This white-stone temple, which is located in the Russian outback, is one of the most recognizable symbols of Russia. Distinguished by exquisite proportions, it undoubtedly became a significant and well-known monument of Russian Orthodox architecture. In this article we will talk about the history of the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl. It will not be easy to describe it briefly, since it has more than nine and a half centuries. You will learn about its difficult fate and how the ancient structure looks today.
Location
In the Suzdal district of the Vladimir region, 1.5 km from the village of Bogolyubovo, a temple rises at the confluence of the Klyazma and Nerl rivers. The Cathedral of the Intercession stands on a man-made hill that surrounds a water meadow. The location of the church is unique for ancient Russian places of worship, as it is located on a hillonly six meters high, while most religious buildings in the Middle Ages were built on hills.
Building history
Who built the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl? According to an ancient legend, during the campaign of the Russian army against the Volga Bulgars, in early August 1164, the icons of Our Lady of Vladimir, the Savior and the Cross began to radiate a fiery radiance. In honor of this event, Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky decided to build a temple.
Another version connects the appearance of the building with the death of the son of Prince Andrei - Izyaslav. The temple, dedicated to the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, was intended to become a symbol of the special patronage of the Vladimir land of the Mother of God. For the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl, the place was chosen well. In those ancient times, the mouth of the Nerl was a river gate on the trade route along the Oka and Klyazma to the Volga.
Interestingly, the Feast of the Intercession was established by the Prince of Vladimir, without obtaining the consent of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Metropolitan of Kyiv. The first divine service took place in the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl in 1165. The temple was built in just a year. At that time, it was an unprecedented pace of construction. Unfortunately, history has not preserved the name of the architect of the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl. Russian historian, economist, geographer and statesman V. N. Tatishchev claimed that specialists from Europe were invited to build the church.
The construction artel of Andrei Bogolyubsky adopted the skills of building temples of old masters. However, a more perfect style was formed: the composition became more complicated, the proportions became much slimmer,white-stone, rather complex reliefs of facades. Therefore, most modern researchers are sure that architects from Europe took part in the construction of the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl.
Initially, it was built as a cathedral, the center of the monastery. Household buildings were created near the temple, as well as covered walking galleries. Along with other temples of Prince Andrei - the over-the-gate Rizopolozhensky and Assumption Cathedral - the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl received the Theotokos consecration. A few decades later, closed galleries were added to the temple on three sides - porches 5.5 meters high.
Pokrovsky Monastery
A monastery soon arose at the temple. First female, and later male. After the establishment of the patriarchate, they began to call it the house patriarchal monastery. In the middle of the 17th century, the monastery received grants for fishing and haymaking. This made it possible to carry out serious repair and restoration work in the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl in Vladimir. At that time, the building was covered with a wooden hipped roof. The old galleries were dismantled, and on their basis a brick southern porch with a vaulted basement was built. For a long time, the roof remained covered with boards, and the head - with "scales" (wooden plowshare).
In 1673, upon their completion, the temple was consecrated again. For the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl, the year 1784 was decisive, when it could disappear. The abbot of the Bogolyubsky monastery decided to dismantle the church for the sake of the material from which it was supposed to erect the gates. However, the contractor did not agree to the offered price, and the churchsurvived. At the beginning of the 19th century, the cathedral became part of the Bogolyubov Monastery.
Soviet-era cathedral
Like most of the temples of Vladimir, including the Assumption Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl was closed by the Bolsheviks (1923). In the period from 1980 to 1985, a large-scale restoration was carried out in the temple.
Temple today
Today the Church of the Intercession is not only a center of pilgrimage, but also the object of attention of scientists. They are still interested in the mystery of its unique identity and amazing artistic appearance. Today, the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl in Vladimir belongs to the Orthodox Church and the Vladimir-Suzdal Reserve. The current church is a courtyard of the Mother of God-Nativity Monastery. However, services are conducted here only on the twelfth holidays. Those who wish can go to the temple on weekdays to inspect it and pray. The church has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1992.
Architecture
The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is located in a lowland, which is flooded with melt waters in spring. The strip foundation was laid at a depth of 1.6 meters, walls 3.7 meters high were erected on it. There is a hill all around. The foundation of the church, thus, goes underground by 5.3 meters. This technology has long been used to protect the building from flooding. The building is made in the Byzantine style.
Four pillars divide it inside into nine cells. The almost square perimeter of the building with a side of 10 meters,and the domed square has sides 3.2 meters long. The cathedral is single-domed, crowned with a cross. Despite the fact that the walls of the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl are strictly vertical, it seems that they narrow upwards. Each semicircular apse has an arched portal.
The facades of the temple are decorated with carved reliefs. The central figure in them is King David the Psalmist. It is surrounded by eagles and lions. In addition, women's masks were used in the design of the outer walls. Experts note the amazing harmony and strict proportions of the structure, giving the temple lightness and airiness. The features that determine the appearance of the Intercession Church are considered to be aspiration upward and harmony.
