One of the most amazing experiences I've had so far on the
trip has been our visit to the Alexander Svirsky Monastery. Being welcomed into
this foreign place to see what is held so sacred to these people was an honor I
have yet to deserve. The frescos were bright and masterfully done, and there
were so many that I didn't have enough time to photograph all of them. They covered every inch of the walls and ceiling. The experience was surreal,
especially when we got to hear a choir of four sing in the monastery. It was probably
the most culturally immersive moment of my life. It was so beautiful and I was so happy to be there
that I had tears in my eyes.
Afterwards our guide took us for a tour of the monastery and
shared its history with us, and we were allowed to take a small amount of holy
sand from a sacred location. Our guide explained to us that when the Holy
Trinity appeared to Alexander Svirsky and instructed him to establish the
monastery, the wings of the Trinity touched the ground there, giving it special
healing qualities. I thought it was extremely generous of them to allow
outsiders to take freely of it, and I felt it exemplified the great generosity
of all the Russians I’ve met so far.
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