The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos in
Suzdal
Suzdal ( rus, Суздаль, p=ˈsuzdəlʲ) is a town that serves as the administrative center of Suzdalsky District in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, which is located on the Kamenka River, north of the city of Vladimir. Vladimir is the admin ...
, Russia, is a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
. It is one of the eight
White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal
The White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal in Russia have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The patrimony embraces eight medieval limestone monuments of Zalesye from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. They include Russian Ortho ...
and one of the most complex monuments of Russian medieval architecture. It was originally constructed during the reign of
Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh (Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Мономахъ, ''Volodiměrŭ Monomakhŭ''; uk, Володимир Мономах, translit=Volodymyr Monomakh; russian: Владимир Мономах; Christian name: ''Vasiliy'' ...
in the late 11th century.
The Cathedral of the Nativity is surrounded by a ring of earthen walls in an oxbow of Kamenka River. It is notable for being the first city cathedral not built for the exclusive use of the
knyaz
, or ( Old Church Slavonic: Кнѧзь) is a historical Slavic title, used both as a royal and noble title in different times of history and different ancient Slavic lands. It is usually translated into English as prince or duke, dependi ...
or his relatives. The cathedral contains the remains of a son of
Yuri Dolgoruki
Yuri I Vladimirovich ( rus, Юрий Владимирович, Yuriy Vladimirovich), commonly known as Yuri Dolgorukiy or the Long Arm ( rus, Юрий Долгорукий, Yuriy Dolgorukiy, meaning "Far-Reaching", c. 109915 May 1157) was a Rur ...
, knyazes of the
Shuisky
The Princes Shuisky (russian: Шуйские, Shuyskiye) was a Rurikid family of Boyars descending from Grand Duke Dimitri Konstantinovich of Vladimir-Suzdal and Prince Andrey Yaroslavich, brother to Alexander Nevsky. The surname is derived f ...
family and others.
History
A cathedral was originally built on or around this site during the reign of
Vladimir II Monomakh
Vladimir II Monomakh (Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Мономахъ, ''Volodiměrŭ Monomakhŭ''; uk, Володимир Мономах, translit=Volodymyr Monomakh; russian: Владимир Мономах; Christian name: ''Vasiliy'' ...
in 1102.
In 1222, on the orders of
Yuri II of Vladimir
Yuri II (russian: Ю́рий–II), also known as George II of Vladimir or Georgy II Vsevolodovich (26 November 11884 March 1238), was the fourth Grand Prince of Vladimir (1212–1216, 1218–1238) who presided over Vladimir-Suzd ...
, this dilapidated building was demolished and replaced by a new one, built of white tufa stone and decorated with limestone. In 1238 Suzdal was sacked by the Mongols, the interior of the cathedral was destroyed. The building survived through centuries of the Tatar-Mongol yoke, but finally was burned down and collapsed in 1445.
[
In 1528-1530 Vasili III Ivanovich rebuilt the cathedral. After that restoration the remained old walls were lowered down to the arcade level, white stone was replaced by brick and laid in Muscovite style.][ In the 17th century, the previously three-domed cathedral was given five domes and the interior was partially repainted. The interior walls are decorated with frescoes of 13th-, 15th- and 17th-century origin. Despite several fires and numerous changes throughout its history, the cathedral survives to this day.
The cathedral is recognized as a defining monument of medieval Russian culture.][
]
Gallery
Catedral de la Natividad de Súzdal 01.jpg
Suzdali Jumalaema Sündimise katedraal.jpg
Doğuş Katedrali (Suzdal).jpg
Catedral de la Natividad de Súzdal.jpg
Sobór Narodzenia Matki Bożej w Suzdalu.jpg
References
Further reading
*William Craft Brumfield. ''A History of Russian Architecture,'' Cambridge University Press (1993), (Chapter Three: "Vladimir and Suzdal Before the Mongol Invasion")
External links
*{{commonscat-inline, Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos (Suzdal)
Museum Vladimir
White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal
Churches in Vladimir Oblast
Vladimir-Suzdal Museum Reserve
Church buildings with domes
Suzdal
Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Vladimir Oblast