Literary monuments of ancient Russia. Monuments of architecture of ancient and medieval Russia What are the monuments of ancient Russia

In the eleventh - twelfth centuries there was an upsurge in the development of the culture of the Kiev state... Large cities that have acquired the status of European centers due to reforms (Kiev, Galich, Novgorod) are becoming cultural centers.

Excavations carried out in these lands showed scientists that the people who lived at that time were mostly literate (at least at a basic level). Conclusions were made about this, based on the surviving business receipts, petitions, orders on economic affairs and other documents.

In addition, it is known for certain that even before Christianity was adopted, Russia knew writing. The first handwritten books that have survived from that time are unique works of art. They are written, as a rule, on very expensive parchment, which was made of processed goat, calf or lamb skin, and decorated with excellent colored miniatures.

Most of the books that have come down to us, which belongs to the given period, has a religious content(out of one hundred and thirty books, about eighty contain basic knowledge of Christian morality and doctrine). However, along with this, then there was also religious literature for reading.

Excellently preserved "Physiologist"- a collection of small stories about legendary and real-life stones, trees and birds (at the end of each story there was a religious parable associated with a given creature or object). By the same time, researchers attribute such outstanding literary church monuments as "The Word of Law and Grace", attributed to the pen of Metropolitan Hilarion, as well as the sermons of Kirill Turovsky. There were also "apocrypha" (from the Greek word for "hidden") - stories that non-traditional interpretations of biblical stories. The most popular of them is the "Walking of the Mother of God".

An outstanding literary monument is Vladimir Monomakh's "Instruction", which is a lesson to princely children and contains instructions on how the offspring of warriors should behave in the world.

And finally, the most a significant colossus of ancient Russian literature is "The Lay of Igor's Campaign", which was based on the campaign undertaken by Igor Svyatoslavich against the Polovtsians. It is considered a huge loss that the only manuscript of this text was burnt in Moscow during a fire (1812).

Finally, hands got around to show in detail the amazing artifacts found in 1999-2000 when clearing the territory of the Luzhetsky Ferapontov Monastery in Mozhaisk (Moscow region). Information has already flashed on the network, in particular A. Fomenko and G. Nosovsky wrote about this in some detail.

There is an interesting work by L.A. Belyaeva "White stone tombstone of the Ferapontov Monastery" describing the first artifact of this kind found in 1982. However, I haven’t come across extensive photographic materials, let alone a detailed analysis of artifacts.
I'm trying to fill the gap.

It's about such stones.

Thanks to an impressive photo session made by my brother Andrey, there is an opportunity to consider all this in more detail and in detail. I already wrote somewhere that I am gradually curtailing my own historical research focusing exclusively on writing and language, but perhaps the publication will stir the inquisitive minds of other researchers and we will finally be able to at least partially understand what Russia was like before the Schism, before the reforms of Patriarch Nikon, and according to some versions before the present, the actual baptism of Russia in the 17th century and not in the mythical 10th.
This topic is especially dear to me because it is a question of my small homeland. On the ruins of this monastery, as boys, we played war and told each other legends about black monks, underground passages and treasures, which of course are hidden in this land and walled up in these walls. :)
Actually, we were not far from the truth, this land really kept treasures, but of a completely different kind. Directly under our feet there was a History, which perhaps they wanted to hide, or maybe they destroyed it due to thoughtlessness or a lack of resources. Who knows.
What can we say for sure - before us are the fragments (literally :)) of the real history of Russia 16-17 (and according to Belyaev, even 14-17) centuries - genuine artifacts of the past.

So let's go.

History reference.

Mozhaisky Luzhetsky Nativity of the Mother of God Ferapontov Monastery- located in the city of Mozhaisk, has existed since the 15th century. The only one (apart from the temple complex on the site of the former Yakimansky monastery) of 18 medieval monasteries in Mozhaisk, which has survived to this day.

The monastery was founded by St. Ferapont Belozersky, a student of Sergius of Radonezh at the request of Prince Andrei Mozhaisky. This happened in 1408, after 11 years from the founding of the Belozersk Ferapontov Monastery by him. The dedication of the Luzhetsky monastery to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is associated with the decision of Ferapont himself. Apparently the Nativity of the Mother of God was close to his soul, since the Belozersk Monastery was also dedicated to Christmas. In addition, this holiday was especially honored by Prince Andrew. It was on this holiday in 1380 that his father, the Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitry Ioanovich, fought on the Kulikovo field. According to legend, in memory of that battle, his mother, Grand Duchess Evdokia, built the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the Moscow Kremlin.

