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Holy places of Russia: pilgrimage, trips, tours and excursions. Holy places of Russia

The article indicates holy places in Russia that heal people and help them live with faith, hope and love.

Orthodox believers worship miraculous icons, asking them for a speedy recovery and resolution of everyday problems.

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List of Holy Springs

Source of Seraphim of Sarov in Diveevo

Seraphim of Sarov is the founder of the Diveyevo Monastery, where the Sarov Spring is located. Healing water helps with various ailments and also improves health.

In the monastery you can pray and venerate the icon of Seraphim of Sarov. It is also recommended to come to the morning Liturgy, which takes place every Sunday. You can stay in a monastery or in a hotel.

Women who want to have children, those who suffer, those who do not have their own home, and the weak come to Saint Seraphim. The elder never refused help, especially to those who keep the word of God, constantly go to Church and live according to the commandments.

Source of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Gremyachiy Klyuch waterfall)

The source is located in the village of Vzglyadnevo, and the Orthodox call this place “Malinniki”.

The Venerable Wonderworker Sergius of Radonezh is the intercessor of Rus', a defender from the misfortunes and treachery of enemies.

Many believers make a pilgrimage to him, asking for intercession and help, as well as protection from witchcraft.

It is important to know: He should pray when a relative is in prison, hospital or on the road. Also, Sergius of Radonezh heals those possessed by demons and gives them the strength to fight their passions.

The monk heals from illnesses, admonishes children and protects them from evil people, helps during childbirth.

Spring ring in Ivanovo region

The healing spring is named in honor of St. Alexander Nevsky, who was famous for the purity of his thoughts and righteous life. Nearby is a Temple containing Holy Relics.

The source saved people from terrible misfortunes, cholera epidemics and plague. Alexander Nevsky protects and covers entire settlements of Orthodox Christians, helps them in difficult work, and intercedes before God for the sick.

You can come to the spring at any time and swim in the font. Many parishioners take clean bathing clothes (nightgowns, long T-shirts) to take with them.

Water from the source has medicinal properties, relieves stomach diseases, gastritis, ulcers duodenum. But we must remember that everything is given according to the Orthodox faith.

Spring of St. David in the village of Telezh

The source is located 30 km from the village of Novy Byt in the Moscow region, in a monastery.

On the territory of the monastery there is a small chapel named after the Monk David, who helps people and prays to God for the sins of others.

He lived for many years in a monastery, leading an ascetic and secluded lifestyle. They pray to the Monk David for the children and ask for help in raising them. You can also pray to wives for their husbands, for the restoration of the family.

Visiting the source is allowed from 8 am to 9 pm. Those who want to get married or baptize a child come here.

Source of Healer Panteleimon in the village of Kalozhitsy

The healer Panteleimon heals demoniacs, possessed people, as well as those who practice magic, the occult, or resort to the help of sorcerers.

You can take a dip in the spring and take some water with you. Water beats public key and has a pleasant taste.

Arriving home, you should sprinkle the corners of the apartment with water from the source and place the Icon of Panteleimon on the iconostasis.

Source in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” (Vologda region)

The source is located in the direction of the Vologda–Kirillov highway.

There is a chapel on site where you can light candles and venerate the icon. Next to the spring there is a plunge pool where you can take a deep dive.

Also, the Miraculous Stone, located near the source, is considered a shrine. The Smolensk Mother of God should pray for healing from illnesses and intercession. She is the patroness of all Orthodox families and orphans.

People pray to her and ask for children, and she also heals women’s diseases. The Mother of God “Hodegetria” is the patroness of the entire Vologda region.

Holy spring of St. Mitrophan of Voronezh

Saint Mitrophan of Voronezh spent a lot of time in solitary prayer. Now at this place there is a source - a sacred place.

Many believers received healing there from chronic and inflammatory diseases. Also, Saint Mitrofan treats infertile couples who do not have children.

Headaches, back pain and joint pain - everything goes away, you just need to plunge into holy water.

Saint Mitrofan cures pneumonia, colds and even relieves fever. It is necessary to give the sick person some water from the source and wipe his body with a cloth soaked in it.

Holy key (Lozhok) in the city of Iskitim

In the small village of Lozhok, Novosibirsk region, there is a Holy Spring. During the war there was a camp with prisoners there, and a spring opened at its location.

They say that the prisoners “discovered” it with their prayers. Now many believers from different cities and villages make pilgrimage trips here to gain strength.

Those who come with faith receive healing. The holy key helps people with skin diseases, gives strength, strengthens faith, and heals diseases associated with the stomach.

Miraculous spring in the village of Aleshnya

Located in the Bryansk region, the water heals purulent, open, incised wounds, postoperative sutures, and has an anti-inflammatory effect.

You can wash your face with holy water if you have problems with your facial skin, or, for example, make homemade ointments based on natural herbs.

The holy spring also has a strong bactericidal effect on trophic ulcers caused by diabetes.

Also, water lowers cholesterol levels in the blood and reduces blood pressure. Families with sick children often visit here.

List of Orthodox churches and monasteries (miraculous icons and relics of saints)

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Stogovo

One day, an icon of St. Nicholas miraculously appeared right in a haystack. The area and the village began to be called Stogovo. In the 17th century, a Temple was built, to which believers flock daily to venerate the miraculous icon.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, like Seraphim of Sarov, led a hermit life for many years. The Lord gave Saint Nicholas the gift of helping people. And now the Saint, hearing the prayers of the Orthodox, intercedes before God and asks for intercession for the entire Russian people.

