Russian Icon Tour, Part 5 Sergeyev Posad

We got up early, grabbed breakfast, checked out of the hotel, and jumped on the bus - destination Sergeyev Posad. Some of us were still a bit groggy. 

Out first stop was the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergei. A Lavra is a high-ranking monastery, and this facility is roughly equivalent to a Russian Orthodox Vatican. Founded in the 14th century by St. Sergei, it has been a pilgrimage site for more than 500 years. 

Everything about it was stunning. Here is the refrectory (dining) hall. 

The domes in sunlight!

We wandered, prayed, attended part of a Sunday service, shopped and had lunch.

At a very charming restaurant, we struggled to get through salad, cream of mushroom soup, veal cutlet, peas, potatoes, bread & butter, crepes with honey and tea or coffee. 

I was able to fill bottles with blessed water from the spring in the monastery. 

Now we're heading to Suzdal for a new hotel and more adventure. 

After 3+ hours of driving, we arrived at the hotel. 

It was a fairly large complex of low buildings, with gardens for weddings (3 in progress) and parties. I saw a wedding photographer using a drone to capture footage of the ceremony - a novel idea!

We were able to find a private room and Edward, our chaplain and priest, led us in a worship service. The icons on the table were gifts to some of the people in our tour group, who had brought toys and supplies to an orphanage near Moscow.  

We ended our day with a great buffet meal in the hotel dining room. 

 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 4 Moscow

We woke up, looked out the window and realized it was raining! Oh no!

No problem, it quickly stopped. So after a 6-stop subway trip, we reached Red Square. It was time to take a photo of our group. 

Today we went back into the Kremlin and started with the State Museum. We saw lots of different historical artifacts, in addition to icons. 

Then we crossed Red Square (which seems rectangular) and found our way, with Teresa's help, to beautiful St. Basil's Cathedral. 

Where we discovered many sets  of formidable stairs

After St. Basil's, we had lunch in GUM department store/mall. 

And then made our way to the bus, which was down the hill past the Cathedral. 

We were transported to the giant, new cathedral of Christ the Savior where we stared in amazement at the decor (no pictures inside). After a brief immersion we strolled downstairs to another, more historical chapel. 

We hopped on the bus again and went on to the Andronikov Monastery, where famous Iconographer Andrei Rublev worked and died, about 600 years ago. 

We got a guided tour around the museum which seemed very long and exhausting. Partly because they had promised us tea and biscuits, and due to a private party in the canteen, we didn't get any refreshments. It was a mild disappointment for our parched and footsore pilgrims. 

The icons were very nice though. 

We went back to our rooms to soak our feet, and dress for dinner. 

No longer parched, we are packing to leave Moscow tomorrow and head for the village of Sergeyev Posad. 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 3 Moscow

We've been walking today, on hard pavement and cobblestones, for over 8 hours. 

Our schedule went like this: 

Metro (2 trains)

Kremlin, 

Churches, 

Armory (no pics)

More churches. 

Metro (2 trains)

Chapel with Vladimir Virgin

Tretyakov Gallery with Rublev icons

Long contemplative pause ...

Metro (3 trains)

Hotel to soak our feet and have a cold beer. 

Astonishment and exhaustion!

Russian Icon Tour, Part 2 Moscow

This set of posts in my Iconic Cazalea  blog chronicles our summer of 2015 tour of Russian icon sites. 

TRAVELERS: A group of 18 icon lovers (writers/painters) from the US and UK 

AGENDA: to explore famous Russian icon sites, chosen by Sir Richard Temple, an icon dealer for 50 years in London.

TRIP ORGANIZER & ICON TEACHER: Teresa and husband Edward, our chaplain.  

TOUR GUIDE: the multi-talented Kent from Etr, a Swiss tour company. He made our arrangements and "pre-ran" the entire route a week in advance, to ensure a smooth trip for us. He's very entertaining too. 

LOCAL: in each city we'll have bus drivers, guides, etc. 

Let's get going!

Today we set out to discover Moscow. I'm too tired to write much, but I can share some pictures. I'm using both my iPhone and a large camera whose photos I have no way of posting now. Sorry. 

Anyway, here we go:

Virgin of Kazan Church

Virgin enthroned icon

Kolomenskoye Estate

Huge icons in their museum. 

Fabulous icon - one of a dozen or more that nearly make us faint. 

Apple orchards were laden with aromatic fruits and with scattered groups of picnickers. 

Walk in the park back up to our coach. 

Novodevichy Convent

 

Incredible iconostasis and fabulous frescos.  

We finished with a famous cemetery adjacent to the convent. I forgot to take pictures with my phone - sorry. 

Peter the Great statue in the river. 

Heading back to the hotel

A dinner of sausage and potatoes (with a free serving of Karaoke!) and we're off to bed!

Russian Icon Tour, Part 1 Flying

Russian churches have been filled with icons for 1000 years. If you want to see variety and history, Russia is where you go. So here we are. 

Up at 4:30, Gary gave us a ride to the airport, and we depart a jam-packed SAN airport at 6:50 am. 

O'Hare, no problems. 

Düsseldorf, no problems. 

Moscow, arrived early. About 1 pm, plus 10 hours time change. 

Immigration was only 10 minutes, baggage 10 more. 

Twenty minutes til we found our driver, then he led us on a long walk to the car. 

And 105 minutes to the hotel!

From Domo airport to blue dot

And now it's sayonara 

More to come. 

Goodnight