Russia - Kolomenskoye

From: Tatiana - Postcrossing - RU-122063

Where: Church of St John the Baptist, located in Kolomenskoye,  South-East Moscow.

Subject: Church of St John the Baptist is a five-tented church located across the ravine from Kolomenskoye, tentatively dated to 1547. Actually, the church's origin is enshrouded in mystery. Some say the masters were Italians, others assign it to Postnik Yakovlev, reputedly the author of Saint Basil's Cathedral on the Red Square. 

Some 2.500 years ago a settlement appeared on the site of the village of Dyakovo, making it one of the oldest inhabited places in the Moscow region.  There are no existing records regarding the date of construction of the Church of the Beheading of St.John the Baptist, but researchers believe that the church may have been built in connection with the coronation of Ivan the Terrible in 1547, or for the expected birth of his son in 1554.  It is a tower-like church without internal supports, designed as a central octagon, flanked by four smaller octagonal chapels. The central tower, measured without its cross, is 34.5 metres high.

The Cathedral of St. Basil on Moscow’s Red Square, which was constructed in 1555-1561, comes closest architecturally to the Church of St.John. The similarity of structural, compositional and decorative elements suggests that both buildings may have been constructed by the same architects, known as Barma and Postnik.

To read more about this church and others buildings of Kolomenskoye check this site out.. Kolomenskoye.

Stamps:  I will look into it :)  Unless someone knows, then please comment :) 

Russia - St. Petersburg - Smolny Convent

Alyona from Russia sent me this great postcard of The Cathedral of the Smolny Convent. I love images of churches and I received three in the mail today! :)  Smolny is located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.  Construction on the complex begun as a Russian Orthodox monastery for nuns. It was built to house Elizabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, after she was disallowed succession to the throne, when she opted instead to become a nun. However, as soon as her Imperial predecessor, Ivan VI, was overthrown during a coup d'état carried out by the royal guards in 1741, Elizabeth decided against entering monastic life and accepted the offer of the Russian throne. However, work on the convent continued with royal patronage. The Cathedral is the centerpiece of the convent, built by Rastrelli between 1748 and 1764. Read more about it here: Smolny Convent

Stamps: The left one says "Republic of Dagestan. The dagger in sheath". The right one says: "Republic of Dagestan. Head ornament. End of 19 century".  Republic of Dagestan is situated in the North Caucasus mountains. It is the southernmost part of Russia.  Check out Wiki for more history on the Dagestan culture and history. :) 

Russia - Moscow - The Kremlin at Night

Here is the 3rd, very beautiful card from Maxim in Moscow. :)   All 9 photos are of The Moscow Kremlin.  It is also sometimes referred to as simply "The Kremlin".  It is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River (to the south), Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square (to the east) and the Alexander Garden (to the west). It is the best known of kremlins (Russian citadels) and includes four palaces, four cathedrals and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers. The complex serves as the official residence of the President of Russia.

The name The Kremlin is often used as a metonym to refer to the government of the Soviet Union (1922–1991) and its highest members (such as general secretaries, premiers, presidents, ministers, and commissars), in the same way the name Whitehall refers to the British government, or White House refers to the executive branch of the government of the United States. It is still used in reference to the government of the Russian Federation. "Kremlinology" referred to the study of Soviet policies.

To read more about its history, size, and dates click here :) The Moscow Kremlin. 

Russia - The Novodevichy Convent

Here is a second card from Maxim in Moscow. I absolutely love it!  I love the snow, churches, old buildings :) The Novodevichy Convent , also known as Bogoroditse-Smolensky Monastery, is probably the best-known cloister of Moscow. Its name, sometimes translated as the New Maidens' Monastery, was devised to differ from an ancient maidens' convent in the Moscow Kremlin. Unlike other Moscow cloisters, it has remained virtually intact since the 17th century. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasili III in commemoration of the conquest of Smolensk in 1514. It was built as a fortress at a curve of the Moskva River and became an important part of the southern defensive belt of the capital, which had already included a number of other monasteries.

Read more facts about it on Wiki. :)  The Novodevichy Convent 

Russia - The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Maxim sent me three very vibrant cards from his city of Moscow.  I just love them :) Thanks! 

This is the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour located in Moscow, Russia. The church is on the bank of the Moskva River, a few blocks west of the Kremlin. It is the tallest Eastern Orthodox church.  

When Napoleon retreated from Moscow, Tsar Alexander I signed a manifest, 25 December 1812, declaring his intention to build a Cathedral in honor of Christ the Saviour "to signify Our gratitude to Divine Providence for saving Russia from the doom that overshadowed Her" and as a memorial to the sacrifices of the Russian people.

Read more about it on Wiki :)   Cathedral of Christ the Saviour