SI-151811

In ten years of Postcrossing this is my very 1st official from Slovenia. 

Adergas is a village in the Municipality of Cerklje na Gorenjskem in the Upper Carniola region of Slovenia.

SI-151811, sent by Angelca.

The Velesovo Monastery, a Dominican convent, was developed around the local church, dedicated to the Annunciation. It was founded by the Patriarchate of Aquileia in 1238, but was badly damaged in 1471 during an Ottoman raid. The current building, what was the eastern wing of the original monastery, dates to the first half of the 18th century and was erected upon the plans of the constructor expert Gregor Maček, Jr.. It houses the local school, the parish offices, and a number of residences. The Baroque church of the monastery was erected in the second half of the 18th century upon the plans of the architect Candido Zulliani (sl). It contains the oldest Medieval statue in Slovenia, the Velesovo Madonna, dated to ca. 1220. The statue is a painted wooden Romanesque sculpture about half a meter tall from about 1220. - in: wikipedia

St. Michael of the Golden Domes - Ukraine

I've been to Kyiv exactly two years ago. I was there only for a couple of hours and didn't have much time to visit the city. St. Michael of the Goden Domes Monastery was one of the places I visited and truly liked it. Hope to visit the city again in the future.

Card sent by Katya.

The sky-blue St. Michael's Cathedral, with its fabulously shining domes, is one of the most beautiful and important Orthodox temples in Ukraine. Built in the 90s, it is a remake of the destroyed St. Michael's Cathedral, which stood on the territory of the oldest monastery of Kyivan Rus for over eight centuries.

UA-1576704, sent by Svitlanka.

The grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, Prince Sviatopolk, founded the cathedral in the early 12th century. It is named in honor of St. Michael - the protector of Kyiv. Its nickname, the Golden-Domed Cathedral, comes from the fact that was is the first and only church with such extravagant domes in ancient Rus. Byzantine master architects participated in the Cathedral’s construction. Yet elements of Ukrainian architectural style also come through clearly. At the same time the cathedral was built, smaller buildings also sprung up around it.

UA-380919, sent by Tanja.

The church became the most honored religious monument among the residents of Kyiv. Its importance grew in 1108, after it got its main shrine - the relics of the St. Barbara, brought to Kyiv from Constantinople. Since the original cathedral was destroyed, these relics have been kept in St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Kyiv.

Although the monastery was severely damaged during the Mongolian Tatar invasion, it continued to prosper and grow, mostly due to the efforts of Polish kings and (later) Ukrainian Hetmans. In the 16th century, St. Michael's Monastery was one of the richest cloisters in Kyiv. One century later, it was almost completely rebuilt, adding Ukrainian baroque details.

UA-1182066, sent by Victoria.

 St. Michael's Cathedral is famous for its unique mosaics and frescos, which are rightfully considered to be the greatest creations of the Old Russian monumental painting. Its mosaics are nicknamed ‘glimmering,’ because of their exquisiteness and shine. When the temple was completely demolished by the Soviets in 1937, the valuable mosaics were rescued. Some of them were kept in the St. Sophia Cathedral, others were taken to the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. After the cathedral’s reconstruction, all of them were returned.

UA-640954, sent by Elena.

Today, the St. Michael's monastic complex includes, along with the rebuilt cathedral, a refectory with the Church of St. John the Divine and a bell tower, created in the 18th century. A museum dedicated to the history of the St. Michael's complex operates inside the bell tower. Its unique exhibition tells in detail about the significance and the tragic history of the cloister, along with other religious buildings in Kyiv demolished by the Bolsheviks. Fantastic views on the Ukrainian capital open up from the bell tower of the monastery. - in: https://discover-ukraine.info/places/kyiv/kyiv/166

Gelati Monastery - Georgia

Until last July, Gelati Monastery and Bagrati Cathedral composed a UNESCO site in Georgia. I already had a card of the cathedral but in July the committee introduced a major reduction in the boundaries of the this site, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1994 and on the List in Danger in 2010. The new boundaries exclude Bagrati Cathedral, which has undergone major reconstruction detrimental to its integrity and authenticity. This means Gelati Monastery was missing in my collection. I've traded again with Sini and received this nice card.

