Built in 1050 after its Kyiv namesake, St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod is the oldest stone church on Russian territory. Absolutely unique icons, preserved fragments of ancient frescoes, miraculous relics complement the architectural beauty of the building, with which multifaceted historical events. According to legend, the foundation of the cathedral took place in the presence of Yaroslav the Wise by his son Vladimir, who died shortly after the consecration of the temple in 1052.
Located in the northern part of the city Kremlin, St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod was both a religious shrine and a repository of treasury valuables. The appearance of the cathedral is quite well known and popular. To emphasize the antiquity of the temple, let us recall that it was built even before the final split of Christianity.
By a great miracle, or rather by the providence of God, it has survived to this day, having survived a number of critical events. The temple remains the cathedral of the Novgorod diocese, providing everyone with access to the stored priceless historical relics. Maintained in perfect condition, St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod remains an architectural gem.
St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod - from a distance and in detail
The location of the temple fully complies with the canons of Christianity - altar apses in the east, the main entrance from the west. The quadrangle of the main volume, topped with five domes, has galleries of 2 floors on the west, north and south. The entrance tower south of the main entrance has its own sixth dome, which distinguishes the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod from other churches.
Another distinctive feature of Novgorod Sofia, which presumably arose during construction, is the vertically elongated volume. This upward thrust, visible from the outside and especially inside, became a signature feature of local temple construction. St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod is externally distinguished by its domes in the shape of Russian military helmets, gray in color, except for the gilded central one. There are other differences, more on them later.
Holy heroic prince
A memorial plaque on the wall of the cathedral reminds that the troops of Prince Alexander Nevsky left for fateful battles. The famous commander and his warriors defeated the Swedes on the Neva, from where the descendant of Monomakh and Rurik received his nickname, which became his surname. His merits include the liberation of a number of cities from the Teutonic invaders - the Germans, including the legendary victory on Lake Peipus (Battle of the Ice).
Alexander Nevsky was the Prince of Novgorod until 1251, when he became the Grand Duke of Vladimir. It is known that he rejected the Pope’s proposal to convert to Catholicism, and in relations with the Golden Horde he proved himself to be a subtle diplomat. Was canonized as an Orthodox saint, and declared by Stalin national hero, one of the most honorable orders is named after him.
Fresco and gate
The western facade with which the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod faces into the space of the Vladychny Courtyard is very remarkable. A fragment of an 11th century fresco has been preserved here and provided with a special shelter, allowing one to imagine at least the tonality of the ancient design. Some images are visible along the periphery of the selected area, the content of the main image can only be guessed, or learned from the articles of scientists.
Another remarkable exhibit of the western facade is the Magdeburg Gate, which has several other names, as well as versions of its acquisition. The opinion was expressed that this was a military trophy of the Novgorod warriors of the 12th century, taken from the ancient Swedish capital (hence the name Sigtuna). Other sources speak of a gift from German craftsmen or purchase by local merchants.
Only the German origin of the product does not cause discrepancies, and even the names of the foundry workers from Magdeburg and their figures with tools in their hands are displayed on the metal. Fairly clear images of scenes from the Bible, including people, animals and architectural elements, with captions on Latin. There is also an addition in Russian about the master Abraham who assembled the gates with his figure.
For many centuries, the Magdeburg Gate in the western facade was the daily entrance to the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod. Nowadays they are used only on holidays, when the archbishop participates in the service. The daily passage of both parishioners to church services and inquisitive admirers of antiquity is carried out through the southern entrance; the gate there is also not new, but not like the front gate.
Here, a bronze cast plaque is mounted on one of the ordinary wooden doors. It indicates in modern Russian the high status of the Cathedral, visiting hours as a museum and the time of services. Among the elements of decoration can only be considered door handles made from bronze using the casting method. Carrying out a visit during public hours, we were convinced of the piety of a significant part of museum visitors.
Interiors and relics of the Novgorod temple
The first impression of those entering the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod in most cases is a feeling of some cramped space. It seems so not so much from the considerable number of visitors, but from the disproportion of the area and volume inside the building. The high height of the ceilings in the passage contrasts with its small width, which is further reduced due to the candlesticks placed under the images.
The church bench located on the path of visitors does not add space either; although it is located in a niche, it limits the passage with a counter. But the range of goods here is quite diverse, from religious literature and symbols to holy images of a wide variety of sizes and quality of work. The only free space left is the space under the ceiling, illuminated by the light of the chandeliers.
