Description of the attraction
The oldest monument of the city of Vologda, which plays an important role in the overall urban ensemble, is the St. Sophia Cathedral. Churches of this kind are considered a characteristic feature of Russian architecture of the 16th century and are one of the most common types of monastic and city cathedrals, having a source of origin - the Moscow Assumption Cathedral. But besides this, the Vologda Cathedral has significant differences from similar temples, taking into account the prototypes, in the context of the laconicism of the architecture, which gives the temple a northern austerity. Another important distinctive feature is the location of the cathedral altar, which is directed to the northeast, which was carried out at the behest of Ivan the Terrible. Most likely, the tsar wanted the altar to face the Vologda River, however, this contradicted all the traditions of building Orthodox churches.
In 1571, there were opinions that the Crimean Khan attacked Moscow. These events prompted the tsar to leave Vologda, although the construction of the St. Sophia Cathedral was not completed. The completion of construction did not come even after 17 years, and only under Fedor Ioannovich the cathedral building was finally completed, although the finishing was not completed: only the southern limit was completed, and the middle part was completed much later. His Grace Anthony, Bishop of Great Perm and Vologda, consecrated the chapel in honor of the Dormition of the head of John the Baptist. After some time, the main throne of the Sophia Cathedral was also consecrated.
In 1612, when the Polish-Lithuanian troops attacked Vologda, not only St. Sophia Cathedral, but also many other churches were significantly damaged by fires and looting, which made it necessary to re-consecrate both thrones. The restoration of the cathedral required a considerable amount of funds, so money was collected from all diocesan churches. Already in 1627, the new St. Sophia Cathedral became a stone three-altar church with five chapters. The painting of the temple was carried out during 1685-1687 by Yaroslavl craftsmen with the work supervisor Dmitry Plekhanov.
Another ancient monument of Vologda is the bell tower of the St. Sophia Cathedral, located between the Resurrection and St. Sophia cathedrals and adjoining the wall of the Bishops' court. The first bell tower at the St. Sophia Cathedral appeared in the 20s of the 17th century. In 1627, the scribal book mentions this bell tower as wooden and octagonal, with a hipped roof. In the bell tower there were "two shelves", a clock, three stairs, and 11 bells: 9 small and medium and 2 large. In 1636, the first bell tower burned down, and the new one was cut down in 1642.
During the years 1654-1659, the wooden bell tower was replaced by a pillar-shaped, stone, octagonal, crowned with a small dome and having a hipped stone top. In the 1860s, Archbishop Pallady preferred to see the bell tower of St. Sophia Cathedral as the highest in the entire diocese, and the ancient bell tower, which had existed for over 200 years, underwent major changes, for example, the hipped top of the bell tower and the ringing were removed, and the lower tier became the basis of a new, more large and high bell tower. The construction of the new bell tower lasted from 1869 to 1870 according to the project of the architect V. N. Schildnecht. It has come down to us almost without any changes.
The pseudo-Gothic forms of the present Sofia bell tower are closely connected with the onion dome, which was gilded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the entire appearance of the belfry, one can clearly see the imitation of ancient Russian architecture. The overall silhouette was especially successful, perfectly expressing its function - to serve as the main bell tower in the diocese of the temple.
On the bell tower of St. Sophia Cathedral there is a kind of museum of bells, represented by Russian, Dutch and German bells of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Of particular interest are the bells with the names characteristic of that time: "Water carrier", "Sentry", "Great Lent", "Little Swan".
The Sofia Bell Tower attracts the attention of tourists with its beauty and severity, as well as a magnificent view of the city that unfolds from its height.
Description added:
N. N. 05.10.2012
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Vologda was built in 1568-1570. It was erected in the image of the Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. In 1568, during his visit to Vologda, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of the Sophia Church in the name of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. By order of the king, the altar of Sof
Show full text St. Sophia Cathedral in Vologda was built in 1568-1570. It was erected in the image of the Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin. In 1568, during his visit to Vologda, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of the Sophia Church in the name of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos. By the order of the tsar, the altar of the Sophia Cathedral is facing not to the east, but to the northeast: apparently, the tsar wanted the altar of the temple to face the Vologda River. After the departure of Ivan the Terrible, the cathedral remained unfinished for 17 years. The construction was completed already under Fedor Ioannovich. But the interior decoration of the building was not finished and was done only in the south aisle.
By 1587, the chapel in the name of the Beheading of John the Baptist and the main chapel of the cathedral were consecrated. In 1612 the cathedral was badly damaged during the Polish invasion. In 1685-87. the cathedral was painted by Yaroslavl craftsmen under the direction of Dmitry Plekhanov.
In the building of St. Sophia Cathedral one can feel a connection not only with Moscow architecture of the 15th century, but also with earlier Novgorod architecture. The building is distinguished by the integrity and laconism of the silhouette.
The cathedral has a prismatic shape close to a cube, three apses and five domes. The bulbs on the domes are very large, in the form of "juicy" bulbs.
The bell tower of St. Sophia Cathedral is located separately from it. It was built in 1654-59 on the site of a wooden hipped bell tower. The upper part of the bell tower was built in 1896 with pseudo-Gothic elements. The bell tower is a high octahedral pillar with pointed arches of ringing, has a gallery surrounding the drum of the head. This gallery offers a beautiful view of the entire Vologda.
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