The first stone cathedral in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin stood in the Luzhetsky monastery until the beginning of the 16th century, after which it was dismantled, and in its place, in -1547, a new, five-domed one was built, which has survived to this day.

The first archimandrite of the Luzhetsk monastery, the Monk Ferapont, having lived ninety-five years, died in 1426 and was buried at the northern wall of the cathedral. In 1547 he was canonized in the Russian Orthodox Church. Later, a temple was built over his burial.

The Luzhetsky monastery existed until 1929, when, according to the protocol of the Moscow Oblast Executive Committee and the Moscow City Council, on November 11, it was closed. The monastery survived the dissection of the relics of the founder, ruin, destruction and desolation (it stood ownerless in the mid-1980s). In the pre-war period, the monastery housed a hardware factory and a workshop for a medical equipment plant. At the monastery necropolis there were factory garages with observation pits, storage facilities. Communal apartments were arranged in fraternal cells, and the buildings were transferred to the canteen and club of the military unit.
Wiki

"Later, a temple was built over his burial ..."

This short phrase from the wiki precedes our entire story.
The temple of the Monk Ferapont was erected in the second half of the 17th century i.e. after Nikon's reforms.
Everything would be fine, but its construction was accompanied by a large-scale collection and laying of gravestones from the surrounding cemeteries into the foundation of the temple. This practice is not comprehensible to our mind, but in fact it was quite widespread in the old days and is explained by the economy of a scarce stone. Gravestones were not only laid in the foundations of buildings and walls, but even paved the monastery paths with them. I can't find links now, but you can search the net. Such facts are definitely there.

We are interested in the slabs themselves, although their appearance makes us wonder whether it was only because of saving resources that they were hidden so deeply.

But first, let's orient ourselves on the terrain :).
This is actually what is now left of the temple of the Monk Ferapont. This is the very foundation that the workers stumbled upon when clearing the territory of the monastery in 1999. The cross was erected at the place where the relics of the saint were found.
The entire foundation is made of tombstones!
The usual stone is not there at all.

Along the way, for supporters of the theory of disasters, well, the one when everything fell asleep :)
The part of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (first half of the 16th century) where the red brick is visible - was completely underground. Moreover, in this state, he underwent later reconstructions, as evidenced by the position of the gate. The staircase of the main entrance to the cathedral is a remake, restored from the excavated fragments of the original.

The height of the masonry of the cathedral, freed from the ground, is about two meters.

Here's another view of the foundation

But actually the plates themselves

Most of the artifacts are designed according to a single principle and contain a patterned edging, a fork-shaped cross (in any case, as it is commonly called in scientific literature) at the bottom of the slab, and a rosette at the top. At the branching point of the cross and in the center of the rosette there is a round extension with a solar symbol or a cross. It is noteworthy that the solar symbols at the cross and the rosette are always the same on one slab, but different on different slabs. We will touch on these symbols, but for now, their types are just large.

Branching the cross

Sockets

Curbs

Plates are quite thin, 10 centimeters, medium, about 20 centimeters and quite thick up to half a meter. Medium-thickness slabs often have side curbs like this:

"... there are inscriptions in Russian" (c) ВСВ

It is somehow hard to believe that the above photographs refer to Russia, and even Christian Russia. We see absolutely no signs of the traditions to which we are accustomed. But according to the official history, Russia at that time had already been baptized for six centuries.
The bewilderment is legitimate, but there are artifacts that baffle me even more.
Some slabs contain inscriptions, mostly in Cyrillic, sometimes of a very high level of execution.

For example, such.

"In the summer of 7177 December, on the 7th day, the servant of God, the monk, the schema monk Savatey [F] edorov, son of Poznyakov,"
The inscription leaves no doubt that a Christian monk is buried.
As you can see, the inscription was made by a skilled carver (the ligature is very good) on the side of the stone. The front side remained free of inscriptions. Savatey died in 1669 from r.kh.

And here's another. This is a masterpiece of loved ones. It was this plate that turned my life upside down :), it was with it that I actually "got sick" with Russian script as a unique way of writing, several years ago.

"In the summer of 7159 January, on the 5th day, the servant of God Tatiana Danilovna died in the foreign shop, the schema of Taiseya"
Those. Taisiya died in 1651 A.D.
The upper part of the slab has been completely lost, so there is no way to know how it looked.

Or here is a sample where the side with the inscription is laid in the joint of the blocks. It is impossible to read it without destroying the masonry, but it is clear that a great master worked there as well.

