Goncharova in the elegant Church of the Grand Ascension, on the western side of pl Nikitskie Vorota. Six years later he died in St Petersburg, defending her honour in a duel. Such passion, such romance… The celebrated couple is featured in the Rotunda Fountain, erected in 1999 to commemorate the poet’s 100th birthday.

Down the street, the festive Church of the Lesser Ascension sits on the corner of Voznesensky per. Built in the early 17th century, it features whitewashed walls and stone embellishments carved in a primitive style.

Moscow with Lonely Planet

Istra town (Истра), New Jerusalem / Voskresensky Monastery, Moscow Region, Russia, Europe.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Sat, 8 Jun 2019 15:54:00 +0400

Founded under Patriarch Nikon in the 17th century in Istra on the outskirts of Moscow, the New Jerusalem Monastery was meant to evoke the Holy Land and serve as a pilgrimage site. Two buildings, the Church of the Tomb of the Holy Savior and the Cathedral of the Resurrection, form the nucleus of the monastery. Inside the two churches, the icon, decoration, and inscriptions represent the most important group of polychrome ceramic work ever produced in Russia. Built between 1658 and 1698, New Jerusalem is an extraordinary example of Russian ecclesiastical architecture. By the mid-18th century, the dome of the Cathedral of the Resurrection had failed and it was restored in the Baroque style in 1748. In the early 19th century, a neoclassical side chapel of Mary Magdalene was added. Bombing by Nazi occupying forces in 1941 destroyed the great dome of the Cathedral of the Resurrection; it was partially reconstructed in the 1980s. Sporadic restoration and maintenance followed, but came to a halt in the 1990s.
In March 2009 Russian president Dmitry Medvedev signed a presidential decree on the restoration and renovation of the New Jerusalem Monastery. The federal government was instructed to subsidize the monastery restoration fund from the federal budget from 2009.
As of June 2016, there has been great restoration done in the main cathedral, with much of the interior reconstructed and readorned. The great belltower was rebuilt to old designs.

The katholikon of the Resurrection (1656–1685) is a huge rotunda patterned after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The wooden dome and a cluster of neighbouring chapels are of later construction. These were designed by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, Vincenzo Bernardacci, Karl Blank, Konstantin Thon, and other leading architects of the Russian Empire.
The 17th-century belltower has 7 stories rising to the height of 58 meters and features 15 bells (the largest weighing some 500 poods). Destroyed in 1941, the structure was not rebuilt until the 2010s.
Patriarch Nikon's residence (1658)
The stone wall with towers (1690–1694) was designed by Yakov Bukhvostov, a key proponent of the Naryshkin Baroque.
Church of the Holy Trinity (1686–1698), like other major buildings, is finished with majolica and stucco moulding.
The monastery is open to visitors and is actively serving again. Many thousands of visitors come each day, especially on holidays.

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Peredelkino. A voyage to the Cathedrals and Сhurches of Peredelkino (Переделкино, Москва, Россия), Russia, New Moscow, Novo-Peredelkino district.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 02:08:00 +0400

This private 3-hour tour offers historical perspectives on the fascinating medieval city of Moscow.Learn from your expert guide about rich, and controversial Russian history and Russian society, traditions and local reality by exploring monasteries and churches, which are a reflection of Russian unique and dramatic experience.You will see a lot of hidden gems like ceramic glazed tiles with multicolored pattern named "peacock eye" that keep fascinating memories and stories worthy to be heard.
The tour covers all the most beautiful churches and cathedrals, both must-see and non-touristy. You will see: Novodevichy Convent, Christ the Savior Cathedral, the Church of Gregory Neokesarian, Marfo-Mariinsky Convent, St Clement Church.Topped with historic walk in the ancient district, fun facts and beautiful architecture, this tour is ideal to soak up the local atmosphere and historic vibe.Itinerary.