Founded in 1106 in the west of Georgia, the Monastery of Gelati is a masterpiece of the Golden Age of medieval Georgia, a period of political strength and economic growth between the 11th and 13th centuries. It is characterized by the facades of smoothly hewn large blocks, balanced proportions and blind arches for exterior decoration. The Gelati monastery, one of the largest medieval Orthodox monasteries, was also a centre of science and education and the Academy it housed was one of the most important centres of culture in ancient Georgia. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/710

Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine - Poland

Last July Poland had a new site added to the World Heritage List, Tarnowskie Góry Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine and its Underground Water Management System. I didn't have to wait too long to have a card from there. That same month I've traded with Boguslaw and got this card. 

Located in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland, one of the main mining areas of central Europe, the site includes the entire underground mine with adits, shafts, galleries and water management system. Most of the site is situated underground while the surface mining topography features the remains of the 19th century steam water pumping station, which testifies to continuous efforts over three centuries to drain the underground extraction zone. It has made it possible to use undesirable water from the mines to supply towns and industry. Tarnowskie Góry represents a significant contribution to the global production of lead and zinc. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1539

The Peter and Paul Fortress - Russia

Two cards from Saint Petersburg showing the Peter and Paul Fortress. The 1st card was sent by Alena and the 2nd one is an official. 

When Peter the Great re-claimed the lands along the Neva River in 1703, he decided to build a fort to protect the area from possible attack by the Swedish army and navy. The fortress was founded on a small island in the Neva delta on May 27, 1703 (May 16 according to the old calendar) and that day became the birthday of the city of St Petersburg. The Swedes were defeated before the fortress was even completed. For that reason, from 1721 onwards the fortress housed part of the city's garrison and rather notoriously served as a high security political jail. Among the first inmates was Peter's own rebellious son Alexei. Later, the list of famous residents included Dostoyevsky, Gorkiy, Trotsky and Lenin's older brother, Alexander. Parts of the former jail are now open to the public...

RU-680043, sent by Natalia.

In the middle of the fortress stands the impressive Peter and Paul Cathedral, the burial place of all the Russian Emperors and Empresses from Peter the Great to Alexander III. The Cathedral was the first church in the city to be built of stone (between 1712-33) and its design is curiously unusual for a Russian Orthodox church.

On top of the cathedrals’ gilded spire stands a magnificent golden angel holding a cross. This weathervane is one of the most prominent symbols of St Petersburg, and at 404 feet tall, the cathedral is the highest building in the city.

Other buildings in the fortress include the City History Museum and the Mint, one of only two places in Russia where coins and medals are minted. - in: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/peter-paul-fortress.asp

RU-5816369

An official from Russia with the Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Kronstadt. 

RU-5816369, sent by Darja.

 The Naval Cathedral of St. Nicholas is the last and largest naval cathedral of the Russian Empire built in Kronstadt (a small town which is part of St. Petersburg) in 1903-1913. It is the tallest building in Kronstadt (70.5 meters).

This majestic cathedral is a monument to all sailors of the Russian Navy. Kronstadt, founded by order of Peter I, was the main naval base of the Baltic Fleet since 1720s. Since 2013, the cathedral is considered the main church of the Russian Navy. - in: http://russiatrek.org/blog/travel/kronstadt-naval-cathedral-in-st-petersburg/

Red fox - Belarus

A beautiful red foz from Belarus sent by Anna. 

Red foxes live around the world in many diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts. They also adapt well to human environments such as farms, suburban areas, and even large communities. The red fox's resourcefulness has earned it a legendary reputation for intelligence and cunning.

Red foxes are solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits, birds, and other small game—but their diet can be as flexible as their home habitat. Foxes will eat fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and even worms. If living among humans, foxes will opportunistically dine on garbage and pet food.

In winter, foxes meet to mate. The vixen (female) typically gives birth to a litter of 2 to 12 pups. At birth, red foxes are actually brown or gray. A new red coat usually grows in by the end of the first month, but some red foxes are golden, reddish-brown, silver, or even black. Both parents care for their young through the summer before they are able to strike out on their own in the fall. - in: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/r/red-fox/