Russian Travel Guide

Russian orthodox sacred sites of the Bryansk oblast

The history of Bryansk Oblast’s old cities is one of both military glory and bravery. These lands have witnessed many battles and its heroes played an important role in the formation of the Russian State. Despite the eventful life the Bryansk region has lived, many impressive examples of wooden architecture have been preserved. These cathedrals, monasteries and hundreds of other architectural monuments have withstood the test of time. In recent years dozens of monasteries and cathedrals have been restored. With this growing attention and care being directed toward these historic constructions, attention from religious pilgrims has also grown. Join RTG TV host Olga Degtyareva on her visit to some of the beautiful holy sites in Bryansk’s old cities. 

Коллекция Russian Travel Guide. Природа. Республика Карелия

Father Yevgeny — mission to the edge of the Earth

Some might dismiss the four rocky islands in the northern Pacific Ocean known as the Commander Archipelago to be a far-off land forgotten by God himself. They would be quite mistaken. There the joyful sound of church bells ringing carries on for miles and the onion dome of Russia's most eastern Orthodox church shines. On one of these islands, the country's first prayer of the day is led by a young priest by the name of Evgeniy Tsukalo, a graduate of the Moscow Seminary who chose the remote island on the edge of the country as his first place of service. Being new to the island is no easy feat — it's difficult to adapt to living in such a natural environment and to such isolation. This is a perfect place for a church as living under such conditions seems impossible without faith. Father Evgeniy was given a difficult mission: Not to simply adapt to island life, but to change it — to teac...