This is a typical itinerary for this product Stop At: Moskovskiy Metropoliten, Moscow, Central RussiaTiming is flexible and you can start the tour any time you prefer. This tour can be customized to make it a unique experience for you. 10am - Your private local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and discuss the tour itinerary with you at the beginning of the tour. Take a metro ride to the first destination.Duration: 10 minutesStop At: Novodevichy Convent10-10:30am - Metro trip or taxi to Novodevichy - New Maiden's - Convent (middle of 16th century).Duration: 30 minutes Stop At: Patriarshy Bridge, Moscow, Central Russia11.10-11.30am - Visiting Christ the Savior Cathedral, enjoying iconic views of the Kremlin, Peter the Great Monument and Moskva River from Patriarch's bridge;Duration: 10 minutes Stop At: Our Lady of Smolensk Novodevichy Convent, Moscow, Central Russia.
The architectural ensemble of the monastery was formed in the XVI-XVII centuries, the monastery has not changed significantly since then. 10:30-10:50am - A brief walk around Novodevichy Convent, a UNESCO World Site; Duration: 10 minutes Stop At: Bol'shaya Polyanka11:50am-12.00pm - See the Church of Gregory Neokesarian (middle of 17th century). First mentioned in 1445, the temple is amazing in its architecture. It’s completed with three rows of corbel arches called "tongues of fire".
Tile frieze is the most notable feature of the magnificent decoration of the temple.Duration: 20 minutes Stop At: Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow, Central Russia10:50-11.10am - Metro trip or taxi to Christ the Savior Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Russia designed for 10 000 people. Erected in the traditions of Russian-Byzantine style.
The gorgeous painting inside the church covers nearly 22 000 m² of the walls;Duration: 20 minutesPass By: Novokuznetskaya Street, Pedestrian Walk, Moscow, Central Russia1.00pm Finish at Varenichnaya restaurant (Russian cuisine).
With a menu as playful as it’s name, you will have a big variety of dumplings to choose from. Or else head to Korchma for a traditional lunch (Russian/Ukranian cuisine).
Chic low-lit dining room adds up to the atmosphere of ancient times.Stop At: Marfo-Mariinsky Convent12.00-12:30pm - Historic walk, Marfo-Mariinsky Convent (beginning of 20th c), hidden down an alley on Bolshaya Ordynka street.
The church was founded in 1908 by Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, who was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and thus closely related to the Greek, Danish, and British Royal families;Duration:
20 minutes Stop At: Zamoskvorechie, Moscow, Central Russia11:30-11:50am - Walk around Zamoskvorechye area, the most ancient area of Moscow. The district is seriously pretty and romantic.
No wonder Zamoskvorechye streets are popular among newly-weds;Duration: 20 minutesStop At: Church of St. Clement, Moscow, Central Russia12:30-12.50pm - Walk to the elegant St Clement Church (18th century) where you will take in its fabulous interior and learn the history of the place. This beautiful five-domed church was first mentioned in 1612, in connection with the Battle of Moscow between Russian militiamen and Polish-Lithuanian army. Tucked among a myriad of refined cafes and restaurants, St Clement Church is a wonderful place to finish the tour.Duration: 20 minutes

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Moscow, Russia, four seasons. The Nature of Moscow with its reserved historical parks, Botanical gardens, Foliage Shady Boulevards and splendid flowery beds of the city public gardens.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 11:17:00 +0400

Moscow Main Botanical Gardens, Park “Ostankino”, “VDNKh” territory.

If you reach the far end of VDNKh, you have the choice of either pressing on towards the extensive grounds of Moscow Main Botanical Gardens, or turning left towards the quaint Ostankino Park, surrounding a namesake palace. A huge, 330-hectare swath of parkland, the Botanical Gardens has not yet been touched by the renovations that have transformed other parks in Moscow.

Alexander Garden.

The first public park in Moscow, Alexander Garden sits along the Kremlin’s western wall. Colourful flower beds and impressive Kremlin views make it a favourite strolling spot for Muscovites and tourists alike.

Park Zaryadye.

Moscow's first new park in 50 years, Zaryadye was inaugurated in 2017 and occupies a prominent site along the Moscow River, wedged into historic Kitay Gorod.

The idea behind it was to replicate the vastness and diversity of Russian nature, from Kamchatka to Karelia.

The park "Zaryadye" 13ha site includes four different areas representing Russia's geographic zones – tundra, steppe, forest and wetlands – flowing seamlessly into each other.

"Vorobyovy Gory” Nature Preserve, Neskuchny garden, Gorky Park.

Gorky Park - Moscow's main city escape isn't your conventional expanse of nature preserved inside an urban jungle. Vorobyovy Gory, or Sparrow Hills, is the green hilly area south of the Moscow River, opposite the tip of the Khamovniki peninsula.

