Description of the attraction
In the 15th century, at the same time as Vlasyevskaya, the Rybnitsa Tower of the Pskov Kremlin was built. Its height was 20 meters. Like every tower, it had a wooden tent, an observation tower and a ensign. The tent had a quadrangular base. There were six loopholes at the top. There was a high gate under the tower, through which one could get to the Kremlin. This was the main gate leading to the Middle City. Their name comes from the name of Rybniki, a shopping center on the banks of the Pskova. There were trade stalls (Torg), where they sold fresh fish. To go down to the river, one had to go through the Holy (Rybnitsa) gates.
According to some sources, the first mention of this building dates back to 1404. However, the chronicle mentions 1469 as the time when the Holy Gates were built. It says that a large stone gate was built this year. The work was carried out by a Pskov master and received 30 rubles of silver. This was the first tower to have a four-pitched tent. She was depicted on icons against the background of Pskov. The main Pskov streets, which led to the Novgorod and Gdovsk roads, as well as to the road to the south, originated from the Rybnitsa Tower.
By its location, the tower is located in the Dovmont town. Its name is associated with the name of Prince Dovmont, who, due to internecine wars, was forced to flee from Lithuania to Pskov with a small part of the Lithuanian population. Here he was baptized with the name Timothy. A year later he was elected prince of Pskov, and he ruled the city with dignity for 33 years. The blessed prince Dovmont-Timofey is canonized. He made the Pskov Kremlin an impregnable fortification.
At that time, urban planning also served as a defensive system. Since the fortifications of Zapskovye were unreliable, it was necessary to strengthen the fortifications of the Kremlin and the Middle City. The Rybnitsa Tower served as the necessary additional protection. The wall, erected by the prince near the Kremlin in the 13th century, was named Dovmontova in memory of his services. This wall contains the Holy Gates. The territory enclosed by this wall is also named after him - Dovmont city, where the Holy Gates are located. This small town has long been the center of state and church administration in Pskov. It is noteworthy that on a small territory of this city of 1.5 hectares there were 18 temples.
In the 17-18 centuries many churches of Dovmont's town were dismantled. The same fate awaited the first Rybnitsa Tower. It stood until the 18th century, then it was dismantled. The new tower over the Holy Gates was built in 1971-1972. The ancient tower of the Kremlin served as a model.
On the night of April 27-28, 2010, the tent of the Rybnitsa Tower completely burned down as a result of a fire in the Kremlin. After the restoration work, it was restored, but now the tent is slightly less in height than the previous one.
Also, after the fire, the entrance was opened through the Holy Gates. Until recently, there was no passage through this gate. There was a gift shop there. The new opening of the Holy Gates took place on September 23, 2010. In addition, after the restoration on November 3, 2010, the icon "Savior Not Made by Hands" was installed in the icon case above the Holy Gates. The author began work on this icon even before the fire broke out. This is Nikolai Moskalev, a monumental painter from Pskov. Taking as a basis the well-known ancient Novgorod icon "Savior Not Made by Hands", Moskalev used the Byzantine mosaic technique in his work. Before the installation of the icon above the gates, its consecration took place. It was performed by the rector of the Church of Alexander Nevsky, Archpriest Oleg Toer, with the blessing of Metropolitan Eusebius of Pskov and Velikie Luki.
