Topics range from a 19th-century church building and pilgrimages to cultural heritage in the villages of the Sosenskoye settlement. The wider destination of Moscow offers an additional, broader perspective.

Church history and pilgrimages in Sosenki

The Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God was built in 1887 as a new stone church at a new location, to a design by architect S. K. Troparevsky. Pilgrimages are held at this church. Two distinct approaches therefore meet at the same place: the building’s history focuses attention on its origins, location and architecture, while the pilgrimages relate to religious practice. When choosing cultural topics for a stay, visitors can consider these aspects separately rather than equating the building’s history with religious activity.

Another church dedicated to the Mother of God is the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in the village of Sosenki. It is a cultural heritage site in the territory of the Sosenskoye settlement. The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is located in the village of Letovo and is also a cultural heritage site in the territory of the Sosenskoye settlement. The precise place names help distinguish the two: one church is associated with the village of Sosenki, the other with the village of Letovo.

A grave historical reference in the territory of the Sosenskoye settlement

The Kommunarka special site is located in the territory of the Sosenskoye settlement. Between 1930 and 1950, it was a place where victims of political repression were shot. This historical context differs markedly from the history of the churches’ construction and their designation as cultural heritage sites. Those exploring the area’s history will encounter different topics: religious architecture, cultural heritage and the grave history of political repression. The location given for Kommunarka refers to the territory of the Sosenskoye settlement.

Moscow as a wider destination

In the wider destination of Moscow, the Kremlin offers its own architectural and historical focus. It lies in the centre of the Russian capital, on a high hill above the Moskva River. The State Museum-Reserve “Moscow Kremlin” includes the Armoury Chamber and the architectural ensemble of Sobornaya Square. The Moscow Kremlin is one of the world’s largest architectural and urban ensembles. Unlike the church-related sites in Sosenki, here the defining scale is that of a unified ensemble.

Kolomenskoye also brings together several historical layers. Since the 16th century, it was a favourite residence of the Russian tsars; since 1923, it has been a museum-reserve. The grounds cover 256 hectares. They include an ethnographic complex and a museum of wooden architecture. In Moscow, the history of a residence, the scale of a museum-reserve and two distinct features of the grounds can thus be explored as separate cultural topics.

VDNKh adds the history of an exhibition venue to this picture. It opened on 1 August 1939 and later successively bore the names VSKhV, VDNKh SSSR and VVTs. In 2018, the restored Cosmos Pavilion became home to the Kosmonavtika i aviatsiya Centre, described as the largest space museum complex in modern Russia. Its historical development and present-day names provide a different point of reference from Sosenki’s local and church history.

Discover more destinations: Misaylovo, Antonovka, Vnukovo, Gorki Leninskije, Kartmazovo, Peredelkino, Volodarskogo, Vatutinki

See the wider travel overview: Leninsky District.