Convent of Grand Duchess Elizaveta Fedorovna

I will be in Moscow this November.  Is the convent easy to get to from Red Square or would I need to arrange transportation?  From the maps I've seen it looks walkable.  Also, one can just go there?  I recall reading somewhere that you had to make arrangements, but the posts above indicate otherwise.  Thanks!

Hi Ena

I went to the convent about 10 years ago whilst in Moscow and it is walkable from Red Square. I seem to remember it was on the road directly leading to Red Square, it was very easy to get to, and one went passed a large McDonalds on the way which looked very out of place.  It took about 15/20 minutes walking (in snowy weather). 

Annette

I visited it in July 1997; attended a service in the building where the Grand Duchesses' quarters were and toured the church. Everything was still on the grounds but pretty run-down. The orphanage and hospital were not open to visitors at that time but the place was run by nuns or sisters of mercy who were proud of their habits which were modelled on those of Ella's sisters. Different fabric and color but very similar. It was a peaceful place right in the middle of Moscow and just a few steps from a major street. Actually the tour gave us a choice of seeing Lenin's body or Ella's convent. I heard Lenin had a band aid on his little finger--no way! Ella won hand's down.

Details of the convent project for the 100th Anniversary in 2009:

http://fap.ru/projects.php?id=10230

Joanna

Letters of GD Ella and notes of Mikhail Nesterov on the convent:
http://www.neofit.ru/modules.php?name=bs&file=displayimage&album=197&pos=-1262

Interior of the Chapel:
http://www.neofit.ru/images/news/vesti/Elizaveta_Fedorovna/elizaveta_fedorovna-7.jpg

Group of Sisters of the Convent:
http://www.neofit.ru/images/news/vesti/Elizaveta_Fedorovna/elizaveta_fedorovna-8.jpg

Joanna

Transfer of relics of St. Elizabeth and Nun Varvara to the Martha and Mary Convent

http://www.mmom.ru/ru/gallery/reports/index.php?id_7=45&from2_7=1

Now, there is a museum in the convent too.