SERGIEV
POSAD
About 45 miles north of Moscow, along the road to Yaroslavl, is the small city of Sergiev
Posad (called Zagorsk during the Communist era). This city grew up
around the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra Monastery (photo, above), established around
1340 by St. Sergius of Radonezh (see the FIREBIRD
article, The
Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh). This monastery has been the
single most important spiritual center in Russia for well over 600 years, and today is a
working monastery, Seminary, Theological Academy and place of pilgrimage.
Visiting this monastery enables a preson to experience its lively
spiritual environment, filled with history, icons, architecture and relics of the
saints. It is marvelous be able to venerate the relics of St. Sergius (photo,
left), Metropolitan St.
Innocent, Apostle to America and Metropolitan St. Philaret.
Visitors can view many magnificent examples of architecture, icons and decorative arts
from the early 15th to the 20th centuries, located in the churches, in the
Seminary/Academy's Museum of Icons, and the State Museum of Arts and History located on
the monastery grounds.
The largest of the many churches is the 16th century Dormition Cathedral (photo,
left), containing the relics of a number of saints, including St. Innocent (see the FIREBIRD ARTICLE, The
Life of St. Innocent of Alaska). To hear the world-famous
monastery and seminary choir in person is an opportunity to experience the glory of
Russia's spiritual culture at its most splendid! (But most people must listen from across
the ocean by means of one of their numerous recordings.)
The early 15th century Church of the Holy Trinity
(photo to the left) contains icons by the famous
iconographer, St. Andrei Rublev (see the FIREBIRD
ARTICLE, The
Life of St. Andrei Rublev), 17th century icons by Simon Ushakov, and the
totally awesome tomb- reliquary (photo to the right) of St. Sergius.
There is also much of interest outside the monastery walls, including panoramic views
of the monastery (photo at top of page), other historic buildings of interest,
and wooden homes.
Sergiev Posad has been a center of wood-carving and toy-making for centuries, and
continues to carry on this tradition. In the summer, sometimes one might be able to see
some artists at work. It is also the best place to buy all types of wooden crafts,
including matrioshka dolls (nestling figures). The city's Museum of
Toys, the only one of its kind in Russia, is also very interesting.
- This article was written by Jane M. deVyver, Ph.D, M.Th.
- The photos are by the author, except for St. Sergius reliquary.
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ST. INNOCENT/
