Radonezh

Radonezh (Russian: Радонеж), formerly known as Gorodok (Городо́к[1]) is a historic village in Moscow Oblast, Russia, located about 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) from Sergiyev Posad.

The old town of Radonezh is known to have existed since the first half of the 14th century, when it belonged to Ivan Kalita (Prince of Moscow from 1325).

The town belonged to Vladimir of Serpukhov (lived in 1353–1410) and to his descendants until 1426, when the last appanage prince of Radonezh died without naming an heir.

There ensued a bitter struggle for the possession of the town, which ended in Vasily II of Moscow's being taken captive in Radonezh by his cousin Dmitry Shemyaka and later blinded in 1446.

Although any new burials at this archeological site are now illegal, new graves continue to be added; some of them at the expense of the old earth walls being destroyed.