Architecture of the Byzantine world

Thousands gather in Ekaterinburg today to prayerfully honor the memory of the Holy Royal Passion-Bearers, who were among the first and the most horrible victims of the revolution. These thousands are a reminder that this sacrifice was not in vain, and that Russia somehow survived and continues to live, to be reborn after this devastating century. Today, ye righteous people, let us honour in a bright light the holy seven of Royal Passion-Bearers, Christ's one domestic Church: Nicholas and Alexandra, Alexia, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. These, whom didst not fear the bonds and sufferings of all kinds, accepted death and the desecration from the God-fighting people, and obtained boldness to the Lord in prayer. For this reason we cry to them with love: O holy Passion-Bearers, hear out to the voice of repentance and the groaning of our people, establish the land of Russia in love for Orthodoxy, preserve it from internecine strife, ask God for peace for the world and great mercy for our souls.

The orientally carved wooden dome of the Saint Palamon Monastery in Sheneset, Egypt, decorated, however, with European-style frescoes. Sheneset, also known as Chenoboskion in Greek and as-Sayyad in Arabic, was the place where Pachomius the Great, the future founder of communal monastic life, became a monk himself, and Saint Palamon was his teacher.

An old post office in the Serbian town of Prokuplje, which now serves as local museum.

Christ in prison. Solovetsky Monastery, Russia.

Wooden lace can be found not only in Russian and Victorian mansions of the turn of the XIX and XX centuries, but also in Romania, as exemplified by Villa Ivanovici.

One of the reliefs of the medieval church of Korogho in Georgia, depicting the ktetor. Like the church itself, it is around a thousand years old!

A colorful building of the former Yekaterinodar Eparchial women College.

I honor of Saints Cosmas and Damian of Rome, I suppose to take a look at a church dedicated to them from Kaluga, the revival of which is soon to be finished.

Byzantine walls remains in the island-town of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum in Turkey.

One of the oldest wooden churches of Romania - the temple of the Lupșa monastery, built almost 600 years ago. Since then it has repeatedly been rebuilt, and owes its current form to the XVII century, yet still retains an ancient spirit.