On the territory of the former village of Kolomenskoye (South Administrative District of Moscow) is a unique architectural monument of the 16th century - the Church of the Ascension of Christ. Its creation and subsequent history are connected with the name of the first Russian tsar from the Rurikovich clan - Ivan III Vasilyevich, who entered the Russian annals with the title of Grozny.
Sin of the Moscow ruler
In 1525, the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily III, whose portrait is given above, forcibly tonsured his first wife, Solomony Saburova, as a nun, and a year later brought the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Elena Glinsky down the aisle. Although this act had a good reason - the infertility of Solomonia, which deprived the principality of its rightful heir to the throne, according to church canons, this act was considered a great sin, similar to bigamy.
Either the Lord was angry with the prince and closed the womb of his new wife, or the rejected wife cursed him, but in the first years of marriage, the new couple did not have children. Nor did the two-year penance imposed on him by the metropolitan to cleanse him of sin. A desperate husband decided to build a marvelous Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye, a village near Moscow, where his princely mansions were located, and which he had more than once decorated with temples. With this pious deed, he hoped to propitiate God, and to implore the long-awaited son.
Arrival of the Italian master
The first half of the 16th century entered the history of Moscow as the era of the “great construction projects” made by Italians who were discharged to Russia. They decorated the capital with outstanding architectural monuments. Vasily III did not back down from the established tradition this time either. Turning personally to Pope Clement VII, he persuaded him to let go to Moscow, the then-famous Italian architect Anibale, to whom he intended to entrust the construction of the Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye. The architect arrived in Russia in the summer of 1528.
The Grand Duke himself, at that time, went with his young wife Elena for a many-month pilgrimage to the monasteries, placing pood candles before the images, and begging the heir-son from the Lord.
Amendments to the original draft
The place for the construction of the church was chosen on the steep bank of the Moskva River, near the miraculous key that was beating from the ground. This fully corresponded to both Russian Orthodox traditions and the canons set forth in Italian theological treatises.
The initial layout of the Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye, a brief description of which has survived to the present day, is very different from its final version. The fact is that, transgressing to work, Anibale did not plan to create a high basement - the lower economic floor, which is why it should all be lower and squat. In addition, he planned the construction of side aisles and belfries located in the western part of the building. In the fall of 1528, they built a foundation that corresponds to this layout of the building.
However, it became apparent that with this design the church would not be visible from the side of the miraculous spring, since it would be covered by a steep ledge of the coast. This was a serious omission because the visual connection with the holy place was disrupted.
I had to urgently redo the entire project. For better visibility of the church, we decided to raise it to a high basement. Thanks to the new project, the Ascension Church in the village of Kolomenskoye was clearly visible from all sides, but the architect had to abandon the construction of its side aisles and belfry. After a corresponding alteration of the foundation, the work was continued.
Birth of an heir
The zeal of the builders of the church and the many months of pilgrimage of the princely couple were not in vain. At the beginning of 1530, the princess pleased her husband with the long-awaited news. From this time, preparations began for the birth of the long-awaited heir. They became the future Tsar Ivan III Vasilyevich, who received the title of Grozny for his bloody deeds. It seems that it was he who embodied the curse sent by the unfortunate Solomon from the monastery cell, into which her former husband forcibly imprisoned her.
They touched on the general chores and work carried out in Kolomenskoye. The Ascension Church at this stage again underwent a series of changes in its layout. At the request of the prince, it was equipped with a "royal place", not previously provided. It was a white stone oval base mounted in the porch flooring. To accommodate the carved back adjoining it, I had to make a deep excavation in the inner wall of the building, which was already ready by then. After almost three centuries, in 1836, according to the project of the architect E. D. Turin, a voluminous coat of arms of Russia was established above the “royal place”.
Celebratory feast and death of Vasily III
The construction of the Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye was completed in 1532, when young Ivan, the son and heir of Grand Duke Vasily III, was barely two years old. It was consecrated by a person especially close to the prince’s court - Bishop Vassian (Toporkov) of Kolomna, who was nephew of St. Joseph of Volotsk. The Grand Duke joyfully endowed the church with rich gifts in the form of precious vessels and golden robes for icons. In Kolomenskoye, a festive feast was held, lasting three days. However, the king’s life was already running out.
Bishop Vassian in December 1533 confessed and communed King Basil on his deathbed. According to modern researchers, he died of cancer. After him, power passed to the infant son.
According to contemporaries, Ivan the Terrible loved to be in Kolomenskoye. The Church of the Ascension, which became a retribution to God for his birth, was extremely close to the sovereign. He spared no money to decorate it. Especially in his heart was the view from the high gallery. From her, he surveyed the “entertainment palace” that he built in the village, which has not survived to this day, but is repeatedly mentioned in historical documents.
Legends associated with the Ascension Church
The village of Kolomenskoye occupied an important place in the life of Ivan the Terrible. Here he formed regiments for the conquest of the Kazan Khanate. It is known that the countryside of the village was a favorite place for his hunting. The real life of the king gave impetus to the emergence of many legends associated with him and the Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye. Interesting facts that have received documentary evidence alternate in them with obvious fiction. For example, for several centuries, history buffs have been worried about the story that in the secret dungeons dug during the construction of the church, untold riches still removed by Ivan the Terrible from the devastated Novgorod are still stored.
Some researchers believe that there is also hidden his famous library, which has long and unsuccessfully sought by thousands of treasure hunters. They are not even afraid of the curse, which, according to legend, is imposed by the king. It says that everyone who approaches his folios will inevitably go blind. However, no one has ever had a chance to confirm or refute this statement.
Temple Rising Up
The Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye, the photo of which is presented in the article, is a unique architectural monument symbolizing the Mount of Olives, from which Jesus Christ once ascended. Even with a cursory glance, she amazes with her aspiration upward. It was from her in Russia that the construction of stone tent churches began.
Along with the tent, which is the main element of the architectural composition, such an amazing “flying” effect was achieved thanks to wall pylons - structural elements elongated upward, giving the walls extra strength. Composed of plastered brick, and in terms of an equilateral cross, the church is decorated with rich decorative decoration, which gives it an elegant look. The total height of the structure is 62 meters. With a relatively small area of the interior, not exceeding 100 m², the absence of columns gives the impression of spaciousness.
The combination of two architectural styles
Giving a characterization of the Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye, one cannot ignore the two-tier “gallery-gulbiru”, to which there are three staircases giving it a peculiar look. They are a very characteristic element of Russian medieval architecture. In addition, the architect Anibale in the design of the project used a number of elements characteristic of the Renaissance.
These are pilasters (vertical ledges of the walls), crowned with capitals, and Gothic pennants, which are pointed arches, more characteristic of Catholic churches. However, the viewer does not experience any sense of foreignness, since all the elements are successfully combined with rows of keel arches made in the traditional Moscow style.
Ascension Church in Kolomenskoye was built using elements of both Russian and Western European styles. Combining these two artistic trends, she showed the world a unique architectural masterpiece.
Conclusion
For all the historical and artistic value of the Ascension Church, its condition today raises serious concerns. Deep cracks appeared in the walls of the building, dividing it into four separate blocks. They were formed because the church is located on the shore, the soil of which is prone to landslides.
In addition, in the 70s, to improve the navigation of the river, a cycle of work was carried out, after which the water level increased. Because of this, dangerous scours have formed near the church. Despite the danger of this situation, no serious measures were taken to prevent the collapse of the building.