I start here with a photograph of a small church situated a very short walking distance from the dorm. Though rather small, the typical architectural structure of most Russian Orthodox churches is evident. A bell tower (at the right) seems to be always present and one or more onion-domed cupolas generally cover the main structure. The tallest cupola represents Jesus Christ whereas the four smaller cupolus represent the writers of the Four Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The interior smells of buring candles and one frequently can hear beautiful choir music. Worshipers stand during services because the buildings do not contain pews--features found in most other churches.
The photograph below is taken of a beautiful little church located on New Arbat Street very near the Arbatskaya Metro station and adjacent to the bookstore, Dom Knigi. It appeared to be closed for rennovation. While not very large, it does contain four cupolas of the traditional style..
Early in Russian history, as a defensive strategy, a series of monasteries were constructed in an arc south of the Kremlin. These monasteries were walled fortresses, much like the Kremlin, but smaller. Southwest, south, and southeast of the Kremlin, one finds six of these defensive-oriented monasteries. Not far from Gorky Park is the Donskoy Monastery. Built within the walls in 1693, is the very large and beautiful, Our Lady of the Don cathedral, as shown in the photogragh below. The monastery dates from 1592.
Many of the older Russian Orthodox churches were constructed with the "tent-roof" architectural style especially prominent in the cupolas. They are steep with domed pinnacles. The photograph below--the Church of the Nativity in Putinki--is illustrative of that style and one of the more striking examples. It was built in 1652 and is located just off the Boulevard Ring west of the Kremlin on Chekhova Street.
Another magnificent monastery is the Danilov located on Danilovskaya Street near the Tul'skaya metro station directly south of the Kremlin about four kilometers. This monastery was founded in 1272. Today, the significance of the monastery, other than the assemblage of churches and cathedrals contained therein, is the Residence of the Patriarch and the Holy Synod. In otherwords, the structure shown below, is where the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church lives.
In all of Russia, there are four major religious centers or Lavras. One of the most elaborate and beautiful, located 75 kilometers north and east of Moscow, is the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra at Sergiyevo Pasad, known as Zagorsk during the Soviet era. The monastery was founded in 1345 and is one of the few fortresses that was not destroyed by invading armies. A Theological College was established there in 1749 and remains today as a seminary for training priests. Peter the Great took refuge in this monastary in the 1680s. The photograph below is taken looking west over the east wall. The gold-domed Red Tower at the main entrance dominates to the left. The Cathedral of the Assumption is the blue/gold-domed structure, and the Bell Tower dominates to the right and behind the Cathedral.
One might argue that perhaps the most beautiful structure in Russia is in St. Petersburg. The candidate for that structure is the magnificent Church of the Resurrection of Christ. This building (see photograph below) is located on the right bank of the Catherine Canal, clearly visible from Nevsiky Prorspect, and marks the spot where Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Completed in 1907, the design, with its numerous multi-colored domes, four of them grouped around a tall tent-roof, is based loosely on that of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. It has become a "must see" stop while in St. Petersburg.
One of the most pleasant and enjoyable side trips out of Moscow was to Pskov, a wonderful city thirteen hours by train northwest of Moscow. While there, we were not only able experience a Russian banya (sauna), but we were also taken to visit the fabulous Pechory Monastery near the Estonian border and the ruins in Izborsk. Part of the beauty of Pskov is the Holy Trinity Cathedral shown in the photograph below.
