Tales of Muscovy and the Ukraine

Journey through the spiritual landscapes of Moscow and the Ukraine in a collection of atmospheric tales shaped by Orthodox Christianity, folk belief, and the vivid traditions of village life. Set against fertile plains, remote monasteries, bustling cities, and humble peasant homes, these stories explore the power attributed to sacred images, pilgrimage, prayer, and holy figures.

The collection opens in the shadowy world of Moscow’s “Golden Net,” a glittering house of gambling and temptation, before moving through stories of icons, hermits, witches, seers, and visions of Christ. Rich in local color and religious feeling, the narratives balance the supernatural with humane observations of faith, doubt, suffering, and moral choice. Listeners will find an evocative portrait of early twentieth-century Russian and Ukrainian life, where ancient beliefs remain closely woven into the everyday world.