There’s something not only solemn, but majestic, in the beauty of church architecture. Russian churches are some of the most beautiful in the world, as you’ll discover in this photostream. It features Russian churches, both those currently in-use and those long since abandoned.

The Church in Usinks, Komi Republic, Russia

Stroganovskaya Church in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Uspensky Cathedral in Omsk

Nikolavsky church in Kharkov, Ukraine

Church of the Ascension in Kolomensk, Russia

Church in the Old Cemetery in Gorohovets, Russia

Smolensk Church in Suzdal, Russia

Church in Venev, Russia

Troitse-Sergieva Lavra in Sergiyev Posad, Russia

Chapel of Pyatnickij well

Church of the Savior’s Transfiguration, Zaslavl, Russia

Epiphany Church, St. Petersburg, Russia

Transfiguration Church, Gusintsy, Ukraine

Ust-Izhora Church, St. Petersburg, Russia

Nicholas Church, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Church in Zaporizhzhya Sich, Ukraine

Holy Isidorovskaya Church, st. Petersburg, Russia

Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Moscow, Russia

Monastery near Moscow, Russia

Church in Pereslavl, Russia

Church of St. Nicholas Quay, Kiev, Ukraine

Lighthouse Church in Malorechenskoye, Crimea, Ukraine

Cross Cathedral in Lesosibirsk, Russia

Borisoglebsky Monastery Near Rostov, Russia

New Jerusalem Monastery Near Moscow, Russia

Church Near Pereslavl, Russia

Church of the Archangel Michael, Russia

Smolensk Cathedral, Russia

Church in Honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, Russia