The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Theotokos in

Suzdal Suzdal (, ) is a Types of inhabited localities in Russia, town that serves as the administrative center of Suzdalsky District in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, which is located along the Kamenka tributary of the Nerl (Klyazma), Nerl River, north o ...

, Russia, is a

World Heritage Site World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...

. It is one of the eight

White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal The White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal in Vladimir Oblast, 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 inclu ...

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 (; Christian name: ''Vasily''; 26 May 1053 – 19 May 1125) was Grand Prince of Kiev from 1113 to 1125. He is considered a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and is celebrated on May 6 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics), May 6 ...

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 A , also , ''knjaz'' or (), is a historical Slavs, Slavic title, used both as a royal and noble title in different times. It is usually translated into English language, English as 'prince', 'king' or 'duke', depending on specific historical c ...

or his relatives. The cathedral contains the remains of a son of

Yuri Dolgoruki Yuri I Vladimirovich (; ; c. 1099 – 15 May 1157), commonly known as Yuri Dolgorukiy (, ) or the Long Arm, was a Monomakhovichi prince of Rostov and Suzdal, acquiring the name ''Suzdalia'' during his reign. Noted for successfully curbing t ...

, knyazes of the

Shuisky The House of Shuysky (Shuisky; ) was a Russian family of boyars and tsars, a cadet branch of the Rurikids. The surname is derived from the town of Shuya, of which the Shuiskys gained ownership in 1403. From 1606 to 1610, Vasili Shuisky ...

family and others.

History

A cathedral was originally built on or around this site during the reign of

in 1102. In 1222, on the orders of

Yuri II of Vladimir Yuri II (, also transcribed as ''Iuri''), also known as George II of Vladimir or as Georgy II Vsevolodovich (26 November 11884 March 1238), was the fourth Grand Prince of Vladimir (1212–1216, 1218–1238) who presided over the Pri ...

, 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. 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

External links

*{{commonscat-inline, Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos (Suzdal)
Museum Vladimir
Churches in Vladimir Oblast Vladimir-Suzdal Museum Reserve Church buildings with domes Suzdal Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Vladimir Oblast

History

Gallery

References

Further reading

External links