Russia Launches VR App for Exploring Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

Created on the Unity engine, the mobile app offers immersive access to one of Russia’s most sacred monasteries — complete with rare historical artifacts.

Researchers at Moscow State University have developed a mobile virtual reality guide to the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, a major Orthodox monastery northeast of Moscow. Built using the Unity game engine, the app features highly detailed digital reconstructions of the monastery grounds, interiors, and historical objects, according to TASS.

The app is designed for all mobile devices and allows users to freely explore the grounds, enter buildings, and examine artifacts accompanied by rich historical context. It will be published on RuStore and Google Play by the end of 2025.

In addition to the monastery’s architecture, developers digitized the interiors of the Moscow Theological Academy and rare artifacts — including 16th-century Ethiopian crosses gifted to Emperor Nicholas II. These items are especially valuable, as the original method of their creation has been lost in Ethiopia.

The app also includes recorded lectures and performances by the academy’s choir. Some of the 3D models are already available online, with the full version scheduled for public release later this year.