Note: You should pray to Saint Nicholas if you have problems buying a home, before a long trip, or during a protracted illness. The saint helps orphans, mothers raising children alone, and gives consolation to the terminally ill.

The miracle worker protects people from witchcraft and sudden death, families from divorce and children from an evil eye and intent. The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is truly a place of prayer; here you can venerate the relics and venerate the icon. It is located at the address: Moscow region, Sergiev Posad district, Malinniki village.

Holy Mountain Pyukhtitsa (Crane Mountain)

Although this is not Russia, but Estonia, it is still a very popular place for pilgrims.

Even the guidebooks mention this great place. On the Holy Mountain, which was called Crane, there is a Temple named in honor of the Assumption Mother of God.

The miraculous appearance of the image of the Mother of God converted many to the Orthodox faith and gave strength to fight unclean spirits. Now Orthodox parishioners pray before the miraculous image in the Pyukhtinsky Assumption Monastery and ask her for deliverance from illnesses, help with childlessness and help in difficult life circumstances.

Also, unmarried girls they ask for a good groom and a successful marriage. In this Temple they get married and venerate the icon of the Assumption Mother of God as their intercessor.

Monastery of Alexander-Svirsky

Monastery located in Leningrad region, near the town of Lodeynoye Pole, is the monastery of St. Alexander-Svirsky.

The saint of God, the Monk Alexander, lived almost his entire life in the monastery and always helped people. He, by the will of God, built a Temple in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Now pilgrims visit holy places and venerate the relics of the Holy Elder.

The Monk Alexander of Svirsky possessed the gift of admonition and instruction. People came to him for advice and simple people, and the clergy - he never refused to help anyone. They pray to him when there are unresolved problems or difficult life circumstances, when a person does not know what to do in this or that matter.

Assumption Cathedral in Moscow

The Assumption Cathedral is located in the Moscow Kremlin. Today, services are held there in certain days. But for those wishing to venerate the shrines, the entrance is always open.

In the Assumption Cathedral there is the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which helps peasants grow a good harvest, is an intercessor for those who work on the land, and protects Orthodox Christians from infidels and persecution.

Also, in the Cathedral there is the Nail of the Lord and the staff of St. Peter. Saint Peter protects people from hunger and poverty, helps them find work and buy housing. Saint Peter should be prayed to during Lent - it helps to cope with temptations and gives strength to resist evil.

Alexander-Oshevensky Monastery

The monastery is located in the village of Oshevenskoye, Arkhangelsk region. On the territory of the monastery there are many Shrines: stones with the footprints of St. Alexander, a Holy spring and a lake, as well as the Khaluy river, which goes underground in one place and comes out in another.

There is also a well dug by Alexander Oshevensky himself.

They pray to Saint Alexander during the onset of war, as well as for safe trips and travels. Alexander Oshevensky heals people with blood diseases.

“Quick to Hear” icon of the Mother of God

Located on Holy Mount Athos in the Dohiar Monastery.

The miraculous power of the icon heals the blind and puts cripples back on their feet, helps with difficult childbirths, relieves cancer, saves them from captivity and covers children during war.

Women pray to the holy icon of the Mother of God to restore peace in the family, prosperity and resolve internecine strife. The Holy “Quick to Hear” intercedes before God for the weak and sick, lonely old people, and the disabled.

Also, “Quick to Hear” helps with natural disasters, floods, fires. She covers with her Grace and saves from sudden death.

Savva Storozhevsky (Savva Zvenigorodsky)

Wonderworker Savva Storozhevsky, Russian ascetic of the faith of Christ, patron of all those who suffer and defender of the fatherland. The monastery, named after Savva Storozhevsky, is located in the suburbs of Moscow.

Everyone who prays to the Wonderworker receives healing: he helps with oncological diseases, chronic pain, kidney and liver disease.

In addition, Savva Storozhevsky should pray to resolve any conflict situations. The seer-elder always helped people and gave advice, and was a mentor to all sinful parishioners.

The Monk Sergei of Radonezh often communicated with the Wonderworker and shared his spiritual experience with him.

Matrona of Moscow

Saint Matronushka is the patroness of all women who want to have children. They pray to her, asking her to protect the family from ruin, to be healed of an illness, to get rid of an addiction - Elder Matrona always answers prayer!

They often pray to her that the child would do well at school, asking for help and admonition before entering university. In front of the icon, you can ask for blessings for marriage or divorce, for buying a home or car.

Small children should also be taken to the Miracle-Working Icon - Matronushka protects against sudden illnesses and early death.

Temple of the Matrona of Moscow, located on Taganka, in Moscow. There are always long queues here, and sometimes pilgrims wait for 5-6 hours to venerate the Shrine. You can come and pray at the Temple from 6 am to 8 pm.

Church of St. Panteleimon

A small Temple, named in honor of St. Panteleimon, is located in Moscow, on Nikolskaya Street, but the relics of the Healer are located in the Penza Intercession Cathedral.

Saint Panteleimon was a true companion, the patron saint of all the sick and needy. Having sold all his property, he began to help people, treated them and set them on the right path.

