Undoubtedly, the most important sight of Sergiev Posad - the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, which gave rise to the city, is a symbol of Russian Orthodoxy. Throughout its existence the monastery was the most important spiritual and cultural center. Now there are more than 50 buildings on the territory of the monastery, and it's not likely to be examined thoroughly at once.

To the laurel you can get through several gates, the main of them - the Saints, with the gate church of the Nativity of John the Baptist (17th c). Also to the main structures of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra are:

• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin (16th c). This is the largest building of the entire ensemble, a monument to the capture and annexation of Kazan and Astrakhan. Since the end of the 17th century. the cathedral becomes the burial vault of Moscow's metropolitans. The temple is open for visits during the morning and evening service. Closed - from 11.30 to 16.30.
• Church in honor of the Descent of St. Spirit on the Apostles (15th c). To the north wall of the temple in the middle of the 17th century. was built a chapel on the grave of the famous writer and philosopher Maxim Grek.
• Trinity Cathedral (15th c.). The most ancient monument of the monastery, it was placed in 1422-1423. on the site of a wooden church erected over the grave of Sergius of Radonezh. This is one of the few surviving buildings of early Moscow white-stone architecture. Inside the temple was painted by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherniy, but, unfortunately, the murals created by them were not preserved until our time.
• Nikon's Church (16th c). The church is built on the burial site of St. Nikon, the disciple and assistant of Sergius of Radonezh. Later, a so-called Serapion tent was attached to it, in which the Saint was buried. Serapion of Novgorod,
• Metropolitan's Chambers (17th c). Now the patriarch's quarters are located here.
• Refectory Chamber (17th c.). Previously, there was a large refectory for ceremonial receptions and a small refectory for the monastery brothers' lunches.
• Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Refectory Church) (18th c.)
• Church in honor of the apparition of the Most Holy Theotokos (18th c.). The church was attached to the Refectory Church. As the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh tells, he, along with his cell-attendant, the Monk Mikhey, received the vision of the Virgin with the two apostles and received from them a promise of the prosperity of the monastery after his death. It was in honor of this event that a temple was built, in the common people called Mikheevsky. Now the relics of St. Mikhey,
• "The Royal Chambers" (17th c). Peace where the king and his entourage stayed. Now the building belongs to the Theological Academy.
• Smolensk church (18th c). The temple was erected on the site of the monastery's cook in memory of the miracle that happened. The psalmist, suffering from the desiccation of his hands, was healed during the prayer by the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God, which adorned the facade of the cathedral. After the construction of the temple, the miracle-working icon was placed in the iconostasis

View of the Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra

Mikheevskaya church, Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Assumption Fountain, Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Assumption Cathedral, Trinity-Sergius Lavra