Permsky region: churches

This official postcard came about 10 days ago from Russia. I'm not very attracted to multi-views, BUT since it's about Orthodox Churches, I guess I can make an exception ;) All churches are from Perm, a Russian administrative district (called krai). The biggest image shows Holy Cross Cathedral in Belogorsky Monastery, with a very sad history during Bolsheviks. The others are from Solikamsk, Cherdyn and Kungur (towns in Perm region)
1. Belogorsky Monastery monks - (1894)
2. Holy Trinity Cathedral (1685-1697) - Solikamsk
3. Saviour Chapel - Cherdyn
4. The Church of the Transfiguration (1763-1781) - Kungur

The card came with 3 beautiful stamps, as it can be seen in the scanned image.
The first one (15 p.) was issued in 2010 as a joint of Russian-Serbian icons. It shows one of Andrei Rublev's icons,  depicting archangel Michael (15th century work).
The second (8.50) was issued one year later (2011) and is celebrating the 225th Anniversary of the Insurance industry in Russia. I guess the lady in the stamp is Empress Catherine the Great.
The last one (5.00) presents Novgorod, as a part of 2009 series showing different Kremlins.

Thank You, Zlata !

Country: Russia

Description: Four churches from Perm Region

Location: church-1, church-2, church-3 & church-4

Publisher: "Senator" Perm (2010)

Nativity Fresco

 

This is one of the most beautiful Christmas cards I've ever received. It came as a RR exchange from the same person who send earlier a Končul Monastery postcard. Orthodox frescos are always a pleasure to receive and show. The fresco itself is decorated with classy ornaments and fonts (too calligraphic to decode, BUT perhaps a Christmas wish written in Serbian). Returning to fresco itself, a small detail gives the scene originality: the bathing (or baptizing?) of Christ in the below register of the scene.

The stamps are with religious themes as well.

The fist one (23 dinars, 2014) shows a fresco called "Christmas hymn" (1309-1316) from Žiča Monastery.
The second stamp (46 dinars, 2103) is an adaptation/reproduction Christmas icon after works of the famous painter Pavel Đurković.
The postcard came with very beautiful handwriting.

Thank You, Ana !

Country: Serbia

Description: Nativity Fresco (location unknown)

Publisher: Издавачки фонд Српске православне цркве (Publishing Fund of the Serbian Orthodox Church)

Končul Monastery

This beautiful card is the first one (stamped) from Serbia, although I have plenty of blank Serbian cards from my previous trips here. It came as a RR exchange from another forum member and it shows an Orthodox Monastery, 3 km away from Raška. It was founded by Great Duke-ruler Stefan Nemanja about 1175 and had close relations with Studenica Monastery, a UNESCO whs.
Unfortunately, in 1686 the monastery was destroyed during Great Turkish War and remained in ruins until 1861 when church was reconstructed, keeping its original basic shape. After 1980, a group of nuns led by Abbess Katarina settled here and begun to build a monastic life & community.
About the stamps: The 22 dinars (2011) shows an icon of Jesus Triumphal entry into Jerusalem by well-known Serbian painter Arsenije Teodorović and is one of the two stamps celebrating 2011 Easter. The 40 dinars (2007) have a beautiful white rose (Vendela) designed by N. Skočajić.

Thank You, Ana !

Country: Serbia

Description: St. Nicholas Monastery in Končul, near Raška

Publisher: Просвета (Prosveta) Belgrade

Our Lady of Vladimir

This card arrived two days ago (9th of September), part of a Round Robin group. Given the fact that it was posted on 4th of September I could say it's quite fast for a Russian. Up to now, it's one of my favorites, along with Helsinki Cathedral and few other cards.

Our Lady of Vladimir (Богоматерь Владимирская) is a very well known orthodox icon, being a version of the Eleusa (tenderness) type.

Some say that it was painted by St. Luke himself, but we do not have historical evidences to sustain this. Around 1131 Luke Chrysoberges, the Greek Patriarch of Constantinople, sent the icon as a gift to Grand Duke Yury Dolgoruky of Kiev. The image was kept in Mezhyhirya Monastery until Andrey Bogolyubskiy (Dolgoruky's son) brought it to his favourite city, Vladimir, in 1155. The icon was taken from Vladimir to the new capital, Moscow, in 1395 during Timur Leng invasion and miraculously save the city.

In 1480 the wonder-working icon was saving Moscow again. This time from the invasion of Khan Achmed. For Russians it's a powerful symbol, a associated with the growth of Russian national consciousness based on the Muscovite state. 

Till 1917 the icon was kept on the iconoastasis of Kremlin Cathedral of Dormition. In 1918 it was partially restored and moved to Moscow Tretyakov Art Gallery where is hosted nowadays in St. Nicholas Chapel.

Few people know that it's actually a double-sided icon. On the back there are the instruments of Christ's Passion. Another interesting fact is that a detail of the Virgin's left eye and nose is part of the logo of Icon Productions, founded by Mel Gibson.

The stamps are nice too.

The first one (8.00) is a 2003 Europa Stamp depicting a walking girl.

The second (15p) was issued in 2011 and is a part of 3 stamp series History of the Russian Cossacks.

Thank You, Olga !

Country: Russia

Description: orthodox icon of Virgin Mary from Vladimir (12th century)

Publisher: Moscow Postcards

Location: St. Nicholas Chapel in Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Helsinki Orthodox Cathedral: Iconostasis

 

On the 5th of August, browsing Marine's trades gallerie, I came across to this beautiful card. The next minute I send a swap request and luckily she responded. Today the awaited card reached my inbox. 

The Orthodox Church is Finland is rather small, BUT surprisingly it is recognized by the State and called National Church along with the Evangelical-Lutheran one. The Uspensky Cathedral is dedicated to the Dormition of Virgin Mary and was built in the middle of 18th century when Finland was an autonomous Grand Duchy in the Russian Empire. The cathedral hosts several valuable icons, among others St. Nicolas, which was stolen on 16 August 2007 while hundreds of tourists were visiting the cathedral. The icon is now being searched for in Finland as well as abroad.

The wooden iconostasis belongs to Russian style and hosts the classical icons: Jesus, Virgin Mary, Apostles, Saints and Angels. Another interesting detail about this cathedral is that there is no chairs or benches and everybody have to stand up during the services.

About the stamp. This yummy Blackberry is one of the 3 stamps collection called Garden Berries. Designed by Ossi Hiekkala it was printed in March 2013 with the 1 LK/KL marking. First I thought it was a value but the abbreviation come from 1 luokka (1st class).

Thank You Johanna !

Country: Finland

Description: Uspensky Cathedral Iconostasis
Photo: unknown
Location: here