How temples were built in Rus'. The oldest churches in Russia and around the world
In the 9th century, the Slavic people gathered under a single princely authority, which led to the formation of a young and strong state - Kievan Rus. Historians date this event to 862. This heyday of Kievan Rus was also called the “country of cities”; it began in the middle of the 9th century and lasted until the beginning of the 12th century.
The architecture of Kievan Rus, like literature, during this period was formed under the influence of the new Christian faith, but the ancient pagan heritage stretched through its entire history as a bright thread. This is confirmed by numerous architectural masterpieces. Memorable ancient Russian architecture includes ancient, original frescoes, sculptural facades and amazing ornaments of golden-domed churches and cathedrals. Many of them have survived to this day.
The unique architecture of Kievan Rus is a symbiosis of all the best in the culture of the great Byzantium, the nomadic tribes, as well as our own. The architects of Ancient Rus' formed their own style, which still delights the imagination of descendants. The architecture of Kievan Rus is most fully preserved in modern Kyiv. It seems that it was in this place that all the significant masterpieces of that time were collected, for example the Church of the Tithes, St. Sophia Cathedral, the Golden Gate with the Church of the Annunciation and many others.
The great baptist of Kievan Rus, Prince Vladimir, built the majestic Church of the Tithes with his own money in 996. He allocated a tenth of his income for its maintenance, previously it was called tithe, the church got its name from this word. She had a great purpose in history. Old Russian architecture appeared in all its splendor in this building.
It is very large, cross-domed, six-tiered. Built to last from stone, the inside was decorated with amazingly beautiful frescoes, mosaics and marble. Initially, a princely tomb was built in the Church of the Tithes. Vladimir's wife, the Byzantine princess Anna, and he himself, who died in 1015, were buried here. Then the remains of the legendary Princess Olga were transported here. The interior of the church also includes an iconostasis, crosses and other things that were the best at that time.
The art of Kievan Rus amazed with its sophistication and skill of ancient local craftsmen. The fate of the church was tragic and at the beginning of the 11th century it suffered from a fire, and then was subjected to repeated destruction. In 1240, having taken Kyiv, he did not spare the shrine and completely destroyed the Church of the Tithes.
The St. Sophia Cathedral still stands in the center. It is visible from afar, and its domes covered with gold evoke admiration and pride that a monument of such wondrous beauty has survived to this day. It is a place of pilgrimage for believers and one of the main historical attractions of the capital. Its history is complex; it was also plundered several times during wars, including in 1240 by Batu’s soldiers, but each time it rose from the ruins. It was finally rebuilt in 1740, and its current appearance still pleases with its beautiful ancient appearance. Not far from the St. Sophia Cathedral are the Golden Gate. This is a symbolic ancient monument, which reflects the architecture of Kievan Rus.
The gate was the face of the city and served for ceremonial, solemn entry into ancient Kyiv. They were built in the southern part of the city by the Kyiv prince Yaroslav the Wise in 1037. As additional protection, a ditch 15 meters wide and up to 8 meters deep was dug in front of the gate. The Golden Gate is a real fortress tower with a passage of up to 7.5 meters. Powerful pilasters and ancient walls 9.5 meters high have survived to this day. The gate church of the Annunciation at the Gate is noteworthy. She was a symbol of the Christian city. Archaeological studies of the Golden Gate surprised scientists with the found remains of its decoration: fresco paintings, cubes of bright transparent smalt, mosaic fragments. Smalt was very often used in decorating ancient Slavic churches. Ancient architects loved it for its durability and unusually beautiful color shifts, which when finished produced the effect of a living shimmer.
Undoubtedly, during this period of history the art of Kievan Rus reached its greatest flowering, as evidenced by the amazing architectural monuments of that time.
By the beginning of the 9th century, a huge super-union, the state of Rus', or, as scientists rightly call it, Kievan Rus, was created from individual Slavic tribal unions headed by “bright princes” (“princes of princes”).
In the era of Kievan Rus, the type of cultural and historical development of the Russian people was set within the framework of the close interweaving of two vectors of their spiritual life: Christian and pagan. The culture of this era is distinguished by the rapid growth of local feudal centers, accompanied by the development of local artistic styles in the fine and applied arts, architecture and chronicles.
The era of Kievan Rus was a time of flourishing of culture in general and architecture in particular.
2.1 Architecture of Kievan Rus until the 11th century.
Until the end of the 10th century. There was no monumental stone architecture in Rus', but there were rich traditions of wooden construction, some forms of which subsequently influenced stone architecture. After the adoption of Christianity, the construction of stone churches began, the construction principles of which were borrowed from Byzantium. In Rus', the cross-domed type of church became widespread. The interior space of the building was divided by four massive pillars, forming a cross in plan. On these pillars, connected in pairs by arches, a “drum” was erected, ending in a hemispherical dome. The ends of the spatial cross were covered with cylindrical vaults, and the corner parts with domed vaults. The eastern part of the building had projections for the altar - an apse. The interior space of the temple was divided by pillars into naves (spaces between rows). There could have been more pillars in the temple. In the western part there was a balcony - the choir, where the prince and his family and his entourage were present during the service. A spiral staircase, located in a specially designed tower, led to the choir. Sometimes the choirs were connected by a passage to the princely palace.
The pinnacle of southern Russian architecture of the 11th century. is the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv - a huge five-nave temple built in 1037-1054. Greek and Russian masters. In ancient times, it was surrounded by two open galleries. The walls are made of rows of cut stone alternating with rows of flat bricks (plinths). Most other ancient Russian churches had the same masonry walls. The Kiev Sophia was already significantly different from the Byzantine examples in the stepped composition of the temple, the presence of thirteen domes crowning it, which was probably influenced by the traditions of wooden construction. In the 11th century Several more stone buildings, including secular ones, were erected in Kyiv. The Assumption Church of the Pechersk Monastery marked the beginning of the spread of single-domed churches.
