Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok - description, history, interesting facts and reviews

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

Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok is a famous four-pillar white-stone one-domed temple, which is located in the Moscow region, in the city of Zvenigorod. It is considered a classic monument of early Moscow architecture, erected in the XIV-XV centuries. The main asset of the cathedral is the murals of the beginning of the 15th century located inside, it is believed that their authors are Daniil Cherny and Andrey Rublev.

The history of the temple

Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok was built in the ancient historical part of Zvenigorod. In ancient Russia, a fortress was called a town, which was surrounded by ramparts on all sides, and this fortification has partially survived to this day. The customer for the construction of the Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok was Prince Yuri Dmitrievich, who served as the Grand Duke of Moscow from 1433 to 1434. The cathedral itself was built by masters from Moscow, who shortly before that completed work on the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin,located on Senya.

The belfry of the Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok was built only at the beginning of the 19th century. At the same time, a chapel appeared, built in honor of the Holy Great Martyr George. After the Soviet power was established in the country, the religious building was closed, this happened in the 30s. It was opened again in 1946. Since the late 90s, it has been considered the courtyard of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery.

Cathedral architecture

The history of the Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok is very fascinating. After all, this is the first of the four white-stone Moscow churches, which has been completely preserved to this day, despite the fact that it was built at the turn of the XIV-XV centuries. Along with the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, the Cathedral of the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands of the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery and the Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

The architecture of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Zvenigorod is extremely similar to similar buildings in Moscow at that time. They are mainly focused on the period of architecture, which can be attributed to the Vladimir-Suzdal principality of the XIII century. At the same time, it should be noted that Moscow buildings still have a number of fundamental differences that distinguish them from pre-Mongolian prototypes.

Among the features of the Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok, which is noted separately in the reviews, is that the temple is different from most buildings of the pre-Mongolian period. It is a very small cross-domed with four pillars, crowned with only one dome. On the east side ofit has three altar apses, and the other three facades have a more traditional division into vertical sections that complete the zakomaras.

The vertical division of the facade is made in the form of blades, which are adjoined by thin semi-columns ending with carved capitals. Exactly the same semi-columns separate the altar apses, while their walls are decorated with the thinnest vertical rods. There is a wide triple ribbon of floral ornament that divides the facades of the temple horizontally, it organically replaces the belt of pre-Mongolian buildings.

The upper part of the altar apses of the Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok in Zvenigorod is decorated with a double ribbon made of stone carvings, the same is on the drum of the dome. In the central strands of the facades, one can see arches framed on columns by perspective portals. Windows, which were originally elongated and narrow vertically, have survived to this day only on the side of the facades, as well as in the middle of the central apse. However, they also had a frame.

External parts

From this article you have already learned the history of the cathedral. The Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok is also notable for a large number of amazing and remarkable external details. For example, on the roof of a temple, one can see a mosquito cover. In addition to them, completing each of the strands, there is a stepped top of the cathedral, which is complicated by four more zakomaras in the corners, as well as a belt of decorative traditional kokoshniks located at the base of the dome drum.

Interestingly, this Cathedral of the AssumptionThe Mother of God, unlike, for example, Vladimir-Suzdal architecture, has keel-shaped windows, kokoshniks, portals and zakomars. All this is an important distinctive part of Moscow architecture that existed in the XIV-XV centuries. However, now it will not be possible to see them, the forms of window openings, as well as the roof of the cathedral itself, have been greatly changed due to later repairs and reconstructions.

The temple is located on a high basement, its shape slightly narrows towards the top, which emphasizes the special harmony of the building. An important feature is the internal structures, which are pairs of eastern pillars, shifted to the altar apses. This allows you to maximize the expansion of the central space under the dome. It is noteworthy that the same architectural technique was used in the construction of the cathedral in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, but here everything is done more accurately and delicately. Due to this, the composition does not lose visual balance and harmony. All proportions are very graceful, and with its rich decoration, the cathedral stands out among the religious buildings of that time.

Murals

Zvenigorod Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok was painted with frescoes almost immediately after construction was completed. Most likely, this was carried out by representatives of the court capital environment. Only fragments of murals have survived to this day, which in 1918 were found by the commission for the preservation of ancient Russian painting under the leadership of the researcher of church art and archeology Nikolai Protasov and the restorer Grigory Chirikov.

In the same year, a Soviet art critic presenteda report in which he suggested the author of the frescoes. In his opinion, the masters who painted the cathedral should have belonged to the Rublev school.

