133 / 194
I n th e XV—XV II c e n tu r ie s K irillov a n d F e r a p o n to v m o n a s te rie s
w e re c lo se ly c o n n e c te d w ith th e re lig iou s , p o litic a l a n d c u ltu r a l life
o f th e w h o le c o u n try . T h e ir m o n um e n ts d em o n s tra te b o th th e b r i l
lia n t u p su rg e o f la te XV—XVI c e n tu ry M o scow a rt an d th e d is tin c tiv e
a rtis tic c h a ra c te r is tic s o f loca l m aste rs. T h e h is to ry o f R u s s ia n a rt
w o u ld n o t be c om p le te w ith o u t th em . K irillo -B e lo z e rsk y m o n a s te ry
w ith its m igh ty w alls a n d rich ly a d o rn e d c h u rc h e s , a n d F e r a p o n to v
m o n a s te ry w ith its w o rld -fam o u s m u ra ls by D iony s iu s a re am o n g th e
m o st s ig n ific a n t c re a tio n s o f R u ssian a rtis tic c u ltu r e .