Bogolyubovo asv2019-01 img06 Intercession Church

The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl (russian: Церковь Покрова на Нерли, Tserkov Pokrova na Nerli) is a

Russian Orthodox Russian Orthodoxy (russian: Русское православие) is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, whose liturgy is or was traditionally conducted in Church Slavonic language. Most ...

church and a symbol of medieval Russia. Dedicated to the

Intercession of the Theotokos The Intercession of the Theotokos, or the Protection of Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, is a Christian feast of the Mother of God celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Churches on October 1 (Julian calendar: ...

, the church is situated at the confluence of the Nerl and the

Klyazma The Klyazma (, ''Klyaz'ma''), a river in the Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Ivanovo and Vladimir Oblasts in Russia, forms a left tributary of the Oka.Bogolyubovo, Vladimir Oblast, north-east of the ancient capital of

Vladimir Vladimir may refer to: Names * Vladimir (name) for the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak and Slovenian spellings of a Slavic name * Uladzimir for the Belarusian version of the name * Volodymyr for the Ukr ...

. The church was commissioned by

Andrei Bogolyubsky Andrew I (died 28 June 1174), his Russian name in full, Andrey Yuryevich Bogolyubsky "Andrew made Vladimir the centre of the grand principality and placed a series of his relatives on the now secondary princely throne of Kiev. Later he also com ...

, a 12th-century Russian

grand prince Grand prince or great prince (feminine: grand princess or great princess) ( la, magnus princeps; Greek: ''megas archon''; russian: великий князь, velikiy knyaz) is a title of nobility ranked in honour below emperor, equal of king ...

. According to some sources, it was built to commemorate Andrei's victory over the Bulgars and his son Izyaslav, who was slain in the battle.Janet Martin, ''Medieval Russia: 980–1584'', (Cambridge University Press, 1996), 84. The exact date of construction of the church is unknown. The building is constructed in white stone, and has one dome and four columns in the interior. Its proportions are elongated on purpose to make its outline seem slimmer, although this architectural solution restricts its use in holding services. For centuries, the memorial church greeted everyone approaching the palace at Bogolyubovo. In spring, the area would flood, and the church appeared as if floating on water. The church itself has not been substantially altered, with only the dome's shape being slightly changed, and the addition of porch-galleries in the 12th century, which were rebuilt in 18th century and then demolished. The walls are still covered with 12th-century stone carvings. In 1992, the church was inscribed on the UNESCO

World Heritage List 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 ...

as part of the

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 ...

Gallery

Речная церковь.jpg, The church, in the foreground: a small lake near the Nerl River Church the Nerl-2005.JPG, View of the church in 2005, during a flood Bogolyubovo asv2019-01 img04 Intercession Church.jpg, Interior Bogolyubovo asv2019-01 img03 Intercession Church.jpg, Church vault

References

External links

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Views of the church

Panoramic Views of the Church
{{Coord, 56, 11, 46.5, N, 40, 33, 41.0, E, display=title, region:RU-VLA_type:landmark Intercession on the Nerl Intercession on the Nerl Intercession on the Nerl Religious buildings and structures completed in 1165 Intercession on the Nerl Vladimir-Suzdal White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Vladimir Oblast