Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir: history and description. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir - a white stone poem

Address: Vladimir region, Vladimir, st. B. Moskovskaya, 60

The Cathedral of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica was built around 1194-1197 by Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest. At baptism, the prince took the name Demetrius, which explains the dedication of the new cathedral to his heavenly patron. The fact that the builder of the cathedral is Prince Vsevolod is known only from one document - his obituary (“Build a stone church in your yard, in your name”). For the construction of the temple, a rare shrine was transported here from Thessalonica itself - the tombstone of the martyr Demetrius and part of his shirt. According to legend, numerous healings took place at these shrines.

The four-pillar cross-domed church was built as a princely house church on the territory of Detinets, so its area is small. But, designed to demonstrate the greatness and power of princely power (and Prince Vsevolod was very strong at that time), the temple still amazes the imagination with its elegant proportions and extraordinary beauty of decoration. The famous stone carvings covering the walls of St. Demetrius Cathedral are located at the top of the walls. The lower part is strictly flat, cut only by blades and lush perspective portals. But in the upper half there is an abundance of magnificent subject paintings carved from stone. Unlike the lost scenes on the walls of St. George's Cathedral in Yuryev-Polsky, here everything was preserved according to the plans of the architects and carvers. The arcature belts running along all the walls and semicircular apses are filled with small images of saints, plants, animals and monsters. The columns are “propped up” by mascarons and animals. And in the semicircles of the zakomars there are real paintings: illustrations of the psalms of David, in the center of which is the figure of the king-psalmist himself, the painting “The Ascension of Alexander the Great”, as well as a scene in which the temple builder himself, Prince Vsevolod, with his newborn son Dmitry and his other sons surrounding them, appeared .

The cathedral preserves ancient frescoes, the same age as the building itself. They were discovered under later paintings in arched openings in 1918. These are the remains of the painting of the Last Judgment - the figures of the apostles and the procession of the righteous to heaven. The paintings were done by Greek and Russian masters.

From the outside, the temple looks very slender, directed upward. This impression is contributed by the blades that vertically divide it into parts, and by narrow high loophole windows framed by carvings. The temple is crowned by one chapter on a massive light drum, also decorated with carvings. The helmet-shaped dome ends with a large cross, on the top of which, if you look closely, you can see a dove. This dove is a copy, and the original, worn away by time, having seen a lot over so many centuries, is kept inside the temple, under glass.

And this cathedral, like the Assumption Cathedral, has reached us in a modified form. But the reason for this is not the fire that damaged the walls, like that of the neighboring church, but the will of Nicholas I, who found the galleries of the cathedral, built partly during the construction of the cathedral, partly during the time of Ivan the Terrible, unnecessary, and he ordered them to be dismantled. In 1837-1839, the galleries and staircase towers were dismantled. This damaged the stability of the cathedral walls; they began to crack, since the dismantled galleries served as buttresses. The walls had to be significantly strengthened with metal ties. But Vladimir patrons of the arts constantly showed concern for the temple. Thus, at the expense of the cathedral elder, the merchant Muravkin, a small belfry, stylized as an ancient Russian one, was built next to the cathedral in the 1880s, and pipes were laid from the belfry building into the cathedral to dry the air in the cathedral and protect its walls from dampness. This belfry has not survived.

Now Dmitrievsky Cathedral is occupied by a museum exhibition dedicated to its history. The cathedral preserves the grave of the Vladimir governor R.I. Vorontsov, who was buried here in 1804 out of respect for his services to the city. The main thing in the exhibition, of course, is the unique ancient frescoes, but the interior of the cathedral itself, the high light dome, the slender lines of the pillars pointing upward, are worth seeing with your own eyes and imagining what it was like when Vsevolod’s family gathered here for services. Big Nest.

In the 12th century, the previously impoverished northern lands of Rus' began to be seriously cultivated and rebuilt. The capital city of Vladimir rose, in which buildings important for the state were built day and night. Vsevolod the Big Nest, who gathered all the power of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality into a single fist, ordered the construction of a small church for himself not far from the Assumption Cathedral.

In those years, the princes had two names: received at birth and given at baptism. Vsevolod was baptized with the name Dmitry. In 1194-1197, a white stone church was erected in the city of Vladimir in honor of the heavenly patron of Vsevolod the Big Nest - Dmitry of Thessalonica.

