Tsoi is alive...

Conception Monastery

The Great Victory! Thank you!

ANIMAL KINGDOM

2014 IS YET TO COME!

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Greenland from the view of height of the boeing flight...

Stoleshnikov lane

Savvinskoye town church

Savvinskoey town church which was built in 1907 as an apartment house of the Savvino- Storozhevsky Monastery is a very unusual building. Nowadays it's hidden behind the houses of Stalin's epoch. But earlier it was located on the one of the most magnificent Moscow streets - Tverskaya Street.

It was built in the neo-Russian style. It's architector Ivan Kuznetsov combined details form ancient Russian architecture, modern and barocco in the building. Interesting to note, this is one of the few Moscow edifices with a closed court, which is popular in Saint-Petesburg.

For about 110 years of its existence Savvinskoye town church was a witness of many important events. There was a company of Khanzhonkov, Russian first cinema entrepreneur, editorial staff of a magazine 'Useful Reading'. There lived many famous and respected people. But years passed by, the government had changed and this house with a such 'church background' had to take a back seat. On 4th November, 1939 this building with a 24 thousands of tonnes weight was moved for about 50 metres back without its inhabitants' departure.

(The photo is taken from http://architip.livejournal.com/29798.html)

To reach this house nowadays you have to look through the arch of the building № 6, Tverskaya Street.

I was going to the metro station when I felt that someone stars at me...

Bell tower on the Sofiyskaya Embankment is one of my favourite buildings in Moscow.

Catholic Cathedral

Catholic Cathedral on the Malaya Gruzinskaya Street was found in 1899. It was built in Neo-Gothic style.

Wonderful concerts of organ music are held in the Cathedral.

Tsaritsyno Museum.

Historical Motherland

I'd like to tell you about the place where I was born.

This town is situated next to Saratov. It's called Balakovo. It's said that Balakovo was found in 1762, when Catherine II published a decree which suggested old believers to return from Poland  to the Russian Empire and to settle down in the area of Volga.

Old believers obeyd and poured into the banks of the Volga river. There they established various towns, including Balakovo. This town was destined to become Motherland of Chapaev, Kovalenko, Lebedev, Maidanov and Mamin, inventor of the first russian wheeled tractor.

As every town Balakovo had its rise. Its geografical location promoted the town as a harbour. It is divided by Voga into two parts. And there was a period of decline. Nowadays Balakovo is a very poor town and its cititzens stay in a very bad condition. The only two things which stayed unaltered are steppes and Volga.

(In this old believers' church all people are christened following Nikon's rules.)

Pyatigorsk

Pyatigorsk is a city of unspeakable beauty. Firstly, it was a sanatorium, there are still a lot of hospitals.

It is situated between mountains Mashuk, Beshtau and Elbrus. A very interesting legend deals with these three mountains. I reccomend to read it.

Lermontov's House

I am coming out as a lone wayfarer; 
In the mist the way is spangled afar;    
The night is quiet; the wilderness is thorough,  
And a star is talking with a star.                                                 
                             
In the skies it’s wonderful and festive,      
The Earth is sleeping in the bluish shine … 
Why am I uneasy and depressive?
Wait for something, curse the life of mine?  
  
No, I don’t expect a happy lifetime, 
Nor am feeling pity for the past;
Just I seek some peace and long for a calm prime, 
Just I wish to get a sleep at last.      

Still I’d like the life to run its courses,
I would rather feel an eternal bliss:
In the sleep I would retain life forces   
For my breast would always freely breathe.    

I would like to listen constant singing            
Of a loving voice expressing glee,
And a darkish oak ever greening 
Let be rustling bended over me. 

Dombay Mountains

The train of poetry in Mocow underground lines devoted to Vladimir Mayakovskiy. Great poems, interesting facts from his biography, posters and old photos - amazing. People in the train are smiling - not very often situation in the morning))- some of them are taking photos and I'm not an exclusion!)



I'd like to show you a wonderful fragment from Mayakovskiy's poem, which impressed me. But, unfortunately, it isn't translated into English, so I'll try to do it myself:

To love is
            to dart off
                       sheet, cut
                                with sleepless nights,
Being jealous of
                      Copernicus,
Thinking that he,
              not men
                     from outside,
Tends to be
               your
                       enemy