slothis · English

Novodevichy Convent: A Peaceful Visit in Moscow

2016-07-01 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

Originally, the Moscow itinerary I wanted to show my girlfriend was a slow walk from Moscow State University to Novodevichy Convent along the trails of Sparrow Hills. However, since we both woke up late and are exceptionally fond of just spacing out, we had to skip the first part entirely and only visit Novodevichy Convent. Since my girlfriend had to head back this evening, I chose the convent as our destination so she could at least offer a prayer, even if we missed out on other things. Even though it's the Russian Orthodox Church—which split from the Greek Orthodox Church and is part of the Eastern Church—the religious gap here was at least smaller than at an Islamic mosque. I thought that praying while looking at Jesus and Mary, even if they looked a bit different from what she was used to, would give her more peace of mind.


An elongated convent building featuring red walls and white decorations, with a cathedral behind it.
A white Russian Orthodox cathedral building with grey and gold dome roofs.
A small building with a gold dome roof seen beyond white lilacs and green trees.
A notice of temporary closure for Smolensk Cathedral attached to the glass of an iron door.
The most important church was closed for reconstruction.
A small stone chapel topped with a gold dome roof, and a large cathedral visible behind it.

The Eastern Church, commonly known as the Orthodox Church, is mostly similar to the Western Church represented by Catholicism. But if you look closer, things like the order of making the sign of the cross, the saints, whether you sit or stand during worship, and the appearance of the priests are different. Still, they are similar in that they are solemn and emphasize love as the most important human value. The most strikingly different aspect of the Russian Orthodox Church is the depiction of Jesus. In Roman Catholicism, statues of Jesus and Mary became quite realistic after the Renaissance, but Russian Orthodox icons have a rounder appearance, similar to Asian art. Since pre-Renaissance Catholic icons had a similar feel, it's probably better to see this as a divergence in artistic direction rather than a religious difference.


An ornate red and white bell tower seen through green trees.
Multiple dome roofs rising above a red building with an arched passageway.
A multi-story building with white pillars and window frame decorations on a red exterior wall.
Assumption Church
The interior of a Russian Orthodox cathedral with holy paintings on the ceiling and an ornate chandelier hanging down.
People standing in front of an arched altar decorated with gold ornaments and holy paintings.
A triangular ceiling mural depicting Jesus and two saints.
Wooden icon altars placed along a white wall, illuminated by a chandelier.
Round onion dome roofs rising above an exterior wall blending red bricks and white decorations.
Smolensk Cathedral

I went to Novodevichy Convent to find some peace of mind, so I didn't go around checking every single piece of artwork inside. However, unlike when I entered other cathedrals (with the exception of Kazan Cathedral), I found a much greater sense of comfort here. I go to churches or temples with different mindsets and purposes every time, but I think I feel most at peace when I'm just talking to God without any specific goal.

Next to Novodevichy Convent is a famous cemetery where notable figures are buried. We didn't have time to go, but honestly, I didn't feel the need to visit it anyway.

Expenses

Total expenses 5325

Total trip expenses 525,936 KRW + 35,883 RUB + $152.26