After spending 80 years in the United States the bells of a Moscow Monastery are set to arrive back in their homeland. The Danilov Monastery lost them when they were sold in the 1930s to stop them being melted down.

The Link of Times Foundation negotiated their return from Harvard University and the Russian Orthodox Church will hold a procession taking them to the monastery grounds.

“Transporting the bells all the way from the US was a technical challenge. But we were very careful and they are here safe and sound. The main part of the project is now over.” says Roman Thaker from the Link of Times foundation.

The Russian Orthodox Church welcomed the road train carrying the bells with a procession that drew hundreds of worshippers. Many of them were saying they felt as though their history was coming back. The cobbles collapsed under the weight of the truck but the bells finally made it into the monastery’s yard to be greeted with a song of praise.

While the monastery itself was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church in the early 1980s after years of Soviet rule, for many it wasn't complete without its original bells. “Having them here now is incredible. I feel like I’m in a dream. I haven’t realised what’s happened yet.” said Archdeacon Roman, Chief bell ringer of the Danilov Monastery.

And while the cobbles are already being repaired, installing the bells in their original belfry will take three more months. A blessing ceremony will take place on Friday and soon the ancient toll that used to call Moscow’s church-goers for prayer will be heard once again.

To read RT's feature series on the Danilov bells, Homecoming of the Danilov Bells, follow the link.