Following the Kyiv Sofia, St. Sophia Cathedrals were built in Novgorod and Polotsk. Novgorod Sophia (1045-1060) differs significantly from the Kyiv Cathedral. It is simpler, more concise, stricter than its original. It is characterized by some artistic and constructive solutions unknown to either southern Russian or Byzantine architecture: masonry of walls made of huge, irregularly shaped stones, gable ceilings, the presence of blades on the facades, an arcature belt on a drum, etc. This is partly explained by the connections of Novgorod with Western Europe and the influence of Romanesque architecture. Novgorod Sophia served as a model for subsequent Novgorod buildings of the early 12th century: the St. Nicholas Cathedral (1113), the cathedrals of the Antoniev (1117-1119) and Yuryev (1119) monasteries. The last princely building of this type is the Church of St. John on Opoki (1127).
The first stone building was the Church of the Tithes, erected in Kyiv at the end of the 10th century. Greek masters. It was destroyed by the Mongol-Tatars in 1240. In 1031-1036. In Chernigov, Greek architects erected the Transfiguration Cathedral - the most “Byzantine”, according to experts, temple of Ancient Rus'.
2.2 Architecture during the period of feudal fragmentation
With the death of Prince Yaroslav in 1054. construction activity in Kyiv did not stop, but the prince’s successors abandoned the construction of such colossal multi-domed city cathedrals as the Church of the Tithes and St. Sophia of Kiev. With great zeal they set about building monasteries, where they would renounce worldly affairs and were to be buried.
Along with monasteries, churches were built in Rus' - the so-called land cathedrals and cathedrals of the court and princes.
The Land Cathedral was the main temple of a particular principality. (During the construction of cathedrals, a departure from the Byzantine architectural canon was indicated. As a rule, these were six-pillar, three-nave, three-apse, single-domed cross-domed churches with a vestibule. It was necessary for people just about to be baptized, of whom there were many in lands remote from Kyiv and who during the service they were not supposed to be in the temple.
The functional affiliation of the court-princely cathedral was determined by its very name. The temple was built in the prince's courtyard and was connected to the prince's mansions by a covered passage. It was a four-pillar, three-nave, three-apse, single-domed cross-domed church without a vestibule. An obligatory attribute of such a temple was the choir in the western part, intended, as a rule, for the female half of the feudal aristocracy. Often, porch galleries with numerous arcosolia were added to the temple on the northern and southern sides for the burial of the princely family. This type of court-princely temple was a temple-tomb - a necropolis.
XII-XIII centuries - a controversial and tragic period in the history of Rus'. On the one hand, this is a time of the highest development of art, on the other, the almost complete collapse of Rus' into separate principalities, constantly at war with each other. However, at the same time, the cities of Vladimir Zalessky in the Vladimir-Suzdal land, Chernigov, Vladimir Volynsky (southwestern Rus'), Novgorod, and Smolensk began to gain strength. There was no political and military unity, but there was a consciousness of linguistic, historical and cultural unity.
Architecture of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality
Under Prince Vladimir Monomakh, rapid construction began in the northeast of Rus', in Zalesye. As a result, one of the most beautiful artistic ensembles in all of medieval Europe was created here.
Under Yuri Dolgoruky (son of Vladimir Monomakh), the so-called Suzdal sleep - white stone architecture - was formed. The first church, the ancestor of the style, made of white stone, the blocks of which were perfectly matched to one another, was the Church of Boris and Gleb in the village of Kydeksha, (4 km from Suzdal, on the very place where the holy princes Boris and Gleb allegedly stayed, when they walked from Rostov and Suzdal to Kyiv). It was a temple-fortress. It was a powerful cube with three massive apses, slit-like windows resembling loopholes, wide blades, and a helmet-shaped dome.
The son of Yuri Dolgoruky, Andrei Bogolyubsky, finally moved to the Vladimir residence. He did everything so that the city of Vladimir (named after Vladimir Monomakh) would overshadow Kyiv. In the fortress wall surrounding the city, gates were built, the main of which were traditionally called Golden. Such gates were erected in all major cities of the Christian world, starting with Constantinople, in memory of the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem through the Golden Gate of the city. The Golden Gate of Vladimir was crowned by a gate church, decorated with carved decorations and a golden dome. At the opposite end of the city stood the Silver Gate, no less massive and solemn.
The white stone facades of the cathedrals were decorated with stone carvings. The presence of stone decoration is an echo of the Romanesque style and is due to the fact that Andrei Bogolyubsky summoned craftsmen not only from Byzantium, but from all lands to his place in Vladimir. The already famous Church of the Intercession on the Nerl bears the imprint of this style. The church is dedicated to the Feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, established by Andrei Bogolyubsky to commemorate the unification of Rus' under the leadership of Vladimir.
Andrei Bogolyubsky built this court-princely temple not far from his chambers in memory of his beloved son Izyaslav, who died in a victorious campaign against the Bulgarians in 1164. The elegant one-domed church seems to float above the wide expanse of flooded meadows. Its upward aspiration is created primarily by harmonious proportions, a tripartite division of the facades, which corresponds to the organization of the interior space of the church, and the arched completion of the walls (the so-called zakomari), which became the leitmotif of the building, repeated in the design of window openings, portals, and the arcature belt.
The walls of the temple are decorated with stone ornaments made up of thin
columns connected at the top by semicircular arches (arcature belt), thin columns on “blades”, giving the dense mass of the wall lightness and airiness, zigzag (obliquely laid bricks) on a drum. The same composition of reliefs is repeated on all three facades. In the central zakomari there is a figure of the biblical psalmist David. The image of David was associated with Andrei Bogolyubsky himself, striving to end strife and restore order in the Russian land. On both sides of David, two doves are symmetrically located, which embody the idea of peace, and under them there are figures of lions - defeated evil. Much lower are three female masks with hair braided, like symbols of the Virgin Mary, which were placed on all temples dedicated to her. Such stone decoration is a distinctive stylistic feature of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture. The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is the most lyrical monument of Russian architecture.
