You’ll find out the history of Orthodox Simferopol and Crimean Diocese, the Saints whose names bear the city temples as well as the Orthodox Church Holidays. You’ll visit Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral, Holy Trinity Convent, where the relics of Saint Luke are kept {V.F.Voyno-Yasenetsky} who was a prominent theologian as well as a professor of medicine. Pilgrimage includes the Churches of Sts. Constantine & Helen, Three Saints, All Saints. You’ll also find out a lot about the Churches that had not survived, in particular St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which is under reconstruction at present.

During the trip you’ll hear the story about the Orthodox monuments of the peninsula. You’ll enter the first temple of Yalta city, St. John Chrysostom Church on the Polycurovsky hill. You’ll find out a lot about the history of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral which is related to the names of three Russian Emperors. You’ll go for a tour of Livadia & learn the history of Elevation of the Holy Cross {ex-tsar’s} Church, you’ll walk along the “Sunny Path” and then you’ll descend to the Protection of the Mother of God Church in Lower Oreanda which had been the first estate of the Romanovs on the Southern Coast of the Crimea.

The route passes along the highway Simferopol - Bakhchisarai, then it turns into the old Shulskaya road next to which is the Mangup capital of an Orthodox Principality as well as the ancient cave Monasteries Shuldan & Chelter. A bus goes up the Baidary Pass where one can really enjoy breathtaking panorama of the Southern Coast. You’ll visit the Church of Resurrection, crowning the Red Cliff, built to commemorate the miraculous escape of Emperor Alexander III.

You’ll visit an ancient, now revived, Cave Church in which the miraculous Icon of the Virgin was found. High up in the mountains, in Village Preduschelnoye, there is the secluded Monastery of Saint Anastasia, founded by Greeks in the VIII th century. Here in the monastery, cave churches & cells, cut out into the thickness of the rocks are kept in the original state. There is also a holy water spring.

  5. Monastery of St. Clement and St. Sophia’ Church.   Inkerman 

The St. Clement’s monastery was named after St. Clement of Rome who suffered martyrdom in Taurida. You’ll learn a lot about the first Christian zealots in our land, you’ll walk underneath the vaults of ancient churches where fragments of relics of St. Clement are kept. You’ll see grandeur of ruins left of Calamite Castle and the Church of St. Sophia on the Black river which is being restored.

The ancient Monastery of St. George is related to the names of a lot of outstanding historic personalities: Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas II, famous Russian poet A.S.Pushkin and others. It played an important role in the spiritual life of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

You’ll honor the memory of the heroes of the Crimean War: 1853-1856 & visit St. Nicholas Church where relics of many Saints are kept. St. Vladimir Cathedral is the burial place of Russian Admirals. You will also visit the Protection of the Mother of God Cathedral in Sevastopol.

8. Chersonese {Sevastopol} - Sevastopol Churches.

Chersonese is the cradle of Orthodoxy. Already in apostolic age many Orthodox Saints lived spiritually heroic lives here. It was here that in 988 the Sacrament of Baptism was bestowed upon the Equal to the Apostols prince of Kiev Russ Vladimir. The ruins of the ancient city are treasured till now and available for viewing, including churches behind the walls of which the history of Russian state began.

   9.  Alushta Monastery of Ss. Kosma and Damian, Crimean Highland National Park

You’ll get acquainted with the history of secluded Monastery  in the mountains - Sts. Kosma & Damian - and the chapel that had been visited by the members of Imperial family..

10.      St. Paraskeva Nunnery {Poplar tree village}, Belogorsk region    

The guides will tell you about the past and present of this Convent located in the picturesque area. In the Church of Saint Paraskeva the Great Martyr there is a cross with fragments of the relics of Holy Worshippers. You’ll go the area of holy water springs where it is possible to immerse in the fonts.

  11.       Bakla – Skalistoye {Rocky village}

During this trip you’ll be in touch with the landmarks of ancient history, see the remains of medieval city and castle, ruins of temples, burial vault & a church, cut out of the rock.

12.       Ancient Monastery of Saint Fyodor {Small Garden village} - Castle Syuren

You’ll travel to the most picturesque area of Crimean highlands. There you’ll find interesting historical landmarks of Christianity, cave monastery & mountaintop fortress with an ancient tower, a big cave church and a holy water spring.

