Sergiev Posad

  Sergiev Posad (Zagorsk) is one of the most interesting towns of Moscow Region.  It is of no doubt that travelers come to Sergiev Posad mostly to see the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (the greed word “lavra” stands of monastery).  The monastery was founded in 1340s by the Blessed Sergius of Radonezh after whom the city was named.  Sergius of Radonezh, the founder of the monastery, plaid the leading part in joining Russian land under the command of Moscow Prince Dmitry Donskoy who defeated Khan Mamay at the Kulikovo field, in 1380. For many centuries the monastery was the largest religious and cultural centre of Russian state.  Andrey Rublev, the artist, was working here and decorated the main church of the monastery, the Trinity Cathedral, with wall paintings.  The incorruptible relics of Sergius of Radonezh are located in the Cathedral.  For many centuries his tomb was a place of pilgrimage for Russian Orthodoxies.   It is impossible to overestimate the importance of the monastery in the history of Russia.  It is the place of concentration of Russian spirituality, national identity and national character.  Today Servgiev Posad is the centre of Moscow Region with a population of 115 000 people.