Now on air
08:00
Smolny cathedral
Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg is a masterpiece of world architecture due to its picturesque beauty, expressive composition and exterior decoration. Thanks to its fluid, literally melting shape the construction creates the impression that the church is hovering over the ground. Every day hundreds of people visit Smolny to witness architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli’s great work. Tourists are often even lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a ceremonial religious procession of Orthodox believers. RTG’s new programme explores the history of the cathedral’s construction, what happened to Rastrelli and why the famed architect decided not to build a bell tower, which would have been the tallest building in the city.
Journey to the Historic Sites of Astrakhan Oblast
Astrakhan Oblast is a great crossroads of civilizations. It was once a great road for nomads, and during its century-old history many peoples and tribes have resettled in the city - once a village – located on the delta of the Volga River. RTG TV host Rumiya Niyazova familiarized herself with the area’s rich cultural and historical heritage and walked along the same path as the inhabitants of the steppes once did.
Now on air
08:00
Journey to the Historic Sites of Astrakhan Oblast
Valaam monastery in winter
A winter day at the Valaam Monastery may seem the same as all the rest, but compared to the unhurried life filled with daily duties led by the monks, these winter days are not boring at all. For centuries the Valaam Monastery has preserved the traditions of Russian monasticism and has served and continues to serve as a religious lighthouse that every year attracts thousands of people to the far-off islands in Lake Ladoga. Over its long history, monks have been forced to leave the monastery multiple times, but time after time they have returned and monastic life at Valaam continued. This is what happened at the end of the 20-th century during the fall of the Soviet Union. Nowadays the Valaam Monastery is once again known as one of Russia’s spiritual centres.
Now on air
08:15