Sergiev Posad

     The community surrounds the famous Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery and its collection of churches, artifacts, icons and relics. Its skyline centers on the gold-star spangled blue domes of the Dormition Cathedral (1) (2). The only surviving intact iconostasis executed by Andrei Rublev is still in use in the 14th century Trinity Cathedral.

     The city is named after Saint Sergey (Sergius). Born in Radonezh, Saint Sergey founded the monastery in the 14th century. It became one of the greatest and biggest monasteries in Russia. Today it is known as the Holy Trinity - St. Sergius Lavra. 'Lavra' comes from a Greek word meaning 'main and most important monastery'.

     St. Sergius is the patron saint of Russia, father of northern Russian monasticism. Few people have had such a profound influence on Russian life as St. Sergius. He was a great mystic and ascetic, whose life spanned much of the 14th century, at the time that Russia was occupied by the Mongol Tartars.

Text by Fr. Ilya Gotlinsky

More links... Attention ! It is best to 'right-click' the below links in order to facilitate navigation.
(1) Troitse-Sergiyeva_Lavra. (Note : the Architectoral Ensemble of the Lavra is since 1992 a World Heritage Site)
(2) Scroll down the above page for a close-up of the Lavra's Dormition (Assumption) Cathedral and its blue domes.
(3) Russian Orthodox Church. Present-day Russian Orthodox Church and history of Russian Christianity. Excellent article !

29 July 2007