In 1185-1189 In Vladimir, a land cathedral was erected in honor of the Mother of God - the Assumption. The greatest Russian shrine was placed in the cathedral - the icon of the Mother of God, which, according to legend, was painted by the Evangelist Luke and secretly taken from Kyiv by Andrei Bogolyubsky. The cathedral was erected in the center of Vladimir, on the high bank of the Klyazma, towering above the city. Like any cathedral belonging to the land genre of religious architecture, the Assumption was a six-pillar, single-domed cross-domed church with a vestibule. According to the chronicler, “God brought craftsmen from all lands,” including newcomers from the Romanesque West, sent to Prince Andrew allegedly by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Expanded under Vsevolod the Big Nest, Andrei's brother, the cathedral acquired a more monumental appearance with extended facades divided into five sections and five domes.
During the time of Vsevolod, whose glory and power so amazed his contemporaries, the Suzdal land became a principality dominating the rest of Russia. During this period, the Dmitrievsky Cathedral, the third masterpiece of religious architecture, was erected in Vladimir.
Dmitrievsky Cathedral is a relatively small one-domed temple with a choir, such as were built in feudal courtyards. But despite its size, it looks majestic and solemnly magnificent. This is one of the most beautiful and most original cathedrals of Ancient Rus'. In plan it represents a Greek cross without any deviation from the Byzantine canon. But from the outside, St. Demetrius Cathedral is something so independent that it cannot be included among the buildings of the Byzantine type. It is no longer wide and flat “blades” that divide the walls into spindles, but long, thin columns. In the bas-reliefs of St. Demetrius Cathedral we see elements of Byzantine, Romanesque, even Gothic and, of course, Russian styles. The presence of rich stone decoration of the temple indicates that it was decorated by masters from the Romanesque West, although there is nothing apocalyptic in the bas-reliefs, i.e. hinting at the end of the world and the Last Judgment. The southern facade is decorated with emphatically flat carvings, reminiscent of wood carvings, undoubtedly made by Russian craftsmen; the predominance of floral and zoomorphic ornaments also indicates a traditionally Russian style. It can be assumed that the builder of the cathedral was an architect who was well acquainted with the Venetian Cathedral of St. Mark, since the decorative motifs of these two cathedrals are absolutely identical: unprecedented lions, birds and deer, flowers, leaves, fantastic horsemen, griffins, centaurs and even the scene of Alexander the Great’s ascent to heaven fill the planes of the walls.
The entire building is divided into three tiers in height. The lower one is the highest, almost without decorations; its surface is enlivened only by the deep spot of the portal and the arcature belt. The “columns” of the belt seem to hang down, like heavy braided cords with massive pendants. On the middle tier, above the arcature belt, all the decorative decoration of the cathedral is concentrated. The third belt is the massive head of the temple, raised on a square “pedestal”.
Architecture of Novgorod and Pskov
The Mongol-Tatar invasion severely struck Ancient Rus'. Naturally, in most cities of central and north-eastern Rus', such as Vladimir, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Rostov, large-scale construction has come to a standstill. However, Veliky Novgorod and Pskov, strong independent cities, continued to build, including stone churches, realizing that a rich cathedral church was a visible evidence of the power of the city. True, after the appearance of the Tatars in Rus', the construction of large city and monastery cathedrals completely ceased, and the custom arose of building very small churches.
There were monastery churches, built on the initiative of the Novgorod archbishops, and street churches, the builders of which were residents of one or another parish, and the lion's share of the costs was borne by wealthy “guests” - merchants.
Since the monastic community usually consisted of ten to twenty monks, there was no need for a monumental monastery church. In addition, in these cities the princely power lost its authority and gave way to a republic in which archbishops enjoyed enormous influence. The Church preferred to have many, albeit small, church buildings.
The first stone church after the Tatar invasion, built in 1292, was the monastery church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker of the Lipensky Monastery. Another example of a monastery church was the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on Volotovo Field. Typically, a monastery church is a small square room with four pillars, three naves, one massive apse in the east, a vestibule in the west and one helmet-shaped dome.
Ulichansky churches are larger, and their entire appearance is more solemn. Almost all of them, like the monastery churches, are single-domed, with one massive apse, but without a vestibule. Instead, on the western wall there is a porch - a porch in front of the entrance.
The facades of all Novgorod churches usually have a three-lobed finish, and the roofs, as a rule, are eight-sloped. This deviation in the roof structure from the general Byzantine style was determined by local climatic conditions - frequent cold rains and snowfalls. The unconventional arrangement of internal vaulted ceilings also dictated the special organization of the internal space of the Novgorod temple: the pillars supporting the vaults are widely spaced and moved close to the walls. Because of this, the inside of the temple seems higher than it actually is.
Novgorod churches were built entirely of brick or multi-colored cobblestones with inserts of flat brick - plinths, which provided color shifts from grayish-blue to bright red-brown and gave the building an extraordinary picturesqueness.
The temples were decorated very modestly: with brick crosses inserted into the masonry; three small slits where there should have been one large window; “edges” above the windows and a typical Pskov-Novgorod pattern on the drum. This pattern consisted of squares and triangles. Above the ornamental belt, and sometimes instead of it, there was a chain of kokoshniks - arched stepped recesses. The altar apse was decorated with vertical ridges connected at the top by arches. Particular mention should be made of the so-called voice boxes, characteristic only of Novgorod churches: pots and jugs mounted horizontally into the walls, into the drum of the dome, into the “sails” and vaults and served as a kind of microphones.
The main religious buildings of Pskov were located on the territory of the Kremlin and in the Dovmontov city - an area closely adjacent to the Kremlin. All Pskov churches are small in size, squat, spacious at the bottom, and they look extremely stable. To create greater stability and external softness of the outlines, the craftsmen slightly “piled” the walls inward. All of them are single-domed, on four or six pillars, with one (rarely three) apse, a vestibule and a vestibule.
Church porches were very massive structures, the basis of which was made up of powerful stone pillars. One end of the arch was laid on them, and with the other it rested against the wall. Often the top of the arches was framed with a gable roof.
A distinctive feature of Pskov churches was the presence of a basement - a special basement intended for storing church property, goods and even weapons.
