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Russia in 1994

Russia (2 Cruise)

Bec
2004-09-20 18:01:44

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where Dmitry was killed.

Kostroma
Founded in 1150, Kostroma was one of the most important cultural and cultural centers of the "Golden Ring" of cities north east of Moscow. Like other monasteries, the Ipatiev Monastery built like a fortress guarded the point where the Kostroma river flows into the Volga. All these fortifications, intended to defend each principality from the other Rus principalities were easily overrun by the Mongol hordes in 1236.

Below on the left,The Trinity Cathedral built in 1590 to replace an wooden one built by the Godunov family in the 13th century. On the right, the Pokrova Church near the shopping arcades in the town center.

The National Museum of Wooden Architecture next to the Ipatiev Monastery shows many examples of ancient wooden churches and houses.

Notice how this replica of an ancient house has very small windows to minimise heat loss in winter.

Yaroslav
Founded in 1010 as a trading outpost by the Kievan Prince Yaroslav the Wise, who flattered his ego by giving the town his name, Yaroslav has now grown to be an important Volga Port with a population of more than 700 000. When it grew rich in the 16th and 17th centuries on trade between the Middle East and Europe, the proud Yaroslav merchants competed to build bigger and better churches than those of the capital, Moscow.

Below on the left, the Bell Tower of the 12th century Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour that became one of Russia's richest and best fortified monasteries by the 1500s. On the right, the attractive 17th century brick Church of the Epiphany just across Moscovsky Prospect from the Monastery.

Irma
The picnic outing in Irma was a welcome change after three days visiting churches and monasteries in Uglich, Kostroma and Yaroslav. As usual, we had exercise with Vladimir and Russian lessons with Tamara in the morning but we were free to roam over the countryside all afternoon after an excellent shaslyk lunch accompanied with Russian folk music provided by the ship's band.

All this was new, informative and interesting for me but I could see that it was almost a holy pilgrimage for Sacha to let her mind roam back in time to the roots of her Russian identity.

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