Questions emerge from these three pictures.
1. Don't you find so rich the gravestones of monks strange? Schemniks, of course, are honored in Orthodoxy, but is it enough to have such last honors?
2. The dates of burial make one doubt the version that only old gravestones were supposedly used for construction (there is such a point of view). The given slabs went into the foundation very young, which, by the way, is evidenced by their safety. As if cut yesterday. It’s your will, but it’s very strange how it treats fresh burials and even the holy brethren.
I can cautiously assume that ... they were not brothers they were already to the Nikonian reenactors, but, as it were, people of a different faith. And with the departed Gentiles it is possible not to cerimonate, then the living were not very much taken care of.

A few more slabs with inscriptions of different workmanship before we complete this part of the material.

As can be seen from the last examples, the practice of engraving the epitaph on the patterned horizontal surface of the slab also took place. Apparently, in this case, the inscription was made in the field between the pitchfork cross and the upper rosette.
Here it is clearly visible. And the border and the rosette and the cross and the inscription coexist quite organically.

So what do we have?
At the end of the 17th century, upon completion of the reform of Patriarch Nikon, the temple of St. Ferapont was erected on the territory of the Luzhetsky monastery. At the same time, the gravestones that were present in the area at that time are placed at the base of the foundation of the temple. Those. slabs of different ages are preserved in the foundation for three hundred years. For three hundred years, the pre-Nikonian canon of the Orthodox tomb is also preserved. What we can see now is, in fact, the state of quality, wear, and, indirectly, the age of the artifacts at the time of their laying in the foundation.
Obviously, the less worn slabs date from around 1650-1670. The samples presented in this part correspond mainly to this time.
But! There are also older slabs in the foundation and they also have inscriptions on them.
But more on that in the next part.

Multi-tiered buildings Crowned buildings with turrets and towers The presence of extensions Artistic woodcarving Cross-domed Basically a square, dismembered by four columns Rectangular cells adjacent to the sub-dome space form an architectural cross Wooden architecture Pagan Rus Stone Architecture RUSSIAN Christian CHURCHITEREKVI ARREKVI ARRE

Europeans called Russia "Gradariki" - a country of cities. Medieval cities were centers of culture. The largest in Europe were Kiev, Novgorod, Galich. Behind the fortress walls, there were developing crafts of which there were about 70. Many goods were sold. 1. Urban development. Torzhok. 16th century engraving.

Inside the Kremlin there were monasteries, churches, princely mansions. Often, fortresses were divided by internal walls. 1. Urban development. The townspeople were literate people, had broader horizons than the villagers; they traveled to other countries and received merchants. Kiev plan in mid. 12th century.

The entrance to the city symbolized its power. As a rule, the Golden Gate was built at the entrance. The education of the townspeople helped them to build complex architectural structures. Scientists find many inscriptions on the walls and on birch bark. 1. Urban development. Golden Gate in Vladimir. Reconstruction.

In the 11th century, stone mansions of princes appeared in large cities. On the 1st floor there were small rooms, and the second floor was occupied by a spacious hall. Outside, the building is adorned with arches, stone carvings, colonnades. 2. Architecture. Painting. Princely mansions in Chernigov. Reconstruction.

ACCEPTANCE OF CHRISTIANITY - The pagan period in the history of the ancient Slavs was not an example of a highly developed civilization and did not leave samples of outstanding cultural monuments. - The adoption of Christianity was a necessary step for the entry of the Slavs into the community of Western European countries, which are at a higher stage of development - The architectural monuments of Ancient Russia reflect the development of religious ideas, and the main historical stages of the formation of a single Russian state. Stone cathedrals were built in honor of the most important events in the history of Ancient Rus. The legend about Vladimir's choice of the Christian religion is told in the "Tale of Bygone Years"

In the temple, not only divine services and sacraments (baptism, communion, etc.) were performed, but also secular ceremonies, for example, the solemn accession of the prince to the throne. The building of the temple was the residence of the Metropolitan (head of the Orthodox Church). The Sophia Cathedral in Kiev had the first library, archive, and school in Russia. Princes and metropolitans were buried here. Yaroslav the Wise himself was buried in this temple in 1054. This temple in Kiev has survived to this day. QUESTION: What building was simultaneously an archive, a library, a school, a hall for secular ceremonies and a cemetery?

