Istra Travel Guide

 
by lotharscheer
 
  •   Istra
    by lotharscheer
  •   Istra
    by lotharscheer
  •   Transportation
    by globetrott
  •   Transportation
    by globetrott
  •   Transportation
    by lotharscheer
 

Explore Istra

Things to Do  

the underground churches of Constantine and Helen

the underground churches of Constantine and Helen, Istra

 globetrott Says:  Before you will get to the Resurrection cathedral you will first see the underground churches of the saints equal-to-apostles Constantine and Helen. You will step down under the ground and get into 2 small chapels that are beautifully decorated but unfortunately also almost... 

walk the monastery walls

walk the monastery walls, Istra

 globetrott Says:  You will have to pay a small extra entrance-fee in order to be allowed to step up to the monastery-walls, but I am sure it is worth it : There is a small exhibition about the construction of the monastery in one of the towers and in another one there are monks singing,that... 

inside of the Holy Sepulchre church

inside of the Holy Sepulchre church, Istra

 globetrott Says:  Inside of the Holy Sepulchre church you will see many things that are usually not to be found in russian orthodox churches like the large flat stone in my main photograph, that was taken from Jerusalem to this monastery: on this stone Jesus was walking and believers usually... 

the church of the Assumption of Holy Mary

the church of the Assumption of Holy Mary, Istra

 globetrott Says:  You will find the church of the Assumption of the Most-Holy Mother of God in a side-part of the resurretion cathedral and it was decorated with ornate stucco-works and glazed tiles during the 17th century. The churches of New Jerusalem are the only ones in all of Russia that... 

The side-chapel of Beheading of John the Baptist

The side-chapel of Beheading of John the Baptist, Istra

 globetrott Says:  This is the ornate altar of the side-chapel of the Beheading of John the Baptist, next to the entrance of the Resurrection cathedral. It is decorated with glazed tiles dating back to the middle of the 17th century and it is quite hard to find a moment there, when no... 

Tryokhsvyatskii bell

Tryokhsvyatskii bell, Istra

 globetrott Says:  Tryokhsvyatskii bell is the only remaining bell of the belfry of the Novojerusalem-monastery, that once had a clock and 15 bells but it was completely destroyed in WW II by german troops. You will see the portrait of three prelates on this bell : Grigory Bogoslov, John... 

The Calvary church

The Calvary church, Istra

 globetrott Says:  You will get to the Calvary church when stepping up to the 2nd floor of the resurrection cathedral and you will see there a cruzifiction dating back to the 17th century in the place of the execution. Some parts of this chapel are decorated with tiles in great colors and... 

Kuvukliya/chapel of the Holy Sepulchre

Kuvukliya/chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, Istra

 globetrott Says:  You will find the chapel of the Holy Sepulchre right under the large dome of the Resurrection Cathedral and it is a 1:1 copy of the real Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. You are able to step in through a really very low gate (see my 2nd picture) and will then get into a small... 

A church that looks like the Holy Sepulchre Church

A church that looks like the Holy Sepulchre Church, Istra

 globetrott Says:  Patriarch Nikon had the idea to build the main church of the monastery as an exact copy of the Jerusalem Holy Sepulchre Church. The size and layout of the church, including the Holy Sepulchre, Gogotha, and other parts were copied exatly as they were in Jerusalem of that... 

Transportation  

Bus from Novojerusalimskaja platform to Monastery

Bus from Novojerusalimskaja platform to  Monastery, Istra

 lotharscheer Says:  Right at the station is a little bus terminal, but walk to the mainstreet, to the right is a busstop and take the next bus comming (very frequent), if lucky you pay the old ticket lady, Globetrott mentioned 20 Rubel, but most buses use a electronic payment system, buy from... 

the busride is another adventure

the busride is another adventure, Istra

 globetrott Says:  The busride from the electritshka-station "Novojerusalimskaja" to the monastery is another adventure and we were lucky to have a bus waiting there not far from the station, so we did not need to walk these 25 minutes to the monastery gates.I really enjoyed this busride,... 

How to get to Istra from Moscow

How to get to Istra from Moscow, Istra

 globetrott Says:  There is a direct trainline from Moscow and "Electritshka" is the name of this electrified trainline. Sergey was waiting for me at the metrostation "Wojkowskaja", that is the 2nd last but one station at the northern end of the green metroline (Nr.2)From that metro-station... 

Local Customs  

the monks chorus

the monks chorus, Istra

 globetrott Says:  Two monks are waiting for their audiance in the 2nd floor of one of the towers close to the monastery-entrance and they will sing for you some of their church-songs and are waiting for donations and people who are interesting in buying their CDs.Hear their singing in my... 

Place for christening and religious ablution

Place for christening and religious ablution, Istra

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  In days of orthodox religious holidays hundred pilgrims come to the monastery and go on a coast of Istra. This site was chosen for its resemblance to the Holy Land. The River Istra represents the River Jordan, and the buildings represent the 'sacral space' or holy places of... 

Tourist Traps  

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Over-the-Gate Church of the Entry into Jerusalem

The entrance on the territory of the monastery represents an arch Over-the-Gate Church of the Entry into Jerusalem. On the second circle of the church there is a viewing platform. The entrance on fortifications and on a viewing platform is carried out under tickets in a museum. You may buy tickets can at an entrance in ticket offices.

As the ensemble includes the big variety of sights for survey people usually buy a pack of tickets in the total cost about 10 dollars. It is difficult to bypass all sights for one day. When you got sick and tired you discover that you have a lot of tickets which you didn't use!
It is better to devote to a monastery and museums two days. Next day your tickets are not valid! My advise - first day buy only half of a set of tickets...

Updated Jan 24, 2008

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 Museum Visits

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Off The Beaten Path  

the old Troydskaja churches

the old Troydskaja churches, Istra

 globetrott Says:  Troitskoye on Ustra is a small village, where lots of people from Moscow have their datchas, a beautiful and peaceful area next to the "river Jordan" and not far from the trainstation you will find an ancient wooden church, that is opened only 2 times each year for believers... 

the old farmhouse

the old farmhouse, Istra

 globetrott Says:  Outside of the monastery-walls and on the way to the windmill you will pass by an old farmhouse, built completely of wood and it is another museum with interesting interior, showing furniture, costumes and working-utensils of the 17th century.I also liked the covers of the... 

the wooden windmill

the wooden windmill, Istra

 globetrott Says:  There is also a wooden windmill near the monastery and it was interesting to get inside and take a look how it was working in the old days, as the biggest part of the mechanical structures are still there and you also will see a typical interior of such a mill-household.The... 

Favorites  

Istra,Voskresensk or New Jerusalem

Istra,Voskresensk or New Jerusalem, Istra

 globetrott Says:  Istra,Voskresensk or New Jerusalem, all of these 3 names are correct and also still used for this town by the local population, although Istra is what you will find on the official maps.Voskresensk was the name of the town before the communist-revolution of 1917 and New... 

New Jerusalem idea

New Jerusalem idea, Istra

 Kuznetsov_Sergey Says:  In the Bible, the New Jerusalem (also called the tabernacle of God, holy city, city of God, celestial city, and heavenly Jerusalem, as well as Jerusalem above and Zion), is a literal (or figurative, depending upon the writer's viewpoint) city that is a completely new... 

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Map of Istra