Клуб любителей английского языка

Although I can't call myself a very religious person, several times a year I feel an urge to get away from everything and feel closer to God. At such moments 300 km north in the morning and the same 300 km back in the evening does not seem a long way to go. We pack some snacks and primary necessities and start as early as we can in order to be back before bedtime.

The road is familiar. The first landmark is so called Russian Venice: a number of houses standing by the edge of water. Then a city named Nizhny Tagil. Finally the cafe where we unalterably have dinner approaching which means we are near our destination. All along the way on both sides of the road there are woods. Sometimes we stop and get out of the car to stretch our legs and let our daughter  give vent to the accumulated energy. But after seeing a snake one day we don't go deep into the woods any more. 

At last Verkhoturye comes into sight. Going up the steps to the cathedral I feel like a child waking up on Christmas morning who can't be quite sure whether she has been good or bad throughout the year but hopes for the better. I concentrate on myself and follow the signs I get. I know that in one way or another inside the church I will get an answer to the question that worries me.

No matter how long we spend in the cathedral, on leaving all the family are in a changed mood. We feel purer and don't pay attention to minor tensions any more. Wishing to prolong that new mood we go to another church, several dozen kilometres away, which is situated in a very beautiful place by the river.

Behind the wooden church there is a huge cross standing in the middle of a meadow. Lovely, isn't it?

Here is the sight we get from the bank of the river:

Our last destination for the day is Merkushino. The local cathedral is the biggest among the three and the most unusual. Here is the side of it we see as we approach:

Here is another side:

The third side presents a gallery:

And the last side:

Having visited all the three cathedrals, we feel we have done what we have come for and it's time to go home. Until next time.