Since ancient times, Saint Dmitry, the patron saint of all warriors, has been revered on Russian soil. The talented commander lived and held the position of proconsul in the city of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki, the modern name of Thessaloniki). In those days, the proconsul had to not only rule the city and protect its walls from attacks, but also exterminate Christianity as a religion. However, Dmitry angered Emperor Galerius precisely because he preached a forbidden faith. He was thrown into prison, where he was stabbed to death with spears, and his corpse was thrown to be torn to pieces by wild beasts. However, the animals did not touch the body, and the Christians of Thessalonica arranged a burial. Later, when the Christian Emperor Constantine came to the city, a church was erected in memory of the Great Martyr Dmitry. It still stands today and contains the relics of the saint. And then, 8 centuries after the death of Dmitry, Vsevolod the Big Nest came to Thessaloniki and chose some relics for his church. It was a piece of the great martyr’s clothes, soaked in his blood, as well as an icon of Dmitry, written, according to legend, on a board from his coffin. So the Demetrius Cathedral became the reliquary of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica.

The temple was built by the hands of Russian architects, who lovingly raised heavy white stone walls, created semicircular apses and formed a building with four pillars. Its top was a gentle dome with an openwork cross. The decoration of the majestic and stern-looking cathedral was carried out by Greek and Vladimir carvers. This left an imprint on the appearance of the building. In it, the advantage is given to elements found in the design of Western basilicas, rather than Orthodox churches. The carvings covering the temple, as if with an openwork scarf, were rightfully called for centuries a “carpet of stone patterns” or “a poem in stone.” But if the sense of harmony had failed the masters even for a moment, and they had not been able to stop at exactly the moment in which the temple came to us, the richness of the paintings and carvings would have become excessive and would have lost their originality and beauty.

All the walls of the cathedral are divided into three tiers. The lower tier is devoid of decoration, and its smooth walls are set off only by carved portals. This is no coincidence, since previously it was closed by galleries that were located on three sides of the temple. From the main facade, along the edges of the galleries, there were staircase towers covered with carvings, reminiscent of the towers of the St. Sophia Cathedral. The middle tier, as if in contrast, is filled with paintings carved in stone, and is represented by an arcature belt with an ornament. The upper tier with high windows, as well as the drum of the dome, are completely covered with the finest carvings, which from a distance look like thin lace.

The walls of the temple seem to breathe and tell travelers the history of the world. They depict paintings of saints and psalmists. Riders gallop along them and mythical and real creatures live their lives. Paganism is closely intertwined with Christian motifs, and together they create a truly unique picture. Allegory in everything, even in the main plot depicted on the temple. The carvers sang a stone song to their prince, comparing him to King David. He is depicted as a musician, whom birds and animals listen to. Doves and lions carry the meaning of heaven and earth, which is why King David is God's messenger on earth. He preserves the state he came to. He preserves Holy Rus'. On the middle tier of the cathedral, saints are carved in stone, including Boris and Gleb.

On the northern facade of the building, on one of the zakomars, a ruler is depicted sitting on a throne and holding a baby on his lap. This is the founder of the temple himself, Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest with his newborn son. Nearby are figures of older children. All figures are separated by columns of the arcature belt. The carving on the columns is amazing in its beauty, making the stone more like a thick cord, the end of which is the figures of various fantastic creatures.

The southern façade retains traces of the composition “The Ascension of Alexander the Great to Heaven.” An amazing installation typical of the Middle Ages. The plot was played out many times in a variety of temples and churches. In Venice on San Marco, in Freiburg on the walls of the cathedral, in Yuryev-Polsky on the walls of St. George's Cathedral. Demetrius Cathedral shows how the king sitting in a wicker box is carried on their backs by two griffins. In Alexander’s hands are two lion cubs, this is bait for griffins, who are drawn to her and carry the king higher and higher into the skies.

There has been much controversy regarding the temple carvings. Opinions were voiced that the depiction on the walls of the holy dwelling was too cruel. Numerous monsters, horsemen and fight scenes occupy almost most of the walls of the cathedral. But spiritual texts themselves refute this version. The temple shows the whole world, the existence of which is woven from contradictions. Love and glory are closely intertwined with blood and war. And from above these contradictions are looked at by God, who with his wisdom unites both the psalmists and the warriors.

The inside of the cathedral looks much more modest than the outside. And it’s hard to imagine decoration that could outshine the stone song of the outer walls. But the builders of those years clearly understood what needed to be achieved. The temple, small in appearance, was built primarily for the princely family, and not for a large number of parishioners. And therefore, external beauty is replaced inside by solemn severity and asceticism. This is a real House of Prayer, in which there is a lot of light and silence, and this was done as planned by the architects, and their idea was a success.

The biggest loss for the Demetrius Cathedral was the transportation of the shrine - the coffin plaque of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica to the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow. This happened in 1380 by order of the Moscow prince Dmitry Ivanovich. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, several extensions (galleries) were made of white stone to the cathedral. In the north there was a chapel in honor of St. Nicholas, and in the south there was a chapel in honor of the beheading of John the Baptist. In the west there was a porch.

