Now on air
08:30
Cycling in South Russia
Bike riding is a popular choice for people to spend their free time in a healthy and active way. Southern Russia is known for its numerous bike trails that suit all types of cyclists: From tourists that have nowhere to rush to professionals in training. Denis Golovko investigated several types of cycling: Extreme downhill cycling in the Caucasian Foothills, highway racing in the steppes and BMX trick riding, which he tried himself. This RTG TV host found out how a mountain biking trail is laid out, took a weekend bike-riding tour of the Lagonack highland and completed his cycling adventure with a relaxing stroll around the streets of Krasnodar, the region’s central city.
A View from On High. The Church Architecture of Ancient Rus
A church is like a model of a perfectly harmonious, resplendent world. And those who built them tried to inspire all visitors to sense the presence of God in it. Russia’s earliest stone churches were created by Byzantine architects in the 10th and 11th centuries. They were followed by many more, designed by Russian architects who interpreted the Byzantine canons in their own way. The exterior appearance of churches is strongly influenced by political and economic changes in society. Novgorod offers a good example of this. As soon as Novgorod completed its transition from a principality to a democratically ruled republic, its majestic cathedrals gave way to small single-dome churches built by merchant communities and neighbourhood residents. Studying the story of church architecture is akin to reading the pages of a book on Russian history. During precarious historic events, suc...
Now on air
08:30
A View from On High. The Church Architecture of Ancient Rus
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
08:15