Ivan the Terrible financed the Assumption Cathedral in 1585 as penance for killing his son
at the central square with the Chapel at the Well
the Refectory Church of St Sergius dates from the 1690's. The small church in front was used to store documents
the walls inside the gate are adorned with murals depicting St Sergius
visiting the Monastery makes one hungry, we head out for lunch in a typical Russian restaurant
during the Polish-Lithuanian siege the monks were fierce defenders
long lines of pilgrims and tourists outside the Trinity Cathedral from 1432 with the relics of St Sergius inside
inside is also the coffin with the relics of Ivan Popov, known as Saint Innocent of Alaska
inside is a nicely decorated ceiling with murals of St Sergius
the Trinity Lavra Monastery in Sergiyev Posad
The monastery was founded in 1337 by Sergius
Radonezh,
the later St Sergius, one of Russia's most venerated Saints. He was soon joined by scores of monks.
The settlement
Sergiyev Posad sprang up near the cloister to cater for the needs of a increasingly wealthy monk community.
With
the help of the Tsars, Trinity Lavra became Russia's most important and richest monastery. The Soviets closed it in 1920 but in
1946 returned it to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Trinity Lavra is an active monastery with hundreds of monks, but
is open for pilgrims and tourists. You have to wear proper attire and restrain from taking pictures inside.
There are dozens of buildings,
with as main sights the Trinity Cathedral, the Assumption Cathedral, the Refectory, the Tsar Palace and the Bell Tower.
We joined
the crowds in August 2019.
first we have to buy tickets for the monastery in this characteristic building
Trinity Lavra is well protected by high walls
the entrance to the Refectory
the Trinity Cathedral, the Bell tower and the Assumption Cathedral captured in one shot
a traditional lunch indeed with Borscht beetroot soup
the huge iconostasis inside the Assumption Cathedral
