This temple is located in the center of the ancient city, on the territory of the citadel. Borisoglebsky Cathedral in Chernigov is a mute witness to the historical era of the reign of princes in Russia. The temple, which is the embodiment of true power, harmony and tranquility, attracts many visitors every day. Borisoglebsky Cathedral in Chernigov (photos are presented later in the article) is one of the magnificent objects of the National Reserve of Architecture and History. Built as a princely tomb, it currently functions as a museum, in addition, sacred music concerts are regularly held here.
About location
Borisoglebsky Cathedral of Chernigov (12th century) is located in the old city center. The temple rises on a mountain, in the territory of a recreation park. Today, the Museum of Architecture operates in its premises, which is part of the Chernihiv Ancient Nature Reserve, the administration of which is located nearby, in the building of the Collegium. itthe building, erected in 1672, in the seventeenth century was part of the Borisoglebsky monastery, which housed the residence of the metropolitans of Chernigov. Borisoglebsky Cathedral address: Chernihiv, st. Preobrazhenskaya, house number 1.
From the railway station you can get here by buses: No. 12 (get off at the stop "Hotel "Ukraine") or No. 1 (get off at the stop "Drama Theater"). Then you can walk in the direction of the Alley of Heroes. You can drive up to the St. Boris and Gleb Cathedral on your own transport, moving from the side of the capital along the P67 highway, into which the E95 (M01) international highway passes. Experts offer motorists to navigate by GPS coordinates: 51°29'21.12''N, 31°18'24.48''E.
About architecture features
The cathedral is an excellent example of the Chernihiv architectural school of the twelfth century. The structure is equipped with one dome, the height of which reaches 25 m, six pillars and a cross-shaped dome. The facades of the cathedral are huge walls, decorated with semi-columns topped with a number of white stone capitals. Borisoglebsky Cathedral in Chernihiv is unusually powerful and static. Only high quality materials were used for its construction. The temple is decorated with stone carvings and beautiful relief ornaments. Among the patterns, the most interesting, according to experts, are vegetable, combined with fabulous lace from magical birds and animals. The high quality of brickwork, elegant carving of white stone capitals also attracts attention in the temple. On the facade of the capitalrecreated from modern plexiglass on the model of the original ones, fragments of the originals can be seen in the museum.
Borisoglebsky Cathedral in Chernigov: history
It is known that the temple was built on the foundation of an older stone structure, which was rebuilt more than once during its existence. Initially, the Borisoglebsky Cathedral in Chernigov was created as the tomb of the Davidovich princes and was the main cathedral church. In 1786, by order of Catherine II, it was liquidated.
In the course of its long history, the cathedral was repeatedly burned, destroyed, and reconstructed. In the seventeenth century, there was a Dominican church in it, and during the Soviet era, s alted vegetables were stored in the church. During the war of 1941-1945. The temple was heavily damaged. During the restoration in the post-war years, archaeologists managed to find truly unique architectural elements of the building - the cornerstone of the portal and two carved capitals. In the process of restoration, the temple was returned to its original ancient Russian forms. In the interior of the Borisoglebsky Cathedral in Chernigov, many ancient frescoes and unique floor inlay have been preserved.
It is known that in the seventeenth century prominent figures of the Orthodox Church were buried in the church: Theophilus Ignatovich, Ambrose Dubnevich, Lazar Baranovich, St. Theodosius of Uglitsky.
Grandson of Yaroslav, builder of the cathedral
The builder of the cathedral, the main temple of the monastery, in 1120 was ChernigovPrince David, grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. The temple was given the name in honor of the first of all Russian saints - Gleb and Boris. History knows that Gleb is the middle name of Prince David, ruling in Chernigov, who was declared a saint for his piety. After his death, the prince was buried in the Borisoglebsky Cathedral.
During the Commonwe alth
In the sixteenth century, the building of the cathedral became the property of the Dominican monks, who restored it and built a Catholic church here. During the period of the Commonwe alth, a bell tower and other monastic buildings were erected in the temple. The eastern part of the building was expanded, columns were erected on the facades and windows were made.
Return of Orthodoxy
During the national liberation war led by Bohdan Khmelnitsky, Orthodoxy was returned to the church. In 1672, a monastery was created here, which served as the residence of bishops, at the same time, the Borisoglebsky Cathedral in Chernihiv became a cathedral. Having existed for a little over a century, the monastery was closed by decree of Empress Catherine II.
About the Royal Doors from Hetman Mazepa
Among the founders of the cathedral, it is impossible not to mention Hetman Ivan Mazepa. To this day, the chased Royal Doors of the iconostasis, made of silver, have been preserved. Thanks to the assistance of Mazepa, the cathedral received new Royal Doors weighing 56 kilograms, forged at the direction of the hetman at the beginning of the eighteenth century by Western European jewelers from silver and gold. It is known that for the manufacture of the gate, the craftsmen used material from a silver idol,which was found in 1700 during the construction of the collegium bell tower. The gates have come down to our days intact. Their height is 3.45 m. As a unique work of baroque art, the gates were exhibited in 2008-2009 at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine (Kyiv) and the Ukrainian Museum (New York).
About the Soviet period
The times of militant atheism were distinguished by the fact that the temple (or, rather, its property) aroused close interest of the commission for the liquidation of monasteries. Despite the fact that the public and scientists showed active resistance, nevertheless, in 1930, the Borisoglebsky Cathedral was closed. 14 bells were removed from it. During the war (in the forties), the temple was significantly destroyed (the original apses and vaults were lost) as a result of an air bomb. In order to return the building to the architectural forms of the pre-Mongolian era, the cathedral was rebuilt again in the 1950s. As a result, all layers of the 17th-19th centuries disappeared, and the tower, built in the unique Ukrainian baroque style, was dismantled. During the restoration work, many fragments were restored using modern materials - plexiglass and concrete. The appearance of the temple today is, in fact, a reconstruction of the Russian-Byzantine style of architecture.
