Sophia of Novgorod: what you need to know about the most ancient Orthodox cathedral in Russia. Hagia Sophia Cathedral of Novgorod in Veliky Novgorod Hagia Sophia Cathedral in the Kremlin

Novgorod Saint Sophia Cathedral- one of the most outstanding monuments of ancient Russian architecture. This is the oldest surviving ancient Russian temple in Russia. Built by Prince Vladimir, the son of Yaroslav the Wise, in 1045 - 1050, St. Sophia Cathedral already in the 30s of the 12th century ceased to be a princely temple, turning into the main temple of the Novgorod Republic. Until today, Novgorod Sophia is a symbol of the city, and the words spoken by Mstislav the Great back in the 12th century: “Where St. Sophia is, there is Novgorod” still excite the hearts of the townspeople.

St. Sophia Cathedral is a five-nave, three-apse, ten-pillar temple. Wide two-story galleries adjoin it on three sides (except the eastern one). 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.

Saint Sophia Cathedral. 2011.

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, width 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, having a thickness of 1.2 m, are made of limestone of different shades. The stones are not finished (only the side facing the surface of the walls is hewn) and are fastened with lime mortar with admixtures of crushed brick (cement). The arches, arched lintels and vaults are made of brick. The interior is close to the Kyiv temple, although the proportions of the vertically elongated arches and narrow vertical compartments between the pillars are noticeably different. Thanks to this, the interior has a different character. Some details were simplified: the triple arcades were replaced by two-bay ones (later their lower tiers were replaced by wide arches). The cathedral itself has not been rebuilt throughout its ten-century history. It was being repaired after fires and wars, which did not affect it much. The walls of Sofia were covered with plaster, and the domes were covered with lead; the main dome was gilded in the 15th century under Archbishop Ivan Kalik.

The first churches apparently appeared in Novgorod immediately after the adoption of Christianity at the turn of the 10th - 11th centuries. One of the first churches in the city was the Church of Hagia Sophia, which is often called the predecessor of the stone St. Sophia Cathedral. Historians will argue about whether this wooden church actually existed until researchers manage to find its remains during archaeological excavations. In the oldest chronicle that has survived to this day, the Novgorod First Chronicle, it is only reported that in 1049 the church burned down. “At the 4th month of March, on the Sabbath day, Saint Sophia was burned; Beasha is honestly built and decorated, 13 the top of the property, and there stood St. Sophia at the end of Piskuple Street, where Sotka has now built the church of the stone of St. Boris and Gleb above Volkhov.” Some researchers consider this entry to be a fiction of the chronicler, since there is no other information about the wooden Sophia. However, the old church is described in too much detail and its location is precisely indicated.

Construction of the first stone cathedral of Veliky Novgorod began in 1045 and continued either until 1050 or until 1052 (according to various sources). 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 Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral was built by craftsmen from Kyiv and Byzantium. One can imagine how the almost 40-meter stone temple, erected in just a few years, influenced the Novgorodians of the mid-11th century: surrounded by the very first oak walls of the Kremlin, among the wooden houses and courtyards of a very young city, on the banks of the Volkhov River, which was then part of a busy commercial route.

The dedication of the Cathedral of Sophia is actually a dedication to God, which refers to Sophia of Constantinople, and even more anciently to the Temple of Wisdom built by Solomon.

As a result of research led by Gregory Shtender, it was established that initially the galleries of St. Sophia Cathedral were built open in the image of the Kyiv and Constantinople churches. Having already begun construction work, the architects decided to change the project and close the galleries due to the colder Novgorod climate.

The first painting of the temple began immediately after its construction in the middle of the 11th century. The few frescoes from that period that have survived to this day include “ Konstantin and Elena”, obviously written by Byzantine masters. The main work on painting the St. Sophia Cathedral was carried out in the 12th century, in 1108-1109 and 1144. Thanks to the slight weakness of the masters, who left several of their autographs as souvenirs, and also thanks to a happy accident that allowed the ancient frescoes to survive all the vicissitudes of the history of Novgorod over nine centuries, we know that one of the masters who painted the St. Sophia Cathedral in the 12th century was named Stefan. He was apparently the master monk who led the work. In one of the graffiti, Stefan even depicted himself with a pectoral cross in a monk’s hood. There are also other names of painters on the walls of the cathedral - Mikula and Radko.

One of the true treasures of the St. Sophia Cathedral is the oldest handwritten book preserved in Rus' - Ostromir Gospel. The book was made in 1056-1057 and was used for conducting services in Sofia. Currently, the Gospel is stored in the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg.

The main Orthodox shrine of St. Sophia Cathedral - icon Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary(Our Lady of the Sign) is one of the most revered Orthodox icons. According to legend, she saved Novgorod from the siege of the Suzdal prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1170. The forces of the Novgorodians and Suzdalians were unequal, and the defenders of the city began to pray for a miracle. On the third night of the siege, Novgorod Archbishop John heard a voice from above, commanding him to take the icon of the Mother of God and go with it around Detinets in a procession of the cross. When the Suzdal residents began to fire at the procession, one of the arrows hit the Virgin Mary in the eye. According to legend, tears flowed from her eyes, and darkness covered the people of Suzdal. In inexplicable horror, they began to retreat from the city, beating each other. In honor of the icon that gave peace to the people of Novgorod, Archbishop Ilya established the Feast of the Sign of the Mother of God, which is celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church on December 10 (November 27).