ORTHODOX CHURCH CONSTRUCTION AND INTERIOR DESIGN Together with Christianity, Russia adopted the cross-domed structure of the temple from Byzantium. A church of this type is square in plan. Its internal space is divided by four pillars into three naves (from the Latin ship): central and side. Two vaults intersect at right angles, forming a cross in the space under the dome, the most important symbol of Christianity. At the intersection of the vaults, there is a light drum topped with a dome. It rests on pillars connected by arches (they are called supporting arches). The upper part of the walls of the temple is completed by zakomars (from Old Russian mosquito mosquito vault). They are semicircular, as they follow the shape of the arches.

The first domes in Russia were low, semicircular. They repeated the shape of the domes of Byzantine temples. Then there were helmet-shaped domes (a helmet, an old military metal headdress with a shell), and even later onion domes. The number of domes had a symbolic meaning. Two domes meant the divine and earthly origin of Christ, three domes were the symbol of the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit), five Christ and four evangelists, thirteen Christ and 12 disciples-apostles. Each dome is topped with an Orthodox cross, always facing east.

Usually the temple has three entrances: the main (western) and two side (north and south). In Ancient Russia, galleries, or gulbisches (from the word "walk") were built around the church. They were erected on three sides of the north, west and south. Some temples had side-altars, annexes, each of which had its own altar and could perform services. The annex on the western side of the temple (where the main entrance was) was called the vestibule.

Under the floor of the church there were basements in which noble people and clergy were buried. The eastern part of the temple has apse (from the Greek. Apse arc) semicircular protrusions. Depending on the size of the temple, there may be one or five apses. Each is covered with a semi-dome. The altar ("altar") is located in the apses. Only men can enter the altar.

In the center of the altar there is a square stone table, a symbol of the Holy Sepulcher. According to the Orthodox faith, during the divine services, the Lord invisibly dwells on the throne. In the southern part of the altar there is a sacristy (deaconnik), a room where church utensils and vestments (vestments) of priests are kept. To the left of the throne, in the northern or northeastern part of the altar, there is a special altar table. During the service, consecrated bread and wine are placed on it for communion. The altar is separated from the rest of the church space by an iconostasis (a partition with icons). In front of him is the elevation of the salt. On the sides of the Solea are the choir places for the singers. The protrusion in the center of the Solea, opposite the Royal Doors, is called the pulpit (from the Greek "to ascend"). Sermons are delivered from the pulpit, the Gospel is read.

The Church of the Tithes According to the chronicle, the Grand Duke Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko "thought to create the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos and sent masters from the Greeks to drive." The brick church was founded in Kiev near the prince's court in 989. Prince Vladimir gave her a tithe from his income, so the church was named Tithe. This is the oldest monumental building known to us in Russia. The multi-domed Church of the Tithes consisted of three naves, separated by three pairs of pillars; It had three apses. Its dimensions were 27.2 x 18.2 m. On three sides it was surrounded by galleries. Inside the temple there was a choir balcony for the prince and his entourage. The church building was built from plinth. Plinth is a flat brick measuring 30 x 40 x 5 cm. In Kiev there was a special plinth, thin only 2.5-3 cm thick. Greek masters brought many marble details of interior decoration with them (Russia did not know marble yet). Trophy sculptures from Korsun were placed on the square in front of the temple. The church collapsed during the capture of Kiev by the Mongols in 1240, when the surviving residents of the city took refuge in it. Only the remains of the foundation have survived.

New Tithe Church (architect Stasov)

During the time of Yaroslav the Wise (), the Old Russian state with its center in Kiev reached a special heyday. Metropolitan Illarion wrote: “See the city shining with majesty, the leader of the church flourishing, the leader of Christianity growing, the leader of the city is illuminated with icons of the saints ... and we are announcing the praises and divine chants of the saints. And see everything, rejoice, and be glad, and called ... to all of this the builder. " Architecture of Kievan Rus

Hagia Sophia in Kiev “He, like a helmet, pulled down the heads” He, like a helmet, pulled down the heads And exposed the walls like a shield. And he set up the walls like a shield. He is all - tight proportionality, He is all - tight proportionality, Ratio of heights, Ratio of heights, Asymmetry, heaviness, fidelity Asymmetry, heaviness, fidelity And arches of slow flight. And the vaults are slow flight. V. A. Rozhdestvensky ("Novgorod Sophia") V. A. Rozhdestvensky ("Novgorod Sophia")

St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev In 1019 Yaroslav, nicknamed the Wise (), became the sole ruler of the Russian land. In 1037, construction began on the grandiose main church of the capital, the Cathedral of St. Sophia. Thus, Yaroslav the Wise proclaimed Kiev equal to Constantinople, where the main cathedral was also dedicated to St. Sofia.

