New Jerusalem Monastery, Russia VR 360

In the 17th century, a small town located only 50 kilometers from Moscow suddenly became the center of a spiritual and geographical revolution, turning into a new Holy Land for Christians. An exact replica of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was created here, and its topography and relics were reproduced. Local hills were given names such as Mount Zion, Mount Tabor, and the Mount of Olives. The river Istra was renamed the Jordan. However, despite these changes, the harsh Russian climate remained the same, and the small settlement near Moscow, called “New Jerusalem,” never became the center of Orthodox Christianity. The famous Patriarch Nikon of Moscow, a man who was misunderstood by his contemporaries, played a significant role in Russian history. He was the author and initiator of the transformations mentioned. Among his reforms, which eventually split the country, were church changes that became the basis of the Old Believer movement.