A characteristic feature of Pskov church architecture is the asymmetry created by the presence of a chapel and a belfry. An aisle is a small church with a dome and an apse in the east and dedicated to a saint, attached to the temple on the south or north side. They entered it through the main temple, but often it had its own vestibule. Belfries, which appeared for the first time in Pskov architecture, either rose above the western porch or above the porch of the chapel, being an integral part of the temple, or were a separate pillar-shaped bell tower structure with openings for bells and a gable roof topped with a dome.
The penchant of Pskov craftsmen for asymmetry is especially visible in the Church of St. Nicholas on Usokha, built on the border of a drained swamp - Usokha. The church is a single-domed temple with three apses, a basement, a vestibule, and a porch-porch. On the north side it is adjoined by a large chapel with a vestibule, over which a bell tower is erected. Attached to the southern apse is the single-domed chapel “The Unquenchable Candle”, which has a strongly protruding porch-porch. This entire structure is a complex asymmetrical composition.
Newly built churches were certainly decorated. And if in Kievan Rus and large principalities of the initial period of feudal fragmentation, churches were decorated mainly with mosaic compositions and frescoes, then in the second half of the 13th century. The leading role is given to the icon. In general, with the Tatar-Mongol invasion, types of artistic creativity developed more that did not require large financial outlays and whose objects could easily be moved if necessary.
Conclusion.
The world of Byzantium brought new construction experience and traditions to Rus'. Rus' adopted the construction of churches in the image of the cross-baptismal temple of the Greeks.
Pagan Rus' did not know temple construction. After the adoption of Christianity, stone construction began in cities by order of the state and princes. Rus' left us majestic monuments of ancient architecture: the Virgin of the Tithes (the Tithe Church, built in honor of the adoption of Christianity), St. Sophia Cathedrals in Kyiv, Novgorod, Polotsk, the Golden Gate in Kyiv, Vladimir. The principles of temple construction (cross-domed style) were borrowed from Byzantium. The temple was like a smaller display of the world order. Attention to vaulted arches was determined by the tradition associated with the grandiose symbol of the sky - the dome. The entire central space of the temple in plan formed a cross.
The peculiarity of the architecture of Kievan Rus was manifested, on the one hand, in the following of Byzantine traditions (in the beginning, the masters were predominantly Greek), on the other hand, there was immediately a departure from the Byzantine canons, a search for independent paths in architecture. So already in the first stone church - Desyatinnaya - there were such features that were not typical for Byzantium, such as multi-domes (up to 25 domes), pyramidality - this is a purely Russian heritage of wooden architecture, transferred to stone.
The historical merit of Kievan Rus was not only that a new socio-economic formation was created for the first time and hundreds of primitive tribes acted as a single state, the largest in all of Europe. During its state unity, Kievan Rus managed and managed to create a single nationality. The unity of the ancient Russian people was expressed in the development of a common literary language, which covered local tribal dialects, in the formation of a common culture, in the national self-perception of the unity of the entire people.
Russian art from the 10th to the end of the 17th century was inextricably linked with the church and the Christian faith, which the Russian people, following their Byzantine teachers, called Orthodox. (Before this, paganism was practiced in Rus').
The first city in Rus' to be baptized was Kyiv.
The beginning of a new history and new art on Russian soil was laid at the end of the 10th century under the Grand Duke Vladimir Svyatoslavich.
The princely ambassadors attended a service in the great Orthodox church of Byzantium - the Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. They were amazed by what they saw: “We don’t know whether we were in heaven or on earth, for there is no such view and such beauty on earth.”
It is amazing how many magnificent churches, decorated with mosaics, frescoes, and icons, were erected in the 11th century in the newly baptized country. At that time, Byzantine masters came to Rus' in whole artels.
Tithe Church.
Near the princely court in 991-996. The multi-domed Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God rose, nicknamed the tithe, because the prince ordered a tenth of his income to be given to the construction of this temple.
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| Tithe Church. Layout |
Before the construction of the Church of St. Sophia in Kyiv, the Tithe Church was the main revered Orthodox church.
In 1240, during the dark year of Batu's invasion, the Tithe Church was destroyed.
Spaso - Transfiguration Cathedral in Chernigov.
The most ancient of the temples of Kievan Rus that have survived to this day in their former appearance.
It is located not in Kyiv, but in Chernigov. Laid down by order of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich (son of Prince Vladimir) in the 11th century.
Basically it was a five-domed temple of the type of an inscribed cross with a developed altar part.
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| Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Chernigov. Modern look |
At that time, churches were not plastered, so the brick ornament of the plinth, fastened with pink mortar, in addition to elegance, gave the temple lightness. It was built by Byzantine masters, so Greek patterns - meanders - are clearly visible.
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| Cathedral interiors today |
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| Cathedral interiors today |
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| Cathedral interiors today |
Hagia Sophia in Kyiv.
A new stage of architecture is associated with the construction of Yaroslav the Wise in Kyiv. In the late 30s - early 50s of the 11th century. at the direction of the Grand Duke of Kyiv, the most majestic and famous of all Russian churches was erected - the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia (i.e., the Wisdom of God). This is also the most grandiose of all known temples of the Byzantine artistic tradition.
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| Model of Hagia Sophia in Kyiv |
In the 11th century. The St. Sophia Cathedral had thirteen domes, but later underwent serious reconstruction and the number of domes decreased.
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| Modern view of Hagia Sophia in Kyiv |
If the ancient frescoes are barely visible on the walls of the cathedral, then the mosaics made of smalt are as bright as many centuries ago. The main parts of the temple are decorated with them.
Christ the Pantocrator is located in the dome.
And in the altar, on the wall of the central apse, there is a stern figure of the Mother of God. Her hands are raised upward in ceaseless prayer.
Nowhere else on Russian soil are churches decorated with mosaics made of smalt and natural stone preserved. This will remain only on Kyiv soil, as a reflection of the Byzantine Empire, which gave Rus' the ability to build temples and paint icons.
New Town architecture.
The 11th century in ancient Russian architecture is the era of the “three Sophias”: Kiev, Novgorod and Polotsk.
