The Unique European Baroque Church at Twilight

The Church of the Sign of the Most Holy Mother of God in Dubrovitsy highlighted with spotlights in warm spring evening at the beginning of May.

The unique church was built in ornate European baroque style by foreign artisans 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. The building of the church of the Sign of Our Lady in Dubrovitsy became Russia’s first “window on the West” shortly before the new capital of St. Petersburg was founded on a swamp near the Baltic sea. On its completion the Patriarch of Russia refused to bless the Catholic style church (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. Its namesake, the Sign of the Most Holy Mother of God icon, is a symbol of reconciliation. The church still stands today, a unique testament to the ambitions of Peter’s age.

Photo #210 taken on May 8, 2016