Visitors experience different sensations near the altar iconostasis, where it is much freer. The first and main impression for most is the obvious, even excessive modesty of the design. I wouldn’t dare call it poverty, but the muted colors, lack of significant decor, gilding, bright details noticeable. However, modesty is not a vice; perhaps this was the case in the old days.
The altar iconostasis of the temple contains a number of rare and especially revered icons, about which prudent visitors found information in advance. It is near these images that visitors who want to get help or solve problems concentrate. First of all, these are the icons of Sophia the Wisdom of God, the Tikhvin Mother of God and the icon of the Mother of God of the Sign placed in a cabinet in front of the iconostasis.
Features of Sofia Novgorod
The St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod looks very attractive if you look towards the main dome. The dizzying height is mesmerizing, the feeling is enhanced by the vertical projections of the walls. It seems that the upper part of the structures preserved fragments of ancient paintings, but the central image of Christ was knocked out by a fascist shell and was never restored.
What distinguishes the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod from other Orthodox churches is something else that is almost elusive, at the level of a subconscious guess. The iconostasis, separating the altar space from the public space, seems alien in this setting. And this is true, it was erected later than the consecration of the cathedral, after the final demarcation of Catholics and Orthodox Christians to the level of mutual curses.
The contradictions between the branches of one religion stemmed from the desire for dominance, common among politicians, but unsuitable for the servants of God. The division of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern, which later became Byzantium, gave rise to contradictions not only between states. In the foreseeable future, this conflict will be a thousand years old; will Christians never unite?
Holy relics and customs
In addition to the already mentioned miraculous icons, the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod preserves a number of relics of Orthodox saints. The first to rest here was the wife of Yaroslav the Wise Anna, the mother of the builder of the temple. The death of Vladimir Yaroslavich immediately after the consecration has already been mentioned, but he was only 32 years old. Using the example of this person, we show how and in what way the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod stores the relics.
The canonization of Russian princes and then monarchs in Orthodoxy was common; for them there was a special face (type) of holiness, designated as the Blessed. The criteria for sainthood did not include military exploits and conquests. Godly life and works in the name of the church were celebrated. Since the construction and maintenance of temples clearly relates to such, the canonization of the one who built the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod is understandable.
The reason for canonization, also in the person of Alexander Nevsky’s faithful older brother, Fyodor Yaroslavovich, is not entirely clear. He was listed as the Prince of Novgorod for only a year and died before his 15th birthday, on the eve of his marriage. Our photo shows a parishioner worshiping his relics; apparently, choosing an idol for veneration is a delicate matter or unknown to us.
However, church rituals are in many ways mysterious to the laity, who do not delve too deeply into these subtleties. Not everyone can even correctly light a candle for health or repose now; there are people who do not see the difference in these categories. It is good that in any temple there is a benevolent adviser, be it a visitor or a priest. Therefore, it is rare for visitors to leave the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod without placing one or another candle in one of the temple’s candlesticks.
For those who visited the St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod, the Kremlin territory offers a number of educational objects. These are the fortress walls with preserved watchtowers, and the Sofia Belfry, which once collapsed along with the wall washed away by the flood. Between it and the temple in the picture you can see the building of the music college (former theological school), where there is a folk museum of Arensky, Lyadov and Rachmaninov. Don’t forget about the one seen in one of the first photographs.
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From the very moment of its foundation, and this happened at the dawn of the 11th century, the Novgorod Hagia Sophia Cathedral was and remains to this day one of the symbols of this ancient Russian city. Built “in the image and likeness” of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, it still has its own characteristics and itself becomes a model for the Novgorod style of churches. The majestic, powerful building made of durable stone is crowned with five domes in the shape of helmets of ancient Russian warriors, four of which are lead-colored, and the fifth sparkles in the sun with golden reflections.
In fairness, it must be said that the St. Sophia Cathedral that has reached its contemporaries is its second incarnation. For the first time, the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod was created from wood by skilled Novgorod carpenters. However, the building stood for about half a century and burned to the ground in another fire. After this, Prince Vladimir (son of Yaroslav the Wise) decided to build a stone church, similar to the Kiev St. Sophia Cathedral, so beloved by his father. Actually, the craftsmen for construction were called from Kyiv - in Novgorod at that time the construction of wooden buildings was practiced.
