Where two or more tourists are gathered, there a church is likely to be...

This past weekend, after final exams, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Suzdal, near the city of Vladimir, within what is referred to as the Golden Ring of Russia. The Golden ring is a series of some of the oldest cities in Russia, located northeast of Moscow, which played prominently in the early history of Russia and formation of Russian Orthodoxy. Russian Orthodoxy came into its own after the fall of Constantinople and its leaders saw Russia as the continuation of the Christian empire.

Suzdal dates back to 1024 and is particularly well-known for its numerous churches and monasteries. The town is now mostly a tourist village, but still maintains a beautiful sample of Russian churches and the countryside. The first 3 pics are from Suzdal, the last 2 from the city of Vladimir.