
Posted by Max Sher
A brand new business district called Belaya Ploshad (White Square) built around an early 20-century old-believers’ church. Old believers are a fundamentalist sect that’s split from the official Orthodox Church in 17 century. Many prominent Russian tsarist-era businessmen were from the old-believers’ background. During Soviet era, this church was desecrated, then, in the 1990s, returned to an old-belivers’ community and renovated. A good example of Moscow contrasts - a fundamentalist church (with a Facebook page) and modern office blocks next door. Plus - on the other side of Belaya Ploshad there is Belorussky Station Square - a large intersection with an endless construction site, a railway station, full of dirt, primitive street trade, homeless, and… nice cafes.