The central dome (symbol of Jesus Christ) is surrounded by four smaller domes (symbols of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), and the remaining eight domes are adjacent to them. There are 13 of them in total, according to the number of students and their teachers. Four chapters around the main dome.

The cathedral was built by Russian craftsmen under the guidance of architects from Byzantium. The material for the construction was a pink plinth. The columns were laid out of bricks. Cornices, fences, floors were made of local slate, the so-called red slate, which has a beautiful raspberry-purple color. The floors were covered with mosaics. Outside, the cathedral was decorated with niches and windows, crosses and meanders made of plinths - geometric ornaments, masonry with a hidden row and stripes of rough, untreated stone. In the fifteenth and fifteenth centuries. the cathedral has undergone alterations. Nowadays, ancient masonry is visible only in areas where plaster has been specially removed.

The light, wide choirs “of the cathedral's chambers open into a central, cruciform space in terms of a series of arches. These arches are arranged in two tiers in the form of arcades and rest on pillars. The area of ​​the choirs is 260 m. The rooms below them in the first tier are covered with domed vaults. The same domed vaults cover twelve square rooms in the first floor and the same number in the second floor of the inner galleries.

The magnificent interior of St. Sophia Cathedral has been largely preserved. These are mosaics and frescoes. The pieces of smalt (colored opaque glass), from which the mosaics are made, have a different inclination and therefore sparkle in the light, giving the impression of a “shimmering painting”.

The main dome depicts Christ the Almighty with the Gospel in his left hand, framed in a round medallion. It is surrounded by archangels (a mosaic image of one of them has been preserved, the rest are painted in oil). In the drum of the central dome in the walls between the windows are the figures of the apostles - disciples of Christ, as if floating in the air. On the pillars supporting the dome are the images of the four evangelists.

Christ, archangels, apostles symbolize the Heavenly Church. The image of the Mother of God the Intercessor is a symbol of the earthly Church. The figure of the Mother of God is placed in the central apse against a gold background. Its height reaches five meters. She is depicted with her hands raised in prayer to the Savior. Such an image of the Mother of God is called Oranta (from Latin praying). Huge; the inner strength of the image of the intercessor led to the fact that during the years of trials, the people began to call her the Unbreakable Wall.

The cross-domed temple, a type of Christian temple that arose in Byzantium, was used in the temple construction of Kievan Rus. Four, six or more pillars in the plan formed a cross, over which a dome towered. The eastern part had protrusions - the apse, which made up the altar of the temple, in the western part there was a balcony - the choir, where the prince and his family were during the service. The altar is separated from the hall by a partition with icons (iconostasis).

Architectural schools of Russia XII-XIII centuries Yuzhnaya (Kievskaya, Chernigovskaya) Novgorodskaya Vladimir-Suzdalskaya Ordinary brickwork, plinths Multi-tiered, abundance of elongated arched windows Traditions of Byzantine architects Masonry from gray limestone stone Simplicity and geometry of forms, temples - fortress slabs Original version white limestone Arcature belts of semi-columns, stone carving The art of fitting buildings into the landscape

Sofia Novgorodskaya The oldest monument of stone architecture in the north of Russia, Novgorodskaya Sofia is only a few years younger than Sofia Kievskaya. Built in the years by Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise, St. Sophia Cathedral has become the main temple of the Novgorod Veche Republic since the 30s of the XII century: "Where is St. Sophia - here is the city!" 57

Vladimirskaya school Novgorodskaya school The temples of the Novgorodskaya school are more squat, as if embedded in the ground. The Vladimir churches, on the contrary, tend to the sky. The Novgorod temples have a dome, drum and apse below. The Novgorod churches are not decorated, and the Vladimir churches are decorated with an arcature-columnar belt, they have carved zakomars, a portal.

