Sergiev Posad

Sergiev Posad

Sergiev Posad is rightfully called the pearl of the Golden Ring. This city is located closest to the capital, so often the journey along the Golden Ring begins with it. The history of the city began with the Trinity Monastery, founded by Sergius of Radonezh. Thanks to the authority of its founder, the city has become the largest spiritual center of our country and has attracted many pilgrims and tourists for many centuries.
The heart of the city is Russia's largest male monastery, the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, founded in the 14th century. Today, the monastery complex consists of 45 buildings and monuments. The Trinity Cathedral is the oldest building of the Sergius Lavra, it is an example of Early Moscow white stone architecture. The relics of St. Sergius are buried in this cathedral. It was here that the Moscow princes baptized their sons. So, Ivan the Terrible, Vasily III and their children received a blessing within the walls of this cathedral. The interior paintings of the temple were made by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny, and for the iconostasis, which can still be seen today, Rublev painted one of his most famous icons, the Trinity.
In 1559, by decree of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the Assumption Cathedral was built in the central part of the monastery in honor of the annexation of the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates to the Russian lands. It can only be visited during morning and evening services, the rest of the time it is closed to tourists. Next to the temple there is a small tent-the Godunov tomb. It contains the remains of Tsar Boris, his wife Maria and their children. Recently, Russian metropolitans have been buried here.
Another attraction of the Lavra is the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, built in the 15th century by Pskov craftsmen. The chambers of the Patriarch are located in the Metropolitan Chambers. They were built at the same time as the Refectory, where monks eat on big holidays, and there is also a small refectory, designed for daily meals.
In addition, on the territory of the monastery you can visit the church in honor of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Red Gate Tower, the Smolenskaya Church, the Chapel above the Cloister, the Classroom building, the Treasury Building, the Obelisk, the Sacristy, the monument to Sergius of Radonezh, the Onion Tower and other attractions. As you have already understood, it will take you a whole day to explore all the buildings of this monastery.
Chernigov Skete is located just a few kilometers from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. It is known for its caves and the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Chernigov, and thousands of people from all over Russia come here for the wise advice of monks. The center of the architectural ensemble is the Chernigov Temple, built in the 19th century. The picturesque bank of the Konchura River is decorated with the Vvedenskaya Church, the Pyatnitskaya Church and the multi-tiered chapel of the Pyatnitsky well, erected above the spring.
Another wonderful place near Sergiev Posad is the waterfall "Gremyachy" with a height of 25 meters. The water has medicinal properties, which attracts thousands of tourists here. There is also a wooden chapel in the name of Sergius of Radonezh, next to which you will see a small font. Anyone can plunge into it.