The walls of the cathedral hid (and perhaps truly guard some treasures to this day) many treasures and hiding places, where the wealth of wealthy Novgorodians and Prince Vladimir himself were kept. According to legend, it was his “burial place” that was found by Ivan the Terrible, who learned about the hiding place from nowhere. However, the tsar precisely indicated the place where the treasures were embedded in the wall of the church, and transported them to Moscow. In addition to personal treasures, the treasury of the Novgorod Republic was also kept in the caches of the cathedral.
St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod
Interiors and architecture of the cathedral
The Korsun or Sigtuna Gate is a military trophy that the Novgorodians brought from the conquered Swedish city of Sigtuna. The gate is a rare example of artistic casting Western Europe, which dates back to the 12th century. They were made by craftsmen from Magdeburg, Germany, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments on bronze plates. Above the plots there are explanatory inscriptions in Latin, and just below there is a translation into Russian. At the very bottom there are 3 figures of foundry workers: two German authors and a Novgorod master who assembled and completed the gate before installation in the church.
Another relic of the cathedral, which in the 70s of the 16th century Ivan the Terrible took to Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, is the Vasilievsky Gate.
Another relic of the cathedral, which in the 70s of the 16th century Ivan the Terrible took to Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda, is the Vasilievsky Gate. They are also a striking example of the filigree craftsmanship of the Middle Ages craftsmen. The gate received its name from the name of the customer - Archbishop Vasily Kalika, whose portrait the master immortalized on the gate. The Vasilyevsky Gates, made of copper and decorated with gold, depict gospel scenes. Not without Kitovras (a centaur from legends), whom the masters of ancient Novgorod loved to portray. The same character is immortalized on the Sigtuna Gate.
History of the construction of the cathedral
Built from slabs of limestone and shell rock, at first the cathedral was brighter and more welcoming both outside and inside. The initially untreated stone was plastered in the mid-12th century, softening the rough appearance, and the interior of the cathedral shone with richly decorated icon frames and precious utensils. During its history, the St. Sophia Cathedral has undergone many changes and reconstructions (open galleries were laid out, which “did not take root” in the cold climate, and the cathedral acquired a more austere “gloomy” appearance, later the “Golden” porch was added), “grew” into the ground almost 1.5 meters and was even plundered by the guardsmen of Ivan the Terrible, who took icons, bells and precious utensils from the sacristy and even broke down the famous Korsun Gate.
After reconstructions in the Middle Ages and destruction caused during the Great Patriotic War (at that time the carved wooden vestibule and iconostasis were taken from the cathedral to Nazi Germany, however, they were later found and returned to their homeland), this temple of God acquired a gloomy, austere, even a stern look. The interior space is not very well divided by an iconostasis with icons dating from the 14th to 16th centuries; the frescoes of the 11th century have faded greatly, and most of them have not survived to this day. The reason for this is the unsuccessful restoration work that was carried out in the Hagia Sophia at the beginning of the 20th century, and the military actions of the First World War.
Fortunately, on the ancient plaster, which has survived to this day, scientists were able to find inscriptions of parishioners who lived in the 11th-13th centuries - about various events in the city, texts of prayers and... autographs, and during excavations, samples of mosaics were discovered, which decorated the pillars in front of the altar and fragments of the floor. Also, some volumes from the once rich library that was collected in the St. Sophia Cathedral have survived to this day - historical chronicles, collections of recipes and descriptions of herbs, mathematical treatises.
As a tomb, the Novgorod Cathedral of Sophia serves the saints Princess Anna (the wife of Yaroslav the Wise), Prince Vladimir (the founder of the cathedral and the son of Yaroslav the Wise) and his wife Alexandra, Princes Fyodor and Mstislav (brother and grandfather of Alexander Nevsky), Archbishops Nikita and John. Also in this temple, other noble princes, the first archbishops and canonized saints were buried.
With the Bolsheviks coming to power in the late 1920s, services in the temple were stopped and an anti-religious museum was opened within its walls, putting on public display the “countless riches” of the church from among the jewelry that was kept in the sacristy. After the war, the destruction caused to the St. Sophia Cathedral was eliminated, and until the early 90s of the last century it was a department of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve. And on August 16, 1991, in a solemn ceremony, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II consecrated the returned Russian Orthodox Church St. Sophia Cathedral of Veliky Novgorod.
Address: Kremlin Territory, 11
Address: Novgorod region, Veliky Novgorod, Kremlin.
