🕊️ Narration
A solitary church stands quietly in the middle of the sea.
For the people of Montenegro, this place is a symbol of faith and hope.
"Sveta Nedelja" means "Holy Sunday."
It is said to have been built to honor the souls of sailors who lost their lives in storms.
A place of prayer nestled in the heart of nature—
The stillness and strength of Montenegro are embodied in this tiny church.
📖 Details
■ Name and Meaning
“Sveta Nedelja” means “Holy Sunday” in Slavic languages.
It also refers to Saint Nedelja (or Saint Sunday), a revered martyr in many Eastern Orthodox traditions.
■ Location and Geography
Location: A small island off the coast of Petrovac, Montenegro
Access: About 5–10 minutes by boat from the local port
Features:
The church is built on a natural rock formation, completely isolated by the sea.
It has stone walls, a red-tiled roof, and a small bell tower.
Its unique placement gives it the appearance of floating on the sea, making it especially striking in aerial footage.
■ History and Legend
The church is believed to have been constructed in the late 19th century by local fishermen.
According to legend, it was built as an offering of gratitude by shipwreck survivors who were saved in these waters.
Fishermen and sailors would offer prayers here before setting sail, asking for safe passage on the open sea.
Hotel Ukraina is a five-star luxury hotel in Moscow and one of the city's landmarks, known as one of the Seven Sisters. This hotel was constructed between 1953 and 1957 as a Stalinist Gothic skyscraper, standing 206 meters (676 ft) tall. The hotel's interior incorporates traditional Ukrainian design elements and is lavishly decorated. Furthermore, the hotel's main lobby features a beautiful fresco ceiling painting.
Hotel Ukraina is affiliated with Carlson Rezidor Hotels and is currently operated as the Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow. A square is located in front of the central building, where a statue of the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko is erected.
Moscow | Hotel Ukraina モスクワ | ホテル・ウクライナ(ラディソン・ロイヤル・ホテル・モスクワ)
The Plitvice Lakes are part of a karst landscape located in the Dinaric Alps mountain range, spreading across the Plitvice Plateau, which is surrounded by mountains. The name of the lake system is derived from the Plitvice Plateau.
Lake Formation and Geology
・The 16 lakes are formed as water flowing from the mountains runs 8 km in a north-south direction.
・The geology is Dolomite and limestone karst, which creates the characteristic landscape.
・The lake system is composed of natural dams of calcareous deposits, created by the photosynthetic action of mosses, algae, and bacteria, which grow year after year.
Lake Colors
・They possess beautiful shades such as azure, navy blue, and grey.
・The color of the water is constantly changing, depending on the amount of minerals and organic matter, as well as the angle of the sunlight.
The Metekhi Church of the Virgin was built to appear as a continuation of the cliff, following the Georgian architectural tradition of a harmonious relationship with the surrounding natural landscape, and it can be seen from many points in the city.
The All-Russian Exhibition Centre (Vserossiyskiy vystavochny tsentr) is a permanent exhibition complex in Moscow, formerly known as VDNKh (Vee-Dee-En-Kha) during the Soviet era. The center hosts various domestic and international exhibitions and events across different sectors and is a highly visited location.
It began in 1939 as the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, and subsequently expanded its exhibits to include science, technology, culture, and industry. The exhibition center includes many buildings constructed during the Soviet Union era, including pavilions representing the prestige of the various Soviet republics and nations. It was also used as part of Soviet Socialist propaganda.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the name was changed in 1992, and the complex began to be used as an entertainment facility, featuring amusement parks and shopping centers in addition to exhibitions. In 2014, it celebrated its 75th anniversary, and the name "VDNKh" was readopted, and restoration of the buildings was also undertaken.
Moscow | Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy モスクワ | 全ロシア博覧センター
The first record of Sveti Stefan is as the capital of the independent Paštrovići community from the 12th century, which became a Venetian protectorate in 1423. The Paštrovići accepted Venetian rule out of fear of Turkish attacks. They accepted Venetian rule on the condition that they would not pay any tribute to Venice and would stop pirating Venetian ships.
According to a legend passed down by Stjepan Mitrov Ljubiša, the town's defensive walls were allegedly funded after the Paštrovići looted Turkish ships anchored in front of Jazz during the Siege of Kotor in 1539. However, the town was soon destroyed during the Fourth Ottoman-Venetian War. Following the continuous pleas of the Paštrovići, the Republic of Venice agreed to rebuild the town in the 16th century. In the 15th century, the fortified village was built for defense against the Turks and became a sanctuary for Adriatic pirates.
Svetitskhoveli, known as the burial place of Christ's mantle, has long been one of the principal churches of the Georgian Orthodox Church and remains one of the most revered places of worship in the region. The current cross-in-square structure was completed between 1010 and 1029 by the medieval architect Arsukisdze, although the site itself dates back to the early 4th century. The exterior arches of the cathedral are a well-preserved example of typical 11th-century ornamentation.
