Trinity Cathedral, Pskov - a symbol of faith and the defender of the Russian land

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Some historical data show that the first settlers at the confluence of the two rivers Pskova and Velikaya were tribes of Western Finns. Also, the first settlements here were organized by the Slavic tribes of the Krivichi. By the tenth century, Pskov had already become a city with a large population of different nationalities. The inhabitants were mainly engaged in trade and crafts.

The center of the city, its foundation - the Kremlin (Krom) is located on the edge of the cape, the edge. Now on the territory of the Kremlin there are two historical parts of the city, dating back to different times. Detinets with a bell tower, veche square and Trinity Cathedral and the city of Dovmont.

The notion of one God in the person of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit symbolizes the Trinity Cathedral. Pskov with the cathedral and the Kremlin is one of the oldest architectural monuments of Russia. Its grandeur and scale are amazing, even today such grandiose structures are rarely erected.

History of the Trinity Cathedral

Trinity Cathedral in Pskov is the main shrine of the whole land of Pskov. The cathedral that we see now is the fourth one built on this site. The first was built of wood, presumably in 857 AD during the time of Princess Olga. The cathedral stood until 1137.

In 1138, Prince Vsevolod-Gabriel erected a stone one in its place, in which, after the death of the prince, his relics were kept. But, unfortunately, the cathedral did not stand for so long, its vault collapsed in 1363.

The third cathedral was founded in 1365 under the mayors Paul and Ananias, consecrated in 1367. Regarding the architecture of the first temple, there is no information, but the second and third can be judged by some icons. The icon of St. Vsevolod-Gabriel, holding the temple in his left hand, is located in the Trinity Cathedral next to the relics of the prince. Exactly the same icon is in the Kozmodemyanskaya church: the temple is depicted as one-domed, two rows of zakomar are visible, above the second there is an octahedron, it depicts a tribune with windows and decorations in the form of arches along the cornice, on the tribune there is a head and an 8-pointed cross. On the Sretensky icon, the temple is already five-domed, two rows of zakomar, due to the fact that the temple stands on the basement, it has an elongated shape.

Fire

During a severe fire in the Pskov Kremlin in 1609, a gunpowder warehouse exploded, which caused the collapse of all the buildings on both embankments. In the cathedral itself, everything burned out, with the exception of the relics of the holy princes Vsevolod and Dovmont. After the repair, the temple stood until 1682, in that year the Metropolitan of Pskov Markell began the construction of a new temple. But before it was completed, the upper part of the temple collapsed.

Continued the construction of the cathedral Metropolitan Hilarion in 1691, in 1699 the temple was consecrated. This cathedral is the one we see. Several times the temple burned, but was restored inside and out. Later, in 1770, buttresses were added to it.

Trinity Cathedral, Pskov

The cathedral was built in a peculiar Russian-Byzantine style. It consists of two tiers, has a slightly elongated cubic shape, a hipped roof, five domes. The eastern part has three asps in the shape of a semicircle, with extensions on the north and south sides. The porch is located on the western side, equipped with a covered staircase. On the lower floor of the temple, the tomb of the princes of Pskov used to be located, later the church of St. Olga was equipped here. And in 1903, the church of Seraphim of Sarov was erected there.

In 1917, after the revolution, the cathedral was given to schismatics. In the 1930s, the Trinity Cathedral was closed and handed over to the Museum of Atheism. Numerous shrines of the Trinity Cathedral were transferred to the Pskov Museum-Reserve, many of them are still there.

Revival of the Cathedral

The Pskov Orthodox mission helped to revive the cathedral in August 1941. First, the main temple of the city was put in order, and everywhere there were traces of blasphemy of the employees of the anti-religious museum. All the remains were thrown out of the tomb, everything had to be searched for, brought into proper form and returned to their places. The city museum donated to the cathedral church utensils, sacred objects, icons, among them the icon of Prince Vsevolod. On thethe bell tower returned the bells. The Cathedral of the Pskov diocese has regained its former glory. The miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Tikhvin was also brought to the cathedral.

Resurrection

So, in 1941, the Trinity Cathedral began to operate again. Pskov with its Kremlin is a unique monument of Russia. Its architecture has not yet succumbed to the influence of Western influences.

Three miraculous icons are kept in the Trinity Cathedral. Of these, it is worth mentioning the icon of the Holy Princess Olga, painted by Alipy, Archimandrite of the Pskov-Pechora Monastery. Other icons of the Trinity Cathedral are also unique.

Pskov with its residents and church ministers updated the chapel of St. Seraphim of Sarov for the millennium of the baptism of Russia. It was equipped with an iconostasis, an altar and a throne. The floors were re-made and church utensils were restored.

Iconostasis

To the right of the Royal Gates is the icon "Savior Not Made by Hands", to the left is the icon "The Word of the Flesh was". The composition of the deesis included the icons of the princes of Pskov Dovmont-Timofei and Vsevolod-Gabriel. The iconostasis ends with the icon of Our Lady of the Sign. On the gate itself, on the right side, is the icon of Seraphim of Sarov, on the left side - Nikandr of Pskov. Both saints spent many years in prayer and silence, for which they were rewarded with the grace of God and the Holy Spirit, and glorified the Lord with miraculous deeds.

The icons were painted by Archimandrite Zinon. They are like a prayer, ringing like the thinnest string, ascending to God. According to his project, it was compilediconostasis of the Trinity Cathedral. Pskov included the Trinity Cathedral in the category of monuments of republican significance under state protection.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Germans set up a firing point on the territory of the Kremlin. During the fighting, the Trinity Cathedral was also damaged.

Pskov for many centuries guarded the borders of Russia, did not allow Lithuanian, Livonian troops to invade our land. The Trinity Cathedral has become a symbol of faith that helps in the fight against the invaders of the Russian land.