Why do we spend so much time on Medieval Rus’ and the Orthodox Church?

Medal Struck on the 1988 Millennium of the Orthodox Church in Russia (still the Soviet Union at that time)

Christ the Savior Cathedral, Moscow Reconstructed in the 1990s

Qolşärif Mosque, Kazan’ (rebuilt 1996) and the Cathedral of the Protection of the Theotokos (“St. Basil’s Cathedral”), Moscow ( )

Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich ( )

Nikon, Patriarch of Moscow ( )

Ivan III the Great ( )

Double-Headed Eagle: 1. Original (1472) adopted by Ivan III; 2. At Entrance to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Istanbul; 3. On gate of Transfiguration Cathedral, St. Petersburg

Ivan III on Millennial Monument; Sophia Paleologue, forensic facial reconstruction in 1994

Stoglav Document (one of about 100 extant Stoglav manuscripts)

Petr Mogila (Mohyla), Metropolitan of Kiev (17 th c.)

“Nikon Revising Service Books” (Aleksei Kivshenko, )

Aleksei Mikhailovich ( )

Greek Kamilavka and Russian Klobuk

Kiril, Patriarch of Moscow, 2010; Kiril at his consecration as patriarch; metropolitans‘ and bishops’ crowns

Orthodox Clerical Vestments

Icon of Christ (St. Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai, 6 th c.) Note the hand blessing.

Avvakum

Avvakum again

“Avvakum in Siberia” (Sergei Miloradovich, 1898)

Boyarynia Morozova (Vasilii Surikov, )

“Immolation of Avvakum” (Grigorii Myasoyedov, 1897)

Old Ritualists (Oregon)