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Origins of Rostov the Great
The history of Rostov the Great started in 862 A.D. This beautiful city is located on the bank of the Lake Nero. Sometimes people think that it is the same city as Rostov-on-Don, but it is a mistake, that’s why it received a nickname Rostov Velikiy (Rostov the Great). A lot of famous icon painters, whose works are well-known not only in Russia, but also around Europe were born and started their artistic and spiritual paths here.
Rostov cathedrals and religious treasures
The city is full of astonishing sightseeing. In the center of Rostov stands its own Kremlin with silver domes. It was created not as a fortress, but as a place for the local priest to live and preach. Inside the Kremlin, there is Yaroslavo-Rostovsky Museum, which holds an amazing collection of icons. In the Churches of Vozneseniya, Spasa na Senyakh, and St. John the Divine tourists can find a vast collection of antique frescoes.
Another treasure of Rostov is the Uspensky Cathedral, constructed in the 16th century, but it is usually closed for tourists during the time of worship. 15 bells of the Cathedral are spreading their sound for more than 20 km every day. The whole Rostov is filled with the atmosphere of light and love due to the big amount of redundantly decorated churches, the sound of chores’ singing that can be heard almost near every church and the twinkling candle light, shining in every window.
Tourist attractions near Rostov
Not far away from Rostov (18km) another magnificent gem is situated. In the 14th century two monks, who were followers of St. Sergiy, opened the Borisoglebsky Monastery. St. Sergiy is said to have chosen the place for the Monastery himself. Many monarchs of the Russian Empire attended the worships there. As believed, Ivan the Terrible not only visited the Monastery 3 times, but also donated lots of money for the needs of monks. The Borisoglebsky Monastery was given its second birth in 1994, when the Soviet regime fell, as religion was widely oppressed and even banned in the Soviet Union. Today, it serves as a male monastery and a part of “Rostov Kremlin” complex.