The Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It is located in the place where the museum, called the Suzdal Kremlin, is currently located. About the Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal, its history and features will be described in this essay.
Temple history
According to legend, the Suzdal Christmas Cathedral was erected on the spot where at the end of the XI century Vladimir Monomakh laid the first stone in the construction of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This magnificent building was striking in its enormous size and was built of plinths (flat wide brick). However, due to its great weight, after half a century, the foundation of the cathedral began to sag. Yuri Dolgoruky ordered to dismantle the temple and lay a new one in its place.
Around 1148, at the same place, a new church was built of white ash-cut porous limestone, which in its architecture was very similar to the Assumption Church, located in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The approximate date of the construction of the Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal is 1222-1225. It should be noted that for its time the temple became a very large-scale structure and impressed with its majesty all parishioners.
Description
The cathedral was built on a powerful, reinforced foundation, which went into a deep pit. The temple had a six-pillar quadruple and three helmet-shaped chapters crowning high drums (cylinders). Presumably, the central chapter rested on an additional pedestal, and the remaining smaller chapters rested on the eastern corners of the temple.
For the first time, the temple is mentioned in the Laurentian Chronicle in 1222. It describes that in the Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal, on the instructions of the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich, a third building is being built, which is surrounded by three narthexes, which are also fortifying walls.
The temple was built on, and then decorated with relief stucco molding and drawings. The facade was decorated with various architectural elements, including carvings, and encircled by a number of arches (arkatura). The construction of the church lasted three years and was completed in 1225. Upon completion of the construction, Bishop Simeon consecrated the temple, after which it became known not as the Assumption, but the Theotokos-Nativity Cathedral. Suzdal at that time was famous for its beautiful temples, but this church was especially revered by believers, since it was built on the site of the first Orthodox church in the city.
Architecture and alteration
After 8 years, the interior of the temple is painted with frescoes, and the floor is laid out with terracotta tiles. During the invasion of the Kazan Khan in 1445, the church burned down, and its vaults collapsed. In this condition, the temple stood until 1530, when, according to the royal decree of Vasily III, the remains of the building were dismantled to an arched-column zone (arkatura), and then rebuilt.
Five chapters with high brick drums were erected, and narrow and elongated light windows were also made. It is in this form that the Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal with small alterations made in the XVII-XVIII centuries has been preserved to this day.
Bishop Serapion in 1634 ordered a new interior to be painted on the church, and two years later a chapel was erected in the name of St. Fedor and John. The Golden Gate, which is a unique creation of decorative art by local artists, has been preserved in the temple.
Church restoration
During the restoration of the temple in 1938, on the walls of one of the apses, masters discovered ornaments that belonged to the time of Vladimir Monomakh. The oldest murals of the early 13th century were also found.
The necropolis of the Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal is also of historical interest. As scientists have found out, under the plates of cast iron installed in the floor of the temple, representatives of famous princely and boyar families, for example, Belsky, Shuysky-Skopins and Shuysky, are buried. Also here is the ashes of the sons of Yuri Dolgorukov - Svyatoslav and Ivan.
The modern history of the cathedral
Services were held in the cathedral until the 1930s, but with the start of research and archaeological work, they were discontinued. Colossal work was done to restore the former interior of the church, as well as its appearance. By the 1960s, later external extensions were dismantled, and the temple took on the same appearance as in the 16th century, with the exception of only onion chapters with stars.
In the 90s, divine services resumed. Currently, the cathedral is shared by the Vladimir-Suzdal diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve.
In the second half of 2005, after a long restoration, the Nativity Cathedral in the city of Suzdal was reopened. During restoration work in the church, the relics of St. Arseny of Elasson, who lived from 1550 to 1635, were discovered. He was the archbishop of Suzdal and Tarussky and was canonized in 1982. At the last stage, the masters restored frescoes and walls made of white stone.
Cathedral bell tower
South of the Nativity Cathedral is its bell tower, which corresponds in size to the temple itself. It was erected by decree of the Bishop of Serapion in the XII century. The bell tower of the Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal has a large octagon with massive wide arches of the belfry. It is crowned with a tented dome with three rows of dormers of various shapes.
Under the tented dome, a police (roofing element over the cornice) was created, which was a distinctive architectural element of similar buildings of the 17th century. At the end of the 17th century, a clock with a battle was set on the bell tower of the Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal, which rang every hour, as well as every quarter hour. They have survived to the present and continue to work after repairs and restoration.
On the second tier two thrones were created. At the end of the 17th century, Metropolitan Hilarion ordered the expansion of the cathedral. An altar part was added, which was attached to the gallery and the bishops' chambers. On the north side, the building was surrounded by a roundabout gallery, and on the east side a porch (porch) was erected, which was crowned by an octagonal tent. At the beginning of the XVIII century, there was a big fire, due to which the passages and the gallery itself were completely destroyed. Only after 250 years, in the 70s of the XX century, they were restored.
Conclusion
The Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal is a unique historical and architectural monument of Old Russian architecture. In 1992, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Every year, thousands of tourists come to Suzdal to get acquainted with the beautiful architecture of the ancient city. Quite a lot of ancient buildings have been preserved here, however, most tourists want to see the Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal. A photo on its background is a must for lovers of art and architecture. This church has become a distinctive hallmark of the city.
Looking at the cathedral, people are amazed at how high the skill level of the architects who built this temple was. In the absence of any technical means and technologies, they managed to create this architectural masterpiece, pleasing people with its strict beauty for several centuries.