Moscow, Russia

So, like, ages ago I said I'd do the Moscow post.  Then I got a job.  But more on that later.  Or next week.  Or something.

So anyway.  Week three of our trip saw us hopping another overnight train to Kiev, where most folks either went back to the community center for the day, or went to the souvenir shopping district.  I did neither - being pretty sick by that point, I stayed back and slept on the couch all day.  That evening, we hopped ANOTHER overnight train to - you got it - Russia.  We were woken up around midnight by the Ukrainian border patrol, and then around 2AM by the Russian folk (all normal, we were warned ahead of time).  It was interesting that we heard my name over a walky talky after our agent had walked off with our passports...  Guess they were discussing the Americans on the train.

Me on the Moscow River, a short walk from the seminary (which is where we stayed).  This was taken our last night in Moscow, around 10:00PM (later?).  June 13, so not quite the solstice.  Not that we saw them, but you could totally get a sense for the famed white nights.  More proof that I was there!

On day one, after getting off the train, the Bishop spoke to us some.  His offices are in the seminary, though because Russia recognizes him as the leader of a "cult" or "sect" (AKA, not Russian Orthodox), he is only allowed to be in Russia for 180 days per year.  I believe his jurisdiction also covers Finland, and perhaps some other areas.

I missed day two because of the blasted illness (which is finally mostly gone!).  Most of the group went to the Monastery of St. Sergiev Posad outside of Moscow - another Orthodox compound that I'm sorry to have missed.  The third day, I was by no means healthier, but the schedule was to go to the Kremlin and Red Square, and I refused to miss that.  I can't begin to pick one or two photos, so here's a short series, and you should REALLY check out my photostream for the rest!

Tsar's Gardens

Tsar's Gardens and Stables

Tsarina's Palace

Canon of Ivan the Terrible

One of several old Orthodox Cathedrals inside the Kremlin walls

Red Square and Lenin's Tomb (sadly, blocked off that day)

These next several are St. Basil's Cathedral

We also went to the circus that night, but not quite anything so impressive as you might imagine from a "Moscow Circus."  Saturday saw shopping in an outdoor market, where I found wonderful hand-crafted goods for not much money.  Sunday brought a visit to a United Methodist Church, pastored by the District Superintendent of SE Moscow.  Since this is a rather image heavy post, I'll leave those to the photostream.

The church on Sunday hosted us for morning worship, a cookout (turned eat-in due to rain), and a Bible Study, followed by a time of prayerful sharing.  This time was a fitting in to our trip, as the next day we caught our plane home - in fact, we left Moscow at 1:00PM on the 14th and arrived in Boston at 6:30PM on the 14th.  You've got to love time zones!