The individual excursion to Sviajsk Island and to the Raifa Monastery of the Mother of God ( with the dinner at the ski complex “Kazan”)
Raifa monastery of the Mother of God has a centuries-old history. It should thank for its name the monastery on Sinay semi-island, founded on the place of camp of Jews on the exit with Moisey from Egypt to Israel. Raifa Monastery is situated on the bank of the lake, in the circle of venerable pines. It is unique in terms of architecture, too. Raifa belongs to such a rare monasteries, that are restored practically completely. Its ensemble is considered to be the masterpiece of architecture. The main shrine of the monastery - is Georgian Mother of God Icon - is famous as miracle-working and it grants cure to sufferers.
Nowadays Raifa monastery is the centre of visitation of pilgrims not only from Russia, but the whole world. Many faithful and the representatives of clergy consider exactly Raifa monastery the real New Jerusalem, summoned to become not only the centre of eastern orthodoxy, but the orthodox world of all Russia.
The excursion includes visiting of the Holy Trinity cathedral, the Church of the Georgian Mother of God Icon, going to the lake.
The Island-town of Sviajsk is situated 30 km from Kazan in the picturesque mouth of Sviyaga river on the tall hill that has an area 62 hectares. It is the first orthodox town in the Middle Povolzhie region, founded in 1551 by the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. For many centuries Sviajsk has been the All-Russian orthodox shrine. But the destiny turned in such a way, that after the Russian Revolution in 1917 this saint place became the place of the prisoners' isolation, the branch of GULAG (Main Departement of camps for political prisoners). The mental hospital was also placed in the monastery. Only in 1960 Sviajsk was announced the monument of history and culture of Russia. In 1997 the Dormition Cathedral was given to the competence of Kazan orthodox eparchy, summoned to revive the ancient town and raise it from the ruins.
The excursion includes visiting of the Church of the Saint Trinity, Sergiy Radonezhskiy the miracle-worker Church, the Cathedral of Our lady of all Sorrowful, Chapel, the Cathedral Dormition of Virgin Mary, the Church of Saint Konstantin and Helen.
The length - 6 hours
A tour can be conducted in a foreign language - English, Italian, German, French, Spanish and Turkish if required.