13.       Stary Crym – Feodosia.       

In Stary Crym there is a holy water fountain of St. Panteleimon. In ancient Feodosia you’ll visit the churches of Our Lady of Iveron Icon, 650 year old, All Sorrowers Joy, St. Catherine the Great Martyr, Our Lady of Kazan Church, Presentation to the Temple of the Virgin Church.

14.       Luchistoye (Radiant) Village - Generalskoye

Participants of the trip will visit the water fountain of St. Andrew, see the ruins of an ancient church. In Alushta you’ll visit the Church of All Saints of the Crimea and St. Fyodor. During the ride there will be a stop on the sea side & another one in the forest to breath the fragrance of the air & admire the sights of Solnechnogorsk {Sunny Town}. It is 2 kms on foot on a picturesque road.

15.       Kiziltash Monastery of St. Stephen of Sourozh.

Church feast on 28 December.

Participants here will visit the Monastery of St. Stephen of Sourozh and take part in the Holy Liturgy. This Saint, X centuries ago, was healing with the prayers those with serious maladies (possessed, paralyzed, alcohol abusers and others). There is no freedom of access to the Monastery and participants will be requested to show the passports or other identity documents in order to cross the military zone. Lists of visitors with identity details must be submitted to the authorities 10 days before the scheduled visit.

16.    Sudak - Novy Svet

On our way you’ll listen to the story about time honored sacred places of the South East Crimea. You’ll visit the Protection of the Mother of God Church in Sudak, St. Luke’s Church in Novy Svet. You’ll walk on  Golitsin Path and you’ll find out the location of a medieval monastery as well as see the most beautiful places of God blessed Taurida.

17.  Sacred places of the Southern Coast

You‘ll visit the Church of St. Nina in the estate of the great Prince George Michilovich  Harax {Miskhor} and Protection of the Mother of God Church – the first estate of the Romanovs {Lower Oreanda}.

18.  Secluded Monastery of St. Anastasia {Predushelnoye village,     Bakhchisarai region} - the Church of Saint evangelist Luke {Lacky village}

You’ll hear the story about the sacred places of Simferopol & Bakhchisarai regions. You’ll visit the highlands where there is the secluded Monastery of St. Anastasia, founded by Greeks in the VIII th century. Here one can see cave churches & cells dug out in the rocks & sacred spring.

Pilgrimage here foresees the visit to Lacky village burnt down during the Second World War, also the Church of evangelist Luke.

19. Mangup

You’ll go on foot up the Mangup – the capital of the ancient Christian principality Theodoro. You’ll visit the place where the basilica of Sts. Constantine and Helen stood. You’ll see the ruins of the palace of Mangup princes, mountain springs, a unique natural and historical/cultural monument “Teshkli-burun” cape. You’ll also visit the monastery of Anunciation which is on the South slope of  Mangup mountain.

20. Partenit – Holy mountain Aju-Dag.

Pilgrimages will visit the land which was sanctified by the labours of St. John Gothic, the church of Anunciation and get acquainted with the holy places of Partenit valley.

21. The Nikitsky Botanical Gardens

You’ll visit the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens where the plants from all over the world were collected. You’ll also see the church of the Transfiguration.           

Devoted to the 150th Anniversary of the Crimean War.

22.  Mangup - Inkerman {Inkerman monastery} - The Northern Side, St. Nicholas Church.

During this trip you’ll hear the story of Orthodoxy in the Crimea. Later you’ll make a short stop at the foothill of Mangup Mountain, which was the Capital of medieval Christian Principality – Theodoro. You’ll hear the history of St. Clement Monastery in Inkerman. You’ll visit the Cemetery of the Heroes who were the first to defend Sevastopol in 1854-1855 and you’ll see the Church - Monument of Saint Nicholas {1870}.

23.        Mangup - Kamary {Oboronnoye village} - sacred springs {St. Panteleimon and John the Baptist} - Balaklava {the Church of 12 Apostles}.

During this pilgrimage you’ll find out about the past & the present of sacred places of Crimea. On your way you’ll see medieval monasteries of Crimea, visit the Church of the 12 Apostles in Balaklava {1357}, and the holy springs where the water can be taken away.