Russian orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene on slope of Mount of Olives, view from Derekh Ha Ofel road. Jerusalem, the Middle East, December 13, 2002.
Orthodox Church in Kingisepp. Leningrad Region, Russia, February 9, 2013
1st Krasnoarmeyskaya Street and Trinity orthodox cathedral at Izmailovsky Prospect. Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 24, 1999.
Yoel(?) Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church at 40 Nevsky Prospect. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 1, 2003
Interior of orthodox church "Soroka muchenikov Sevastiyskih"(?) near a parking place. Pechory, Russia, August 8, 2004
Russian orthodox church of Mary Magdalene on a slope of Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, October 31, 2002
Russian Orthodox church of Peter and Paul in Siverskaya, 45 miles south from Saint Petersburg. Russia, July 6, 2003
Wooden Orthodox Christian church in Sapiornoe (Tserkov Konevskoy Ikony Bozhiey Materi, built in 1994). North from Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 23, 2015
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
HaRav Zonenfeld Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Russian orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene on slope of Mount of Olives from Derekh Ha Ofel Road. Jerusalem, the Middle East, October 31, 2002
An alley in Mea Shearim Jewish orthodox quarter. Jerusalem, the Middle East, November 22, 2001
Western entrance to Mea Shearim Street (Jewish orthodox quarter). Jerusalem, the Middle East, November 22, 2001
Interior of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church at 40 Nevsky Prospekt. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 15, 2005
Yoel Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Orthodox Fiodorovskiy Cathedral in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo, residence of Russian tsars). Near Sankt Petersburg, Russia, October 22, 2000
Habeshet(?) Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Eastern entrance to Mea Shearim Street (Jewish orthodox quarter). Jerusalem, the Middle East, November 22, 2001
Old Orthodox churches in Kolomenskoe museum. Moscow, Russia, August 30, 2001
Near Yoel Street and Mea Shearim in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Greek orthodox church Sviato Troitsky Sobor (Saint Trinity Cathedral), interior. Odessa, Ukraine, July 2, 2009
Haim Ozer(?) Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Orthodox cathedrals inside Ivan Gorod Fortress. Leningrad Region, Russia, February 9, 2013
Peter and Paul orthodox church on Krasnaya Street. Siverskaya south from Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 20, 2015
A cat at the entrance of wooden Orthodox Christian church in Sapiornoe. North from Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 23, 2015
In Bet Yisrael Jewish orthodox neighborhood. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Near Yoel Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Recently renovated orthodox Christian Church Saint Vladimir Cathedral on Lenina Prospekt Street in Kronstadt. Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 4, 2010
Interior of Vladimir Cathedral (orthodox church) at 9A Lenina Street. Kronstadt, part of Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 28, 2013
Yoel Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
A yard of a Christian Orthodox Rozhdestvensky Cathedral in Konevets Island in Ladozhskoe Lake, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Orthodox Church inside Ivan Gorod Fortress. Leningrad Region, Russia, February 9, 2013
Yoel Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Tourist excursion of Christian Orthodox church in Konevets Island in Ladozhskoe Lake, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Orthodox Fiodorovskiy Monastery in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo, residence of Russian tsars). Near Sankt Petersburg, Russia, October 22, 2000
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
Orthodox neighborhood of Jerusalem from a window of a bus No. 1 going on Me a She arim Street. The Middle East, December 13, 2002.
A dome of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church at 40 Nevsky Prospekt. Saint Petersburg, Russia, December 15, 2005
An Orthodox church remotely seen from entrance of Yuriev Monastery. Novgorod, Russia, August 1, 2001
An Orthodox cathedral in Gorodishche Area (Yaroslav Courtyard). Novgorod, Russia, August 1, 2001
An Orthodox church in Gorodishche Area (Yaroslav Courtyard). Novgorod, Russia, August 1, 2001
Model of Odesskiy Spaso Preobrazhenskiy Sobor church in Museum of Orthodox Christian Odessa in Archangel Michael Monastery for women. Odessa, Ukraine, July 2, 2009
Orthodox Church in Ivan Gorod Fortress. Leningrad Region, Russia, February 9, 2013
Haim Ozer(?) Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
A group of Orthodox Jews(?) crossing Sadovaya(?) Street. Saint Petersburg, Russia, August 6, 2004
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
An old Orthodox cathedral in Kolomenskoe neighborhood. 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
Interior of Christian Orthodox church in Konevets Monastery, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Recently built wooden Orthodox Christian church of Boris and Gleb in Agalatovo. North from Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 29, 2011
Cathedral in Sovkhoz Ilyich, now Vvedeno Oyatsky Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Interior of Archangel Cathedral in Kremlin (Arkhangelsky sobor of Russian Orthodox church). Moscow, Russia, July 3, 2011
A yard of a Christian Orthodox church in Konevets Island in Ladozhskoe Lake, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
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
A monument to V. I. Lenin in Pushkin (former Tsarskoe Selo), suburb of Saint Petersburg. This place was originally occupied by an Orthodox Cathedral (a commemorative wooden cross was erected recently). Russia, April 8, 1999.
An Orthodox church at Karl Marx (now Bolshoi Sampsonievskiy) Prospect in Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 21, 1999.