The Great Martyr Panteleimon heals incurable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, restores after a stroke or accident, protects pregnant women from premature birth, and protects babies from sudden death.

Intercession-Tervenichesky Convent

Located in the Leningrad region, in the small village of Tervenichi. The patroness of the convent are the Holy Martyrs - Faith, Hope and Love.

On the territory there is a shrine - the Tervenic Icon of the Mother of God, as well as a healing spring. Pilgrims can stay at the monastery, work in the courtyard, or pray with the sisters. Divine services are held every day; the schedule can be found on the official website.

The Tervenic Icon of the Mother of God blesses all women who decide to spend their lives in a monastic monastery. It protects from devilish temptations, shelters from infidels, wars and attacks on the Orthodox faith, saves people from spiritual destruction, and instructs with the Word of God.

Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Chimeevo

The appearance of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God took place on a river in a remote Siberian village Kurgan region, in the Urals.

The miraculous icon protects Orthodox Christians from demonic attacks, children from witchcraft, and men from death in war.

The Kazan Mother of God is the intercessor of all Christians before God! She asks every day on her knees for Russia and Orthodox people. Thanks to her prayers, the Lord shows mercy and sends grace.

St. Nicholas Monastery "Holy Caves" in the village of Pokrovka

The monastery is located in the Orenburg region, in the village of Pokrovka. In the “Holy Caves” there is a miraculous spring that heals those suffering from mental illness.

Thousands of believers come to the Nikolsky spring, asking St. Nicholas for a miracle. Nearby there is a bathhouse where anyone can fully plunge into Holy water.

Before this, you need to read the Akathist to Nicholas the Wonderworker, and then cross yourself 3 times. The Orthodox faith is the most powerful weapon against evil. It lifts the spirit of every person, strengthens faith in God and helps to do good deeds.

A sincere prayer addressed to God with all your heart will always be heard!

About the holy places of Russia, watch the following interesting video:

At the service of modern pilgrims are 88 pilgrimage services and organizations established in dioceses, parishes and monasteries, as well as about 8 dozen pilgrim-class hotels and hospice houses. There are 29 public Orthodox organizations in Russia and a huge number of secular travel agencies that also deal with pilgrimage trips.

When planning a pilgrimage tour, you must first decide: who to choose as the organizer of the trip - a secular travel agency or a church pilgrimage service? Travel organized by religious organizations will cost about 25–30 percent less. This is explained by the fact that church services do not try to make money on such tours and organize trips on the verge of recouping their cost. But with travel agencies, where professionals work not ascetics, problems are less likely to occur. And the cultural program - if, of course, you are interested in something other than the pilgrimage itself - theirs, as a rule, is richer. And on Valaam, for example, believe me, there is something to see. Otherwise, the conditions for tourist pilgrims are approximately the same: intercity bus, reserved seat carriage or boat, half board, two-three star or monastery hotel. The situation, as you can see, is quite spartan.

What awaits you?

When planning a pilgrimage tour, you should imagine what awaits you. Namely: early rises, overnight stays in spartan conditions, long hours of church services, long bus rides and tiring walks - such a load for several days can be very difficult even for a physically strong adult. Therefore, it is worth thinking about how necessary it is to take sick people or a small child with you.

But the main thing, of course, is not the level of comfort of such a trip, but the spiritual component - the introduction to Orthodox culture, in divine services and conversations with clergy. Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad once said that people going on pilgrimage trips should get on buses as tourists and get off them as pilgrims.

What do you need to know?

When going on a pilgrimage tour, you will have to follow some rules. Of course, women should not wear provocative clothing and jewelry, or use bright cosmetics. When entering the temple, women must cover their heads. Men, on the other hand, must take off their hats. For long walking excursions, it is better to take comfortable shoes with you. But visiting temples in sportswear not allowed.

Photography and video recording are carried out only in places where they are permitted. If the rules for photo and video shooting in this temple or monastery are not specifically stated, it is still better to ask permission from the priest.

How to communicate with clergy?

Approaching the priest, bow to him and ask him to bless you. To do this, fold your palms in a cross: right over left, palms up and bow your head. The priest will sign you with the sign of the cross. Having received the blessing, kiss the hand of the priest, blessing you, like the invisible hand of Christ.

If you don’t know the priest’s name, you can simply address him as “father.” If the name of the priest is known, you can call him, for example, “Father Boris.” A similar form of address is possible in relation to a deacon, but it is not customary to call him “priest”. The now widespread appeal to priests “holy father” is also not accepted.

Where to go?

The most popular destinations pilgrimages are quite traditional. These are, first of all, the largest and most famous monasteries - Solovetsky, Valaam, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, Optina Pustyn. And also ancient Russian cities - Vladimir, Novgorod, Uglich, Suzdal, Rostov the Great.

Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra

The Lavra was founded by St. Sergius of Radonezh in 1337 and today it is one of the most revered all-Russian shrines.

On the territory of the Lavra you can see the oldest one - the Trinity Cathedral, built in 1422-1425. It is in it that the holy relics of the Hegumen of the Russian Land, St. Sergius of Radonezh, are located. The iconostasis of the temple is famous for its icons painted by Andrei Rublev himself. The years 1559–1585 were marked for the monastery by the fact that Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of the Assumption Cathedral here, near which the tomb of Tsar Boris Godunov and his family is located. In the vicinity of the Lavra, in the 18th–19th centuries, the Bethany Monastery, Bogolyubsky, Chernigov-Gethsemane monasteries and the Paraclete monastery arose, in which ascetic elders lived.

