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Radonezh (Радонеж in Russian, formerly known as Gorodok) is a historic village about 15 km from Sergiyev Posad in Moscow Oblast.

The old town of Radonezh is known to have existed since the first half of the 14th century, when it belonged to Ivan Kalita. In 1328, he settled there many captives from Rostov, including the future Sergii Radonezhsky. About 20 years later, Sergii founded the Trinity Monastery to the north of Radonezh.

The town belonged to Vladimir of Serpukhov and to his descendants until 1426, when the last appanage prince of Radonezh died, without naming his heir. There ensued a bitter struggle for the town's possession, which ended in Vasily II of Moscow's being taken captive in Radonezh by his cousin Dmitry Shemyaka and later blinded.

The economic and political rise of the nearby Trinity Monastery adversely affected the overall development of Radonezh. In the late 15th - 16th century, the town was eclipsed by the monastery and later turned into a village.

Today, the remnants of Radonezh are located on an elevated cape, rounded by a curve of the Pazha River. There are still traces of ramparts and a moat. A monument to St Sergii was opened in front of the local church in 1988.

External link

• History of Radonezh (in Russian)

Historical towns and monasteries of Moscow region
Serpukhov | Zaraysk | Kolomna | Kirzhach | Trinity | Radonezh | Dmitrov | Klin | Staritsa | Zvenigorod | New Jerusalem | Volokolamsk | Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery | Mozhaysk | Vereya | Ruza | Borovsk