View from Monastery Bridge in Nikolskoe Cemetery of Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 18, 2016
Smolny monastery from bell tower of Smolny Cathedral. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 6, 2009
Krestovozdvizhensky Cathedral, view from Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, July 3, 2003
Pskov-Pechory Monastery of the caves, view from a tourist overlook. Pechory, Russia, August 8, 2004
Nicholas (Nikolsky) monastery and a boat ramp in Staraya Ladoga. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Interior of Saint Trinity Cathedral (Troitsky Sobor) of Aleksandro-Nevskaya Lavra monastery. Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 3, 2006
Rectory(?) of Voskresensky Novodeviciy Monastery at Moskovskiy Prospekt. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 26, 2010
Canyon of Wadi Kelt River and Saint George Monastery, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
Uspensky Monastery in Tikhvin, Leningrad Region. Russia, December 25, 2005
In Saint George Monastery, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
View of a monastery from Nikolskoe Cemetery of Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 25, 2011
Coptic Monastery (Deir al-Sultan rooftop monastery) in Old City of Jerusalem. The Middle East, December 13, 2002.
Interior of a church of Pskov-Pechory Monastery. Pechory, Russia, August 8, 2004
A cathedral in Uspensky Monastery at evening. Tikhvin, Leningrad Region, Russia, December 25, 2005
View of Saviour Transfiguration Cathedral of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
In Saint George Monastery in a canyon of Wadi Kelt River, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
A popular tourist place of monastery of Sergiev Posad (former Zagorsk) near Moscow. Russia, August 29, 2001
In Church of Saint George. Yuriev Monastery, near Novgorod, Russia, July 3, 2003
Uspensky Monastery, view from bell tower. Tikhvin, Leningrad Region, Russia, December 25, 2005
Domed hall of Saviour Transfiguration Cathedral of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
Smol nyi Cathedral and monastery at a bend of Neva River in Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 21, 1999.
Krestovozdvizhensky Cathedral in Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, May 7, 2016
Interior of Church of Saint George in Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, August 1, 2001
A wooden Uspensky Chapel on the main avenue of Konevets Monastery, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Saint George Monastery in a canyon of Wadi Kelt River, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
View of Herzl, Kefar Giladi, Haqishon Street from Migdal Shalom tower. Russian Orthodox monastery is on horizon. Tel Aviv, the Middle East, October 25, 2001
View of Uspeniya Monastery from Tikhvinka River in Tikhvin. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 6, 2016
Deir al-Sultan rooftop monastery (Coptic Monastery) in Old City of Jerusalem. The Middle East, December 13, 2002.
Interior of Saint George Cathedral, Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, December 18, 2005
Interior of Saviour Transfiguration Cathedral of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
A road to Saint George Monastery and an aqueduct in a canyon of Wadi Kelt River, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
Coptic Monastery in Old City of Jerusalem. The Middle East, September 19, 2000
Krestovozdvizhensky Cathedral, view from entrance of Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, July 3, 2003
Interior of Kazanskaya Church of Voskresenskiy Novodevichiy Monastery. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 26, 2010
Saint George Monastery in a canyon of Wadi Kelt River, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
Canyon of Wadi Kelt River and Saint George Monastery, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
Entrance of Alexandr Nevsky Monastery (Aleksandro-Nevskaya Lavra) at evening. Saint Petersburg, Russia, January 3, 2006
A dome of Church of Saint George. Yuriev Monastery, near Novgorod, Russia, July 3, 2003
A dome decorated with paintings of events in the lives of Elijah and Elisha in Carmelite Monastery. Haifa, the Middle East, January 28, 2001
Ruins of Trinity Church and bell tower in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Entrance of Saviour Transfiguration Cathedral of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
Cathedral Kazanskaya Church of Voskresenskiy Novodevichiy Monastery. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 26, 2010
Krestovozdvizhensky Cathedral, view from Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, July 3, 2003
Church of Saint George in Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, May 7, 2016
Krestovozdvizhensky Cathedral of Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, December 18, 2005
Cathedral of Archangel Michael Monastery for women. Odessa, Ukraine, July 2, 2009
A trail along Wadi Kelt to Saint George Monastery. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
Trapeznaya (dining facility) in Uspensky Monastery in Old Ladoga (Staraya Ladoga). Leningrad Region, Russia, July 18, 2004
Some yellow flowers in Lower Garden of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