You can get here by train from the Yaroslavsky station in Moscow, by bus from the VDNKh metro station to the city of Sergiev Posad. The Berezka and Zagorsk hotels operate here. If you plan to travel in a group, it is better to notify the administration of the Pilgrimage Center in advance. The monastery has organized for pilgrims free food. In order to get into the refectory, you need to get a coupon, which is issued if you have a passport.

Optina Pustyn

The Monastery of the Holy Vvedenskaya Optina Hermitage is one of the most famous monasteries in our country. The exact time of Optina’s founding is unknown, presumably the 15th century. Back in 1773, only two monks lived here. And in late XVIII centuries there were already stone buildings, a mill and farmland. People who spent many years in complete solitude settled in the Optina Hermitage - “hermit dwellers”. At this time, Optina became one of the main spiritual centers of Russia.

In 1821, a monastery was built, located behind the monastery grove. Many buildings have been preserved here, including the houses where Gogol and Dostoevsky stayed, as well as the wooden Church of John the Baptist, cut down in 1822. Famous Russian writers immortalized Optina in their works: Leo Tolstoy described her in Father Sergius, Fyodor Dostoevsky made Elder Ambrose the prototype of Elder Zosima in The Brothers Karamazov.

How to get there: Kaluga region, Kozelsk (280 km south of Moscow). From the Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station a bus leaves daily on the route Moscow - Kozelsk. From the bus station in Kozelsk to the monastery it is about three kilometers.

Balaam

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery on the island of Valaam is the oldest monastery Novgorod land and one of the most revered in Russia. Discussions regarding the founding date of the monastery are still ongoing. The church is oriented towards the 10th century. It was then that many missionary monks came to Rus'. And in the 14th century, the Valaam Monastery became a “great honorable monastery.”

Russia is often called the holy land. Judging by the number of saints for representatives of different religions of places, then this is indeed the case.

1. Diveevo

Where is? Nizhny Novgorod region, Diveevsky district.
What is holiness? Diveevo is called the Fourth Lot of the Mother of God on earth. The main shrine of the Diveyevo monastery - relics St. Seraphim Sarovsky. The Holy Elder invisibly but clearly consoles, admonishes, heals, opening the hardened souls of people who come to him for Divine love, and leads to the Orthodox faith, to the Church, which is the foundation and establishment of the Russian land. Pilgrims come to fetch holy water from 4 springs, venerate the relics and walk along the holy ditch, which, according to legend, the Antichrist will not be able to cross.

2. Optina Pustyn

Where is? Kaluga region.
What is holiness? The Holy Vvedenskaya Optina Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Russia, located on the banks of the Zhizdra River near the city of Kozelsk. The origins of Optina remain unknown. It can be assumed that it was built not by princes and boyars, but by the ascetics themselves, by calling from above through repentant tears, labor and prayer. The Optina elders had enormous influence on the minds of people of various classes. Gogol was here three times. After visiting the Optina Hermitage, Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov” was born. Leo Tolstoy had a special relationship with the monastery (as, indeed, with the church in general).

3. Nilo-Stolobenskaya desert

Where is? Stolobny Island, Svetlitsa Peninsula, Lake Seliger.
What is holiness? The monastery is called the Nile Hermitage after the Monk Nile, who lived on the island for 27 years and bequeathed to build a monastery. In 1555, Neil reposed and was buried on Stolobny Island. After the death of the saint, prayer hermits began to settle on the island near his grave, and the monastery was founded by them. Before the revolution, the Nilo-Stolobensky monastery was among the most revered in Russia; thousands of people came here every year. In 1828, Emperor Alexander I visited the monastery.

After the revolution, the monastery had a difficult fate. It managed to be a colony, a hospital, a prisoner of war camp, and a camp site. During archaeological excavations on the territory of the monastery, it was established that in the 18th century the largest workshop at that time for the production of pectoral crosses operated here. Only in 1990 was the Nilova Hermitage again transferred to the Orthodox Church, and in 1995 the relics of St. Nil were returned here.

4. Kizhi

Where is? Kizhi Island, Lake Onega.
What is holiness? Many people believe that Kizhi is a beautiful temple somewhere in the North. In fact, this is a whole reserve in which everyday life and unique wooden architecture are carefully preserved. The center and main monument of the museum was the Kizhi churchyard with the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. It was founded in 1714 and built without a single nail or foundation. The most remarkable thing is that even during the Soviet years the shrine was not touched - they even left the iconostasis with one hundred and two images. The entire Kizhi ensemble is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can get to the island in summer by rocket from Petrozavodsk and in winter along an ice track from the village. Great Lip.

5. Solovetsky Monastery

Where is? White Sea.
What is holiness? Even in pagan times, the Solovetsky Islands were strewn with temples, and the ancient Sami considered this place holy. Already in the 15th century a monastery arose here, which soon became a large spiritual and community center. A pilgrimage to the Solovetsky Monastery has always been a great feat, which only a few dared to undertake. Thanks to this, until the beginning of the 20th century, the monks managed to preserve a special atmosphere here, which, oddly enough, did not disappear over the years of hard times. Today, not only pilgrims come here, but also scientists, researchers, and historians.

6. Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Where is? Moscow region, Sergiev Posad.
What is holiness? This monastery is rightfully considered the spiritual center of Russia. The history of the monastery is inextricably linked with the fate of the country - here Dmitry Donskoy received a blessing for the Battle of Kulikovo, local monks, together with troops, defended themselves against the Polish-Lithuanian invaders for two years, here the future Tsar Peter I took the oath of boyars. To this day, pilgrims from all over Orthodox world people come here to pray and feel the grace of this place.

7. Pskov-Pechersky Monastery

Where is? Pechory.
What is holiness? Pskov-Pechersk Monastery - one of the oldest and most famous Russian monasteries. In 1473, the cave church of the Assumption was consecrated here, excavated Venerable Jonah in a sandstone hill. This year is considered the year the monastery was founded. The hill in which the Assumption Church and the caves created by God are located is called the Holy Mountain. There are two holy springs on the territory of the monastery. A special feature of the Pskov-Pechersk monastery is that it has never been closed in its entire history. During the interwar period (from February 1920 to January 1945) it was located within Estonia, thanks to which it was preserved.

8. Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery

Where is? Vologda region, Kirillovsky district.
What is holiness? The Kirillo-Belozersk monastery is a city within a city, the largest monastery in Europe. The gigantic fortress has withstood enemy siege more than once - two cars can easily pass each other on its three-story walls. The richest people of their time took tonsure here, and the sovereign's criminals were kept in the dungeons. Ivan the Terrible himself favored the monastery and invested considerable funds in it.

There is a strange energy here that gives peace. Next door are two more pearls of the North - Ferapontov and Goritsky monasteries. The first is famous for its ancient cathedrals and frescoes of Dionysius, and the second for nuns from noble families. Those who have visited the vicinity of Kirillov at least once return back.

9. Verkhoturye

Where is? Sverdlovsk region, Verkhoturye district.
What is holiness? Once upon a time there was one of the main Ural fortresses, from which several buildings remain (the local Kremlin is the smallest in the country). However, this small town became famous not for its glorious history, but for its large concentration of Orthodox churches and monasteries. In the 19th century, Verkhoturye became a center of pilgrimage. In 1913, the third largest cathedral was built here Russian Empire- Holy Cross. Not far from the city, in the village of Merkushino, lived the wonderworker Simeon of Verkhoturye, the patron saint of the Urals. People from all over the country come to pray at the relics of the saint - it is believed that they cure diseases.

10. Valaam

Where is? Ladoga lake.
What is holiness? Valaam is one of two “monastic republics” that existed in Russia. The time of foundation of the Orthodox monastery on the islands is unknown. At the beginning of the 16th century, the monastery already existed; in the 15th-16th centuries, about a dozen future saints lived in the monastery, including, for example, the future founder of another “monastic republic” Savvaty Solovetsky (until 1429) and Alexander Svirsky. It was at this time that ships appeared on the neighboring islands. large quantities monastic hermitages.

Unlike the Solovetsky archipelago, where the owner is a museum-reserve, on Valaam monastic traditions have been revived almost completely. All the monasteries operate here, the monastery also performs administrative functions on the islands, and the vast majority of visitors to Valaam are pilgrims. Throughout the entire area of the island there are monasteries, “branches” of the monastery, about ten in total. The incomparable nature of the Valaam archipelago - a kind of “quintessence” of the nature of South Karelia - contributes to the pilgrim’s desire to move away from the bustle of the world and come to himself.

11. Pustozersk

Where is? Actually nowhere. Pustozersk is a disappeared city in the lower reaches of the Pechora, in the Zapolyarny region of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. It is located 20 km from the present city of Naryan-Mar.
What is holiness? Pustozersk was the place where Archpriest Avvakum lived in exile in an earthen pit for 15 years, wrote his life and was burned. Pustozersk is still a place of Old Believer pilgrimage and is revered by them as a holy place. A chapel and a refectory were built here, and there are memorial crosses.

12. Rogozhskaya Sloboda

Where is? Moscow.
What is holiness? Rogozhskaya Sloboda is the historical spiritual center of the Russian Old Believers. In 1771, the Old Believer Rogozhskoye cemetery was founded near the Rogozhskaya outpost; a quarantine facility, a hospital and a small chapel were built here. Then, at the turn of the 18th–19th centuries, two cathedrals were built near the cemetery - Pokrovsky and Rozhdestvensky, the St. Nicholas Chapel was rebuilt in stone, houses for clergy and a clergy, monastic cells, six almshouses and many private and merchant houses were erected next to the churches. For two centuries, the Intercession Cathedral was the largest Orthodox church in Moscow, accommodating up to 7,000 believers at a time. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the number of Old Believers living in the vicinity of Rogozhsky reached 30,000 people.

13. Great Bulgars

Where is? Republic of Tatarstan, 140 km from Kazan.
What is holiness? Bulgar, one of the greatest cities of the Middle Ages, is today an important place of worship for Muslims in Russia. In addition to the ancient ruins, what remains from Great Bulgaria is the village of Bolgari and the walls of a large mosque with a minaret from the 13th century. Across the road from the entrance to the mosque is the well-preserved Northern Mausoleum. To the east of the mosque is the Eastern Mausoleum. The White Mosque is located near the entrance to Bolgar, at the South Gate of the Bulgarian Museum-Reserve. The architectural complex consists of the building of the mosque itself, the mufti's residence and madrasah, and the surrounding prayer area.