Hagia Sophia in Novgorod was built in 1045-1050. by order of the Novgorod prince Vladimir. The cathedral was built of cut stone and thin brick and was initially unplastered, making its pink and white walls look very picturesque. This can be judged from a fragment of masonry in the south-eastern part of the wall, specially cleared of plaster by restorers.
Before the stone Sophia, there was a wooden Sophia Church in Novgorod, made of oak “with thirteen peaks,” built in Detinets in 989. It did not stand in the same place as the current cathedral, but on the site of another church, Boris and Gleb. Scientists believe that the wooden temple burned down during the construction of the new stone one, and for a long time its place stood empty.
The builders of the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod were Kyiv craftsmen, who built the temple on the model of St. Sophia of Kyiv.
The huge, slightly asymmetrical building of the cathedral is crowned with six massive domes - a central five-domed dome and a separate dome above a quadrangular extension, inside of which there is an ascent to the choir, where the Novgorod nobility were seated during services. The walls of the cathedral are divided by simple, strict blades. Initially, the cathedral was surrounded by open and covered two-tier galleries, which were later built and turned into closed parts of the temple.
From the outside the temple looks like a real giant. Inside, its space is divided by painted pillars into small parts, high and narrow, which makes it seem that the cathedral is very cramped. And only at the iconostasis itself it becomes more spacious. The paintings in the cathedral were repeatedly renewed and rewritten, but already in the 20th century, restorers managed to discover a number of frescoes that were contemporary with the cathedral. Thus, the fresco “Constantine and Helen” of the 11th century in the southern vestibule was preserved under layers of later paintings, and fragments of paintings of the 12th century were discovered and cleared in the central dome.
The Central Cathedral of Veliky Novgorod performed not only liturgical functions. In the cathedral, in its huge dungeons, the city treasury and numerous treasures of the cathedral itself were kept. Unfortunately, very little has been preserved - the cathedral sacristy was repeatedly robbed, including by the “new owners” - the Bolsheviks - and the Nazis during the occupation.
From the very moment of its construction, the cathedral was also used as a tomb for the Novgorod princes and high clergy. In the cathedral itself there are shrines with the relics of saints - Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich of Novgorod, the builder of the cathedral, his mother Princess Anna, the former princess Ingigerda, St. John, Archbishop of Novgorod, and Prince Theodore Yaroslavich, brother of Alexander Nevsky.
Of particular interest are the famous Magdeburg Gates (otherwise called Korsun Gates), brought by the Novgorodians from Sweden. These are tall, skillfully made doors with 48 cast bronze plates, fitted to each other. Each plate depicts figures or subjects. The huge gates were already assembled in Novgorod.
During Soviet times, services were still held in the cathedral for some time, but the removal of valuables from the cathedral's storage facilities did not stop. Many valuable items have been lost, stolen, or simply turned into scrap. In the 1920s, a museum of atheism was opened in the cathedral. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral was badly damaged and was destroyed and looted by the Nazis. After the war, it took decades to restore it, but after the restoration the cathedral almost became a kind of “Palace of Culture”, far from sacred music and religion in general. In 1991 The cathedral was handed over to believers, and services are held there again.
Hagia Sophia - main Orthodox church Veliky Novgorod, created in 1045-1050. It is the oldest surviving temple in Russia, built by the Slavs.
In 1045, Grand Duke Yaroslav the Wise and Princess Irina (Ingegerda) went to Novgorod from Kyiv to visit their son Vladimir to lay the foundation stone for the St. Sophia Cathedral. The cathedral was built around 1050 instead of the 13-domed wooden church of 989 that had burned down before, but not in the same place, but to the north. According to various chronicles, the cathedral was consecrated in 1050 or 1052 by Bishop Luke.
The cathedral was strictly symmetrical and did not yet have galleries. Initially, the walls of the temple were not whitewashed, with the exception of the curved apses and drums, covered with a layer of cement. The inner sides of the walls were also exposed, while the vaults were originally plastered with cement and covered with frescoes. This design was chosen under the influence of the architecture of Constantinople, in which marble wall cladding was combined with mosaics on the vaults; however, marble was replaced by limestone and mosaics by frescoes. The walls were probably completely covered with cement as early as 1151.
The bronze Magdeburg Gate in the Romanesque style with a large number of high reliefs and sculptures is mounted on the western portal. In 1930 the cathedral was closed and became part of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve. During the occupation of Novgorod by Nazi troops, the temple was severely damaged and looted, but after the war it was completely restored. In 1991 it was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church and on August 16, 1991 it was consecrated personally by Patriarch Alexy II. In 2005-2007, the cathedral domes were restored.