The farther from Southern Rus' the temple was built, the more features of original Russian architecture it contained, the more local craftsmen brought their own finds into construction practice. Therefore, Sophia of Novgorod and Polotsk, built in the image of Sophia of Kyiv, were very different from her.
For several centuries, Novgorod the Great was the “second capital” of Rus'.
This city was famous for its population and wealth.
In 1045-1050 By order of Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, one of the most famous cathedrals of Ancient Rus' was erected - St. Sophia of Novgorod.
The cathedral was built of plinth (flat brick) and stone. Despite the fact that the basic architectural elements of Sophia of Kyiv and Sophia of Novgorod are largely the same, they produce a completely different impression.
The Novgorod temple looks more severe, more monumental and more compact. Its five powerful domes are raised high above the monolithic cubic building, strictly separated from it. The sixth chapter is crowned by a staircase tower located in the western gallery south of the entrance. The heads of the chapters are made in the shape of ancient Russian helmets.
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| Cathedral of St. Sophia in Novgorod. |
The frescoes and mosaics of the temple were partially destroyed during the Great Patriotic War.
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| Interiors of the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Novgorod |
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| Icon of the Mother of God. Sign. |
St. George's Cathedral of the Yuryev Monastery. Novgorod.
Construction of the cathedral, which became the main temple of the Yuryev Monastery, began in 1119. The initiator of the construction was Grand Duke Mstislav I Vladimirovich. Since he was in Kyiv at that time, the construction of the cathedral was entrusted to the abbot of the Yuriev Monastery, Kiriak, and the son of Mstislav, the Novgorod prince Vsevolod. From the Novgorod Chronicle we know the name of the cathedral's builder - master Peter. This is the first of the famous names of ancient Russian master builders.
Construction of the cathedral lasted 11 years; before completion, its walls were covered with frescoes that were destroyed in the 19th century.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Torg. Novgorod.
Construction 1135-1144
The Assumption Church is the last major princely building in Novgorod. According to chronicles, it was repeatedly subjected to major reconstructions due to fires that occurred (for example, in 1541, 1606, 1745).
In 1409, the chapels of Alexei, the man of God and the martyr Catherine, were added to it from the north and south. As a result of repeated reconstructions, the church retained only its original plan. Particularly serious changes to its appearance were made in 1458. The chronicle reports that it was built on the old basis, and “the old stone was destroyed.”
Vladimir architecture.
Vladimir-Suzdal churches were white stone. The most ancient of them were distinguished by modest decor: an arched belt on the apses and a horizontal ebb shelf in the middle of the walls. The windows were narrow, resembling slits of loopholes. From the 12th century, churches began to be decorated with white stone carvings: sometimes these are folklore subjects, sometimes the Scythian “animal style”, and in some cases Romanesque influences are visible.
The rise of Vladimir was associated with the reign of Andrei Bogolyubsky, the son of Yuri Dolgoruky, who built churches not only for pious reasons, but also for political ones - to show that his land was under the special protection of heavenly powers, to turn it into the Holy Land. In fact, he created a new Kyiv in Vladimir.
In 1158 - 1164 it was founded Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady. It was supposed to become a stronghold of the future Vladimir Metropolis, independent of the Kyiv spiritual authorities.
This is a large, one-domed, six-pillar temple with vestibules adjacent to it on three sides. White stone blocks and tuff were used as materials. Andrei granted the cathedral a tenth of the prince's income, thereby likening it to the Kyiv Tithe (also Assumption) Church. At the end of the 12th century, the external design of the cathedral was redone: it was built with additional galleries, the walls were hewn and connected to the side parts. Transforms from one-headed to five-headed, the chapters are located far from each other.
In 1164 they were erected Golden Gate with a gate tower topped by the Church of the State of Reese; Their purpose was twofold: ceremonial and decorative. They are located at the entrance from the southwest to the main part of Vladimir, leading to the palace and temple ensemble. This organization of urban space went back to theological ideas about the ideal Heavenly City and was a distinctive feature of two capitals that claimed to be the New Jerusalem: Constantinople and Kyiv. Thus, Andrei Bogolyubsky, placing his city in the same row, declared in the language of architecture that Vladimir should take the place of “the mother of Russian cities.”
Associated with military campaigns of princes Church of the Intercession on the Nerl. The temple stands on an artificial hill 4 m high, once lined and lined with white stone slabs. The height of its walls, equal to the length, was complemented by a light chapter placed on a tetrahedral pedestal. The church was surrounded by galleries from the west, north and south. Successfully found proportions, thin multi-step profiling of blades protruding from the thickness of the walls with columns almost detached from them, carved images of them on the vaults of the zakomari made the church elegant. For the first time, figured consoles in the form of lions, leopards, griffins, animal and female masks appeared in the arcature-columnar belt.
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| Scenery |
| Scenery |
Architecture of Moscow.
Despite the policy of the Tatar khans, who sought to exhaust the strength of the Russian people by inciting princely civil strife, already at the beginning of the 14th century, a new center for the unification of Russian lands - the Moscow Principality - emerged into the historical arena. The location of Moscow at the intersection of trade and river routes connecting Russian lands plays a big role in this. The old cultural and political center of Rus' - Vladimir - after the capture of the trade route from the East by the Golden Horde, gradually gives way to Moscow.
Early Moscow architecture, inspired by this idea, developed under the influence of brilliant examples of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture of the 12th-13th centuries, which survived the Tatar pogrom. The first attempts at monumental construction date back to the time of Ivan Kalita. Chronicles mention four stone churches and the construction of oak walls of the Kremlin in Moscow (1329). Under Dmitry Donskoy Moscow Kremlin was first surrounded by stone walls (1367).
At the end of the 15th century, under Ivan III, work began on rebuilding the cathedrals, palaces and fortifications of the Kremlin. Along with Russian architects, masters from Italy were also brought in, where at that time the art and architecture of the Renaissance reached its peak.
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| Moscow white stone Kremlin |
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In 1505-1509, the Italian architect Aleviz Novy built in the Kremlin a similar plan to the Assumption Cathedral - the Archangel Cathedral, in which the features of Italian architecture were reflected more strongly than in the first. At the same time, a new princely palace was built in the Kremlin (1481 -1508), which consisted of a number of interconnected buildings - chambers, among which the famous single-pillar "Faceted Chamber" (1487-1496) stood out.
