A DAY TRIP FROM MOSCOW - TRINITY MONASTERY OF ST SERGIUS & GEFSIMANSKY CHERNIGOVSKY SKIT

SERGIEV POSAD

Home to the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius , Sergiev Posad's easy distance from Moscow and historic atmosphere ensure it's the most visited destination in the Golden Ring. This is also the town were the "nesting dolls " are made. 

TRINITY MONASTERY OF ST SERGIUS

Founded in 1340 by the country's most revered saint, St. Sergei of Radonezh. Since the 14th century, seekers have been visiting here to pay homage to him.

In 1340 St. Sergei of Rodonezh founded the Trinity Monastery of St Sergius, which soon became the spiritual centre of Russian Orthodoxy.

St Sergei is credited with providing mystic support to Prince Dmitry Donskoy during his improbable victory over the Tatars in the battle of Kulikovo Pole in 1380. Soon after his death at the age of 78, Sergei was named Russia's patron saint.

It celebrated it's 700th anniversary in 2014. The monastery is an active religious centre with a visible populatoin of monks in residence. We were fortunate to visit the monastery during Easter week 

Trinity Cathedral

Built in the 1420's , the small cathedral is the heart of the Trinity Monastery. The tomb of St.Sergei stands in the southeastern corner, where a memorial service for St. Sergei goes on all day every day. 

Cathedral of the Assumption

The cathedral was modelled on the cathedral of the same name in the Moscow Kremlin. It was finished in 1585 with the money left by Ivan the Terrible in a fit of remorse over killing his son.

Outside the west door is the grave of Boris Gudunov, the only tsar not buried in ether the Moscow Kremlin or St. Petersburg.

The chapel-at-the Well was built over a spring that appeared during the Polish seige. 

The five - tier baroque bell tower took 30 years to build and it once had 42 bells.

They are rung manually by a monk.

The Vestry behind the Trinity Cathedral displays the monastery's extraordinarily rich treasure, bulging with 600 years of donations from the rich and powerful. 

Refectory Church of St Sergei - the huge block with the "wallpaper" paint job is the refectory church of St Sergei. So called because it was once a dining hall for pilgrims. 

THE EASTER WEEK PROCESSION- Standing on all sides of the church - North, South, East , West reading the gospels of Matthew,Mark, Luke and John.

GEFSIMANSKY CHERNIGOVSKY SKIT

Founded in 1847 by the holy fool Philipushka, featuring hand dug monk cells and prayer cabins.

A 125 year old icon

During Stalin's reign the church was used as a stable for cattle. 

SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH

Time for a little nap in the sun