Moscow

[Anthony]

I about to visit Moscow at short notice (to visit a friend who is seriously injured as a result of a bus crash, the subject of my recent prayer request). I would be grateful for any suggestions for Orthodox sites I should visit while I am there. Please don't be shy of stating the obvious - I am not particularly knowledgable about Moscow.

[Fr Raphael Vereshack]

Since one can tell a lot about the level of Orthodox life of a country by their bookstores I would suggest visiting the Sretensky Bookstore. It is close to Sretensky Monastery and is really an amazing place. But try to give yourself at least a good half-hour to hour to wander around in the place & browse. The bookstore of the Sergiev Posad podvorie church is also very good but a bit more difficult to find.

I would say that visiting almost any of the churches is a profitable experience. It's quite striking how compared to here in North America the churches are always open & prayed in at any hour of the day with people coming in and lighting candles even when there is not a service going on. Basically every church has a candle kiosk at the back where one can purchase candles, prayer books and even icons sometimes. It is also striking how many churches have scaffolding even within the main temple which is a sign of how renovation of the Church in general has really taken off.

God be with you and your friend in Moscow.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Eugene]

I would suggest Sretensky, Donskoy, Novodevichiy, Andronikov and Novospassky monasteries, but there are lots of other places.

[Olga]

While I have never been to Russia (pity!), I have recordings of the choirs of the Sretensky and Novospassky monasteries. Of all the recordings I have of Slavonic church music, I regard these two choirs as the finest. Don't miss the opportunity to hear them if you can.

[Anthony]

Thank you for your ideas and kind wishes. I will follow them up! Sretensky in particular sounds like a must.

Please keep Anna in your prayers, as she will be having medical treatment which will be critical for her future.

[Anthony]

Greetings from holy but frozen Moscow. I am glad to say that by your prayers (which incidentally were a source of strength to me in what has been a difficult week), we have had good news and Anna is expected to make a good recovery. I haven't had the chance to visit anywhere apart from the rebuilt Church of Christ the Saviour, where we went yesterday to give thanks. But I have been impressed by this city, and would like to visit it again in less stressful circumstances.

Anthony