Kirillo-Belozerski Monastery on the Sheksna River
The Believers arrive!
We briefly visited this monastery when we were on a river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow a few years ago. We were taken from our ship by bus to the monastery, were given a guided tour and then taken back to the ship. For me this is not satisfying at all! I want time to explore on my own.
The gate at Kirillo Belozersky
When we entered the monastery gates, I felt a sense of history. How many thousands of Believers had entered those gates throughout the centuries with beseeching prayers in their hearts, or prayers of thanks for blessings received? Near us were some present day Believers, respectfully following their bearded priests who were robed in black. The group was mostly women and older women at that. I could sense their joy as they gazed upon these churches still standing triumphiantly after 50 years of communism. They followed their priest to a chapel near the river where they attended a special mass.
I left the tour guide who was explaining the history of the monastery with its ancient icons in order to take some photos. It isn’t easy to take much more than snapshots when you don’t know a place, but at least we had an overcast day so I didn’t have to worry about harsh light and dark shadow.
The monastery tower and cells for monks
And those churches with their onion domes weren’t easy to photograph either. I wanted something in the foreground. I wanted to capture the onion domes and yet be close enough to have the church itself included…I wanted those priests in my photos, so I added some to the photo ‘sketch’ below. I just can’t help myself!
Walking in the monastery gardens
I wish I could go back and try again, but that will never happen. This is all I’ll ever have.