Among the architectural monuments of Ancient Russia, a special place is occupied by a temple erected in Novgorod in the 12th century and known as St. Nicholas Cathedral. Briefly, the history of its creation is described in the manuscripts that have come down to us, and more detailed information was the result of archaeological work carried out in it. Let's take a closer look at this unique witness of antiquity.
Prince is a favorite of Novgorodians
According to the monument of ancient Russian literature that has come down to us, known as the "Second Novgorod Chronicle", in 1113 the son of Vladimir Monomakh, Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich, on the right bank of the Volkhov, a stone cathedral was founded in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
In passing, it should be noted that Prince Mstislav himself, with his good deeds, won love and universal reverence among the Novgorodians. For the first time, he appeared on the banks of the Volkhov in 1088 at the age of thirteen, sent there to temporarily reign by his grandfather, the Grand DukeKyiv Vsevolod. The young ruler fell in love with the townspeople to such an extent that seven years later they themselves called him, after which in 1097 Novgorod was finally assigned to Mstislav by a decree of the Lyubech Congress of Princes.
Main Veche Cathedral of Novgorod
The place for the construction of the temple was not chosen by chance. As follows from the same chronicle, a hundred years ago, being a Novgorod prince, Yaroslav the Wise built his chambers there. Thus, this site, located opposite the Novgorod Kremlin, called Detinets, received a special status, and the Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral - as it began to be called among the people, was built as a grand-ducal church. It should also be noted that it is one of the oldest temple buildings in Novgorod, yielding in age only to St. Sophia Cathedral.
The Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral was consecrated in 1136, when, having expelled the Kyiv Prince Vsevolod Mstislavovich, the inhabitants of the city founded the Novgorod Republic. It is known that from the beginning of the 13th century, the church in the name of St. Nicholas became its main veche cathedral. Until the fall of the republic in 1478, a noisy and discordant city council gathered near its entrance.
Cathedral Square, which became the scene of political struggle
From the moment the republican form of government was established in Novgorod, the residence of the prince was moved outside the city and was located in the Rurik Settlement. Since that time, having lost the status of the palace grand-ducal church, the cathedral is a city and open to allwishing.
According to the chronicler, since 1228 the St. Nicholas Cathedral (Veliky Novgorod) has witnessed sharp political conflicts between the authorities and the common people. In addition to legitimate gatherings, the participants of which were elected representatives of all strata of society, the so-called seditious veche gathered near the walls of the cathedral. These days, the cathedral square was filled with hundreds of dissatisfied decisions made on the square in front of St. Sophia Cathedral, where the veche bell was also placed.
Disputes between individual districts of the city
The history of ancient Novgorod during its democratic rule has also preserved evidence of a struggle not only between individual groups of the population, divided by social affiliation, but also between representatives of five different districts of the city, called "ends". The researchers called this phenomenon the “inter-Konchan struggle.”
At the western gate of the cathedral was placed the so-called veche degree - a platform or platform intended for the most noble and influential participants in the veche, standing on which was considered a great honor. During the period of the struggle between representatives of various districts of the city (1218-1219), when there was still no clear delineation of the status of each of the warring parties, the St. Nicholas Cathedral and the square adjacent to it became the center of violent clashes, sometimes developing into open brawls.
Under the protection of saving vaults
Having statusThe city temple, and, above all, a holy place, the cathedral, according to the tradition established since ancient times, was a refuge for everyone who sought salvation from both the authorities and the wrath of the people. Many similar examples can be found in written monuments of that time. In particular, one of the chronicles reports that in 1338 the exiled archimandrites Esif and Lavrentiy fled from the rebellious crowd of townspeople in it. The pursuers for a long time guarded them at the doors of the cathedral, but did not dare to enter inside, which saved the lives of the fugitives.
The period of decline of the cathedral
In subsequent centuries, when Novgorod lost its independence and became part of the Moscow principality, the former veche St. Nicholas-Dvorishchensky Cathedral was not in the diocesan department, but in the palace. This made it possible to receive certain state subsidies for its maintenance and had a positive effect on the general condition.
This continued until the middle of the 18th century, when, by decree of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, it was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Novgorod diocese and became a city cathedral without a parish, which could not but affect its financial situation. As a result, due to the lack of funds needed for major repairs, the Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral (Novgorod) by the end of the century was very dilapidated and fell into disrepair.
Following reconstructions of the cathedral
Only since the reign of Emperor Alexander I did the life of the cathedral begin to change for the better. In 1810, by the highest command, there werefunds were allocated for its reconstruction, thanks to which it was possible to build extensions on the western and northern sides, which housed: a sacristy, warm aisles, a square and a porch. In addition, during the reign of his son, Nicholas I, the floor of the cathedral was paved with cast-iron slabs.
In 1913, the Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral (Novgorod) received members of the imperial family within its walls. The reason for this event was the 800th anniversary of its foundation and the 300th anniversary of the ruling House of Romanov. In anticipation of the visit of distinguished guests, a wide range of restoration work was carried out in it.
The fate of the temple in the Soviet years
After the October coup, the new authorities did not close the cathedral. This is evidenced by both the documents that have survived from those times and the memories of old-timers. The only interference in his life can be considered the decision of the Novgorod City Executive Committee of 1933, on the basis of which the current temple became at the same time a museum. Since then, excursions have been held within its walls along with worship services.
During the war, St. Nicholas Cathedral was significantly damaged. In particular, its roof and upper parts were damaged by artillery shelling. In addition, a deep crack crossed the entire ancient volume from east to west, passing through the masonry of walls, arches and vaults. The roof was completely destroyed by a bomb explosion in the western porch.
After the end of the war, a series of restoration work was carried out andThe Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral was returned to believers, but in 1962 its status as an active temple was abolished. Since that time, being under the jurisdiction of the Novgorod Museum of Local Lore, it has become the object of careful study. In subsequent years, a wide range of archaeological work was carried out, which made it possible to get a more complete picture of its history and original appearance. The city planetarium was set up in the dome of the cathedral.
Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral: architectural features
Today, the ancient cathedral, which keeps in memory the history of the independent Novgorod Republic, occupies a leading place among other buildings that make up the complex of the Novgorod Market. Its architectural appearance is extremely concise and strict.
Nikolo-Dvorishchensky Cathedral, the photo of which is presented in the article, is a front five-domed building, bounded on the east side by three apses - semicircular ledges of the wall, inside which altars are placed. Its vaults rest on six powerful pillars located inside the main building.
With its outlines, the temple suggests its relationship with another masterpiece of ancient Novgorod architecture - St. Sophia Cathedral. In general, according to art historians, its appearance corresponds to the traditions established in the architecture of Kievan Rus of the XII century. Many temple buildings of Novgorod, including St. Nicholas-Dvorishchensky Cathedral, became their continuation.
The frescoes with which it was painted during the years of its creation are mostly lost, and onlya small number of them have been preserved in the form of separate fragments. Among them, one can especially highlight the image of the Last Judgment, placed on the western wall, the Three Saints on the southern wall, as well as the plot of Job the Long-suffering on a fester, in the central apse.
Modernity
In the period from 1994 to 1999, when perestroika opened up new opportunities for preserving the cultural and historical heritage of past centuries, the cathedral was re-restored. The project of work was made by a group of Novgorod architects under the leadership of G. M. Shtender, and the international non-governmental organization "Hanseatic League of Modern Times" took over the funding.
