Russian hand painted Porcelain by Kornilov 1850-1880

About 45 miles north of Moscow, along the road to Yaroslavl, is a small city of Sergiev Posad (called Zagorsk during the Communist era). This city grew up around the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra Monastery (photo, above), established around 1340 by St. Sergius of Radonezh. This monastery has been the single most important spiritual center in Russia for well over 600 years, and today is a working monastery, Seminary, Theological Academy and place of pilgrimage.

Here you can see The Architecture Assembly of the Monastery with his 22 buildings http://www.musobl.divo.ru/archit_e.html .

Trinity Saint Sergius Lavra
is the residence of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church and a flourishing theological college. The monastery was founded by St. Sergey of Radonezh in 1340 during his evangelizing crusade. The monastery became one of the most important monastic institutions, and in 1744 was given the rank of a lavra (laura). Nowadays it is a functioning men monastery and a place of pilgrimage. All churches are open for worship. The Cathedral of Assumption (1585), the Church of the Holly (1476), the Cathedral of Trinity (1422), the building of Refectory (1692) and other buildings are well preserved and maintained. The monastery is located in the town of Sergiev-Posad 71 km (44 miles) to the north of Moscow. It is ideal for a day trip if you want to see the countryside with dachas (Russian summer cottages) and have a tour of one of the oldest and most privileged monastery of Russia. Sergiev-Posad (former Zagorsk) is, incidentally, often used as a location for costume films.

Sergius of Radonezh
Born Barfolomei Kirillovich in 1314, St. Sergius of Radonezh came from a once-wealthy family and lived with his parents until their deaths in 1334. He was tonsured a monk three years later and was ordained a priest. In 1340, he established the monastery of the Holy Trinity, one of forty which he founded. He created several monastery schools and taught farmers better methods of farming. He refused the patriarchate of Moscow in 1378. Two years later, he urged Prince/St. Dimitri Donskoi to fight the Tatars, whom Donskoi defeated at Kulikovo. Sergius died in 1392.

Saint Sergius of Radonezh
Of all Russian saints, Saint Sergius is perhaps the most inaccessible and mysterious. His life was so simple, so transparent that one can only observe it: he loved God from his childhood with simple and undivided love and throughout his life he was simple with an ever growing simplicity. This is true to such an extent that in the ultimate analysis the more one brings one's eyes to bear upon him the less one feels that there is anything one can say about him. More than any other Russian saint, he seems the most distant and developed in the most profound contemplative silence. Yet, he is surprisingly close to us. He is close to us because, standing before God as he does with his heart and his soul whole and undivided, he prays for all of us, and from time to time we feel the full force of God's grace coming to us in return for his prayers.
Other info about the Monastery. http://www.firebirdvideos.com/beautifulrussia/sergiev.htm
http://sangha.net/messengers/sergiy.htm

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