In Pskov, in the place where the Mirozha River flows into the Velikaya River, the ancient Mirozhsky Monastery is located, the architectural dominant of which is the Transfiguration Cathedral, which acquired the glory of one of the most striking monuments of ancient Russian architecture. Having shared the fate of many Russian shrines during the years of atheistic hard times, today it has again become the property of believers.
The brainchild of Archbishop Nifont
In the middle of the XII century, when the political and cultural center of Ancient Russia shifted from Kiev to its northwestern regions, the question of their final Christianization was especially acute, since there were still strong remnants of paganism. One of the main initiators of this process was the Novgorod Archbishop Nifont, who occupied the department from 1131 to 1157. Through his works, many monasteries were founded, the inhabitants of which were a personal example of a true Christian life.
With his blessing, the Mirozh Monastery appeared in Pskov, the Transfiguration Cathedral of which for many years became the largest spiritual center of the city. The exact date of foundation of the monastery is unknown, and for this reason, researchers are limited only to indicating the first half of the XII century. A place for her was chosen a mile away from the Pskov “chrome” (Kremlin), which allowed the inhabitants to be constantly in the thick of city life, and the monastery itself to become one of the main cultural centers of Pskov during the Middle Ages.
The period of past prosperity
It is known that in the Mirozh monastery there was one of the largest libraries in the northwestern part of the Old Russian state. In addition, he was famous for his icon painters and scribes of ancient manuscripts. A copy of the famous “Words about Igor’s Regiment” was preserved here. And finally, a very important circumstance that contributed to increasing the prestige of the monastery was its wealth, which it greatly exceeded the majority of Russian monasteries.
Until the XVII century, on its territory, which occupied the entire flood plain of the Mirozh River, there were many forges, craft workshops and various kinds of outbuildings. Only as a result of the secularization of monastic and church lands, carried out in 1764 by decree of Empress Catherine II, the total area of the monastery was reduced to its current size.
In the same period, another striking example of the pre-Mongolian temple architecture was created - the Cathedral of the Nativity of John the Baptist, erected on the territory of the John Monastery, located on the opposite bank of the Velikaya River in the area called Zavelichie. These two largest, at that time, monasteries were assigned a key role in the further spread of Christianity.
New word in temple architecture
According to experts, thanks to the activities of Archbishop Nifont, the middle of the 12th century was a turning point in the development of church architecture in the northwestern part of the Old Russian State. An example of this is the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozh Monastery, which was a temple building of a completely new type, at that time. In contrast to the previously erected religious buildings, the main dominant of this cross-domed church was the openness and visibility of the interior.
Despite the fact that the exact date of the laying of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozhsky Monastery is unknown, the researchers have reason to believe that this event dates back to 1137-1138. The construction of the bulk of the building, made of plinths - thin burnt bricks and stone - probably took no more than two years, after which they began finishing work.
There is a hypothesis according to which Archbishop Nifont brought with him from Novgorod to Pskov an artel of builders, which could include Balkan or even Byzantine craftsmen, who often then participated in the construction of various temple structures. This is evidenced by such features of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozhsky Monastery, such as an arkature frieze covering a drum under the dome (it is clearly visible in the attached photographs), and typical Novgorod masonry walls.
Changes made over the centuries
Studies show that the current appearance of the cathedral was formed as a result of the phased introduction of constructive changes to the original project. So, in the 16th century, from the side of the western facade, a belfry and a porch, typical of the architecture of ancient Pskov, appeared, and a century later the roof was rebuilt, which received a four-slope covering, obscuring the base of the drum and the lower part of the windows cut through it.
The helmet-shaped dome, which was apparently built by Novgorod masters, which was very characteristic of most of the temple buildings they erected, at the end of the 17th century gave way to the traditional Pskov bulb, which allowed the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozh Monastery to organically fit into the general architectural appearance of the city.
Time stamps
At present, it is almost impossible, looking at the cathedral, to imagine what it looked like at the time of its founder, Archbishop Nifont. This is explained not only by repeated reconstructions carried out over almost nine centuries, but also by the fact that during this long period the ground level around its walls rose by almost two meters (a fact established as a result of work to strengthen the foundation), which caused the original proportions of the building to be violated , and it acquired a more squat look.
Only the western facade, facing the Great River, to some extent retained its former shape due to the natural topography of the soil. At the same time, it is worth going inside the building, as the impression changes dramatically, and the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozhsky monastery appears in all its pristine beauty, and all thanks to the beautifully preserved wall paintings of the XII century, covering the entire surface of the walls that have not lost their original proportions.
The first disclosure of frescoes
The cathedral frescoes, which are of significant interest to art historians, have a long and complicated life. It is known that in the 16th century, due to the peculiarities of the architectural fashion of that time, they were hidden under a layer of whitewash and forgotten for almost three centuries. It was only at the end of the 19th century that they were accidentally discovered and, since at that time the general interest in ancient art was sharply indicated, they were cleared of surface layers.
As a result, not only pilgrims rushed to the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozh Monastery, but also simply lovers of antiquity, who were very numerous among representatives of all walks of life. It was the hype that arose around the ancient frescoes that played an extremely nasty role in their fate.
Re-restoration of the wall painting of the cathedral
The fact is that, in order to support the mass influx of visitors, the Holy Synod issued an order not only to restore the frescoes, but to give the colors that faded for many years their original brightness. For this purpose, an icon-painter artel led by N. M. Safonov was invited from Vladimir.
Since it seemed impossible for them to achieve the desired result, preserving the former painting layer intact, the masters covered it with their own paintings, designed “in the old style”. Thus, the priceless monument of ancient Russian art was again hidden from the eyes of visitors. Only in the 1920s did the second clearing of the frescoes of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozhsky Monastery begin. Their final restoration has not been completed to this day.
The uniqueness of the frescoes of the Mirozh monastery
According to experts, the uniqueness of the frescoes, in addition to their high artistic level, lies in a carefully thought out and elaborated iconographic concept, as well as in the style of their execution that they are completely devoid of chronological analogues in Russia and partly similar to only some examples of Byzantine wall paintings .
The main motive in the picturesque interior design of the cathedral is the idea of a single and inseparable merger in Jesus Christ of the divine and human nature, as well as His atoning sacrifice. This is what the plots of the main elements of the temple decoration are dedicated to, among which the greatest impression on the audience is made by the giant dome image of the Ascension of the Savior, as well as the Deesis painted on a spherical altar ceiling.
The frescoes of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozhsky Monastery, saved after a long stay under the thickness of the plaster, and then freed from the later painted layers applied to them, today regained their former appearance. However, the complex and painstaking work to restore them requires so much time that it continues to this day.
Conclusion
Throughout its long history, the Mirozh monastery, abolished by the Bolsheviks in the 30s of the XX century and revived in 1994, was the focus of the true ascetics of Christianity, who embodied the commandments of God and exemplified millions of people. Therefore, its entire territory, which occupies a site on the arrow of two rivers, the Great and Mirozh, gained holiness and became one of the places of mass pilgrimage.
We would like to inform everyone who wishes to visit this unique religious and historical monument the address of the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Mirozhsky Monastery in Pskov: Mirozhskaya Embankment, 2.