The cathedral is a five-nave cross-domed church. Temples of this type were built in Rus' only in the 11th century; in addition to the Novgorod Sofia, they include: St. Sophia Cathedrals in Kyiv and Polotsk, as well as the Kiev Church of Irina and George. There are three apses, the central one is pentagonal, the side ones are rounded. On three sides central building surrounded by wide two-story galleries. The cathedral has five chapters, the sixth crowns the staircase tower, located in the western gallery south of the entrance. The heads of the chapters are made in the shape of ancient Russian helmets.
The main volume of the cathedral (without galleries) is 27 m long and 24.8 m wide; together with the galleries, the length is 34.5 m, the width is 39.3 m. The height from the level of the ancient floor, located 2 meters below the modern one, to the top of the cross of the central chapter is 38 m. The walls of the temple, which are 1.2 m thick, are made of limestone of different shades. The stones are not trimmed (only the side facing the surface of the walls is hewn) and are fastened with lime mortar with admixtures of crushed brick (so-called cement). The arches, arched lintels and vaults are made of brick.
The cathedral was first painted in 1109, but only fragments of the dome and “Constantine and Helen” in the Martiryevskaya porch remained from the medieval frescoes. There is a version that this image was supposed to become the basis for a mosaic, since it was made with highly diluted paints. The "Pantocrator" fresco in the main dome was destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. The main painting was done in the 19th century. The cathedral has three iconostases. Of these, the most famous are the main one (XV-XVI) and Rozhdestvensky (XIV-XVI, individual icons - XIX century). Among the icons, the following stand out:
- Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”
- Euthymius the Great, Anthony the Great, Savva the Sanctified
- Sophia, Wisdom of God (XV century). Located in the central iconostasis. It is distinguished by greater symbolism even in comparison with icons of the same type. For example, Wisdom in the Novgorod version is red, meaning the sacrifice of Christ.
- Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God (XVI). Located in the Nativity iconostasis. This icon was with the Novgorodians during the conclusion of the Stolbovsky Peace. The chasuble on the icon was made by order of Princess Sophia.
The cathedral permanently houses the remains of six saints: Princess Irina, her son Vladimir, princes Mstislav and Fyodor, archbishops Nikita and John. Also in the cathedral you can see the tombstones of bishops of the 18th-19th centuries.
On the cross of the central dome there is a lead figure of a dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit. According to legend, when in 1570 Ivan the Terrible brutally dealt with the residents of Novgorod, a dove sat down to rest on the cross of Sophia. Seeing the terrible carnage from there, the dove was petrified with horror. Afterwards, the Mother of God revealed to one of the monks that this dove was sent to console the city - and until it flies off the cross, the city will be protected by it.
During the Great Patriotic War, on August 15, 1941, fascist troops occupied Novgorod. During one of the air raids or artillery shelling of the city, the cross with a dove was knocked down and hung on the fastening cables, and the city commandant ordered it to be removed. During the occupation, the engineering corps of the Spanish “Blue Division”, which fought on the side of Nazi Germany, was located in Novgorod, and as one of the trophies, the cross of the main dome was taken to Spain.
At the request of the governor of the Novgorod region to the Spanish Embassy in Russia in 2002, it was found that the cross was in the chapel of the museum of the Spanish Military Engineering Academy in Madrid. The rector of the St. Sophia Cathedral, Archbishop Leo of Novgorod and Staraya Rus, having received information about the location of the domed St. Sophia cross, during a meeting with Russian President V.V. Putin, inquired about the possibility of returning the cross to Novgorod. As a result of negotiations Russian President and the King of Spain, the Spanish side decided to transfer the cross of the St. Sophia Cathedral to Russia.
On November 16, 2004, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, it was returned to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II by the Minister of Defense of Spain and is now located inside the St. Sophia Cathedral; the cross, now located on the central dome, was made in 2006 and installed on January 24, 2007. An exact copy of the cross was also left in the Spanish museum.
Pilgrimage trips to the Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Obninsk to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Vyshny Volochyok to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Veliky Novgorod to the Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Volgograd to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from St. Petersburg to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Odessa to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Minsk to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Veliky Novgorod to the Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Tyumen to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Kolomna to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Veliky Novgorod to the Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from St. Petersburg to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from St. Petersburg to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- A trip from Moscow to the Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Kyiv to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Minsk to Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
- Trip from Veliky Novgorod to the Hagia Sophia in Veliky Novgorod
The vast Russian expanse, which occupies half the continent, is home to many churches and monasteries.