The cathedral's name is derived from the Georgian words where sveti means "pillar" and tskhoveli means "life-giving" or "living."
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is considered one of the four Great Cathedrals of the Georgian Orthodox world, and its history dates back to the early 4th century. Within the cathedral, a holy site believed to be the burial place of Christ's mantle is preserved. Furthermore, the construction of the cathedral involved miraculous elements, and a sacred liquid said to issue from a cedar pillar is believed to cure diseases. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral has been damaged many times by earthquakes and historical invasions, but it has been restored on each occasion.
Initially, twelve families lived on the island along with a fortress. By the 1800s, a village of approximately 400 people had been built on the island. In the first half of the 20th century, the island's population declined as residents joined the army or emigrated abroad. Although the island had 400 residents in the 19th century, by 1954, only 20 people remained. The Yugoslavian government converted the island into a luxury hotel, relocated the remaining residents to the mainland, and the island village became an exclusive resort used by the world's prominent elite.
Casino
One of the four churches of the Praskvica Monastery on Sveti Stefan was converted into a casino by the government. The resort hosted many celebrities, including Orson Welles, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Margaret, Carlo Ponti, Ingemar Stenmark, and Kirk Douglas, and was dubbed the "playground of the Adriatic in the '70s." It was also used for political conferences and occasionally as a chess venue, attracting top players like Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer. However, the resort declined with the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
The island is located in the central part of Montenegro's Adriatic coast, south of Budva, between Pržno and Petrovac na Moru. Pink sandy beaches, including Sveti Stefan, Miločer Beach, and Queen's Beach, form part of its coastline. The island has an area of 12,400 square meters (0.0124 square kilometers).
The Metekhi Church of the Mother of God, known simply as the Metekhi Church, is a Georgian Orthodox church located on the left bank of the Mtkvari River. It stands atop the Metekhi cliff, opposite the Old Town of Tbilisi. Much of the current structure dates back to the Middle Ages, believed to have been constructed between 1278 and 1289 AD during the reign of King Demetrius II of Georgia, although oral tradition traces Metekhi's origins back to the 5th century.
The Government of Montenegro proposed to recreate the island's old charm and issued an international tender for a revitalization project. The contract was awarded to Aman Resorts in 2007, and the renovated resort was completed in 2009. Aman Sveti Stefan holds a 30-year lease. On July 13, 2010, Montenegro's Statehood Day, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli held a concert to celebrate the hotel's Golden Jubilee. The hotel was awarded the Hotel of the Year by the Gallivanter's Guide in 2010.
Villa Miločer
Villa Miločer was constructed between 1934 and 1936 as the summer residence for Queen Marija of the Karađorđević dynasty of Serbia. Villa Miločer was renovated as part of the Aman Sveti Stefan Resort project, which took place from 2008 to 2009. The villa, surrounded by 800 olive trees, spans an area of 32 hectares.
The Valday Iversky Monastery is a monastery that played a significant role in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. The monastery was one of the most influential in Russia during the 17th century, flourishing with the support of monks who backed Patriarch Nikon's reforms. Even today, the monastery maintains a quiet monastic life and is a valuable place to learn about the history of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Lake Valdai | Valday Iversky Monastery ヴァルダイ湖 | ヴァルダイ・イヴェルスキー修道院
In 1666, Patriarch Nikon was deposed, and the Valday Iversky Monastery also declined. In the 18th century, the monastery prospered again, but it was closed once more by the October Revolution in 1917. The monastery was reopened in 1991, but the number of monks remains small, and they lead a quiet monastic life even today.
Lake Valdai | Valday Iversky Monastery ヴァルダイ湖 | ヴァルダイ・イヴェルスキー修道院
The Valday Iversky Monastery is an Orthodox monastery in the Valdaysky District of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It was founded by Patriarch Nikon in 1653. The monastery is situated on an island in Lake Valday and was one of the most influential monasteries in Russia in the 17th century.
Lake Valdai | Valday Iversky Monastery ヴァルダイ湖 | ヴァルダイ・イヴェルスキー修道院
The monastery's name originates from the Iviron Monastery, located on Mount Athos in Greece. The Valday Iversky Monastery housed a copy of the "Iverskaya" icon, which was sent from the Iviron Monastery, until the 1920s, but it is currently missing.
Lake Valdai | Valday Iversky Monastery ヴァルダイ湖 | ヴァルダイ・イヴェルスキー修道院
The history of the monastery is closely connected with the reign of Patriarch Nikon, who was elected Patriarch of Moscow in 1652. Patriarch Nikon promoted reforms in the Orthodox Church and made the Valday Iversky Monastery a base for these efforts. The monastery flourished with the support of monks who backed Patriarch Nikon's reforms, becoming one of the most important monasteries in Russia during the 17th century.
Lake Valdai | Valday Iversky Monastery ヴァルダイ湖 | ヴァルダイ・イヴェルスキー修道院