🕍 “Icons and Apples: Churches and Market Day in Irkutsk”

#summervacay Irkutsk wakes slowly. Under the Siberian sky, the bells of Epiphany Cathedral ring across the Angara River like a call to pause. I started my morning here, where the onion domes glow in pale gold and pastel pink. Inside: incense, icons, and candlelight flickering off painted saints. A quiet reverence fills the air, stitched into every creaking floorboard. A short walk brought me to the Church of the Savior, one of Siberia’s oldest. Its red-brick walls and white trim stood sturdy against the chill. No crowds. Just a few locals crossing themselves on the way to work. Humble, timeless, sincere. Then, a shift in rhythm—just down the street, the Central Market pulsed with life. Apples piled high, vendors calling out in Russian, bundles of dill and pickles in jars catching winter light. I wandered through wool socks, steaming buns, and bright shawls. A woman handed me a piece of smoked cheese with a nod. I didn’t understand her words, but I understood the welcome. Irkutsk holds its soul in small things: hand-painted domes, wooden fences, warm bread on a cold day. With a paper bag of wild berries and my fingers thawing around a hot tea, I paused at a quiet bench, letting the rhythm of church bells and market calls blend into one. ⸻ #irkutskmorning #siberianstillness #churchesandmarkets