The belfry in the Saint Sergiy Lavra, Russia OOOO, here is SO MANY MISTAKES! but i can't understand it(((( My previous story was about eldest building in the Lavra and now i want to tell about the highest one. At the begining of the XVII century Tzar Peter the Great forbade the construcion frome stone in Russia to collect all resources to creation the new capital - Saint Petersburg. The desicion of belfry's construction was taken after lifting the ban. The architecture project had been approved in 1740, but the construction began in 1741 because of architecture's arguing about place. The construction was carried out very slowly for building could became stronger. two years later only two layers was ready and architector was changed. The new architector - Uhtomskiy - very changed the project, the belfry should became higher and more decorated in barocco fashion of that period. The belfry was ready in 1770, in thirty years after beginning. It's hight was 88 meters and it was the highest belfry in Russian in that time. But how could exists belfry without bells? So to creation it the manufactor was found in nearest. The most famous Russian artisans worked there- father and son Michurin, who had made a famous Tzar-bell which could be seen in Moscow Kremlin. The biggest bell for belfry, who named was Tzar too, was been casted 4 years. It's weight was 66,5 tonns and its ringing could been heard even in Mytischy - it's a small town in 50 kilometers souther. The belfry had more than 40 bells altogether and it's ringing was considered the best in Russia. Three bells was been connected with clock. The biggest part of bells was destroyed in 1930. They had been thrown from belfry and had been remelted, 17 one's was survived only. The big bells sounded again just 10 years ago. And in 2005 the new Tzar-bell was been casted and wad been picked up. It's even bigger then ancient one's, it's weight is 72 tonns. But the belfry has only 23 bells nowtime, it's almost twice less before revolution.

The Trinity Cathedral The most ancient building in the monastery is the Trinity Cathedral. It was built in 1422 by serbian monks who find a sanctuary here after battle at Kosovo field between serbian and osmanian armies. Church was construct in the place of first wooden church, that had was been built by Saint Sergiy Radonejskiy almost 100 years earlier. Every day hundreds of faithful pilgrims visit the cathedral to bow to relics of Saint. And another sanctity is the icon of Saint Trinity painting by Andrey Rublyov - famous russian iconographer. It's curious, but there are not original icon in church, just two copies. One of them was made before restavration from darkened by time and frequent renovation original, and second - after when juicy and bright colour of icon was cleared. Imho, church's architecure and Rublev's painting reflect that in this time Russia became not only independent and strong state nation but our art reached a new level not copied bysantine sample only.

Town from childhood - Sergiev Posad, Russia Almost seven century of russian history with all of it's dramatic and sometimes tragic events are encased in the walls of Trinity Saint Sergiy Lavra (Monastery). Today it is the center of Russian Ortodox church and, may be, the most popular monastery in Russian. The Trinity Cathedral, the Assumption Cathedral, the Tzar's Palace, the belfry - all this gems of russian architecure admiration for this day. The Lavra now houses the theological school of russian orthodox church, their academy and seminary, the monastery and museum. First wooden church was built in 1337 by Saint Sergiy Radonejskiy in the dense forest. It was period of tatar-mongolian yoke and Sergiy became not only the monk, but authoritative adviser for russian princes (knyaz?), some of them prefer to fight to each over, but not mongolian khan. So he played a very important role in preparation to first grand victory of russian army against Golden Horde in 1380 on Kulikovo field. So at that time our monastery was one of the most important center of Russian consolidation. And this role it played again almost three hundred years later. I'll tell it later, because my english is terrible and now here is too many letters:)