Old stone stairs in John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
View from a road to Spaso-Troitsky Skit (remote part of a monastery) in village of Senno, near Tikhvin, Leningrad Region. Russia, December 25, 2005
Church bells and a cathedral of Uspensky Monastery, view from bell tower. Tikhvin, Leningrad Region, Russia, December 25, 2005
Courtyard of Archangel Michael Monastery for women. Odessa, Ukraine, July 2, 2009
Ruins of a Byzantine church(?) behind Saint Anne monastery. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Decaying fresco in Trinity Church in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
A cave of Elijah and Elisha in Carmelite Monastery. Haifa, the Middle East, January 28, 2001
A gate of Uspensky Monastery from the side of Volkhov River in Old Ladoga (Staraya Ladoga). Leningrad Region, Russia, July 18, 2004
Church of Saint George in Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, June 15, 2009
A top dome of a cathedral of monastery of Sergiev Posad (former Zagorsk) near Moscow. Russia, August 29, 2001
Saint Sergius Monastery (Troitse-Sergieva Pustyn) in Strelna. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 3, 2004
View of Zagorsk city from walls of monastery of Sergiev Posad near Moscow. Russia, August 29, 2001
Brown cat near the entrance of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
Kazansky skit (small and secluded monastery) in Konevets Island at Ladozhskoe Lake north from Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 8, 2002
Ein Kerem from one of its monasteries. Jerusalem, the Middle East, August 15, 2002
Orthodox Fiodorovskiy Monastery in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo, residence of Russian tsars). Near Sankt Petersburg, Russia, October 22, 2000
Dorms(?) and Krestovozdvizhensky Cathedral, view from Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, August 1, 2001
Church models in Museum of Orthodox Christian Odessa in Archangel Michael Monastery for women. Odessa, Ukraine, July 2, 2009
Red priest cap in Museum of Orthodox Christian Odessa in Archangel Michael Monastery for women. Odessa, Ukraine, July 2, 2009
Tombs near Monastery Bridge in Nikolskoe Cemetery of Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Saint Petersburg, Russia, October 18, 2016
An Orthodox church remotely seen from entrance of Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, August 1, 2001
Excavations of a Byzantine church(?) behind Saint Anne monastery. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Model of Odesskiy Spaso Preobrazhenskiy Sobor church in Museum of Orthodox Christian Odessa in Archangel Michael Monastery for women. Odessa, Ukraine, July 2, 2009
Wooden log gate and boardwalk of sacred radon spring of Alexander Svirsky in Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Bluish water of sacred radon spring of Alexander Svirsky in Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Interior of a recently open church of Uspensky(?) monastery in Old (Staraya) Ladoga. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Excursion of ruins of Trinity church in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
View of Mar Elyas Orthodox Monastery at an entrance to Bethlehem from a hotel room at Ramat Rachel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, September 21, 2000
Entrance to a church in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
Ruins of monk s barracks in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Interior of Cathedral of Blagoveshcheniya Presviatoy Bogoroditsy in Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Latrun, view from the Trappist Monastery. The Middle East, December 30, 2000
Interior of Christian Orthodox church in Konevets Monastery, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Blessing(?) of a believer tourist in Blagoveshcheniya Church in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Cathedral in Sovkhoz Ilyich, now Vvedeno Oyatsky Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Altar of Cathedral of Blagoveshcheniya Presviatoy Bogoroditsy in Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Black cat near Uspeniya Monastery in Tikhvin. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 6, 2016
Saint George Monastery in a canyon of Wadi Kelt River, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
A monastery of Sergiev Posad (former Zagorsk) near Moscow. Russia, August 29, 2001
A church and a bell tower in Uspensky Monastery. Tikhvin, Leningrad Region, Russia, December 25, 2005
Gate of sacred radon spring of Alexander Svirsky in Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
The church tower in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
An olive garden in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
Main entrance to Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
Trapeznaya (church dining room) in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Cathedrals near Pogostskoe Lake in Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Back road of Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Tomb of a monk in cemetery of Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Monastery of the Cross, view from a bus window. Jerusalem, the Middle East, March 1, 2001
