Treasures of the Russian Orthodox Church
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(Moscow/ Vladimir / Suzdal / St.Petersburg / Novgorod)
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GROUP TOUR |
The Russian church for centuries possessed an immense influence over the minds of the Russian people. Many generations of talented artists, artisans and craftsmen dedicated their inspiration and skills to the religious subjects. The best architects and builders where employed to erect cathedrals and monasteries. Until the modern time the religion was present in virtually all spheres of the Russian life as well in arts. It is not surprising that the Orthodox Christianity so deeply influenced the Russian culture.
One kind of artifacts is particularly popular when we talk about old Russia. It is icons – the images of God, scenes from the Holy Bible or lives of saints, painted on the wooden board. The Orthodox Christians believe that an icon is the spiritual door to the divine world (not an object of worship on its own as some people think). The art of the icon painting was borrowed from the ancient Byzantium and perfected in Russia, then remaining intact tradition for centuries. Some of the most revered Russian icons have long history behind them, sharing the most dramatic pages of the general Russian history. Some of the ancient icon painters like Andrey Rublev are widely regarded as the genius representation of the traditional Russian civilization.
Among the oldest surviving examples of the Medieval Russian architecture are churches and cathedrals that have become the ultimate images of Russia abroad. One of them is multicolored St.Basil's church on the Red Square in Moscow. Another is XII-century Church of the Intercession on the Nerl river, stunning in its beauty and simplicity. More recently Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow have become the symbol of the spiritual resurrection of Russia.
Over the centuries the church accumulated lots wealthy items which at times where taken to the museums. One of such museums is the Armory in Moscow Kremlin where many of the artifacts religious origin are exhibited. Another excellent exhibition of the church treasures is the museum in Evfimiev Monastery of the Saviour in Suzdal, where you can see golden icon frames, embellished robes of the Orthodox high clergy and other precious relics.
Program of the tour:
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Day 1 |
Arrival to Moscow. |
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Day 2 |
Breakfast. Full day tour of Moscow monasteries: Danilov (St.Daniel’s)Monastery, Andronikov Monastery of the Saviour, Novodevichy (New Convent of the Virgin)Convent, Donskoy Monastery. Attending mass in the Resurrection Church. Visit to the Chapel of Our Lady of Iberia on the Red Square. Trip to the Poklonnaya Hill to visit the Chapel of St.George. Dinner at the hotel. |
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Day 3 |
Breakfast. Tour of the Kremlin (the Assumption and the Annunciation Cathedrals). Visiting the Armory Chamber’scollection of the church artifacts of 12th to 18th centuries. Tour of the Tretyakov Art Gallery known for the fantastic collection of icons including some of the most revered icons of the Russian Orthodox Church: the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, the icon of Our Lady of Don and the icon of the Holy Trinity by great icon painter Andrey Rublyov. Dinner at a city restaurant. |
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Day 4 |
Breakfast. Departure to Vladimir. We stop on the way at Sergiev Posad for the tour of the St.Trinity Monastery. Founded by one of the most revered of the Russian saints St.Sergius in 14 century, theTrinity monastery is among the main pilgrimage sites for the Russian Orthodox believers, and one of the residences of the Russian patriarch. That makes it a kind of the Russian Vatican. Arrival to Vladimir, the ancient pre-Mongolian capital of Russia. Sightseeing tour of the city, including the Golden Gate and the cathedrals of 12 century. Trip to Bogolyubovo to visit the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl river.Proceed to Suzdal. Check-in at the Pokrovsky Monastery Visitor's House.Dinner at the hotel. |
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Day 5 |
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Suzdalincluding the Kremlin, the Museum of Icons and the Evfimiev Monastery of the Saviour with its famous frescoes, bell concert and collection of the church treasures. Departure toMoscow. Arrival. Dinner at a city restaurant. Transfer to the train station. Overnight train to St.Petersburg. |
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Day 6 |
Arrival to St.Petersburg. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in. Sightseeing tour of the city including the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, the Smolny Cathedral, the Prince Vladimir Cathedral (the Cathedral’s icon of Our Lady of Kazan is among the most worshipped treasures of the city). Tour of the Peter & Paul Fortress, which is the family burial place for the Romanov emperors. Dinner at the hotel. |
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Day 7 |
Breakfast. Tour of the Hermitage museum (West European Arts, the gala and private rooms of the Winter Palace, etc.). Time at leisure. Dinner at the hotel. |
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Day 8 |
Breakfast. Trip to Novgorod, one of Russia’s most ancient cities (180 km away from). The afternoon tour of the city including the ancient Cathedral of St.Sophia one of the oldest in Russia and St. George Monastery. Dinner. |
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Day 9 |
Breakfast. Departure to St.Petersburg. Check-in. Time at leisure. Dinner. |
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Day 10 |
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure. |
Notes:
• Designed, in the first place, for the Church Communities groups, the program of the tour can be also offered to the Friends of Arts groups;
• Visiting extra church services or meeting the believers of various confessions can be also arranged on the spot;
The price of the tour is quoted by request.