Description of the attraction
The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, "a poem in stone", is rightfully considered one of the main symbols of Russia. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, it is known everywhere, and its beauty is worth seeing at least once.
Temple history
In the XII century, there is a heyday Vladimir-Suzdal principality … It becomes the center of the Russian lands and lays the foundation for the development of its successor - the Moscow principality. Active construction in and around Vladimir is associated with the name Prince Andrey Bogolyubsky - it was under him that the principality achieved unprecedented power and wealth. He surrounded Vladimir with a new wall, built a new Assumption Cathedral there and founded his residence not far from the city - in Bogolyubovo. The prince fought a lot: in 1169 he took Kiev, in 1170 he besieged Novgorod and as a result concluded a peace that was profitable for himself, went on campaigns against the Volga Bulgaria. On the second campaign, he took his eldest son with him - Izyaslav … He was wounded, and after returning to Vladimir he died of his wounds.
Exactly in memory of the young prince, who died before he was eighteen, and the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl was built … The annals say that it was built for only one season, so most often the date of its construction is considered 1165 year - the year of the death of Izyaslav Andreevich. However, other scientists call slightly later dates - 1166 or 1167, and some believe that it was built several years earlier, along with the entire complex of Bogolyubov's buildings.
The church is consecrated in honor of Feast of the Intercession … It is believed that this holiday began to be massively celebrated in Russia under Andrei Bogolyubsky - he loved him. The fact is that this holiday is associated with the name Saint Andrew the Fool - the heavenly patron of the prince. It was St. The Mother of God once appeared to Andrew, extending her veil over the worshipers who asked her for protection. Under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, the Byzantine holiday began to be especially celebrated in Russia and soon became one of the most beloved among the people. However, according to other versions, this holiday appeared later, and the church was originally simply dedicated to the Mother of God. The fact is that all the other Intercession churches and all the icons of the Intercession of the Virgin that have come down to our time date from a later time.
The church was once at the very mouth the Nerl river - where it fell into the Klyazma. Since then, the channel has shifted, and the building turned out to be standing next to a picturesque oxbow. And then it was in the most conspicuous place - just where the merchant ships turned towards Bogolyubov, and, as it were, met everyone passing by.
At one time, there was a small Pokrovsky monastery … In the 17th century it was even quite rich, but in the middle of the 18th century it was abolished. This was in 1764, and the church itself was attributed to a nearby Bogolyubsky monastery … But it stood in the distance and almost did not bring any income, so in 1784 it was even almost taken down to stone. Official permission for this was obtained, but the analysis also requires funds - and they were not found at the Bogolyubsky monastery, so the church miraculously survived.
Scientific research of the church began in the middle of the 19th century. Architect and restorer N. Artleben begins the study of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture. He creates a restoration project Golden Gate in Vladimir, and in 1858 he excavated around the Intercession Church. In 1877, the church was restored and rather unsuccessfully - because of this restoration, for example, the original fresco painting was completely lost.
The temple operates until 1923, then it is closed. In the 1950s, new excavations begin under the supervision of N. Voronina … Since 1992, the temple has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Now the church is active, access to it is open to everyone. The frescoes were not restored, so that inside it is perfectly simple and light, and it is no less impressive than the outside.
Poem in stone
The artel, which Andrei Bogolyubsky hired for the construction, consisted of craftsmen from different countries. For example, it is known that the famous emperor sent several craftsmen for her to Andrew Frederick Barbarossa … The construction turned out to be not very simple: the place at the very mouth of the river could be flooded, so first an artificial hill was poured using the most advanced technology of that time. A deep foundation was laid, on it were built stone walls with a height of four meters, they formed the basis of the hill and were covered with earth, and on top they were still lined with stone. By now, the hill is somewhat donkey - its height is only three meters. But in any case, the church was built so firmly that spills do not threaten it even now.
The current appearance of the church, which seems to us so beautiful and harmonious, is not exactly what was conceived and what people saw in front of them in the XII century. From the original appearance, only the main volume with one chapter has been preserved.… Now the temple has a bulbous end, but in those days, most likely, the dome was helmet-shaped. Moreover - most likely, the church was surrounded wide galleries … Their remains were found during excavations. But, unfortunately, there is no exact dating of the appearance of these galleries. In any case, they were built on an equally solid foundation, and their height was five and a half meters. Traces of them have survived in the very appearance of the church: if you look closely, you can see that its windows on the southern facade are asymmetrical. Once upon a time there was an internal staircase, and from the gallery one could immediately get to the choir of the church.
There is not one, but several options for the reconstruction of the original appearance of the temple. We owe the main information to the architect-restorer N. Voronin, who carried out research in the 1950s. It was he who created the first reconstruction of the galleries. But in fact, we do not know whether these galleries were open or closed, how exactly they looked and what they were made of - whether they were entirely wooden or partially stone.
The main decoration of the Church of the Intercession-on-Nerl is the "trademark" of the Vladimir-Suzdal architecture of this time - a magnificent white stone carving … King David's images indicate that the church was "princely." Images of lions - symbols of strength - are a typical motif of Old Russian carving. The birds depicted on the walls can be pigeons, symbols of peace and simplicity, or they can be eagles - symbols of the height of the spirit. There are images of griffins with deer: in Christian symbolism, the classic "scene of torment" has been rethought. Griffins symbolize Christ who catches souls.
Despite the fact that there are images of the same type on the walls: King David, lions, griffins, birds - among them there is not a single one that is alike … It is believed that they were performed according to the same pattern, but by different craftsmen. Women's faces are generally a mystery - there are nineteen of them preserved along the entire perimeter of the church. All of them have different facial features, perhaps even with a portrait resemblance to some unknown girls. It is believed that they symbolize not the Mother of God herself, but the procession of the righteous virgins who accompany her.
A carved belt in the form of arches and half-columns with figured consoles has direct parallels in Italian architecture - it may have been performed by Western masters. All consoles are different, sometimes beautiful, sometimes grotesque, and you can endlessly guess about their meaning. But, in any case, in western medieval cathedrals they also liked to depict strange chimeras and other monsters.
Next to the famous Church of the Intercession there is another one - built in 1884 Church of the Three Saints … Now it is used as a souvenir shop and gatehouse.
Interesting Facts
- Legends say that Andrei Bogolyubsky brought the white stone for the construction of this temple from Bulgaria. But analyzes do not confirm this - it was built of limestone near Moscow.
- During the excavations, sculptures of lions were found. Most likely, a pier was built in front of the church, and they decorated it.
- Not so long ago, a whole controversy unfolded around the power line that passed near the Church of the Intercession, which spoiled the historical views of the temple and Bogolyubsky meadow. As a result, the wires were removed.
On a note
- Location: Vladimir region, Bogolyubovo, st. Vokzalnaya, 10.
- How to get there. from Vladimir by train or bus to the station "Bogolyubovo", then walk 1.5 km.
- Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 18:00.
- Admission is free, photography is prohibited inside.