"Kolomenskoye” Museum-Reserve Park.

4 sq km of picturesque parkland, on a bluff above a bend in the Moscow River, Kolomenskoye is an ancient royal country Royal country Yard with the great Park and a Unesco World Heritage Site. Shortly after its founding in the 14th century, the village became a favourite destination for the princes of Moscow.
Among the old wooden buildings on the grounds is Peter the Great’s cabin, where he lived while supervising ship- and fort-building at Arkhangelsk. The cabin is surrounded by a re-creation of the tsar’s orchards and gardens.

«Tsaritsyno» Museum reserve Park.

The extensive grounds include some other lovely buildings, such as the Small Palace, the working Church of Our Lady Lifegiving Spring, the cavalier buildings, greenhouses with tropical plants and some interesting bridges. A pond is bedecked with a fantastic fountain set to music.The English-style wooded park stretches all the way south to the Upper Tsaritsynsky Pond, which has rowing boats available for hire in summer, and west to the Tsaritsyno Palace complex.

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VDNKh - the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (Выставка Достижений Народного Хозяйства). A voyage to VDNKh (ВДНХ), Moscow, Russia, Europe.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 13:58:00 +0400

Palaces for workers! There is no better place to see this Soviet slogan put into practice than at VDNKh, which stands for Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy. The place feels like a Stalinesque theme park, with palatial pavilions, each designed in its own unique style to represent all the Soviet republics and various industries, from geology to space exploration.

Built in 1939, VDNKh was designed as the main showcase of the socialist economy and lifestyle. The highlights are two opulently decorated fountains. Positioned in the second square from the main gate, People's Friendship Fountain is surrounded by 16 gilded female figures dressed in ethnic costumes representing Soviet republics (the mysterious 16th figure stands for the Karelo-Finnish republic disbanded in 1956). Further on, the jaw-dropping Stone Flower Fountain, themed around Ural Mountains miners' mythology, is covered in semi-precious stones from the area.
Approaching VDNKh from the metro, the soaring 100m titanium obelisk is a monument 'To the Conquerors of Space’, built in 1964 to commemorate the launch of Sputnik. In its base is the Cosmonautics Museum, featuring cool space paraphernalia such as the first Soviet rocket engine and the moon rover Lunokhod. An inspiring collection of space-themed propaganda posters evokes the era of the space race.
If you reach the far end of VDNKh, you have the choice of either pressing on towards the extensive grounds of Moscow Main Botanical Gardens, or turning left towards the quaint Ostankino Park, surrounding a namesake palace.
VDNKh is originally a permanent general purpose trade show and amusement park in Moscow. With its pavilions and fountains constructed in the empire style, it has become one of the symbols of Soviet times.
There are a lot of recreation opportunities at VDNH nowadays, among them — the Country's Main Skating rink (in wintertime), the centre of oceanography and marine biology "Moskvarium", the Green Theatre (a popular summer concert venue), the Architectural model of Moscow, the Cinema Museum and many more. Hundreds of festivals, business exhibitions and congresses, festivals and events take place at VDNH each year: there is always something to see and do! Starting from 2018, VDNH is planned to become the main educational, entertainment, cultural, museum and recreational complex.
During the tour, you will hear brief history of VDNH and see its the most remarkable points of the ''Soviet Versaille'': -The Main Entrance arch and the Central Alley -The famous "Friendship of the People" and "Stone Flower" fountains-The biggest "Space" pavilion-The "Vostok" space launch vehicle (a copy of the spaceship that took Yuri Gagarin around the Earth) and Buran (the Soviet shuttle)-Some other pavilions But also:-The Cosmos hotel built specially for Summer Olympic Games held in Moscow in 1980-The impressive "Conquerors of Space» monument and the Cosmonauts alley-The Worker and Kolkhoz woman monument — another symbol of the Soviet Union-The «House on feet» - an amusing result of architectural experiment for working-class people.

