[PRengine]

Since one can tell a lot about the level of Orthodox life of a country by their bookstores I would suggest visiting the Sretensky Bookstore. It is close to Sretensky Monastery and is really an amazing place. But try to give yourself at least a good half-hour to hour to wander around in the place & browse. The bookstore of the Sergiev Posad podvorie church is also very good but a bit more difficult to find.

I would say that visiting almost any of the churches is a profitable experience. It's quite striking how compared to here in North America the churches are always open & prayed in at any hour of the day with people coming in and lighting candles even when there is not a service going on. Basically every church has a candle kiosk at the back where one can purchase candles, prayer books and even icons sometimes. It is also striking how many churches have scaffolding even within the main temple which is a sign of how renovation of the Church in general has really taken off.

God be with you and your friend in Moscow.

In Christ- Fr Raphael