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All cathedrals are arranged in a composition cross-domed church.
A main dome was built over the building, with 4 to 12 smaller domes adjacent to it. This central chapter was supported by a drum with light windows, supported by 4 main pillars located inside the temple. Thus, the rectangular church building was, as it were, dissected by a cross, the crosshairs of which fell exactly on the center of the temple - the space under the dome between the four main pillars.
The main and other pillars divided the temple into naves - galleries running from the entrance to the altar. There were 3 or 5 naves. On the eastern side of the temple there was an altar, where an important part of the service took place. In the area of the altar, the wall jutted out with semicircular projections - apses. The semicircular coverings of church vaults were called zakomars. The entrance to the church is always from the western part. And above it they built a choir - an upper open gallery, a balcony for the nobility.
The construction of ancient stone cathedrals began after the proclamation of Christianity as the state religion of Rus'. They were first erected in the largest cities - Kyiv, Vladimir, and Novgorod. Most of the cathedrals have survived to this day and are the most important architectural monuments.
Historical reference
The Old Russian state reached the peak of its development during the reign of Vladimir the Great and his son Yaroslav the Wise. In 988, Christianity was proclaimed the state religion. This was of great importance for the further development of feudal relations, strengthening the unity of the country, the flourishing of cultural life, and the expansion of ties with Byzantium and other European powers. After approval, they began to build ancient cathedrals from stone. The best masters of their time were invited to carry out the work, and the artistic and technical achievements of the era were used.
The first stone church - Desyatinnaya - was erected in the center of Kyiv under Vladimir the Great. During its construction, the prince managed to significantly strengthen the city and expand its territory.
in architecture
The ancient cathedrals of Rus' very often resembled Byzantine churches in their design. But soon this artistic model began to acquire national characteristics.
It was a cross-domed temple. The Chernigov Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, Sophia of Kiev and others had the same form.
Let's consider the characteristic features of Byzantine temples:
- Cross-domed cathedrals were a building topped with a dome, which was strengthened by four columns. They were sometimes joined by two more (to increase the size).
- Ancient cathedrals looked like a pyramid.
- For the construction of temples, special bricks of a certain shape were used - plinths, which were connected using cement.
- Windows, as a rule, had a couple of openings and an arch.
- The main attention was concentrated on the interior decoration of the temple. There were no rich compositions outside.
Characteristic features of ancient Russian architecture
The ancient cathedrals of Rus' were built according to the Byzantine model. However, over time, architecture acquired its own national characteristics.
- The temples were much larger than the Byzantine ones. For this purpose, additional galleries were built around the main room.
- Large cross-shaped pillars were used instead of central columns.
- Sometimes the plinth was replaced with stone.
- The picturesque design style eventually gave way to a graphic one.
- From the 12th century towers and galleries were not used and the side naves were not illuminated.
Saint Sophia Cathedral
The ancient cathedral was erected during the period of the highest In the chronicles, the foundation of St. Sophia of Kyiv dates back to 1017 or 1037.
The Council was dedicated to the wisdom of Christian teaching and was called upon to affirm the greatness of the new religion. During the times of Rus', the cultural and social center of the capital was located here. The cathedral was surrounded by other stone temples, palaces and simple city buildings.
Initially it was a five-nave cross-domed structure. There were galleries outside. The walls of the building were built of red brick and plinth. Sophia of Kiev, like other ancient Russian cathedrals, was decorated with various spans and arches. The interior decoration was replete with picturesque frescoes and gilded mosaics. This all created the impression of extraordinary pomp and show. The cathedral was painted by some of the most famous Byzantine masters.
Sophia of Kiev is the only architectural monument of Ukraine that survived the Mongol invasion in 1240.
Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary
The church located on the shore is one of the most famous architectural monuments on Suzdal land. The temple was erected by Andrei Bogolyubsky in the 12th century. in honor of a new holiday in Rus' - the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. Like many others in Russia, this church is a cross-domed building on four columns. The building is very bright and light. The frescoes of the temple have not survived to this day, as they were destroyed during reconstruction at the end of the 19th century.
Kremlin in Moscow
The Moscow Kremlin is the most famous and oldest architectural monument in the Russian capital. According to legend, the first wooden fortress was erected under Yuri Dolgoruky at the beginning of the 12th century. The ancient Kremlin cathedrals are the most famous in Russia and still attract tourists with their beauty.
Assumption Cathedral
The first stone cathedral in Moscow is the Assumption Cathedral. It was erected by an Italian architect during the reign of Ivan III on the highest point of the Kremlin hill. In general terms, the building is similar to other ancient cathedrals in Russia: a cross-domed model, six pillars and five domes. The Assumption Church in Vladimir was taken as the basis for construction and design. The walls were built from iron ties (instead of traditional oak), which was an innovation for Russia.
The Assumption Cathedral was intended to emphasize the greatness of the Moscow state and demonstrate its power. Church councils were held here, metropolitans were elected, and Russian rulers were crowned.
Blagoveshchensky cathedral
At a time when Moscow was still a small principality, an ancient cathedral was located on the site of the Annunciation Church. In 1484, construction of a new building began. Russian architects from Pskov were invited to build it. In August 1489, a snow-white three-domed temple was erected, surrounded by a large gallery on three sides.
If the Assumption Cathedral was the religious center of the principality, where important spiritual and political ceremonies were held, then the Annunciation Cathedral was the royal house church. In addition, the state treasury of great rulers was kept here.
Cathedral of the Archangel
This ancient monument is a temple-tomb in which the ashes of prominent Russian figures are kept. Ivan Kalita, Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan the Terrible, Vasily the Dark, Vasily Shuisky and others are buried here.
The Archangel Cathedral was built in 1508 according to the design of the Italian architect Aleviz. The master arrived in Moscow at the invitation of Ivan III.