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Russia

Moscow

Attractions

VDNKH

Kuskovo (Кусково). A voyage to Kuskovo Park and Estate, Veshnyaki district, Moscow, Russia, Europe.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 09:15:00 +0400

Moscow has a wealth of unexpected parks and gardens. A surprising collection of green spaces, amazing architecture and rich history is waiting for you in Kuskovo Park and Estate. The Ensemble Kuskovo is a unique example of a typical 18th century Moscow region residence. The estate was designed for celebrations and festivities and contains more than 20 unique architectural monuments including an Italian House, a Dutch House and a Grotto, as well as ponds, canals, scenic views and excellent photo ops. Another point of interest in Kuskovo Estate is the only French park that has survived in Moscow. Come here for an outdoor adventure, works of Russian and European art, decorative arts and crafts that will get your heart pumping.Timing is flexible and you can start the tour any time you prefer.

Famous for a wealth of art, history, striking landscapes and perfect photo ops, Kuskovo Estate is a local hidden gem! This tour can be customized to make it a unique experience for you. Your private local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and discuss the tour itinerary with you at the beginning of the tour. Combine a Russian traditional lunch (extra cost) with blissful Russian countryside on a half-day Kuskovo tour! With a tour escort, you will travel outside Moscow center and spend the morning at an enchanting Russian estate.The timing can be modified to meet your preferences. 10 am – Hotel pick-up You will be picked up from your centrally-located hotel by your private friendly local guide and will take a brief city tour on your way to the Kuskovo Ensemble. 10.40 am – 12.20 pm – The Palace, the Grotto, Italian and Dutch Houses. This tucked away park is a hidden gem which only locals know about. Kuskovo was first mentioned in the 16th century and it honors the life of the Russian elite – Sheremetyev family. You will appreciate the Palace of Kuskovo, built in 1770s and designed in the best traditions of Russian art and craft. The eye-catching details and patterns are all over the Palace, and you can see all the magnificent rooms, if you like: the vestibule, the Reception Room combining artistic elements from Western, Eastern and Northern Europe, the Tapestry Room which was decorated with 17th-century Flemish tapestries, the State Bedroom, the Cabinet-Bureau decorated in the style of Peter the Great, Everyday Bedroom with a marble-faced fireplace and portraits of the legendary Sheremetev family, the Dancing Hall - the largest and most decorated room in the house, with mirror-covered walls, the Billiards Room and the Dining Room. The Grotto seems like an oasis representing the palace of the King of the Seas, and filled with statues of Venus, Flore, Diana, Juno, Ceres and Jupiter. Next, explore a traditional Italian House and a brick Dutch House built in the 1750s on a small pond near the Palace that is the ideal place to lounge. 12.20 – 1 pm – Hotel drop-off

What’s included

All taxes
All entrance fees included in the program of the tour
Multiple start times available
Unique local experience
Friendly local guide
Private tour
Expert advice where to go and what to do after the tour
Iconic places for photo shoot
Flexible customizable itinerary
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Transport by private vehicle

What’s not included

Gratuities (optional)

Highlights

Enjoy a day away from the hustle and bustle of the city
Exclusive to Viator
Ideal choice for families
Multiple times offered throughout the day
Romantic experience, perfect for couples
Step back in time on a history tour

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Sergiyev Posad City (Сергиев Посад, Россия), Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius (Свято-Троицкая Сергиева Лавра). A voyage to Sergiyev Posad (Sergiev Posad), Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius, Sergiyevo-Posadsky District, Moscow Oblast (Moscow region), Russia, Europe.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Mon, 14 May 2018 22:53:00 +0400

Blue-and-gold cupolas offset by snow-white walls – this colour scheme lies at the heart of the Russian perception of divinity and Sergiev Posad’s monastery is a textbook example. It doesn’t get any holier than this in Russia, for the place was founded in 1340 by the country’s most revered saint, St Sergius of Radonezh. Since the 14th century, pilgrims have been journeying here to pay homage to him. Sergiyev Posad grew in the 15th century around one of the greatest of Russian monasteries, the Trinity Lavra established by St. Sergius of Radonezh, still one of the largest monasteries in Russia. Town status was granted to Sergiyev Posad in 1742.

The town's name, alluding to St. Sergius, has strong religious connotations. Soviet authorities changed it first to just Sergiyev in 1919, and then to Zagorsk in 1930, in memory of the revolutionary Zagorsky. The original name was restored in 1991The patriarch and the church’s administrative centre moved to the Danilovsky Monastery in Moscow in 1988, but the Trinity Monastery of St Sergius remains one of the most important spiritual sites in Russia. Sergiyev Posad is a Russian city located in the Moscow region, 75 km north-east of Moscow.

