(private) Day tour of Orthodox churches and monasteries

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Volkhonka, 15, Moscow 119019 Russia

[tickets included] ★ The Cathedral Of Christ The Savior is the main Cathedral in Russia, built in thanksgiving to God for helping to win the war with the Napoleonic army (Patriotic War of 1812). The temple impresses any person who managed to see it with his own eyes.

The Moscow temple became a reflection of the complex processes in the Russian architecture of the 19th century, when internationalism classicism was replaced by the period of historicism (eclecticism). We learn in detail the history of building one of the most expensive and notorious churches in Russia (the total cost in 1883 was 15 million rubles, which approximately equal to 533 million USD in 2012), for which the world’s best architects participated in the competition and artificially connected the rivers.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Our Lady of Smolensk Novodevichy Convent, Novodevichya Emb 1 Metro Sportivnaya, Moscow 119435 Russia

[tickets included] ★ The Novodevichy Convent (female) is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Moscow (established in 1524), today it belongs to the Historical Museum. But the services in the temples are also held. As it can often be found in the capital – in one place the historical heritage harmoniously coexists (protected by UNESKO) in the form of a museum part and a spiritual component. In addition to all this, it is just very pleasant to be on the territory of the monastery, to stroll and contemplate.

We will enjoy the magnificent ensemble of the monastery in the style of Moscow baroque and a rare museum collection. The collection includes Old Russian paintings, icons, fabrics of the 16th — 20th centuries, articles made of precious metals and stones, handwritten and old printed books, as well as the richest sacristy of the monastery (supplementary icons, liturgical objects and vestments). In the Smolensk Cathedral, preserved valuable mural painting of the 16th century and a magnificent carved iconostasis with icons of famous royal masters.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Restoran Kafe Pushkin", Tverskoy Blvd, 26А, Moskva, Russia, 125009

[not included] ★ TIME FOR REST AND LUNCH In our tour, we have appropriately foreseen the time for a hearty lunch with national cuisine, so you can relax a little and share your impressions with your friends. Any restaurant and cafe at your discretion.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Donskoy Monastery, Ulitsa Donskaya, 1-3, Moskva, Russia, 115419

[tickets included] ★ Donskoy Monastery (male) – was founded in 7099 according to the Old Slavic calendar (1591) in honor of the victory over the army of the Crimean Tatar Khan, superior in number. According to the church legend, the Tatar horde fled before the battle, abandoning their marching property, and all because the strongly religious Tsar Fedor Ioanovich conducted a religious procession with the Don icon of the Mother of God (14th century, invariably accompanying the military campaigns of the Russian tsars). In gratitude for the prayer heard, the tsar founded the Donskoy Monastery, where they placed the intercessor icon.

This is the last monastery whose construction has closed the southern defensive belt of Moscow from the attack of the steppe nomads. Monks and priests successfully defended the city from invaders in 1812 and during World War II, in memory of this, military equipment remained in the monastery. We have to walk through the old linden alleys, visit the towers, bell tower, temples and viewing platform. A special place is occupied by the necropolis, where prominent figures of Russia rest. In addition, the territory is the so-called “cemetery of churches.” The remains of churches and temples were brought here after their destruction by the new Soviet government.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes