Trinity Sergius Lavra, Russia

The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is the largest and most important monastery in Russia. It was founded in the first half of the 14th century. The monastery was given the status of the monastery by the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, a significant event took place in 1742. For hundreds of years pilgrimage trips have been made from Moscow to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, in which both ordinary people and representatives of the imperial family took part.

According to historical data, the founder of the monastery was Sergius of Radonezh, it was he who in 1337 founded a small settlement on the Makovets hill and built a temple of the Holy Trinity there. For hundreds of years the monastery has been completely destroyed, but each time rebuilt and became only more majestic. The first period of the heyday of the laurels came during the reign of Elizaveta Petrovna. It was she who made regular pilgrimage to the monastery a tradition. They were usually accompanied by incredible breadth of feasts, fireworks and solemn events.

Near the monastery chic gardens in the French style were built, and on the way from Moscow to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius the most luxurious travel palaces and many inns were constructed. Later, magnificent wooden buildings of the monastery were completely destroyed, but by the 18th century the monastery had not only been completely rebuilt, but was considered one of the richest monasteries of the state. There was a salt factory and various handicraft shops on its territory, and 100000 peasants cultivated ecclesiastical lands. Nowadays, the ancient monastery is interesting not only for its rich historical past, but also for religious artifacts. It contains the relics of Sergius of Radonezh, the relics of Nikon, and the priceless icon of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity written by Andrei Rublev. Next - Ascension Church