Another pearl of Novgorod Sofia deserves special attention - Magdeburg Gate, which are also called Korsunsky, Plotsky or Sigtunsky. They are located on the western portal of the temple, completely covered with relief images of scenes from the Gospel, unusually skillfully made by Western European craftsmen. For several centuries, the Magdeburg Gate served as the ceremonial entrance to the cathedral. According to one version, they were made in 1153 in the city of Magdeburg. Most likely, they became a military trophy of the Novgorodians, who went to the Swedish capital of Sigtuna in 1187. These gates were made so skillfully that in the 17th century the Swedish king did not forget about the trophy lost five centuries ago, and during the occupation of Novgorod he ordered the commander-in-chief of the Swedish troops to return the gate to their historical homeland. Fortunately, the commander-in-chief did not consider it possible to remove the front gates from the main temple of the Novgorod region.

One of the most famous Novgorod legends is associated with the figure of a dove sitting on the highest central cross of the St. Sophia Cathedral. During the defeat of Novgorod by Ivan the Terrible in 1570, a dove, according to legend, sat down to rest and was petrified by the horror it saw. If the stone bird flies away, then the last day of Veliky Novgorod will come.

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 the President of Russia, inquired about the possibility of returning the cross to Novgorod. As a result of negotiations between the 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. By order of the Novgorod administration, an exact copy of the cross found in Spain was made. It was transferred to the Spanish side to replace the original one. The cross, now located on the central dome, was made in 2006 and installed on January 24, 2007.

Sights to match the city: a red-brick tower Kremlin, walls with loopholes twice as old as the Moscow Kremlin. The open-air Vitoslavlitsa Museum, where wooden huts and houses from past centuries are collected, Yaroslav's Courtyard on the other bank of the Volkhva River, the Church of the Transfiguration with immortal frescoes by the icon painter Theophan the Greek - the art of Veliky Novgorod is concentrated in these attractions.

The main attraction is in Novgorod, a white stone masterpiece of church architecture. The temple has stood in the middle of the Novgorod Kremlin since 1050, almost a thousand years, since it was built by Kyiv craftsmen on the orders of the Novgorod prince Vladimir, son. The history of the creation of the St. Sophia Cathedral is connected with a wooden temple with 13 domes, built of oak in 989. Vladimir called his father and Princess Irina immediately after the fire, waited for their arrival and, with his parents’ blessing, laid the foundation for the future temple, St. Sophia Cathedral in Veliky Novgorod.

They built the cathedral for five long years and consecrated the temple immediately, without delay, even though there was no interior decoration - no icons, no iconostasis. The paintings were made in 1109, and the icons were collected at different times. These were mainly icons of the XIV-XVI centuries. Currently, the St. Sophia Cathedral has three full-fledged iconostases, the main icon being the “Sign of the Mother of God.” Then three icons of the festive row: the Great Anthony, the Consecrated Savva and the Great Euthymius. A special place is occupied by Sophia - Divine Wisdom, dating back to the 15th century, and Ti

Khvinskaya XVI century.

St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod is five-domed with one staircase tower, which also carries a dome. The central dome is gilded, the rest are leaded. Their shape is traditional for Russian churches: it exactly follows the contour of the hero’s helmet. The cathedral is surrounded by galleries on all sides except the eastern, altar side. On the eastern side there are three apses: a pentagonal one in the center and two side semicircular ones. The galleries contain chapels: the southern one - the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the northern one - St. John the Evangelist. In the western wing of the northern gallery there is another chapel - the Beheading of John the Baptist.

The upper part of the cathedral is combined, the roof is divided into semicircular toppings - zakomara and gable, the so-called “tongs”. As for the church interior, due to the massive pillars it is quite cramped inside, although crampedness in a church is a relative concept. The cathedral gives the impression of a monolithic structure, and this is quite understandable, since all the walls of Sofia are 1.3 meters thick, which cannot be found in any Russian temple. St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod is unique in many respects, but most importantly, it is the oldest surviving church built by the Slavs.

At the highest point of the temple there is a dove cast from lead. He “sits” on top of the central cross, at a height of 38 meters, and symbolizes the guardian of the St. Sophia Cathedral. According to legend, the dove should not leave the cross, because then the well-being of the city will end. St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod is the tallest of all such temples.

There is no belfry in the cathedral. All the bells are located in the bell tower, which stands a little further away. The main bell weighs two hundred pounds, and the alarm bell weighs half as much, one hundred pounds. In addition to the large bells, the belfry contains several small bells, whose task is to ring on holidays.