The temples of the Novgorod school are more squat, as if embedded in the ground. The Vladimir churches, on the contrary, tend to the sky. The Novgorod temples have a dome, drum and apse below. The Novgorod churches are not decorated, and the Vladimir churches are decorated with an arcature-columnar belt, they have carved zakomars, a portal. School of Vladimir Dmitrovsky Cathedral in Vladimir Novgorod school Church of the Savior on Nereditsa in Novgorod

St. George's Cathedral of the Yuryev Monastery in Novgorod This temple is characterized by the dismemberment of the form, the liberation of the internal space

The new shape of the temple is a three-bladed end. The facades are decorated with a multitude of windows with their frames - eyebrows. Arched windows also create a sense of skyward aspiration. This aspiration also emphasizes the triangular completion of the three layers of the building wall. Novgorod churches of the 14th century Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Novgorod The Church of Fyodor Stratilat in Novgorod. 1361

Vladimir school This school develops in the 12th century, when the Vladimir-Suzdal principality becomes one of the leading ones. Temples are built of white stone. They are characterized by elongated proportions, upward striving. The Vladimir churches are richly decorated. Five-domed Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir Golden Gate in Vladimir

Content:

The role of architectural monuments that the planet Earth is rich in is incredibly huge. Thanks to ancient buildings, it is possible to penetrate, to feel the spirit of an era long past. After all, there is nothing more weighty than walking along the ancient streets, laid out of stone, which is worn out by the touch of the feet of generations that have walked here a long time ago.

The Russian land is also rich in architectural monuments. This is a testament to the prosperity of cities and ordinary settlements millennia ago. Here lived the ancestors of today's generations who fought for freedom, for the prosperity of their homes. They often argue about the patriotism of a Russian, that is, a Russian, Ukrainian, Tatar, Belarusian, representatives of other nationalities who have lived and are now living on this land.

Those who argue cannot understand what makes Russians sacrifice themselves for the sake of freedom and the lives of others. Where does patriotism begin? And it begins with ancient church temples, with half-overgrown grass of fortresses, with buildings and structures in which Pushkin and Dostoevsky, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky created their works, where Rublev and his students painted icons, where they gave birth to the first decrees strengthening Russia, Ivan the Terrible and Peter I.

It turns out that patriotism begins where the Russian was born, where he lived, grew bread, built castles and temples, installed fortress walls, where he shed his blood for freedom and independence. Therefore, we have to state with regret the facts of an ugly attitude towards the architectural monuments of Russia, which were erected at the dawn of their statehood. This attitude towards architectural monuments kills patriotism.

There are many monuments in Russia. They are world famous in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev. They are often written about, the attention of the state, church, public organizations is drawn to them. But there are architectural monuments that were erected in other cities and even small villages in the distant years. The general public knows almost nothing about them. But their role in fostering love for their homeland among Russians is immeasurably high.

By the decree of Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1165, between the Klyazma and Nerl rivers in the Vladimir region, a church temple was erected in memory of the prince's son who died at the hands of the Bulgars. The church is one-domed, but it was built of white stone, which was a novelty at that time. In those days, wood was the main building material. But wooden buildings were often destroyed by fires, were unstable before the raids of enemies.

Although they built a temple in memory of the son of Andrei Bogolyubsky, it was dedicated to the church holiday of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. This is the first such monument and is very important, since Orthodoxy in Russia was still being established.

The construction of the temple seems to be very simple. Its main components are four pillars, three apses, and a cruciform dome. The church has one chapter. But it was created in such proportions that from a distance it seems to be hovering above the earth. This church temple is rightfully included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Church of the Tithes

The Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Kiev, called Desyatinnaya, is associated with the baptism of Rus. This was the first stone building. The church was built for five years, from 991 to 996, on the site of the battle between Christians and pagans. Although in the Tale of Bygone Years, the beginning of the construction of the temple is called the year 989.

Here the earthly journey of the first martyrs Fyodor, as well as his son John, was completed. Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, by his decree, allocated a tithe for the construction of the church from the state treasury, at the present time, from the budget. Therefore, the church received such a name.

At one time it was the largest temple. In 1240, the troops of the Tatar-Mongol Khanate destroyed the temple. According to other sources, the church collapsed under the weight of the people gathered there in the hope of hiding from the invaders. Only the foundation has survived from this archaeological site.

Golden Gate

The Golden Gate is considered a symbol of the power and greatness of Ancient Russia. In 1158, Andrei Bogolyubsky ordered to surround the city of Vladimir with a shaft. After 6 years, he ordered the construction of five entrance gates. Until now, only the Golden Gate, which is an architectural monument, has survived.

This gate was made of oak. Subsequently, they were bound with sheets of copper, covered with gilding. But not only for this did the gate get its name. The gilded doors were a real work of art. The inhabitants of the city took them off before the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar army. These doors are included in the UNESCO register as masterpieces lost by mankind.

True, in 1970 it was reported that the shutters were found by Japanese archaeologists who took part in the cleaning of the Klyazma River. It was then that many artifacts were discovered, including the shutters. But the most valuable thing about them is that no gold plates have been found so far.

