Description of the attraction
The Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Vladychnaya Sloboda (Zarechye District) is one of the oldest churches that have survived in Vologda to this day. Earlier, until 1649, the settlement was under the jurisdiction of the Vologda bishops. Later, the government prohibited the clergy from buying new lands. The stone church was erected back in 1669. Initially, the church in the name of St. Nicholas was made of wood.
In 1781, the parish of St. Nicholas was the third largest in the city of Vologda (there were 72 courtyards). Already in 1892, the number of parishioners increased to 847, and he was ranked second in Vologda.
The Nikolsky temple was built in the form of a cube and consists of two floors. The upper summer church was consecrated in honor of the Most Holy and Life-giving Trinity - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Here, a side-altar was made in honor of the icons of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" and "Tikhvin", as well as the holy righteous Procopius of Ustyug (now this side-altar no longer exists). In the lower winter church there are two thrones in the name of St. Nicholas and the Miracle Worker and the First Martyr Stephen.
The Nikolsky temple stands out for its large size, has five light drums (decorated with a special arched belt), a high basement, two apses, external decor (large zakomars), five onion-shaped domes. Seedlings to the upper temple are decorated with wall paintings. The refectory connects the temple with an elegant slender bell tower. Its pillar consists of a quadrangle, an octagonal tier, and ends with a small cupola. The bell tower was rebuilt in the 18th century. Bell towers of this type, consisting of several tiers, replaced the hipped roof type characteristic of Ancient Russia. The largest and most majestic bell was cast in 1782 by Asan Strugovshchikov (its weight is 2 tons).
The interior is in baroque style. The temple was decorated with moldings that covered the vaults and arches. Of interest is the iconostasis of St. Nicholas Church, which combines painting, original, magnificent woodcarving, and sculpture. He was considered one of the most famous, beautiful and remarkable in Vologda. Many researchers of Vologda antiquity expressed their admiration at the sight of the decoration of this temple. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the church was decorated with stamps depicting twelve church feasts.
Nikolsky Church was closed in 1930. The bells were ordered to be removed. For some time, exiled "kulaks" lived in the temple (at that time the church was a prison for them), then there was a toy factory, even a hostel and a factory for the production of felt boots.
The restoration of the temple began in the 1990s. The parish was actively reviving: during the restoration work, domes were installed, brickwork was made, a Sunday school was also organized, a Center for helping people in need.
At present, in the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the holy relics of St. Anthony, the Wonderworker, who was Bishop of Vologda and Great Perm (1585-1588), rest. The relics have been in the church since 1998 (transferred from St. Sophia Cathedral). Throughout his life, he was famous for his strictness, caring, love and patience for people. Bishop Anthony did not rule the diocese for long - two years and two months. After the death of the saint, miracles were performed at the tomb. The exact time of the canonization of St. Anthony has not been established.
Nikolsky Cathedral is one of the oldest stone structures in Vologda, is an architectural monument of the 17th century and is of historical and cultural value. Built in the architectural style typical for the North of Russia.
