On the Radonezh land... the roads of St. Sergius

From Sergiev Posad with a tour we will visit with you the places marked by the life and stay of St. Sergius of Radonezh. And we will pass the road along which he came to found the world-famous Trinity-Sergius Monastery, and the road along which for several centuries the pilgrims walked from Moscow to the Trinity. The landscapes of the Radonezh land are impressive: hills covered with forest, then arable land; narrow rivers reflecting the silver-cloud sky; space and silence. A competent story guide will acquaint you with the rich history of these places. Semkhoz, Khotkovo, Abramtsevo, Radonezh ... Nice to the Russian heart names firmly occupy their place in Russian culture, secular and church history.

1st stop: Khotkovsky Pokrovsky Monastery is one of the oldest in the Moscow region, where the parents of St. Sergius - Kirill and Maria - are buried. And, as if following the testament of St. Sergius, that “before you go to him, you must first bow to his parents,” we will walk around the monastery. Namely: we will get acquainted with its history, see and visit the preserved architectural structures - the majestic cathedrals of Pokrovsky and Nikolsky, learn about the difficult trials that fell to the lot of the monastery and observe the revival of monastic life in our days.

If you wish (independently) you can visit the Department of Artistic Crafts of the Museum-Reserve of Abramtsevo, also a small shop where not ordinary souvenirs are sold, but author's works of local artists and students of the Abramtsevo Art and Industrial College.

2nd stop: the village of Radonezh - where the future ascetic St. Sergius of Radonezh spent his childhood and youth. There you will see a remarkable monument erected by a famous sculptor, back in the Soviet period in 1988. During the tour you will learn about the origin of the name Radonezh, how the settlement arose, why the parents of the monk moved here from Rostov the Great, how it developed as an administrative and economic center and how it began to decline. And finally, on the example of Radonezh, it will be clear why Florensky called the Trinity Lavra and Radonezh Krai “a living museum of Russia”. Here you will have the opportunity to see and walk along the ramparts, which have been preserved since the XV century and which have always attracted archaeologists and historians; visit one of the best monuments of the Empire style in the suburbs - the Transfiguration Church (XIX century); go down to the spring and collect water, and maybe even swim in the font.