One of the most ancient and beautiful is the Church of St. Sophia in Novgorod (Sofievsky).
It is one of the most famous and visited architectural structures in the world.
Its five-domed domes adorn the holy ground of the great city. Short description and the most important facts from the history of the temple will be given by Wikipedia. Our task is not only to tell about the most important temple for Novgorod, but also to show it in all its glory.
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Description
Don't look for the Church of St. Sophia in Nizhny Novgorod: his patrimony, as he was called before - Mr. Veliky Novgorod! This cross-domed building dates back to ancient times. But even then such buildings were rare, especially on Russian soil. The five-nave structure is a unique architectural solution. Similar buildings were created only in the eleventh century. Apart from it, there are only a few buildings of this type. For example, one of the famous buildings is located in Kyiv, this is the Church of Irina and George. There are some buildings in, these include the St. Sophia Cathedral, and the same in Ukraine in Kyiv.
The Novgorod region is called the land of a thousand churches. There are many churches, large and small, in this region: from magnificent cathedrals to chapels lost in the wilderness. But only one has always been and will be the symbol and heart of Novgorod - St. Sophia Cathedral
The cathedral occupies a vast area. It is almost forty meters wide. And it’s almost thirty-five in length. The walls of the temple are made of different types of limestone, their thickness is enormous - 1.2 meters.
The interior of the temple is typical of those times in the Kiev style, which in turn was created on Byzantine motifs. Thus, the temple is represented by some mixture of the traditional Kyiv Russian and Byzantine directions.
Geographical location and place on the map
The cathedral is located in the very center of the city. On the territory of the Novgorod Kremlin, in building number eleven. It was not by chance that the building received this location. The temple was supposed to personify the soul of the Novgorod land, to become its real living heart. It was not for nothing that back in those days they said: “Where St. Sophia is, there is Novgorod!”
Hagia Sophia in Novgorod is the oldest monument of stone architecture in northern Rus'
Take into account: St. Sophia Cathedral was intended not only for Divine services. Various state meetings and the most important ceremonies and celebrations were held there for a long time.
History of construction
The history of the construction of this great temple cannot be told briefly... In 1946, Prince Yaroslav the Wise visited Veliky Novgorod, where his son Vladimir ruled. Then he ordered the foundation of the Temple on the site of a burnt wooden one in 989. It was decided to build a new building a little north of the location of the old one. Construction lasted five years until 1951. At the same time, the cathedral was illuminated and recognized as functioning. Initially, the Temple was not distinguished by its crystal white walls. Under the influence of the Byzantine trend when decorating such buildings, it was decided not to whitewash the walls of the temple. The interior of the temple was decorated with limestone of various types and many frescoes. The walls were whitewashed only in 1154.
The cathedral was built around 1050 instead of the 13-domed wooden church of 989 that had burned down before, but not in the same place, but to the north. According to various chronicles, the cathedral was consecrated in 1050 or 1052 by Bishop Luke
In the eighteenth century, several buttresses were added to the two facades. This was done to strengthen the walls on the south and north sides of the building. However, already during the restoration in 1895, the walls were strengthened and the extensions were removed. Thus, the building was restored to its original appearance. The work was carried out under the guidance of architect N. S. Kudyukov.
The following changes occurred after the revolution in 1922. Then, under the influence of a special program of the Soviet government, all church objects of value were removed from the Temple. It was closed in 1929. Instead, an anti-religious museum was opened in the building.
The building had a hard time during the Great Patriotic War. In 1941 it was subjected to massive bombing. After being hit by shells, it survived, but was severely damaged.
After the war in 1950, the building was restored. The Novgorod Museum-Reserve was opened there.
It is important to know: only after Soviet Union ceased to exist, in 1991, the title of the Temple was returned to the building. The Great Patriarch of All Rus' Alexey II consecrated it personally.
In 2005, a program for the reconstruction of ancient structures was created. A reconstruction was carried out in the Novgorod Cathedral, during which the domed structures were rebuilt.
Painting and architectural features
Inside the cathedral you can see five pillars on which the vaults are supported.
The southern porch served for the burial of rulers, members of the princely family and the most distinguished statesmen. Now the main entrance is located there.