It should be noted that the Archangel Church is not like other ancient cathedrals located on Red Square. It resembles a secular building, the design of which contains antique motifs. The Archangel Cathedral is a cross-domed five-domed building with six columns. During its construction, for the first time in the history of Russian architecture, a two-tier order was used to decorate the facade.
Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye
The church was erected in 1532 in honor of the birthday of Ivan the Terrible. The beautiful building was located on the banks of the Moscow River.
The Church of the Ascension is radically different from other Russian cathedrals. In its form it represents an equal-pointed cross and is the first example of hipped-roof architecture in Russia.
When visiting European countries, we are surprised - castles and churches can be more than 1000 years old, they are well preserved and are simply amazing from the outside. But where is our heritage of antiquity - the monuments of Kievan Rus?
Dozens, if not hundreds, of wars, time and indifference destroyed most of them. Many of the majestic cities of Kievan Rus have now become provincial towns, but often boast unique attractions, others have become megacities and hide priceless treasures behind a palisade of skyscrapers. But even these few monuments are priceless for the Ukrainian people. So where can you find them?
Monument to the legendary founders of Kyiv - Kiy, Shchek, Khoryv and their sister Lybid. Photo source: kyivcity.travel.
Kyiv
Saint Sophie Cathedral
The capital city has retained the greatest heritage of those ancient times. Of course, the most famous landmark is, which was built during the time of Yaroslav the Wise. The main temple of what was then Eastern Europe now has the status of a UNESCO world heritage site. Historians have proven that the temple was founded by Vladimir the Great in 1011, and completed by his son Yaroslav in 1037.
After the Mongol invasion, the temple remained partially in ruins. The Kyiv metropolitans tried to maintain the temple in adequate condition, but a major restoration took place during the time of Ivan Mazepa. At that time, the temple acquired the appearance that we see now. At the same time, the bell tower was built, which is one of the symbols of the capital.
Photo source: obovsem.kiev.ua.
St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral
The architectural landmark of Kievan Rus became a victim of Soviet power. together with the majestic cathedral, it existed from 1108 to 1936, when it was blown up by the communists. It was built by the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise Svyatopolk Izyaslavich. In the 17th century it acquired the forms of Ukrainian Baroque. It was rebuilt only in 2000. Now it is a functioning monastery and temple of the UOC-KP.
This is what the cathedral looked like in a photograph taken in 1875. Photo source: proidysvit.livejournal.com.
Mikhailovsky Golden-Domed in our days. Photo source: photoclub.com.ua.
Kiev-Pechersk Lavra
One of the main shrines of Orthodox Christians, the spiritual center of the Ukrainian people, was also not spared the sad fate of the war - the main temple of the Lavra was destroyed in 1942. Historians are still looking for the culprits, whether Soviet troops or the Wehrmacht is unknown. But the temple was restored only in 2000.
The Assumption Cathedral was built in 1078 during the time of the son of Yaroslav the Wise, Svyatoslav Yaroslavich. The monastery existed on this site all the time, until today. Now it is one of the main shrines of Orthodox Christians, it belongs to the UOC MP.
Photo source: litopys.com.ua.
From those times to today, two more monuments of Kievan Rus have come, which are located on the territory of the monastery - the Church of the Savior on Berestov and the Trinity Gate Church. All of them were significantly rebuilt and acquired their modern appearance in the 18th century.
Church of the Savior on Berestov. Photo source: commons.wikimedia.org author - Konstantin Burkut.
Vydubitsky Monastery
Another decoration of Kyiv is. Its history begins in the 1070s, when St. Michael's Church was built, which is the oldest on the territory of the monastery. It was also rebuilt several times and rose from ruins, and acquired its current appearance after 1760.
Kirillovskaya Church
One of the most interesting monuments of ancient Kyiv. Built in the middle of the 12th century. Around the temple there was the Kirillovsky Monastery, which was destroyed in the 30s of the 20th century, and the church was turned into a museum. In the 17th century it was restored and acquired the features of Ukrainian Baroque. It has survived in the same form to this day. The highlight is the wonderful 12th century paintings, which were restored by Mikhail Vrubel. Among the ancient frescoes there are works by masters of the Kyiv school of the 19th century - Nikolai Pimonenko, Khariton Platonov, Samuil Gaiduk, Mikhail Klimanov and others.
Golden Gate
This is the only monument of stone defensive architecture from the times of Rus' that has survived to this day, albeit partially. They were built during the time of Yaroslav the Wise, that is, they are about a thousand years old. From the authentic structure, ruins have reached us, around which they recreated themselves in the second half of the 20th century. Today one can only imagine the grandeur of old Kyiv after seeing their reconstruction.
Photo source: vorota.cc.
Most of the monuments of Kievan Rus have been preserved in Kyiv. Irreparable damage was caused by the Bolsheviks with their mania for destroying churches. St. Michael's Golden-Domed Church, the Church of the Mother of God-Pirogoshchi on Podol, Vasilievskaya and St. George's churches, the temple on the site of the ancient Church of the Tithes and some others - they were all destroyed in the 30s of the 20th century, having stood for centuries before that.
Church of the Virgin Mary in Kyiv. Today, a temple has been rebuilt in its place, close in shape to the original one. Photo source: intvua.com.
Chernigov
Chernigov was one of the richest cities of Kievan Rus. To some extent, it competed with the capital. Even now there are many monuments of Kievan Rus left in it.
Transfiguration Cathedral
One of the main shrines of ancient Rus' and the main temple of the Chernigov land. It is the same age as St. Sophia of Kyiv and is one of the oldest churches in Ukraine. Its construction began in 1035. The building was founded by the brother of Yaroslav the Wise, Mstislav the Brave. It was partially rebuilt throughout its history, but today it is one of the best-preserved churches of Rus' on the territory of Ukraine. Ancient paintings from the 11th century have been partially preserved in the interiors.
Photo source: dmitrieva-larisa.com.
