City Photos News Russia/Volokolamsk

Bolshaya Sestra (Big Sister) river in Teryaevo

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:33:44 +0000

Bolshaya Sestra is now a small river, navigatable only during flood time and only in inflatible boats, yet centuries ago it was a part of an important trading waterway, this river was a tributary to Lama. Volokolamsk was first mentioned in a 1135 chronicle (12 years earlier then the first mentioning of Moscow); the manuscript calls it Volok-on-Lama. 'Volok' was a place where vessels had to be pulled, usually on rolling logs, on shallow places. Before 18th century it was known as Volok Lamskiy, and then it got its present name. For a long time it was an important trading point on the way from Novgorod to Moscow and Ryazan..
Volokolamsk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

a shop in Teryaevo village

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:20:10 +0000

Volokolamsk is a town 120 km from Moscow; in its center there's a hill overlooking the surroundings and topped with a beautiful complex of buildings called the Volokolamsk Kremlin. It includes the Resurrection cathedral (15th century), a multi-leveled belfry (19th century), and the St.Nicholas' cathedral (19th century). Today, the Kremlin houses the regional history and architecture museum. The fortifications due to which the place is known as Kremlin (which means a fortress in the heart of a city) were lost in the 18th century. The town was first mentioned in a 1135 chronicle (12 years earlier then the first mentioning of Moscow); the manuscript calls it Volok-on-Lama. 'Volok' was a place where vessels had to be pulled, usually on rolling logs, on shallow places. Before 18th century it was known as Volok Lamskiy, and then it got its present name. For a long time it was an important trading point on the way from Novgorod to Moscow and Ryazan. Volokolamsk was also famous for nearby Rev.Joseph's Dormition of Mother of God monastery in Teryaevo village (founded in 1479, all existing buildings constructed from early 16th to mid-19th centuries)- burial place of a number of church and political figures of Russia (including for example Malyuta Skuratov, feared lieutenant of Ivan the Terrible, or Archbishop of Novgorod Theodosius. The monastery was also used as a prison or a place of exile for many people who angered Tsars. Also, it had a big library so scholars were coming here from all over Russia; the monastery sacristy had a vast collection of church belongings and holy relics. Until the 1917 Revolution, the monastery was a well-known place of fairs. From 1920 to 1990 the monastery was closed; now it is under reconstruction. Among other interesting architectural details one may notice nice ceramic tiles made by famous 17th century Russian artist Stepan Polubes (who also decorated, for example, the New Jerusalem Resurrection monastery)..
Volokolamsk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

An old house in Teryaevo village

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:20:09 +0000

Rev.Joseph's Dormition of Mother of God monastery in Teryaevo village

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:15:55 +0000

Volokolamsk was also famous for nearby Rev.Joseph's Dormition of Mother of God monastery in Teryaevo village (founded in 1479, all existing buildings constructed from early 16th to mid-19th centuries)- burial place of a number of church and political figures of Russia (including for example Malyuta Skuratov, feared lieutenant of Ivan the Terrible, or Archbishop of Novgorod Theodosius. The monastery was also used as a prison or a place of exile for many people who angered Tsars. Also, it had a big library so scholars were coming here from all over Russia; the monastery sacristy had a vast collection of church belongings and holy relics. Until the 1917 Revolution, the monastery was a well-known place of fairs. From 1920 to 1990 the monastery was closed; now it is under reconstruction. Among other interesting architectural details one may notice nice ceramic tiles made by famous 17th century Russian artist Stepan Polubes (who also decorated, for example, the New Jerusalem Resurrection monastery)..
Volokolamsk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Rev.Joseph's Dormition of Mother of God monastery in Teryaevo village

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:15:53 +0000

wall

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:12:02 +0000

ceramic, tiles, glazed tiles, monastery, Teryaevo

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 05:12:00 +0000

Towers and walls 2

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 04:52:40 +0000

Towers and walls

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 04:52:39 +0000

Gate church

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 04:45:33 +0000

Church chandelier

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 04:45:30 +0000

This silver chandelier, made in 19th century, was confiscated by the Soviet authorities but given back to the monastery in early 1990s.
Volokolamsk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

"winter church"

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 04:34:26 +0000

Plane frolicking around over the monastery towers

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 04:34:24 +0000

Plane frolicking around over the monastery towers.
Volokolamsk, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Watch tower and brothers' dorm

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 04:25:36 +0000

Men at work 2

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 04:25:34 +0000