The extensive palaces served as a place for the Grand Duke and his family to stay during services. Currently, the church choir is located here during ceremonies.
The cathedral was built of plinth (flat brick) and stone. The five domes of the temple are raised high above the monolithic cubic temple building, strictly separated from it. The massive walls are devoid of protrusions and are occasionally cut through by narrow windows.
Interesting fact: For excellent acoustics, so-called voice pots were placed in the walls of the cathedral.
The architects built it with a double meaning. First of all, this is lightening the structures in the upper part of the building. The second purpose of the architectural solution was to absorb strong echoes without losing sound volume. This was extremely important for church chants and worship.
For a long time after its opening, the cathedral was practically not decorated with fine works of art. One of the very first to appear on the walls of the cathedral was the image of Saints Constantine and Helen. It has survived to this day.
One of the most famous works of art was an image of Christ Pantocrator, which was located under the central dome. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during the war.
Do you know that: According to legend, it was decided to paint the image of Christ with an unclenched hand. But each time the work had to be redone, because in the morning the clerks discovered the clenched right hand of Christ. On the fourth day, the artist heard a voice telling him, “Write me with a clenched finger, for when my hand unclenches, Novgorod will fall.” The prophecy came true during the Great Patriotic War, when a direct hit from a shell destroyed the mosaic under the dome. The right hand unclenched, Novgorod fell.
The oldest graffiti on the walls
At the end of the nineteenth century, ancient inscriptions were first discovered on the walls of the cathedral. The oldest were created at the end of the eleventh to the beginning of the twelfth century. Some of them are called Glagolitic and belong to the rarest works of writing. In 2012, the collection of such rare man-made works of antiquity in the temple reached twelve escapades. In total, by 2014, together with Cyrillic inscriptions, the number of inscriptions in the cathedral totaled more than 800. Some of the most famous were the prophecies of the priests and extracts from “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.” For example, on one of the walls, researchers found a message containing information that Yaroslav the Wise, the Grand Duke of Kiev, had died.
Graffiti inscription in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod (XII-XIII centuries)
Good to know: Ancient graffiti consisted of inscriptions of various types; they were scratched with a special tool with a sharp tip, which was called a “pisal”.
Miraculous icons of St. Sophia Cathedral
Icons have always played a special role in the life of Orthodox people. They have long been revered by believers. The images of saints had sacred meaning and were considered a mediator between mere mortals and Divine power.
Most of the paintings belong to 19th century, but several ancient fragments have survived, including a fresco with Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen
There are three iconostases in the temple. Present here and miraculous icons. One of the most famous is the icon of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It has average dimensions of 59 by 53 centimeters. It depicts Holy Mother of God together with the baby on the chest, which is inscribed in a circle. The writing of the work is attributed to the 12th century, the iconographic type of Orans. It includes images of the Mother of God with her hands raised in prayer. Celebrations in her honor are still held on November 27th.
The main shrine of the Novgorod land is the icon of the Mother of God of the Sign
Another icon glorified by miracles in this Temple is Sophia the Wisdom of God. It was written in the 15th century. In the center there is a fiery angel, on the right is John the Baptist with parchment, on the left is the Mother of God and Child. At the top there is a golden throne and an open book - a symbol of God's presence and the blessing Savior with kneeling angels. According to ancient legend, this icon has the power of miraculous healing. Every year, on the day of the celebration of the praise of this icon, August 15, thousands of people flock to the Temple to pay tribute and ask for help.
The Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is no less famous throughout the world than the others. Its creation dates back to around 1383, which is when it was discovered. Belongs to the iconographic type of Hodegetria. According to legend, this canon of the image of the Mother of God was set by Saint Luke himself. On it, the Son of Christ is in the arms of the Mother of God. Left hand is with Him in a blessing gesture, and in His right hand He holds a scroll with holy scripture.
Take note: according to legend, during the Great Patriotic War, V Tikhvin icon The Mother of God was shot almost point-blank and all the bullets bounced off her, leaving only barely noticeable marks.
The icon was also with the Novgorodians, helping them conclude the Peace of Stolbovo. When the Swedes, outnumbered, suddenly became frightened by an invisible force and fled, the city was saved. Now this shrine is located in the Nativity iconostasis of the Novgorod Temple.
Holy relics
In Orthodoxy, special remains of people, called relics, have a special role. They are usually incorruptible. They are credited with numerous miracles of salvation and healing and are revered in the same way as miraculous icons. The relics began to be venerated back in 787 by decision of the Seventh Ecumenical Council.