14. Aulia Spring

Where is? Republic of Bashkiria, Mount Aushtau.
What is holiness? Aulia is translated from Bashkir as “saint”. This spring is believed to have healing properties. It flows for just over 30 days in late May and early June and attracts tens of thousands of people every year. People bathe in it in the spring and drink the sacred water, which they believe can get rid of kidney stones, as well as treat respiratory and stomach diseases. In spring, the water of the source, as they say, acquires its healing properties only after May 15th.

The ascent to Mount Aushtau consists of two stages: the first is to reach the sacred spring, the second is to climb to the top of the mountain, where there are three graves, which, according to legend, contain the remains of three Islamic missionaries from the city of Osh, killed in the 13th century by local residents. After repentance, the same local residents buried Sheikh Muhammad Ramazan al-Ush and his companions on the top of a mountain, on the slopes of which a sacred spring appeared.

15. Mausoleum of Hussein-Bek

Where is? Republic of Bashkiria, 40 km from Ufa.
What is holiness? The mausoleum is located at the Akzirat cemetery. According to legend, it was built in the 14th century for Hadji Hussein Bek, the first imam on the territory of modern Bashkiria. The order to build the mausoleum was given by Tamerlane himself. Not far from the mausoleum there are several tombstones with inscriptions on Arabic. It is believed that Tamerlane’s commanders were marked this way.

The Mausoleum of Hussein Beg is one of the most sacred Muslim sites in Russia. Just 10 km from this place there is another ancient mausoleum - the grave of Turukhan. According to some historians, he was a descendant of Genghis Khan. According to historians, Turukhan, like Hussein Bey, was an enlightened Muslim ruler.

16. Ziyarat Kunta-Hadji Kishieva

Where is? Chechen Republic, village of Khadzhi.
What is holiness? There are 59 holy burial places, ziyarat, in Chechnya. Ziyarat Kunta-Hadji Kishieva is the most revered of them. In the 19th century, the village of Khadzhi was the birthplace of the Sufi sheikh Kunta-Hadzhi Kishiev, a Chechen saint and missionary who preached zikr ("remembrance of Allah"). Near the place where Kishiev’s house stood, there is a holy spring, the water from which has healing properties. Those who wish can also visit the grave of Kishiev’s mother. It is located nearby on Mount Ertina, which the Chechens consider a sacred place.

17. Fortress of Qala of Quraish

Where is? Republic of Dagestan, 120 km from Makhachkala.
What is holiness? The mosque of the Qala Quraish fortress is one of the oldest mosques in Russia, it was built in the 9th century. Also on the territory of the fortress there is an ancient tomb and a museum. The fortress is located at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level.

Because of its appearance, Qala Quraish is sometimes called Dagestan's Machu Picchu. The Koreish, or Quraish, were considered the closest relatives and descendants of the Prophet Mohammed himself, therefore Kala-Koreish, founded by them, turned into the most important center for the spread of Islam in the region. By the 20th century, Kala Koreish had virtually become a ghost town. Nearby residents claim that in the 1970s, two women and one man lived in Kala Koreisha. These were the last inhabitants ancient city descendants of Mohammed.

18. Tuti-bike Mausoleum

Where is? Republic of Dagestan, Derbent.
What is holiness? The Mausoleum of the Derbent Khans - the only mausoleum preserved in Derbent - was erected in 1202 AH (1787-1788) over the grave of the ruler of Derbent, Tuti-bike. In addition to her, her sons are buried in the mausoleum, as well as Hasan Khan’s wife Nur-Jahan Khanum. The ruler of Derbent, Tuti-bike, is a very significant figure in the history of Dagestan.

In 1774, during the assault on Derbent by the Kaitag Utsmi governor Emir-Gamzy, Tuti-bike personally took part in the defense, was on the city wall, controlling the actions of the artillery. During the siege of the city, she did not interrupt the prayer and, upon its completion, going out into the courtyard of the Juma mosque, where an enemy detachment burst into, killed their leader with a blow of a dagger. The legend says that the enemies fled, amazed at the woman’s courage. In the immediate vicinity of the mausoleum is Kyrkhlyar (“forty” in Turkic). This is the burial place of Islamic martyrs.

19. Mausoleum of Borg-Kash

Where is? The mausoleum is located on the northwestern outskirts of the modern rural settlement of Plievo, Nazran district of the Republic of Ingushetia, on the left hilly bank of the Sunzha, which is a spur of the Sunzhensky ridge.
What is holiness? Historians still disagree about how and why this mausoleum was built. Borga-Kash is translated as "Borgan's grave". According to one version, the mausoleum was the tomb of Burakan Beksultan, one of the main leaders of the Ingush in the fight against Timur’s troops, who invaded local lands in 1395. Burakan did not die in the war with Timur, but died ten years later, which corresponds to the time the mausoleum was built. The 600-year-old mausoleum is an important place of pilgrimage and one of the most valuable Ingush historical monuments. To this day, inscriptions in Arabic have been preserved on the mausoleum building.