Fragments of painting that the expedition members managed to find were in the drum of the dome, as well as on the eastern pillars, in the altar, on the northern wall of the temple and in the northwestern corner.

Temple painting

In the drum of the dome we managed to find two rows of forefathers, and on the lower belts there are figures of prophets. Of these, only the image of Daniel has survived to this day. All these fragments of painting made it possible to get an idea of the unique style of painting temples in the 15th century. The researchers noted that it combined large and transparent colors, as well as light draperies, thin hands and feet are made as elegantly as possible.

A small but valuable fragment of frescoes has been preserved on the northern wall of the temple, which was closed after the restoration of the wing of the iconostasis. A connoisseur of ancient Russian painting, Viktor Filatov, identified it as part of a large-scale scene of the Assumption of the Mother of God.

Eastern pillar paintings

Most of the murals were preserved on the eastern pylons, which were originally covered with a high iconostasis, so they were not touched during the later reconstructions of the temple. Their wide planes were turned to the west towards the parishioners, representing three registers of images.

The top of them depicted two medallions with half-figures of the holy martyrs and healers, Saints Laurus and Florus. It is noteworthy that their images can still be found in pre-Mongolian ancient Russian churches. Saints representednot only as healers of the body, but also of human souls. Below them are high Calvary crosses. It is possible that these compositions were covered with holiday icons for a long time.

Monastic motifs

Two more scenes can be found on the lower tier. On the left side, an angel bestows the monastic rule on Saint Pachomius, and on the right side, a conversation between the Monk Barlaam and his disciple, the Indian prince Joasaph. Both the one and the other plot is a special, unique phenomenon. They clearly demonstrate the attention with which the masters of that time treated the topic of monastic deeds. It is worth recognizing that a certain interest in preaching the ideals of monasticism could be met before, but the location of such plots in the immediate vicinity of the altar suggests that the attitude towards it was special.

This seems especially unusual if we take into account the fact that the Assumption Cathedral was built as a city church, but as a monastery church. Both of these scenes are made in the form of fresco icons, which were part of the local iconostasis along with other images painted on boards. Most likely, different masters worked on them.

Features of the Moscow school of icon painting

On the frescoes of the pylons, one can recognize the traditional features of the 15th century metropolitan icon painting, for example, narrow figures with disproportionately large heads and miniature limbs, graceful lines, due to which the figures of the martyrs become similaron inverted bowls. There is a feeling that the draperies are filled with air and do not fit snugly against the bodies. The relief itself seems rounded, as if carved.

Also stands out a special type of varnish with swollen eyebrows and as if ready to close the eyes. All this creates a feeling of silence and concentration. The same state is felt in the compositions of the lower walls, which convey a peaceful conversation between a mentor and a student. Slow gestures demonstrate complete agreement and acceptance of the teachings. The raised hand of an angel indicates the divinity of the sermon.

Zvenigorod rank

It is with this cathedral that some of the most popular ancient Russian icons are associated, which are believed to have been painted by Andrei Rublev. During the expedition in 1918, three icons were discovered here, which were once part of the so-called belt deesis tier. This is the Almighty Savior, the Apostle Paul and the Archangel Michael. Now they are stored in the Tretyakov Gallery. It is worth noting that the original Deesis tier consisted of seven or nine icons, but the circumstances under which these works of art were discovered are not completely known.

There are doubts even that the icons were originally painted specifically for this temple. The Zvenigorod rank also includes an icon depicting John the Baptist, which is kept in the same church.

Masterpieces of world icon painting

It should be noted that the Zvenigorod rank is considered a masterpiece not only of domestic, but also of world icon painting. It is these icons, from all the works of the early XVcentury, closest to the Byzantine samples, but at the same time they have their own specific features.

From their Byzantine counterparts, they adopted a special ideality, harmony and plastic forms, which, at the same time, are not devoid of spatial turns and lightness. But the features that indicate their Russian origin are expressive silhouettes, sonority and purity of color, emotional openness and cordiality of images.

The style of these icons clearly echoes other works by Andrei Rublev.

Where is the temple?

Address of the Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok: Zvenigorod, Gorodok street, building 1. This is a functioning temple, so pilgrims can get here to serve.

In reviews of the Assumption Cathedral on Gorodok, many say that this is a magnificent temple, which is an example of unique ancient Russian architecture in the Moscow region. One of the few places where you can see authentic frescoes and icons painted by Russian masters hundreds of years ago.