According to legend, the vaults of the gates fell during the completion of construction, crushing 12 builders. Eyewitnesses decided that they were all dead. Andrei Bogolyubsky ordered to bring the icon of the Mother of God and began to pray for people in trouble. When the gate was freed from the rubble, it was raised, the workers there were alive. They didn't even receive any damage.

It took seven years to build this cathedral. It was erected in honor of the residents of Novgorod, with the help of whom Yaroslav the Wise became the Grand Duke. The construction of the cathedral was completed in 1052. For Yaroslav the Wise, this year has become a landmark. He buried his son Vladimir in Kiev.

The cathedral was built from different materials. The main ones were brick and stone. The walls of the cathedral were faced with marble, mosaic patterns and paintings were embedded on them. This is the trend of the Byzantine masters, who sought to adopt the Slavic architects. Later, marble was replaced by limestone, frescoes were inserted instead of mosaics.

The first painting is dated 1109. But the frescoes were also destroyed over time. Especially a lot was lost during the Great Patriotic War. Only the fresco "Constantine and Helena" survived until the 21st century.

There are no galleries in the cathedral; outwardly, it appears as a cross-domed temple with five naves. At that time, this style was inherent in most temples. There are three iconostases created in the distant past. Among the main icons in the cathedral are the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God, Euthymius the Great, Savva the Illuminated, Anthony the Great, the icon of the Mother of God "The Sign".

There are also old books here. There are many partially scattered works, although there are some that have survived. These are the books of Prince Vladimir, Princess Irina, archbishops John and Nikita, princes Fedor and Mstislav. A dove figurine, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, adorns the dome cross located in the center.

This temple is unique not only in that it is made in the style of romanticism. The cathedral impresses with elements reminiscent of Western basilicas. The most important thing is the white stone carving. Everything turned out due to the fact that the construction of the cathedral lay exclusively on the shoulders of Russian architects. The finishing work was carried out by Greek craftsmen. Everyone tried to do the job so as not to put their state to shame.

The best craftsmen were gathered here, since the cathedral was built for Prince Vsevolod a large nest. His family subsequently settled in the cathedral. The history of the cathedral goes back to 1197. Later, the cathedral was consecrated in memory of Dmitry Thessaloniki, who was considered the patron saint.

The compositional construction of the cathedral is based on the design features of the Byzantine temples. As a rule, these are 4 pillars and 3 apses. A gilded church dome is crowned with a cross. The figure of a dove serves as a weather vane. The walls of the temple attract with images of a mythical character, saints, psalmists. The miniature of David the musician is a symbol of the state protected by God.

There could not be a picture of Vsevolod the Big Nest here. He was sculpted together with his sons. The interior decoration of the temple is amazing. Despite the fact that many frescoes have been lost, it is still beautiful and solemn here.

The Church of the Savior was built on Mount Nereditsa in just one season in 1198. The temple was erected by order of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich, who ruled in Veliky Novgorod at that time. The temple grew up on the elevated bank of the Maly Volkhovets river, not far from Rurikov Gorodishche.

The church was built in memory of the two sons of Yaroslav Vladimirovich who fell in battle. Outwardly, the church does not differ in magnificent superstructures. However, it is an architectural monument. The church was built according to the project, traditional for that time. One cubic dome, then, as in other projects - a four-pillar and three-apse version.

The interior of the church is striking. The walls are fully painted and represent a gallery of Russian painting, one of the oldest and most unique. These paintings were actively studied by scientists in the first third of the last century. Detailed descriptions of the paintings have survived, shedding light on the history of the time when the church was erected, on the way of life of Novgorodians. The artist N. Martynov in 1862 made watercolor copies of the frequent frescoes. They were demonstrated with great success in Paris, at the World Exhibition. The sketches were awarded a bronze medal.

These frescoes are a very valuable example of Novgorodian monumental painting. Created in the XII century, they still represent great artistic, especially historical, value.

Many consider the Novgorod Kremlin to be the most unique architectural monument. It belongs to one of the oldest monuments. Each city in Russia erected its own Kremlin. It was a fortress that helped to protect the inhabitants from enemy raids.

Few of the Kremlin walls survived. For the tenth century now, the Novgorod Kremlin has been faithfully serving its residents of the city. This building is the oldest. But it has retained its original appearance.

That is why this architectural monument is valuable. The Kremlin was laid out of red brick, while in Russia the building material was outlandish and expensive. But it was not in vain that the Novgorod builders used it. The walls of the city did not budge before the onslaught of many enemy troops.

