In Russia palomnichiskie tour never made for visits to the same object. For example, to visit the monastery Optin deserts can include either a tour of the Golden Ring, and a tour, an exciting north-western regions.

Optin Monastery is located in the deserts of the Kaluga region, near the town Kozelsk. Here, for many years lived in "the Desert", which worked wonders.

On the North-West Russia the most visited pilgrim places - it Valaam Monastery on Lake Ladoga and Kizhi in Karelia, which are famous for the Church of the Transfiguration - with 22 domes, all made of wood, chopped without a single nail.

Also worth visiting in the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevskiy nunnery in the village Diveevo in Nizhny Novgorod region.

Prices for tours: 1000 UAH. in those places closest to the Ukraine, or along the Golden Ring, and up to 1500-2000 USD. - If you go on tour in North-West or far into Russia, closer to the Urals. Sleep, usually either in monasteries or in the bus on the road.

temples, pilgrims suggest that you visit shrines and Ukrainian: Pochaevskaya Laurus, Laurus Sviatohirsk, Gustynsky monastery, Klimentovsky monastery.

Klimentovsky monastery

According to legend, Klimentovsky monastery was founded almost 2,000 years ago in the I century Roman bishop Clement. But the more plausible it seems the other day - about IX-X century. and the other founders - the Byzantine monks. The most unusual in Klimentovskaya monastery are three ancient cave temple, carved into the monolithic rock. Outside, they give out a window-shaped arches. At the top of the rock, inside which the hidden premises of temples, are the ruins of the Genoese fortress Kalamita. There should rise for the sake of good form at the coast.

visit the monastery and walk in the surrounding area will take on the strength of 2-3 hours. Therefore, once the select in Inkerman, visit Inkerman Winery (tour and tasting - 70-90 UAH .).

Actually, for the sake Klimentovskaya monastery to go to the Crimea is not necessary. Better to arrive a few days in Sevastopol (hence in Inkerman walking bus and boat): to walk around the city, go to the Chersonese, where, incidentally, is the St. Vladimir Cathedral (he recalls the fact that here was christened Prince Vladimir). If time permits, visit the St George Monastery, situated on the sea on a steep bank on Cape Fiolent. They visit the cave temple, and a stairway of 891 steps go down to Jasper Beach.

Pochaevskaya Laurus

By Pochayevskaya Laurels can be reached in two ways: a road or railroad tracks (train).

bus: from the railway station in Kiev bus to Pochayev - 80 UAH. From the bus station - bus to Kremenets (110 UAH).. Minibus "Kremenets-Pochaev" - 4-6 grn.

train: ? 49 "Kiev-Truskavets" (K. - 110 UAH. Sq. - 76 UAH.) to Ternopil. Minibus "Ternopil, Kremenets' (70 km) - 24 UAH. Before Radivilova: train ? 013 "Kharkiv-Uzhgorod" and ? 273 Kyiv-Iv.-Fr. "(K. - 94 UAH. Sq. - 66 UAH.). Minibus "Radivilov-Kremenets' (11-12 grn.)

Gostepriemnaya in Laurels: Place in the common rooms - 20 UAH.; 2-bedded. room - 170 UAH. From a private room - 100 UAH. Mini-Hotel (2-berth. Room, bathroom) - 150. Kremenets: a mini-hotel (2-berth. Standard) - 140-160.

Tour Price - 320 UAH. (Travel by bus from Kiev and back (2 nights), sightseeing tour, lunch)

Pochaevskaya Monastery, built on Kremenetskys spurs, which are visible for tens of kilometers. Here, in early April, very cool. Therefore, we recommend you dress warm (take a warm jacket). After all, have a long time even on the street.

icons in Pochaev about 300, many of the miraculous. To just stand around all the icons you need to come for two weeks.

most famous icon of the same Pochayev is the image of Our Lady Pochayevskaya. Even on ordinary days for her to endure hour queue. At Easter, he must endure long hours on watch. The same can be said about another shrine Pochayevskaya laurels - the relics of St. Job. After several hours of waiting for a moment you go down through a narrow passage in the crowded and stuffy cave where sat St. Job.

Around Pochayev:

• source St. Anne. Kremenets From there you can take a shuttle bus (it's 12 km, in with. Onyshkivtsi). It is believed that the water in the pool, built on the source, miraculous. For example, a cure for infertility.
• Kremenets - here you can walk along a couple of old quarters and climb the mountain Bona with the heap of stones on the site of the castle.
• with. Pidkamina - there is a Dominican convent and a huge stone "fingers" sticking out from the top of the hill on the outskirts of the village.

Sviatohirsk laurel

By Svyatogorsk monastery can be reached in two ways:

• bus Kiev-Lugansk (135 UAH). to Slavic, and from Slavic to Svyatogorsk (35 km) - bus (10 USD.)
• train ? 88 Kyiv-Lugansk "(K. - 107 UAH. Sq. - 161 UAH.) train ? 20, Kyiv-Lugansk" (K. - 149 UAH. Sq. - 98 UAH.) The train ? 120 "Kiev-Donetsk (c. - 105 UAH. Sq. - 71 UAH.) to Svyatogorsk. From Slavic to Svyatogorsk - bus.

Accommodations are available in the territory of the monastery - free, 5 grn. for linen.

But sleep comfortably in Sviatogorsk no problem: every year in the city there are one or two new hotels.

• Private Hotel 3 * - 220
• Rest - 200
• Hotel Level 4 * - 750

Cost of the tour - from 400 UAH. (Travel-Svyatogorsk Kiev-Kiev, overnight at the monastery and 2 nights in a bus, excursions).

Monastery is a true "monastic city", which, apart from the cathedrals and churches, there are residential buildings, the refectory, deanery, a hotel for pilgrims, which can pay 5 USD. in bed, sleep anyone.

In Sviatogorsk particularly venerated Sviatohirsk icon of Virgin Mary: I think that it can cure diseases (Be prepared to stand in long lines to attach to it).

If you have your car, you can try to have time to visit or the neighboring Artemovsky factory of sparkling wines or Soledar (a tour of the salt-mines must be pre-ordered, it is conducted within a clear time limit - at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00, and if you collected a group of 10 man).

Laura detail, it is best to do it with a guide. But consider that during the Easter holidays tours of the monastery is not implemented. Bolster their forces may be at the foot of the monastery: here are a few shops and cafes.

Gustynsky monastery

If you decide to go here under their own power, then have time to visit only in the monastery. It takes a couple of hours. And not to be sorry that you have chosen for 150 km from Kiev for one object, you can even arrange a tour of the Way Station Travel - Pryluka.

itself can get a bus "Kiev Priluki (150 km) - 35 UAH. from Priluki to Hustynia (10 km). It is best to leave the ring road near the pointer to the monastery, and catch a ride.

monastery in the name of the Holy Trinity Gustynsky important miracle-working icons Gustynskoy and Smolensk Mother of God and the presence of the relics of a host of saints. For those who like the same history and architecture of the monastery is interesting as an example of Ukrainian Baroque ?VI?-?VI?? centuries.

If you take a one-day excursions to the temples of Chernigov. Then, still be able to get into yet another famous monastery - Mgarsky, pp. Sokyryntsi (40 km from Hustynia). This place is known by gardening ensemble and the palace in the Empire style (owned by the public figure and philanthropist G. Galaganov). Now the walls of the palace runs a small museum dedicated Kobzar Bender Veresaev.

cost of 1-day tour - 200 UAH. (Price includes travel by bus on the route Kiev-Gustynsky monastery Sokyryntsi-Kiev, guide)