My friend, Prince Alexander Trubetskoy, once slipped me the writings of his grandfather, Prince Evgeny Trubetskoy — and man, did that light a fire in my head! This wasn’t just dry philosophy. This was a soul-stirring, heart-pounding dive into the mystical language of Russian sacred art. Trubetskoy wasn’t just any thinker. He was the first…
His secret? An album changed church architecture! Ever heard of an architect pumping out OVER A THOUSAND churches in mid-19th century Russia? Sounds nuts, right? How could one dude be that productive? Well, there was a secret sauce! Russia decided to streamline the whole church design game in the first half of the 19th century…
Imagine a church so crowded that candles melt from the heat, and people faint from the lack of air. This isn’t a scene from a novel; it’s a real account from the early 20th century in NYC. Father Alexander Hotovitzky described such conditions: “Imagine a hierarchical service in this small room, amidst such crowding. Only…
There’s a quiet corner in Darmstadt, Germany, where something truly unexpected rises from the landscape—the Russian Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene. With its golden onion dome catching the light and mosaics glowing like stained glass, it feels like a fragment of Russia, lovingly placed in the heart of Europe. Built in 1897–1899 for Tsar Nicholas…
Some places don’t just catch your eye — they catch your heart. Tucked into the quiet streets of Coaldale, Pennsylvania, St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church feels like a piece of the Old World dropped right into America’s coal country. Built in 1914, this gem is a beautiful marriage of faith, tradition, and some truly remarkable…
Ever think your construction project is dragging on forever? Try building a church in just one…. A few days ago, I had a chat with a client who’s planning to build a small chapel. His estimate? “Maybe a year… maybe two.” But back in the day, people built entire churches — not in one year,…
Hidden deep among the birches of Connecticut stands a little chapel — dreamed up, sketched out, and brought to life by some of Russia’s greatest minds. I first heard the story behind it from my good friend — the legendary Hollywood actor Peter von Berg. Peter didn’t just hear about Churaevka — he grew up…
Think you’ve seen every kind of Orthodox church? Think again. Some of them will stop you in your tracks — not because of golden domes or delicate frescoes, but because they look like something straight out of a medieval siege. Tucked away in the Belarusian village of Synkavichy, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel…
Did you know California’s first Orthodox church wasn’t a grand cathedral — but a humble wooden chapel? Not in San Francisco. Not in L.A. We’re talking Fort Ross, built by Russian promyshlenniki in the 1820s on the edge of the Pacific. No full-time priest served there, but in 1836, a legendary visitor arrived — Father…