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The custodians od Staraya Ladoga
According to legend, it was in the town of Staraya Ladoga that the history of the Russian State began. It was there that Prince Rurik, who led the first dynasty of Russian tsars, built his fortress. Nowadays Staraya Ladoga is a small village and museum-reserve outside of St. Petersburg. It is home to husband and wife Boris Vasilyev and Tatyana Kozmina, an art historian and an artist. In their own way this pair is working to preserve the rich history of this place, which is of key importance to Russia’s past. While Boris Grigorevich is working hard studying ancient frescoes from the 12th century, Tatyana Andreyevna is creating artwork of the 21st century. Her work is on display not only in exhibition halls and museums, but in the couple’s own home, which itself has become one of Staraya Ladoga’s sights to see.
The candle workshop of the Valaam monastery
It is almost impossible to imagine the Russian Orthodox Church without its simple, uneven candles. In the Church the candle is a voluntary donation a believer makes to the church as well as a symbol of their prayers. For centuries monasteries have kept the secret of how these wax sticks are made. The Valaam Monastery has its own traditions and is one of the most famous monasteries in North-western Russia. For the monks, working in the candlestick workshop represents monastic obedience and obligatory monastic work. Despite the seemingly simple technology used in this process, producing these church candles requires the monks to have a surprising degree of skill and experience.
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The candle workshop of the Valaam monastery
Extreme water tourism in the North Caucasus
The North Caucasus region is famous among tourists for its many water routes — some of which offer a leisurely, relaxing journey while others require professional skill and significant physical training. Discover the story of “Engaged to the Water” from professional rafters whose lives have been forever changed by these Caucasian rivers.
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