20. Ivolginsky datsan

Where is? Republic of Buryatia, village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga. 30 km from Ula-Ude.
What is holiness? Ivolginsky datsan is the main datsan of Russia, the residence of Pandito Khambo Lama - the Head of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia, a large Buddhist monastery complex, a historical and architectural monument. In the Ivolginsky datsan there is the body of one of the main ascetics of Buddhism of the twentieth century, the head of the Buddhists of Siberia in 1911-1917, Khambo Lama Itigelov. In 1927, he sat in the lotus position, gathered his disciples and told them to read a prayer of good wishes for the deceased, after which, according to Buddhist beliefs, the lama went into a state of samadhi. He was buried in a cedar cube in the same lotus position, bequeathing before his departure to dig up the sarcophagus 30 years later.

In 1955, the cube was lifted. The body of Hambo Lama turned out to be incorrupt, and analyzes carried out by scientists already in 2000 showed that the protein fractions had intravital characteristics, and the concentration of bromine was 40 times higher than the norm. Right here, in Ivolginsky Datsan, you can see a magic stone. Near it there is an inscription: “According to legend, it was this stone that Nogoon Dari Ehe (Green Tara) touched and left the imprint of her brush on it.

21. Nilovsky datsan

Where is? In the Tunka Valley, 4 km upstream of the river from the Nilova Pustyn resort, in the forest on the 10 km road on Mount Kholma-Ula.
What is holiness? According to ancient legend, the mythical god Khan Shargai Noyon, the head of the Khaats sitting on the ridges of the Sayan Mountains, landed at this place. In honor of this, a small log house for prayers was built here in 1867. Subsequently, two wooden datsans were built here. On the territory of the Nilovsky datsan there is a tower made of a long and smooth log with a round wooden barrel on top. This design is not found in any other datsan in Buryatia.

Local old-timers say that when the lamas converted the local population to Buddhism, they gathered all the shamans in this place and convinced them to accept the Buddhist faith. All the tambourines and shamanic costumes were burned. Sacred relics were placed in the barrel and silver coins and raised it up so that Buddha could see the gifts. The sand at the landing site of Khan Shargai Noyon is considered holy. It is widely believed that sand taken by a man gives him strength.

22. Mount Belukha

Where is? Highest point Gorny Altai. Located on the territory of the Ust-Koksinsky district.
What is holiness? Many researchers correlate the highest Altai mountain Beluga whale with the sacred Mount Meru. In particular, the Russian philosopher Nikolai Fedorov tried to confirm this theory. Based on a map depicting the sacred Mount Meru, dated to the 2nd century BC, Turkologist Murat Adji supplemented the popular hypothesis. At equal distances from Meru were the four then known oceans, and Belukha is equally distant from the Indian, Pacific and Northern Arctic Ocean.

Belukha is considered a sacred mountain among Buddhists; Old Believers came here to escape the world in search of the legendary Belovodye. According to Altai beliefs, the goddess Umai, the supreme female deity, comparable in importance to Tengri, lives on Belukha.

23. Olkhon Island

Where is? Olkhon is the largest island on Lake Baikal. Located 256 km from Irkutsk.
What is holiness? One of the main places of worship- Shamanka rock. Women and children are prohibited from entering the cave, located in the rock. There was once a Buddhist shrine there. Olkhon is revered not only by Buddhists, but also by representatives of traditional Buryat beliefs. Shamans from all over Russia, and sometimes from abroad, gather on the island to conduct their rites and rituals. At this time, shamans communicate directly with the spirits, and if you’re lucky, you can find out answers to your questions from them. The main thing at this time is not to look the shaman in the eyes, otherwise, according to local beliefs, the spirit may leave his body and move into an unwary petitioner.

24. Mount Barkhan-uula

Where is? Barkhan-Uula or Baragkhan is one of the highest mountains of the Barguzin ridge. The mountain rises near the villages of Baraghkhan and Yarikta, which is 20 kilometers away.
What is holiness? According to the results of the republican-scale competition “Seven Wonders of the Nature of Buryatia”, Baragkhan was recognized as the main Buryat natural miracle. Since ancient times, the mountain has been revered as a shrine by both the Barguzin Buryats and the Mogul-speaking peoples. Buryat mythology tells about the owners of the mountain, the dune baabai and Khazhar-Sagaan-noyon - heavenly lords who descended to earth. There is also a legend that a noble khan from the golden family of Borjigins was buried on Barkhan-Uula.

There is a legend about Soodoy Lama, a great yogi who chose Baraghan for his meditations. It is believed that whoever climbs this mountain will be connected with it by mystical power, and the righteous can see the image of Buddha on its slopes. Climbing the mountain is usually accompanied by the monks of the Ivolginsky datsan; a huge prayer service was written in Sanskrit in honor of Baraghan. On the Tepteehei plateau, at the very top of the mountain, there is an ancient and sacred stone structure called Obo, honoring the spirit of the mountain.

There is also a Lamaist sacred sign here, symbolizing the eternity and infinity of the universe. Nowadays, Buddhist prayers and rituals are held on Barkhan-Uula. Pilgrimage ascents to the top of the mountain take place annually. But not everyone can climb the mountain. To do this, you need to obtain permission from the lama at the Kurumkan datsan. Women are prohibited from climbing Barkhan-Uula.

