Things to see and do Serguiev Possad (Посад Посад)

Built in the 15th century according to an asymmetrical plan, on the tomb of St. Sergius of Radonezh, it was one of the first buildings of Moscow Russia. The cathedral is the oldest building, built in white stone, symbol of wealth and refinement. It is for it that Andrei Rublev painted the icon of the Trinity, currently exhibited at the Tretiakov Gallery. Adjacent to this church, the sacristy is more recent since it dates from the beginning of the 19th century. It houses a museum with all kinds of religious objects made of precious metals and stones.

The Cathedral of the Dormition (Uspenski sobor) was built between 1559 and 1585 on the central square, on the model of the one in Moscow. The work was begun under Ivan the Terrible and completed under Feodor Ivanovich. It is easily recognizable by its five domes: four painted blue, with stars, and a fifth, gilded. Among its 17th century icons are those of Simon Ushakov, one of the three most famous artists of ancient Russia.

The Church of the Savior, in baroque style, dating from 1686-1692, is decorated with carved half-columns, shells and stylized bunches of grapes; its walls are painted with red, yellow, blue and green checks. Inside, there is a beautiful carved iconostasis and some baroque paintings. This is where the Lavra once welcomed the tsars, who never failed to visit the service. The hall, topped by a 17th century groin vault, is very large and richly decorated with a red-brown jasper floor.

The term "laure", of Greek origin, refers to the most important monasteries of the Orthodox religion. This one (ТРОИЦА СЕРГЕЕВА ЛАВРА) was founded in 1340 by Saint Sergius of Radonezh. Lavra, which is included in the UNESCO list of World Architectural Heritage Sites, is the beating heart of the Russian Orthodox faith. There are seven churches, two collegiate churches, a seminary, an ecclesiastical academy, administrative buildings, a former hospital and a museum of applied arts.

Next to the Dormition Cathedral, in the shade of peaceful lime trees, is the necropolis of some of the family members of Tsar Boris Godunov, whose life inspired Pushkin's play of the same name (1825), Mussorgsky's opera of the same name (1869), as well as Zulawski's film of the same name (1989). The necropolis houses his son Theodore, his wife (daughter of Maluta Skuratov, the cruel executioner of Ivan the Terrible), his daughter Olga and himself. Boris' parents are buried in Kostroma, in the monastery of St. Hyptati.

This beautiful little white church has a rare and interesting architecture. It was built in 1476-1477. Its bell tower served, in those troubled times, as a watchtower to scan the surroundings. Each bell has its own name and characteristics. The walls are slightly sloped upwards to slim the construction, and a pretty frieze runs along the whitewashed brick facades. This is where Maximus the Greek, one of the greatest religious philosophers of the Orthodox tradition, was buried in the 16th century.

On the right of the Église church, there is a part of the monastery belonging to the seminar, which can only be entered with a special invitation. This part also includes a church and the Academy of Theology.

On the right of the Église church, there is a part of the monastery belonging to the seminar, which can only be entered with a special invitation. This part also includes a church and the Academy of Theology.

Both are fully restored. The church is dedicated to the holy fathers of a monastery, in the islands of Solovki, with which the Laure maintained relations. This is the only one of the monastery of pyramid form.