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
Interior of an Orthodox church in Tur Malka Russian monastery on Mount of Olives. Jerusalem, the Middle East, July 12, 2001
Firing squad executing a group of orthodox priests for political reasons on a wall icon "Novomucheniki Petrogradskiye" (Petrograd martyrs) in Kazanskaya Church in Novodevichiy Cathedral. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 26, 2010
- orthodox Easter in a church on Throckmorton Street 4/26/97 (Dallas, April 9 - 29, 1997)
An Orthodox cathedral in Gorodishche Area. Novgorod, Russia, August 1, 2001
Entrance of Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Near Yoel Street in orthodox neighborhood of Beit Israel. Jerusalem, the Middle East, June 20, 2002
Cave Cathedral of Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
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
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
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
- orthodox Easter in a church on Throckmorton Street 4/26/97 (Dallas, April 9 - 29, 1997)
Necropolis of Alexander Nevsky Lavra (Lazarevskoe Cemetery). A road pavement patched by a headstone from a tomb of an Orthodox clergyman (died in 1816). Saint Petersburg, Russia, April 7, 1999.
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
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
Wall painting in a Christian Orthodox church in Konevets Island in Ladozhskoe Lake, north from Saint Petersburg. Russia, September 8, 2002
Orthodox Christian like performer at Byzantine chant demonstration at Brazos Valley Worldfest at downtown Bryan. Texas, November 22, 2008
Interior of a cathedral of Pokrovo Tervenichi Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Byzantine tomb of the Hellenic Orthodox Community in Saint Louis Cemetery No. 3. New Orleans, Louisiana, August 6, 2006
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
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
Wooden Orthodox Christian church in Sapiornoe (Tserkov Konevskoy Ikony Bozhiey Materi, built in 1994). North from Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 29, 2011
Interior of a cathedral of Vvedeno Oyatsky Women s Christian Orthodox Monastery. Area of Lodeynoe Pole, Leningrad Region, Russia, August 4, 2012
Old monument of Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) together with Orthodox Church of St. Peter Afonsky and Dutchess Olga at Military Base No. 28287 in Morye, west from Saint Petersburg. Russia, May 13, 2021
The initial "temporary" stage of burial, showing rows of fresh earthen mounds topped with simple wooden Orthodox crosses and small identification plaques. Despite the lack of permanent monuments, the graves are densely decorated with vibrant artificial flowers and a profusion of flags--including the Russian tricolor, a Soviet hammer-and-sickle banner, and the flag of Uzbekistan--highlighting the diverse origins and ideological affiliations of the recently deceased. The raw, uneven ground and the sheer number of identical crosses extending into the background visually confirm the high volume of recent casualties processed at the site. "Alley of Heroes" at Cemetery of the Victims of January 9, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 4, 2025
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 "Face" Facade: The large face is a giant icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands (Spas Nerukotvorny). Below it, the red banner reads "Holy Royal Martyrs, Pray to God for Us", referring to the canonized Romanov family. Community: This church is known for its "Cossack" guard and a very distinct, staunchly monarchist and patriotic atmosphere that differs from typical Russian Orthodox parishes. Saint Petersburg. Russia, October 9, 2025
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
This panoramic view from the tower of St. Nicholas Church looks south-west towards Toompea Hill, capturing the dense layering of Tallinn s medieval and religious history. The striking structure with black onion domes is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, an Orthodox cathedral built in 1900 in the Russian Revival style. Its imposing presence on Toompea Hill contrasts sharply with the surrounding red-tiled roofs, symbolizing the complex history of the Russian era in Estonia. In the foreground and middle distance, you can see key parts of the city s defensive network: The square tower with the tall red roof in the foreground is the Maiden Tower, a 14th-century defensive structure that now houses a cafe. Just behind and slightly to the left of the Maiden Tower (partially obscured) is the massive Kiek in de Ko"k artillery tower, whose Low German name ("Peep into the Kitchen") referred to the guards ability to see into nearby homes. Connective sections of the medieval city wall run between these towers, marking the boundary between the lower town and the upper citadel. The green space visible near the base of the wall is the Danish King s Garden (Taani kuninga aed). According to legend, this is where the Danish flag (Dannebrog) fell from the sky during a battle in 1219, turning the tide in favor of the Danes. The garden sits on the slope directly facing St. Nicholas Church. Estonia, October 16, 2025
This perspective from the St. Nicholas Church tower looks south-west towards Toompea Hill, highlighting the architectural contrast between the medieval fortifications and the 19th-century Russian influence. The dominant feature is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a grand Russian Orthodox church built between 1894 and 1900. Its distinctive black onion domes and Russian Revival style stand out vividly against the red-tiled roofs of the Old Town. This location on Toompea Hill was chosen symbolically to face the governor s palace, representing the power of the Russian Empire at the time. In the foreground, you can see part of the city s defensive wall system. The limestone wall connecting the Maiden Tower to the other fortifications (like the Kiek in de Ko"k, just out of frame to the left) marks the historic boundary between the lower town and the upper citadel of Toompea. Estonia, October 16, 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