Martyrie's porch of St. Sophia Cathedral
One of the most famous relics in the St. Sophia Cathedral are the remains of St. Sava. He belongs to the ranks of the venerables. His memory is honored on December 5, the day of his death. His remains are considered incorruptible.
Also in the cathedral are the relics of members of the princely family, who were ranked among the saints. Namely, Princess Irina, her relics were transferred to the cathedral only in 1991. And her son Vladimir, is venerated on the day of death on October 4. And also two princes Fyodor (venerated on June 5) and Mstislav the Brave. Bishop Nikita (venerated on December 31) and Archbishop John, whose relics were recovered only in 1919.
Note: the relics of Saint Prince Vladimir, which are kept in the Temple, got there almost immediately after its construction. The king died at the age of 32, having lived only 20 days after the consecration of the building.
Magdeburg Gate
They were created in 1153 and were also called Korsun. They have a Western European style, because they were created to order by foreign masters. Bronze doors that lead to the border of the Nativity of Our Lady. After some time, these gates were moved to the western portal of the cathedral. For many centuries in a row, these magnificent gates served as the main entrance to the Temple for special celebrations and ceremonies; it was through them that princes and princesses passed. Now they are opened only on special occasions. This is done personally by Archbishop Metropolitan Lev of Novgorod.
Fragment of the Magdeburg (Sigtuna) Gates of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod. Foundry of Bishop Wichmann, Magdeburg, Germany, second half of the 12th century
It is worth noting: According to one legend, the Magdeburg Gates were taken as a trophy from the Swedish capital of Sigtuna. This happened during the Russian naval military campaigns in 1187.
History of the cross of the main dome
The cross of this temple differs from the others in one feature: on its top there is a dove. It symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The church relic itself has a rich history.
The Holy Spirit has been depicted as a dove since time immemorial. IN Old Testament the dove released from Noah's ark and returning with an olive branch proclaimed peace to the people. Ancient Christians depicted the human soul resting in peace in the form of a dove.
In 1942, the dome of the cathedral was destroyed during the bombing of the city by German troops. Many objects of fine art, architectural monuments and cultural values were taken from the great city by foreign invaders. Including the golden cross from the dome of the Temple. It was sent to Spain by a unit of the Blue Division as a trophy of war. He was returned to his homeland only in 2004 through the efforts of the Russian Patriarchal Community in conjunction with the government Russian Federation. Negotiations between the Spanish and Russian governments were scheduled, during which the King of Spain agreed to transfer the relic to his homeland. An exact copy of the architectural monument was sent back to the Spanish Museum, and a second copy was placed on the dome of the Cathedral in 2007. The original of the cross, returned to its homeland with great difficulty, is kept in the bowels of the Temple as a valuable relic.
The Legend of the Stone Pigeon
Many legends and epics have been collected around the ancient cathedral. Some of them have documented information. One of these is the legend of the stone dove.
On the cross of the central dome there is a lead figure of a dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit. According to legend, when Ivan the Terrible brutally dealt with the residents of Novgorod in 1570, a dove sat down to rest on the cross of Sophia. Seeing the terrible massacre from there, the dove was petrified with horror.
According to legend, Ivan the Terrible treated the Novgorod people savagely and undeservedly. Then an ordinary live dove landed on the cross of the cathedral. He looked down and, seeing the ugly sight, turned to stone. Then one of the clergy had a vision that the bird had flown into the city as a consolation, and while it was on the cross, the city was being protected by angels from heaven.
Conclusion
In Novgorod, this great temple is one of the oldest monuments of architectural architecture. It acts as a unique building from the point of view of not only an ensemble of architectural, but also spiritual richness.
Hagia Sophia is the main Orthodox church of Veliky Novgorod, created in 1045-1050, the cathedral of the Novgorod Metropolis. For centuries it has been the spiritual center of the Novgorod Republic. This is the oldest church in Russia, built by the Slavs
Many tourists come to the city to visit the great cathedral. Its history is so rich and varied that an entire book could be dedicated to it. But, despite all the difficulties and adversities that befell Novgorod land throughout its rich history, the cathedral has survived and still preserves the inhabitants of this beautiful region. Isn't this a sign of the highest blessing and the presence of the Holy Spirit within the walls of the temple?
Watch the video in which a historian talks about the oldest surviving stone building in Russia - the Hagia Sophia in Novgorod:
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