@article{article_763500, title={The Mediterranean Visit and the Book of the Travels of the Russian Monk-Traveller Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky in the First Half of 18th Century}, journal={Cedrus}, volume={8}, pages={675–688}, year={2020}, DOI={10.13113/CEDRUS.202035}, author={Ağayev, Elnur}, keywords={Mediterranean, Monk-Traveller Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky, Holy Lands, Holy Places of East, Travel Book}, abstract={The interest of the Russians in the Mediterranean began with their visits to the Holy Land and to Orthodox centers in the region. This interest and relations continued to gain political dominance in the region, to obtain a share of regional trade, establish a faith partnership with the region, together with the asylum of Russian refugees in the different countries of the region. The Russian reverend-traveller Vasily Grigorovich-Barsky, the subject of this research, travelled within the geography of Mediterranean for 23 years due to his interest in the Holy Land and in the Orthodox centers of faith. He travelled to almost all the countries with a Mediterranean coastline and particularly the Eastern Mediterranean, where he visited centres of faith, historical places, and educational institutions. He made observations regarding the social, cultural and political nature of the Mediterranean region which he noted down and he drew 148 pictures of the region. After his demise, his travel notes, drawings and the letters he wrote to his family and friends were compiled and published in 4 volumes. This study investigates the identity of Barsky, the reasons for his Mediterranean visit, his observations and the features of his travel book entitled, Travels of Barsky in the Holy Places of the East.}, publisher={Akdeniz University}