Today it is difficult to imagine how the cathedral looked originally. As a result of excavations in the fifties of the last century, it was found that it was surrounded on three sides by galleries (today they have been replaced by approximate reconstructions). Immediately after the completion of construction, the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl was decorated with a helmet-shaped dome, which, after restoration (1803), was replaced with an onion one, which has survived to this day. The walls of the church are decorated with white stone carvings, traditional for many places of worship of that time.
Carving
Exquisite work of stone cutters decorates the facade of the building. It depicts the biblical King David, who, with a ps alter in his hands (repeated three times), sits on a throne surrounded by fantastic animals: doves and eagles, lions and griffins. In addition, strict girlish masks encircle the facades.
While carving symbolismnot decoded. Researchers suggest that lions represent symbols of strength and power. The image of a predatory beast that has risen on its hind legs, probably a pardus, can still be seen on the coat of arms of the city of Vladimir. As for the female faces, scientists agree that this may be the image of Sophia, who symbolizes self-denial and wisdom.
Stone carving is a difficult and costly job. Scientists have come to the conclusion that, given the technology of that time, if one person worked on the creation of stone decorations for the temple, it would take him at least three thousand days.
Decor & Interior
The interior of the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl is ascetically simple. Unfortunately, the frescoes from the walls were destroyed at the end of the 19th century, during the next restoration. The strict verticals of the cross pillars give the interior decoration a more ecstatic rhythm.
The stream of light pouring from the windows of the drum seems to push apart, making the dome space more spacious. The narrow side aisles, which are ten times less than the height of the pillars, look like gaps. They seem to duplicate the pylons going up. Once upon a time, the floors of the temple were decorated with majolica tiles, and frescoes were placed on the walls covered with paintings. All of these unique works were irretrievably lost during an unprofessional restoration (1877).
If you look up from the slightly shaded lower tier of the temple, you get the feeling that you are in a well. However, the rapid rhythm of the verticals immediately turns the gaze to the dome, floating in the sun.rays. It can be assumed that our ancestors, getting into this amazing structure and raising their “eyes to grief”, felt a mystical contact with the Almighty, felt how their prayer was ascending to the throne of the Most High.
Researchers believe that the vertical aspiration of architectural lines in antiquity was not so sharply perceived. The beauty of the icons, the decorativeness of the fresco carpet, the splendor and brilliance of church utensils, with which Prince Andrei loved to decorate his churches - all this attracted the eyes of the worshipers and gave festive elegance to the interior.
Archaeological excavations
In the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl and on its territory at the end of September 1882, archaeological excavations began. Burials of the sons of Prince Daniil Alexandrovich and Andrei Bogolyubsky, Boris and Izyaslav, were discovered. In addition, archaeologists have found gutters, the foundations of covered galleries, and the white stone pavement that covered the temple hill.
The following excavations were carried out at the end of the 20th century, when some details of the temple complex were discovered. Archaeologist N. N. Voronin managed to draw up a plan of the structures surrounding the chapel and make several drawings of the general view of the temple. Archaeologists carried out the latest research in 2004-2006. Specialists managed to stop soil degradation near the church.
Temple Visiting Tips
Almost 90% of tours around the Golden Ring of Russia and Vladimir include a visit to the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Nerl. It is described in all city guides. Trips are carried outpilgrimage services of the temples of Yaroslavl, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod. The duration of these trips is one day. Two to three hours are allotted to inspect the church and its surroundings.
It is advisable to visit the temple in the summer, in mid-June, because in the spring, when the flood begins, the hill on which the structure is located turns into a real island, which can only be reached by water, by boat.
For pilgrimage trips, buses designed for 25 or 50 passengers are used as vehicles. Judging by the reviews, excursions to the temple on the Nerl are interesting not only for believers, but also for atheists.
How to get there yourself?
The church is located on the territory of the Bogolyubsky Meadow nature reserve, located 1.5 kilometers from the village of Bogolyubovo. To get to the temple, from the city of Vladimir, you need to go to the highway leading to Nizhny Novgorod. You should move along it to the Bogolyubsky Monastery. Behind it there will be a turn to the right - turn off and follow to the railway station. From there you have to walk. The church is visible from the station. A single stone-paved road leads to it.
Interesting facts
- In accordance with ancient legends, it is believed that the temple got its name in honor of the Feast of the Intercession. However, modern historians believe that this day began to be celebrated only two centuries after the construction of the cathedral. Accordingly, it is concluded that the temple was dedicated not to a holiday, but to the Virgin Mary.
- According to one of the legends, the white stone for the construction of the facilities of the complex was taken out of the Bulgar kingdom,which was conquered by Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky. Conducted studies of the mineralogical composition of the foundation and walls of the building refute this statement - white stone for construction was mined in the vicinity of Vladimir.