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. Wikipedia will give a brief description and the most important facts from the history of the temple. 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: its patrimony, as it 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 structures 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 outbuildings 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 the 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 the 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. Images of saints had a sacred meaning and were considered a mediator between mere mortals and Divine power.

Most of the painting dates back to the 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. There are also miraculous icons here. 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 the Most Holy Theotokos with a baby on her 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 Virgin Mary. His left hand is 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, the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God was shot almost point-blank and all the bullets bounced off it, 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 rank of 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 the 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 of the 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 hardships that befell the Novgorod land throughout its rich history, the cathedral survived and still protects 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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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 from 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. 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 the 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 other noble princes, the first archbishops and canonized saints were buried in this temple.

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 St. Sophia Cathedral of Veliky Novgorod, which was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Address: Kremlin Territory, 11

Construction: 1045-1050

Consecration: 1052

High altar: in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Architectural style: Byzantine

Address: Veliky Novgorod, Kremlin, 11

Story

The stone building of the St. Sophia Cathedral was erected in 1045-1050. The initiators of the construction were Prince Yaroslav the Wise and his eldest son Vladimir. They attracted the Greeks for construction, who were later joined by the people of Kiev, who had already built their temple, and the people of Novgorod. The dedication of the temple to Hagia Sophia - Divine Wisdom (the name Sophia translated from ancient Greek means “wisdom”) - was a continuation of the ancient tradition begun by the Old Testament King Solomon, who built the temple in honor of the Wisdom of the Most High Creator.

Postcards from the early 20th century

In 1929, the temple was closed and turned into a museum of atheism. In 1991, Sophia of Novgorod was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. The cathedral was restored several times, but there were no major reconstructions - it mainly retained the architectural forms of the 11th century.

How is Hagia Sophia built?

Martiryevskaya porch

In Sofia there is a unique site where you can trace the construction history of the temple - the Martiryevskaya porch with an ancient necropolis, wall paintings and graffiti.

Medieval Novgorodians left a lot of graffiti on the walls of the cathedral. These are names, crosses, prayers, requests for remembrance of the dead, images of people and animals, puzzles. There is even a crossed out pagan funerary text from the 12th-13th centuries that can still be read. Next to it are the words: “Wither your hands” - the text clearly caused indignation.

The floor level here is left at the level of the 12th century. There is also an 11th century image of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen. This is the only surviving temple painting from the 11th century in Russia. The main part of the ancient bishops' and princes' burials is located in the porch.

Golosniki

Clay pots-voices are built into the walls and vaults of the cathedral for better acoustics. They lighten the upper parts of structures and absorb echoes. After the war, when the cathedral was a museum, musical concerts were held here.

Iconostasis

The large (Uspensky) iconostasis of St. Sophia Cathedral began to take shape in the 11th century. Gradually, from a low barrier it turned into a high iconostasis with five tiers. Of his four first icons, one has survived - the apostles Peter and Paul (11th century), which is located in the Novgorod Museum. The central five icons of the second row of the Assumption iconostasis were painted in the 15th century, and the oldest icon of the bottom row, the temple image of St. Sophia of the Wisdom of God, dates back to the same century. A fiery angel in royal attire sits on the throne - the personification of Divine Wisdom. He is crowned by Christ, next to Sophia are the Mother of God and John the Baptist.

Domes

Initially, all 6 chapters of the cathedral were not onion-shaped, as they are now, but helmet-shaped.

Dove on the cross

On the cross of the central dome of the cathedral sits a lead dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit. An urban legend speaks of a bird that was petrified on a cross from horror during the pogrom of Novgorod in 1570 by Ivan the Terrible. During the Great Patriotic War, the cross with the dove was shot down during shelling. As a result, the Spaniards who fought on the side of Germany took him as a trophy to Madrid. In 2004, the cross was returned to Novgorod, and Spain received its exact copy. Now the ancient cross stands inside the cathedral in front of the large iconostasis, and the central dome of Sophia is crowned with a new cross with a figurine of a dove.

Fresco

Images on the fresco above the main entrance to the cathedral: Hospitality of Abraham - the Old Testament Trinity, Sophia the Wisdom of God on the throne and the Savior Not Made by Hands.

Magdeburg Gate

There are three entrances to the St. Sophia Cathedral. The western one is decorated with the Magdeburg Gate - the work of German foundries of the 12th century. They consist of 48 bronze plates with scenes from the Old and New Testaments. They open only during bishop's services. The gates appeared in Novgorod in the 15th century, but how exactly is unknown. Probably their customer was the bishop of the Polish city of Plock, Alexander, depicted on the gate. Researchers believe that the gate never reached there: it was captured by the Lithuanians. In the lower part of the left wing of the gate there are “self-portraits” of three foundry masters: the creators of the gates, Rikvin and Weismuth, and the local master Abraham, who assembled and completed the gate in Novgorod.

Chapel in honor Beheadings Prophet John the Baptist

Reliquary with the relics of St. John, Archbishop of Novgorod at the chapel of the Beheading of John the Baptist. Photo by N. Basmanova