A cemetery of nuns in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
Interior of an Orthodox church in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
A cathedral in Antoniev-Dymsky Monastery near Tikhvin, Leningrad Region. Russia, December 25, 2005
Side view of Konevets Monastery, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
A dome of Trinity(?) Church in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Stone arch at main entrance of John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
A park opposite to Laborer s House of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
A monastery in Gorodishche Area (Yaroslav Courtyard). Novgorod, Russia, August 1, 2001
Stones of a Skit (secluded monastery) in Konevets Island, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Tour of a Trinity church in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Spassky Cathedral of Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. Staraya Russa, Russia, August 11, 2007
Entrance of Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Cat guarding monk s dorms of John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
Golden marguerite (yellow chamomile, Anthemis tinctoria, Russian name Pupavka) at the slope near the entrance of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
View from Saint George Monastery, near Jericho. The Middle East, April 15, 2000
Cave Cathedral of Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Old stone crosses in cemetery of Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Monastery of the Cross at evening. Jerusalem, the Middle East, December 30, 2000
A church in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
Cat sitting on ruins in John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
An abandoned building in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
Tourists crowding at the gate, under the fortress walls of Pskov-Pechory Monastery. Pechory, Russia, August 8, 2004
Blizhniye ("nearby") caves of Pskov-Pechory Monastery. Pechory, Russia, August 8, 2004
A cook in trapeznaya (church dining room) in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
A church window in Uspensky Monastery. Tikhvin, Leningrad Region, Russia, December 25, 2005
Monastery in Staraya Ladoga. East from Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 4, 2011
Cave Cathedral of Kievo Pechory Saints in Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Troitsky chapel bathhouse on Pogostskoe Lake in Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Barracks for monks in Zelenets Monastery. Leningrad Region, Russia, July 23, 2005
Saint George Cathedral in Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, December 18, 2005
Museum of Orthodox Christian Odessa in Archangel Michael Monastery for women. Odessa, Ukraine, July 2, 2009
Vvedeno Oyatsky Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Monk s dorms of John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
Dorms for monks in Antoniev-Dymsky Monastery near Tikhvin, Leningrad Region. Russia, December 25, 2005
Dymskoe Lake near Antoniev-Dymsky Monastery near Tikhvin, Leningrad Region. Believers used to swim three times around the cross (either clockwise or counter clockwise) to be healed. Russia, December 25, 2005
A chicken farm in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
Interior of a cathedral of Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Restricted access area "Only for Blessed" in Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, June 15, 2009
Entrance of John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
Old cemetery of Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Wooden cross in cemetery of Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Cemetery of John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
Apple garden and a John Bogoslov Cathedral in John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
Monk s cow visiting church hardware shop Ikonnaya Lavka in Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Pokrovsky Cathedral in Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Back entrance of Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Old Metal Lathe Enterprise 1330 in John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
A gate of Christian Orthodox monastery on Konevets Island in Ladozhskoe Lake, with a Russian inscription "Close gate firmly. Draught destroys the painting". North from Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 8, 2002
A monk of Konevets Monastery landing in Vladimirskaya Bukhta (harbor) of Ladoga Lake, 80 miles north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Interior of a cathedral of Vvedeno Oyatsky Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Backyard of monk s dorms of John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
Entrance of monk s dorms of John-Bogoslov Cheremenetskiy Monastery, south from Luga. Leningrad Region, Russia, August 24, 2013
Monk s cat in Holy Annunciation Nikandrova Desert Monastery (Svyato-Blagoveshchenskaya Nikandrova Pustyn). Pskov Region, Russia, September 8, 2013
Warning "Entrance only for Blessed" in a forest at Main Monastery Road, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
Cemetery of Valaam Monastery, on Valaam Island. Karelia Region, Russia, July 23, 2015
