View of Kremlin from Moscow River embankment. Moscow, Russia, August 30, 2001
Rising clouds from a window of a plane from Houston to Moscow, Russia, June 19, 2010
Tower like clouds from a window of a plane from Houston to Moscow, Russia, June 19, 2010
Sky and clouds from a window of a plane from Houston to Moscow, Russia, June 19, 2010
Tombs of Russian tsars in Archangel Cathedral of Kremlin. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Arched vestibule of Novoslobodskaya Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Sun behind clouds from a window of a plane from Houston to Moscow, Russia, June 19, 2010
Large vestibule of Komsomolskaya Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
A popular tourist place of monastery of Sergiev Posad (former Zagorsk) near Moscow. Russia, August 29, 2001
Passenger sitting under illustration of first Russian revolution (1905) in Krasnopresnenskaya Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
A dome of Cathedral of Christ the savior and one of ten Stalin victory skyscrapers behind it. Moscow, Russia, August 30, 2001
Bronze statue of a Soviet peasant (Kolkhoznitsa) with paultry in Metro Ploshchad Revolutsii (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Stained glass panel in Novoslobodskaya Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Passengers sitting in Prospect Mira Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Bronze monument of guerrilla soldiers on subway station (Metro) Partizanskaya. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
View of Vasiliy Blazhennyi (?) cathedral in Kremlin from Moscow River embankment. Kremlin was closed at Thursday. Moscow, Russia, August 30, 2001
Old Orthodox churches in Kolomenskoe museum. Moscow, Russia, August 30, 2001
Mosaic with an edited title "Leninskaya Iskra" (originally, "Stalinskaya(?) Iskra") in Metro Kievskaya subway station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Passenger sitting in Elektrozavodskaya Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Traditional Russian crafts Matrioshki (nestle dolls) at overlook of Vorobyovy Gory. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Arched subway station (Metro) Ploshchad Revolutsii. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Passenger sitting under revolutionary mosaic in Metro Kievskaya subway station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
St. Basil s Cathedral (Pokrovsky Sobor) on Red Square near Kremlin. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
A top dome of a cathedral of monastery of Sergiev Posad (former Zagorsk) near Moscow. Russia, August 29, 2001
View of a cathedral in Kremlin from Moscow River embankment. Kremlin was closed at Thursday. Moscow, Russia, August 30, 2001
Stalin style mosaic in Metro Kievskaya subway station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
View of Zagorsk city from walls of monastery of Sergiev Posad near Moscow. Russia, August 29, 2001
Decoration "Glory to Seamen" in Taganskaya Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Ural jewels, a gift for a museum at 10-th anniversary of Great October Socialist Revolution, in one of Kremlin Churches. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Fresco with figures of workers of Soviet Ukraine decorating Kievskaya Metro (subway) station of Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya Line. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Passenger sitting under a patriotic decoration in Taganskaya Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
An old Orthodox cathedral in Kolomenskoe neighborhood. Moscow, Russia, August 30, 2001
Souvenir stand at overlook of Vorobyovy Gory. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Illustration of first Russian revolution (1905) in Krasnopresnenskaya Metro (subway) station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
A road in a cemetery in Kolomenskoe museum. Moscow, Russia, August 30, 2001
An Orthodox church in Gornensky Convent for women (the Russian Orthodox Mission of Moscow Patriarchate in Jerusalem). Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem). The Middle East, August 15, 2002
A monastery of Sergiev Posad (former Zagorsk) near Moscow. Russia, August 29, 2001
Interior of Archangel Cathedral in Kremlin (Arkhangelsky sobor of Russian Orthodox church). Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
A cemetery in Gornensky Convent for women (the Russian Orthodox Mission of Moscow Patriarchate in Jerusalem). Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem), the Middle East, December 30, 2000
View of a former Arab village Ein Kerem, a suburb of Jerusalem captured in 1948 war, from a pro-Moscow Gornensky Convent for women. The Middle East, December 30, 2000
Mosaic titled "Friendship of Russian and Ukraine collective farmers" in Metro Kievskaya subway station. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Bronze monument of Soviet actor E. P. Leonov at a corner of Mosfilmovskaya and Pyrieva streets. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
Graves of Russian nuns in Gornensky Convent for women (the Russian Orthodox Mission of Moscow Patriarchate in Jerusalem). Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem), the Middle East, December 30, 2000
Moscow Russia float of krewe of Morpheus at Mardi Gras parade on Saint Charles Avenue. New Orleans, Louisiana, February 24, 2006
Obelisk and a monument of St. George slaying the dragon by Zurab Tsereteli on Poklonnaya Gora. Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