25. Merkit Fortress

Where is? In the south of Buryatia, in the Mukhorshibirsky district, 110 km from Ulan-Ude on the right bank of the river mouth. Push.
What is holiness? According to legend, it was here that the first battles of Genghis Khan took place with the Merkits, who once inhabited these lands. From 1177 to 1216, the Merkits fought fierce battles against Genghis Khan and Khan Jochi until they were defeated.

The Merkit fortress today is not a fortress in the usual sense of the word. These are rock formations on which elements of former fortifications, recesses for signal lights, a well, and observation platforms have been preserved. In the Merkit fortress there are two so-called “humming stones”, which, according to popular belief, can heal a woman from infertility and bring good luck in love. Pilgrimages are held to the Merkit fortress; shamans and lamas come here. in 2010, Buddhist scrolls and thangka icons were discovered here, which were hidden here by lamas during the years of persecution of religion. Since nothing could be taken from the mountain, the scrolls were examined and returned to their place.

The heart of Russia, which sets the rhythm of the country’s life, is Moscow, which for centuries has been considered the soul of Orthodoxy, containing the main Russian churches and shrines. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flock here every year; grace, peace, and admiration for the feat of the great companions prevail here.

And no matter what construction concepts modern urban fashion dictates for familiarization, Orthodox excursions around Moscow are of constant interest among a wide variety of segments of the population.

The site company offers walking and bus tours to the most “protected” places of Orthodoxy. Our guides are ready in any weather to tell fascinatingly and in detail about the shrines, guiding travelers through traditional and little-known sacred places of the city.

You will see a collection of miraculous icons of the Blessed Virgin Mary, visit the Intercession Convent, and receive unique opportunity venerate the holy relics of the righteous Matronushka, visit the most famous temples and monasteries, chapels and churches. Orthodox excursions around Moscow pursue not only educational goals, they provide an opportunity to rest your soul, shake off the hustle and bustle of everyday life, touch history, and look at the materialistic world through the eyes of eternity and faith.

When ordering Orthodox excursions around Moscow in our company, you can choose any places to visit or walk along an already drawn up route. Our guides are fluent in theory, knowing not only well-known facts about Orthodox Moscow, but also points that can only be read about in ancient tomes. Contact us, in company with us time will fly by, and your soul will be filled with light!

Excursions around Moscow

Bus tour

This excursion route can be classified as a classic one - it will help those visiting the capital for the first time to get acquainted with the main attractions of the city, and for those who are already familiar with Moscow, put together an image into a single whole.

Tour duration: 1.5 hours

An object

Experienced Mosfilm guides will be happy to introduce you to one of the largest and most advanced film studios not only in Russia, but also in Europe. Our excursionists will walk through the territory of the legendary Mosfilm film studio, get acquainted with its interesting past and see its present with their own eyes.

Duration of the excursion: 4 hours

Bus tour

When the bustle of the day goes away and twilight falls on Moscow, the city becomes especially beautiful - the unusual and colorful lighting of many objects presents the architectural ensemble of the capital in a new guise.

Duration of the excursion: 4 hours

Bus tour

On frosty winter days, when the whole country is enjoying the long-awaited New Year holidays, we invite you to a fascinating bus excursion “Lights of New Year's Moscow”, which will give you a unique opportunity to contemplate all the beauty of the festive capital, the grandeur of Moscow Christmas trees strewn with bright lights, the splendor of New Year's illuminations and ice figures .

Duration of the excursion: 4 hours

Bus tour

We invite everyone who is interested unusual phenomena and believes in the existence of the otherworldly, go on an exciting journey through the most mystical areas of the capital. Our theatrical bus tour will allow you to touch the mysterious world in which ghosts and phantoms live, to feel its frightening and at the same time attractive atmosphere.

Bus tour

The sounds of revolutionary explosions that captured the birth of the first workers’ and peasants’ state on the pages of our history have long died down. The shock wave of Soviet reforms turned Moscow life upside down once and for all. Having brought down the walls of Orthodox churches, Moscow raised the ideas of new leaders skyward.

Bus tour

Every person has desires. Material ones, which come to life, you just need to put in some effort, or hidden ones - they don’t even talk about those to your loved ones and secretly hope for their miraculous fulfillment. Did you know that absolutely any dream can be realized by correctly using the sacred forces that literally surround us on all sides?

Tour duration: 3.5 hours

Bus tour

Moscow is one of the most extraordinary cities in the world. Its appearance was formed over many centuries, and historical cataclysms and fatal events made their own adjustments to the overall picture. The capital that we know now has its own character, sometimes unpredictable and even shocking.

Duration of the excursion: 3 hours

Bus tour

The royal Romanov dynasty is today one of the most mysterious in Russian history. Over the course of several centuries, the Romanov family has acquired numerous mystical and mysterious legends. However, is it possible to say with one hundred percent certainty that all these myths are true?

Duration of the excursion: 3 hours

Bus tour

Moscow is an ancient city in which dozens of styles and images are intertwined. Now no one can confidently identify the dominant style of the Russian capital. Graceful, ornate mansions in the Art Nouveau style, trying to merge with nature, coexist with Gothic, glorifying the decay of all material things and the greatness of heaven.

Hiking

The Novodevichy Convent is a beautiful architectural ensemble in the Moscow Baroque style. It was built in 1524 by order of the Grand Duke Vasily III. The complex is included in the list of objects world heritage UNESCO and heads the list of the most famous active monasteries in Russia.