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Moscow in Winter time (Зимняя Москва), Zaryadye, Zamoskvorechye, Kolomenskoye, Ostozhenka, Moscow-City... A voyage to Moscow, Russian Federation (Россия), Eurasia.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Fri, 6 Apr 2018 02:15:00 +0400

During any season, at any hour of the day, Moscow thrills visitors with its artistry, history and majesty.

Kremlin & Red Square

The very founding site of the city (and arguably, the country), the Kremlin and Red Square are still at the heart of Moscow – historically, geographically and spiritually. Feel the weight of this significance as you wander within the walls of the ancient fortress, marvel at the mind-boggling magnificence of St Basil's Cathedral and pay your respects to the revered leader of a now-defunct state. Moscow will move you. It will tantalise your senses, soothe your spirit and boggle your mind – and it all starts right here at the Kremlin and Red Square.

Communist History

The remains of the Soviet state are scattered all around the city. Monuments remember fallen heroes and victorious battles, while museums attempt to analyse and synthesise the past. See Lenin and Stalin – off their pedestals – at the whimsical Art Muzeon. Step into the socialist-realist fantasy at VDNKh. Descend into the depths of the Soviet system at Bunker-42 Cold War Museum. Ride the museum-like metro and remember the millions who suffered at the Gulag History Museum. Nowadays, retro clubs and cafes give their guests a taste of the Soviet experience. You can even try your hand at Soviet-era arcade games.

Performing Arts

What is more thrilling than watching a ballerina defy gravity, leaping across the stage at the glittering Bolshoi Theatre? Or feeling the force of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, just a few blocks away from where it premiered more than a century ago? Or oohing and aahing as circus performers soar under the big tent? The classical performing arts in Moscow are still among the best in the world. Nowadays, even the most traditional theatres are experimenting with innovative arrangements, reviving lost favourites and hosting world premieres. Whether you appreciate the classics or prefer the contemporary, the capital's performing arts will impress.

Orthodoxy & Architecture

At nearly every turn in Moscow, you'll see golden domes peeking out over the rooftops and hear church bells peeling through the streets, which are dotted with some 600 churches – many of which are glittering after recent renovations. There are colourful hidden gems, historic fortresses and gargantuan cathedrals. The exteriors are adorned with stone carvings and glittering domes; interiors are packed with ancient icons, swirling incense and faithful worshippers. For more than a millennium, Orthodoxy has helped to define the Russian nation, a significance that is palpable in these atmospheric spiritual places.

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Izmailovo Kremlin (Izmaylovo), Moscow, Russia (Измайловкий Кремль, Москва, Россия). A voyage to Izmailovo, Moscow, Russia, Europe.

noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Sac) — Fri, 2 Mar 2018 03:43:00 +0400

Gain insight into Russian’s rich heritage and culture on this private 3-hour Izmailovo Kremlin and Vodka history museum tour in Moscow. Dive into the city’s colorful history, discover timber-fronted and stone-clad buildings, and visit pretty shops selling traditional treasures such as Russian dolls and attractive jewelry.On this tour with your local private guide, you will explore fairytale-looking Izmailovo Kremlin created by modern artists and taste the sweet alcoholic drink Medovukha based on honey at the Vodka History Museum. And of course, you will see the main types of Russian crafts - both traditional and modern, and will be able to buy some precious souvenirs for your family and friends.

Meet your private guide at your Moscow hotel at the start time of your choosing, then head into the city to begin your tour.
Explore historic streets and bustling thoroughfares, and listen as your private guide shares insight into Moscow’s rich history and heritage. Stroll through old Moscow, where timber-fronted and stone-clad buildings line your route.
Along the way, admire amber jewellery, traditional Russian dolls and ornate Fabergé eggs in pretty shops, and find out what makes this bustling metropolis tick. Visit 17th-century Izmailovo Palace — constructed during the reign of Alexis I of Russia — and marvel at the impressive architecture you find. Afterward, visit the Russian Vodka History Museum, where centuries of Russian vodka-making come to life. Sample Russian medovukha — made from honey and widely considered the country’s most famous alcoholic drink — during a tasting session, then return in comfort to your Moscow hotel to conclude your tour.

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