An Orthodox church with ghostly figures of prayers (because of long exposure) at a pro-Moscow Gornensky Convent for women. Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem), the Middle East, December 30, 2000
A monument of Archimandrite Leonid Sentsov (1863(?) - 1918), a head of Russian mission in Jerusalem, at a pro-Moscow Gornensky Convent for women. Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem), the Middle East, December 30, 2000
An Orthodox church in Gornensky Convent for women (the Russian Orthodox Mission of Moscow Patriarchate in Jerusalem). Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem), the Middle East, December 30, 2000
A church yard in Gornensky Convent for women (the Russian Orthodox Mission of Moscow Patriarchate in Jerusalem). Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem), the Middle East, December 30, 2000
A monument of Archimandrite Antonin Kapustin (1869(?) - 1894) who founded in 1871 the Russian mission in Jerusalem, at a pro-Moscow Gornensky Convent for women. Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem), the Middle East, December 30, 2000
A monument of Archimandrite Porfiriy Uspenskiy at a pro-Moscow Gornensky Convent for women. Ein Kerem (western Jerusalem), the Middle East, December 30, 2000
Historical Moscow Cinema (1936, by L. Hidekel) on Gaza Street. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 21, 2016
Figures on historical Moscow Cinema on Gaza Street. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 21, 2016
Decorations of historical Moscow Cinema on Gaza Street. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 21, 2016
Various kinds of chanterelle mushrooms from Moscow region on mushroom show in Botanic Gardens of Komarov Botanical Institute. Saint Petersburg, Russia, September 30, 2017
Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God near the train station in Sestroretsk. The huge icon of Jesus and the rocket models is part of a distinct chapel and memorial complex dedicated to the Royal Martyrs (Tsar Nicholas II and his family) and the spiritual protection of Russia. The Rockets: The models of space rockets (one clearly marked "VOSTOK") are part of a unique, patriotic, and somewhat eclectic display. The local spiritual community, led by Father Gavriil (Gabriel), is known for combining intense Orthodox devotion with Soviet/Russian patriotic symbols, viewing the country s history (including the space age) through a spiritual lens. This particular "installation" links the idea of "spiritual ascent" with the physical ascent of space exploration, a quirky but sincere local expression of faith. The "Clock Tower": The transparent model tower with clocks is a stylized representation of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. The Kremlin is often associated with state power, and its inclusion here reinforces the church s focus on the spiritual destiny of the Russian state. This is one of the most idiosyncratic religious sites in the St. Petersburg region--a place where Tsarist martyrdom, Orthodox mysticism, and Soviet space achievements are all visually blended together. Russia, October 9, 2025
Northern end of Vene Street (Vene ta"nav) at the intersection with Olevima"gi and Bremeni ka"ik. The red brick building on the immediate left is located at Vene 28. It is a historic structure that was originally built in 1912 as a residential building and briefly housed the Estonian Provisional Government in 1918. It stands out with its industrial-style red brick facade contrasting with the medieval stone walls nearby. The large limestone wall with the archway on the far left is part of the city s defensive fortifications, specifically near the Bremen Tower (Bremeni torn). The archway leads into Bremen Passage (Bremeni ka"ik), a short, atmospheric walkway that connects Vene Street to Uus Street through the city wall. The tower itself, a 15th-century horseshoe-shaped defensive structure, is located just behind this wall. In the background, at the end of the street, you can see the yellow tower and facade of the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas (Nikolai kirik) at Vene 24. Designed by architect Luigi Rusca and built between 1820-1827, this Neoclassical church serves a congregation under the Moscow Patriarchate and is known for its valuable iconostasis. It sits on the site of a much older church that served Novgorod merchants in the Middle Ages. Tallinn, Estonia, October 16, 2025
Old Passenger Terminal of Tallinn Airport. Built between 1945 and 1954 (opened in 1955), this building is a classic example of Stalinist architecture. Its symmetrical facade, rusticated ground floor, and the distinctive control tower with a viewing gallery reflect the monumental style favored in the Soviet Union during that period. An earlier Art Deco/Functionalist terminal was designed in 1938 by the architect Arthur Ju"rvetson, but construction was halted by World War II. The post-war redesign incorporated the Soviet aesthetic. This building served as the main passenger terminal until 1980, when a new, larger terminal (the current one) was built for the Moscow Olympics sailing regatta held in Tallinn. Today, this historic building has been repurposed for VIP services and administrative offices. It stands separately from the modern glass-and-steel terminal but remains an integral part of the airport s history, visible to passengers taxiing on the runway. View from a window of an airplane from Tallinn to Helsinki. Estonia, October 17, 2025
