"Russian New Jerusalem" Top 5 Page for this destination Istra by Kuznetsov_Sergey

Istra Travel Guide: 68 reviews and 193 photos

Istra - The Voskresenskiy (Resurrection) Cathedral

"Voskresensk on Istra in Russia is well-known, And as New Jerusalem it is honor" the great Russian poet Gavriil Derzhgavin wrote in the XVIIIth century.

Voskresensk is the old name of a little town near Moscow. It carried such a name till 1917. Then it was renamed with the name of Istra.

There were over 40 churches in borders of the modern Istra-district up to 1917. They filled with a peal all the territory. There was no corner where ringing of church bells did not reach, reached more quickly then advanced mass media...

A lot of temples were destroyed in revolutionary fury. Other names appeared on a map of the district. Temples which saved through revolution and atheistic orgy of the 1920-1930 would be lost in military years. In November-December of 1941 a lot of church constructions, belltowers became observation posts and shelters. Tens temples were wiped out during WWII. From more than 40 temples in area today are opened about ten.

Istra - Ancient writings at a monastery wall

The history of Istra-district is a part of the big history of Russia, a part of its heart. Perhaps, there is not present in the territory of this area of the plot of land which has been not noted by history. Each epoch has left the trace, the cultural layer which fertility in many respects depends on our attitude to the past. The Istra-ground is not only unique on the beauty landscapes inspired Chekhov, Levitan and Chaikovsky on creation of ingenious products.

There is no simply a landscape, it is always filled with sounds of the past - that by footfall of Lithuanian cavalery - the Russian prince Olgerd who broked in 1368 an army of the Moscow nobility there.

Iastra - Cathedral - Holy Sepulcher Chapel

We can almost hear clangs of tracks of the German tanks stopped in 1941 by the Siberian army of the Russian general Beloborodov.
Tragical pages have been entered in history of an architectural ensemble and a museum in the first months of the Great Domestic War (WWII).

In December of 1941, during fights near Moscow, sappers of a division "Reich" blew up "New Jerusalem". The Voskresenskiy (Resurrection) Cathedral, a fencing with a church, towers were fully destroyed. Refectory chambers suffered. Almost the whole museum exposition and the most part of museum collections were lost at explosions and fires.

Intro Updated Jan 24, 2008
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Reviews (30)

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Comments (18)

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hunterV Aug 16, 2008 at 3:09 AM

Hello, Sergey! New Jerusalem is a must in Russia I think!
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LoriPori Dec 24, 2007 at 4:14 AM

Amazing architecture and wonderful history. Very enjoyable page Sergey.
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traveldave Aug 30, 2007 at 6:48 AM

This would be a wonderful place to visit, especially since I love the beautiful old Russian architecture.
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JLBG Jun 9, 2007 at 9:55 PM

This is an amazing place and you have built a great page with a lot of information! Thanks for sharing!
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mvtouring Feb 19, 2007 at 11:50 PM

The Cathedral is just magnificent. I love those onion domes ;-)
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etfromnc Jan 22, 2007 at 6:47 AM

Thanks for the history. Religious history is of great interest to me. Is there a translation, or special significance, to the name "Istra"?
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Karolina01 Jan 22, 2007 at 6:28 AM

A wonderful page about Istra. There is a reagon called Istra in Croatia, as well. Greetings.
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lmkluque Jan 20, 2007 at 10:00 AM

You've presented Istra with a great focus on it's history that I enjoyed very much Sergey!! Thanks!!
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TheWanderingCamel Jan 20, 2007 at 3:20 AM

An extraordinary story, just one chapter of the history of the Third Rome. What wonders there are to discover in Russia! leyle
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ChristinaNest Nov 21, 2006 at 11:33 PM

Great page on New Jerusalem! so much history and tragedy there...