Boris and Gleb Cathedral
Not far from the Transfiguration Cathedral there is another attraction of ancient Chernigov -. It was built between 1115 and 1123. It was rebuilt in the 17-18 centuries in the Ukrainian Baroque style, but during World War II it was hit by an air bomb, which destroyed the vault of the temple. After the war, in 1952-1958, the cathedral was restored, during which the temple acquired its original appearance. Today it houses a museum. Among its most valuable exhibits are the silver royal gates, made at the expense of Ivan Mazepa.
Photo source: invtur.com.ua.
Elias Church
A small ancient church with almost a thousand years of history. Located on the slopes of a picturesque tract in Chernigov. The temple appeared as a church at the entrance to the caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. According to legend, they were also founded by Anthony of Pechersk. It was rebuilt several times and acquired its appearance in the 17th century in the Ukrainian Baroque style. Today it is a museum of the “Ancient Chernigov” reserve.
Photo source: sumno.com.
Assumption Cathedral of the Yelets Monastery
Chernigov. It was built in the middle of the 12th century. During the Tatar-Mongol invasion it was partially destroyed, but then restored. Like many other churches, it was rebuilt in the Ukrainian Baroque style, in which it has survived to this day. In the interior of the cathedral, small remains of paintings from the times of Kievan Rus have been preserved.
Photo source: uk.wikipedia.org, author - KosKat.
Oster
A small provincial town on the banks of the Desna River, it would seem, can do nothing to attract tourists. However, it preserves the ruins of the Yuryevskaya Goddess - the altar part of the ancient St. Michael's Church, which was finally dismantled at the end of the 18th century. The church itself was built by order of Vladimir Monomakh at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries. Unique paintings from the 12th century have been preserved on its walls, but now the monument requires significant attention; there is a threat of losing valuable paintings due to inadequate conservation of the temple.
Kanev
In this city, quite unexpectedly, you can find an ancient temple from 1144 -. It was built by Prince Vsevolod Olgovich, the temple is very close in architectural terms to the St. Cyril Church in Kyiv. It was damaged by the Tatars and Turks in 1678, but was restored 100 years later in modern forms. The Cossack ataman Ivan Podkova, who became a legend during his lifetime, was buried there. The remains of Taras Shevchenko were kept in the Assumption Cathedral for two days during his reburial according to the poet’s will. Today it is a functioning temple of the UOC MP.
Photo source: panoramio.com, author - hranom.
Ovruch
The small town of Ovruch in the north of the Zhitomir region may pleasantly surprise you - it has been preserved here, which was built around 1190 with the assistance of Prince Rurik Rostislavich. The temple was destroyed several times, but was constantly rebuilt, until a large-scale restoration and restoration of the building in its ancient Russian images was carried out in 1907-1912. The ruins of the old church became part of the restored walls of the temple. The interior contains remains of the original painting.
Photo source: we.org.ua.
Vladimir-Volynsky
The once majestic city of Kievan Rus and the capital of the Volyn land, today is a small town. The church, which is also called the Temple of Mstislav after its founder, Prince Mstislav Izyaslavich, will tell you about its former greatness and glory. The construction of the cathedral dates back to 1160. During its existence, it suffered more than one destruction, but in 1896-1900 it was recreated in its original forms. Together with the bishop's chambers it forms a castle - a fortified part of the old city.
Photo source: mapio.net.
Lyuboml
On the way, stop by the provincial Volyn town of Lyuboml. It contains a building that was founded in the early 1280s by order of the Volyn prince Vladimir Vasilkovich. Like many other temples of ancient Rus', it was repeatedly destroyed, but then rebuilt. At the end of the 18th century, the church acquired its modern appearance.
Photo source: mamache.wordpress.com.
Galich
One of the oldest cities of Kievan Rus, first mentioned in Hungarian chronicles back in 898. It reached its greatest prosperity during the time of Yaroslav Osmomysl, who was sung in “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.” Although King Daniel is usually called Galician, it was he who moved his capital from Galich to Kholm. In the city and its surroundings, 2 churches have been preserved, monuments of ancient Rus' in Ukraine. The brightest is in Krylos, a village near Galich. It is unique in that it combines the Byzantine style familiar to Rus' with the Romanesque. Built around 1194 by Roman Mstislavich, father of Daniil. In 1998, the temple was restored for the last time, and then it acquired its modern appearance. Interestingly, the church preserves ancient medieval inscriptions on the walls. Some of them have survived from princely times.
Photo source: photographers.ua, author - Igor Bodnar.
Another ancient church in Galich is considered to be one that was built in the second half of the 13th century. Information about the history of the church is very scanty. It was restored in the 18th century, and acquired its modern appearance after the last reconstruction in 1906.
Photo source: hram-ua.com.
Lviv
As you know, Lviv was founded by Daniil Galitsky and named after his son Lev. However, since that time only 2 structures have reached us - and. These are the oldest buildings in Lviv. Although churches were not at all typical of ancient Ukrainian architecture, they were built in Lviv at the request of Prince Leo’s wife Constance, who professed the Latin rite. The approximate date of construction is 1260. By the way, the church is located not far from the center of princely Lviv. Now the church houses a museum of the most ancient monuments of Lviv.
Historians disagree about the St. Nicholas Church. It was erected between 1264 and 1340, approximately during the reign of Prince Leo, who gave the land to this church. Either it was a princely temple-tomb, or it was built at the expense of local merchants - it is unknown. Despite numerous reconstructions, the temple has reached us in good condition.
Photo source: photo-lviv.in.ua.
Uzhgorod
A unique medieval monument is located in Uzhgorod, more precisely in the suburb of Gortsy -. Scientists still argue to this day who built it and when, since no reliable historical sources have survived. However, there are good reasons to believe that it was built in the second half of the 13th century, when Transcarpathia was part of the Galicia-Volyn principality. There were also similar structures in Galich, Kholm, Kyiv and Vladimir, but most of them have not survived. The interior decoration of the Gorskaya Rotunda is interesting - the frescoes were made in the style of the Italian school of painting, possibly by students of Giotto.
Photo source: ukrcenter.com.
Unfortunately, much of our past has become archaeological. It would take a long time to name princely cities, but very little has reached us from the then monuments of Kievan Rus. Therefore, we should appreciate and be proud of what we inherited from our ancestors!