Front View of Dubrovitsy Church at Sunset

View of the main entrance into the extraordinary Italian Baroque Orthodox church of the Theotokos of the Sign at Dubrovitsy Estate lit by sunlight on a warm spring evening.

The unique church was built in ornate European baroque style by foreign artisans (Swiss or Italian) at the request of Peter the Great’s teacher, Prince Golitsyn in 1690-1704 in his estate in the village Dubrovitsy located on the southern outskirts of Moscow. Its style is very much different from Russian Orthodox cathedrals. In honor of Peter’s reign, the church was topped with a shining gold crown, a gesture by Golitsyn to mend his relationship with Peter following a falling out over Peter’s brother’s involvement in the Streltsky rebellion.

Photo #188 taken on May 08, 2016