The St. Sophia Cathedral rises on the territory of the Novgorod Kremlin. This is another of the great architectural monuments of Ancient Russia. The floor of the cathedral is paved with mosaics. The entire interior is an example of exquisite craftsmanship of architects. Every detail, the smallest stroke has been worked out.

Residents of the Novgorod region are proud of their Kremlin, believing that it contains an ensemble of architectural monuments, which should inspire every Russian.

Trinity-Sergius Lavra is the largest male monastery in Russia, which is located in the city of Sergiev Posad in the Moscow region. The founder of the monastery was Sergei Radonezhsky. From the day of its foundation, the monastery became the center of the spiritual life of the Moscow lands. Here the army of Prince Dmitry Donskoy received a blessing for the battle with Mamai.

Moreover, Sergius of Radonezh sent the monks Oslyabya and Peresvet to the army, distinguished by their zeal in prayer and heroic strength, who showed themselves heroically during the battle on September 8, 1830. For centuries, the monastery has been the center of the religious education of Russians, as well as the heart of cultural enlightenment.

Many icons were painted in the monastery. This was done by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny - outstanding icon painters. It was here that the well-known Trinity icon was painted. It became an integral part of the monastery iconostasis. Historians call the test of the siege of the monastery by the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. It was a troubled time. The siege lasted 16 months. The besieged survived and won.

Not all architectural monuments of Ancient Rus survived and survived. There were no traces left of many. But descriptions have been preserved in ancient books. Scientists decipher them, establish their location. The patriots find strength and means and begin to restore ancient buildings. The more actively this work is carried out, the more the greatness of Russia will grow.

Monuments of the artistic culture of Ancient Russia are a collection of amazing architecture, which is distinguished by its special beauty, as well as amazing structures. It is worth noting that the cultural monuments of the times of ancient Russia, which will be discussed in our article, are the most famous.

Yaroslavl masterpieces

Church of Nikola Nadein in Yaroslavl

The church is considered the first stone church in the Yaroslavl Posad. It is worth noting that this amazing architectural structure was erected after the Troubles. If we talk about the architecture and murals of the temple, they are mainly focused on the traditions of the 16th century.

The most beautiful Transfiguration Cathedral in Yaroslavl

It is important to know that the Transfiguration Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals not only in Yaroslavl, but throughout Russia. It is worth noting that this building was founded in pre-Mongol times, when Prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich ruled in Yaroslavl. If we talk about the history of the formation of the architectural ensemble of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral from the Spassky Monastery, then it gives historians and archaeologists many new discoveries. In addition, the following names are associated with the history of this cathedral: Metropolitan Macarius, the formidable Tsar Ivan IV, Dmitry Pozharsky and others.

Trinity Cathedral of the Danilov Monastery

This cathedral in Pereslavl-Zalessky occupies a worthy place among the most famous monuments of ancient Russian architecture. These cultural monuments of ancient Russia can easily be called unique. Special attention should be paid to the simple and monumental forms of the cathedral, which are sustained in the styles of Central Russian architecture of the 16th century. The fresco painting can easily be called unique.

Church of St. John the Evangelist in the Kremlin

The presented church was erected in 1680 thanks to Metropolitan Jonah, who is an outstanding Russian church figure of the 17th century. It should be noted that this particular building is the final stage in the formation of the world-famous Kremlin ensemble. If we talk about the interior of the presented church, then the wall painting has been perfectly preserved here. The subjects of the painting include the life cycles of the famous apostles.

Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin of the Snetogorsk Monastery

This cathedral was erected in 1310. This building is distinguished by unique frescoes. In addition, the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin is one of the monuments of Pskov, which is almost perfectly preserved.

This building was created thanks to Pskov artists and architects. I would like to pay special attention to the plastic expressiveness of architecture, which is saturated with the iconographic program of painting, as well as the free manner of execution of frescoes. The cathedral is considered the central monument of Russian artistic culture of the 14th century. That is why the protection of cultural heritage monuments should be carried out with high quality.

Church of the Nativity of Christ on Red Field near Novgorod

This church was built from 1381 to 1382. The building is notable for its well-preserved murals. During the period of rivalry between cities such as Moscow and Novgorod, an amazing Christmas fresco ensemble appeared here. Artists, as well as architects, embodied in this temple the modest appearance of the ideals of non-acquisitiveness.

All the above presented cultural monuments of the times of ancient Russia are unique in their kind, since each of them has its own amazing history of construction. This topic is quite popular among many scholars interested in history and culture.