The Old Yaroslavl Spassky (Saviour) Monastery

In the Central District, which is the oldest part of Yaroslavl, there is an old monastery that was founded in the 12th century. The whole monastery is surrounded by ancient walls built 400 years ago. You can still go up and walk around up on the wall top. Inside many of the monastery building are several different museums. We saw all kinds of icons, weaponry, clothing, books, paintings, mounts of animals, and even children's toys. It is amazing how once you are inside of the monastery walls all the noisy sounds of the city outside are gone. It is like stepping back in time. So here are a few pictures of a place from another time.

(There are no pictures from inside the museum because you have to pay extra to take them and we were not sure how or where to pay for that extra)


"Tom out front of the monastery"


"A corner of the monastery wall."


This is part of the main church of the monastery. It is the oldest building left in Yaroslavl(per a Russian facts sheet). It is called "The Saviour Transfiguration Cathedral" and is almost 500 years old with the foundation being 800 years old. Today, inside there is several museum displays. One of which includes many ancient, rare books. Tom and I really enjoyed looking at all the beautiful, huge books and thinking how precious they were many hundred of years ago because each one was hand written.


"Some bells outside the church"


This is inside another small section museum. It was a children's museum. You can see Gideon cranking the machine so Ellie can see old still pictures move inside.


Here were some Russian household pieces that date about 150 years


Last but not least here is Ellie. This is how she explored much of the monastery.....from the recline of her stroller.