Now on air
13:15
The View From Up On High. The Churches of Veliky Novgorod
It is better to die than to allow one’s gods to be insulted,” the people of Novgorod stated, resisting attempts to convert them from their pagan beliefs to Christianity. In the face of this opposition, Prince Vladimir’s envoys resorted to brute force. With fire and the sword. It was in this way that Novgorod was brought round to the Christian faith in the 10th century. But a new strength was born out of that fire. Christianity united the different tribes and groups. Two centuries later, the majority of the churches in this medieval city were part of a vast monastery. Every community in Novgorod had its own church – the inhabitants of each neighborhood in the city, even streets, merchants working in the different trades, aristocratic families. The church signified heavenly patronage and affirmed the existence of the community within the sacral space of the city. The history and architectu...
A View from Above: The Golden Age of Yaroslavl
One can start a business, buy and sell goods, and amass wealth. But these are earthly affairs. What will happen to the soul when the time comes to leave his world and pass on to the next? This was one of the most pressing questions for those living in the 17th century. Building a church was one way to atone for many earthly sins, including avarice. Yaroslavl’s merchants were deeply religious men, who understood that they were, despite their earthly riches, still answerable to God. They used their money to build churches of exquisite beauty. The 17th century was a special time for Yaroslavl, known to historians as its Golden Age. Watch RTG TV’s A View from on High: Yaroslavl’s Golden Age to learn about the architecture and curious features of the city’s churches.
Now on air
13:30
A View from Above: The Golden Age of Yaroslavl
Spring fishing in the lower reaches of the Volga
Spring is the season when the waters of the Volga River are at their highest. Is this a good time to visit the region to fish? RTG host Stanislav Salnikov heads off to the great river in May and finds that even when the waters are high you can get a good catch. The fishing for Volga predators – pike perch and Volga zander - from a boat, and even perch from the shore is a hit. The main thing is to use the right tackle.
Now on air
13:30