Perhaps, in the first years of the existence of the Demetrius Cathedral, there was a painting on its internal walls that would take your breath away, but, alas, it has not survived to this day. Already in 1843, after numerous devastations and fires, the remains of the frescoes were knocked down, and their place was taken by new oil paintings. This was preceded by a visit to the city of Vladimir in 1834 by Emperor Nicholas I, who noticed the terrible appearance and dilapidation of the holy temple. He ordered restoration work to be carried out and the galleries that surrounded the cathedral on three sides to be removed.

In 1883, the cathedral elder, merchant V.N. Muravkin erected a small belfry with a guardhouse next to the temple. Inside there was an oven, from which pipes with warm air went into the cathedral. Thus, the cathedral began to be heated, which made it possible to hold services there all year round.

Of the original idea for the interior decoration, only a small fragment of a 12th century fresco made by a Greek artist and his Russian assistant has survived to this day. The painting was called “The Last Judgment.” Its remains were found under the choir vaults by the All-Russian Restoration Commission under the leadership of I. E. Grabar in 1918. In the central vault one can see images of 12 figures of apostle-judges on thrones, as well as the faces of angels behind them. On the small vault under the choir, some scenes of paradise are well preserved: the Mother of God on the throne, the apostle Peter leading the holy women to paradise, trumpeting angels, the forefathers Abraham, Jacob and Isaac and the “Bosom of Abraham,” as well as the prudent thief. The frescoes are made in warm and gentle undertones, bluish-gray, yellowish-green, blue. Thanks to the skill of the icon painters, the fresco made a real revolution in the idea of ​​traditional Byzantine painting of the 12th century. The faces of the saints are depicted very vividly and realistically; all faces have purely individual features. Their beauty is strict and laconic, and seems to complete the entire appearance of the interior decoration of the ancient temple.

In 1919, the cathedral, like most holy houses in Russia, was closed for worship and transferred to the subordination of the Vladimir Museum. His condition worsened every year. The white stone deteriorated, structures were destroyed, and unique paintings inside the cathedral were lost. Only in 1937 did another renovation begin. However, only numerous strengthening of structures under the leadership of architect A.V. Stoletov in 1941, as well as in 1948-1952, made it possible to bring St. Demetrius Cathedral out of disrepair. But only at the end of the 20th century was a whole range of work carried out to save the unique building. They replaced the cross on the dome, covered the wall relief and white stone with a protective plastic mixture, and installed drainpipes. But the most important thing is the establishment of a microclimate, without which priceless relics could simply perish.

Dmitrovsky Cathedral in Vladimir is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was erected in honor of the Great Martyr Dmitry of Thessaloniki, who was executed for his adherence to Christianity. The cathedral is a traditional example of a cross-domed church, an example of ancient Russian art, famous for its white stone carvings. Being one of the most beautiful cathedrals, it is the hallmark of the city along with the famous sights - the Assumption Cathedral and the Golden Gate.

Prices for tickets to Dmitrievsky Cathedral

Now the cathedral does not act as a temple, but is part of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve. Therefore, you can visit it, like all museums. The cost will be 150 rubles per person.

A ticket at a reduced price of 75 rubles can be purchased by students, pensioners, members of the Russian Military Historical Society, holders of ISIC, ITIC and IYTC certificates.

You can also purchase a single set of tickets to visit several attractions:

• Dmitrievsky Cathedral, Assumption Cathedral, Golden Gate, Old Vladimir - 450 rubles for each person, 300 - for preferential categories of citizens.
• Demetrius Cathedral, Assumption Cathedral, Golden Gate, Crystal and lacquer miniatures, Nativity Cathedral of the Bologubov Monastery - 600 rubles per person, 300 - reduced price.

The cathedral is open daily and closes once a month for a sanitary day. Opening hours: 10:00–17:00, in some months on Saturday the cathedral is open from 10:00 to 18:00. You can find out more about the seasonal schedule on the website.

History of the construction of St. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir

Construction of the temple lasted for three years at the end of the 12th century. Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest began construction in the courtyard of his princely palace in honor of his patron saint. The work was carried out by Russian craftsmen. At the end of construction, an icon of Dmitry of Thessalonica and a piece of clothing with his blood were brought to the temple.

During the Tatar-Mongol yoke in the 13th century, the temple was looted and damaged. In the future, he survived several more fires and raids. In the 19th century, it was decided to restore the cathedral and return it to its original appearance. However, during the restoration work, interesting fragments were lost - staircase towers and galleries that connected the temple with the prince’s palace, so that the prince and his family could go to worship in the temple. During Soviet times, services were not held in the temple. In 1999-2004, a serious restoration was carried out and now the cathedral is open as a museum exhibition and is part of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve.

Architecture

Dmitrievsky Cathedral is a unique monument of Russian church architecture and plastic arts of the pre-Mongol period. The temple is built in the shape of a cross, built of white limestone. It is not large in size, but harmonious and majestic. The carved decoration is of particular value - there are more than 1,000 carved stones in the temple, on which Christian images, literary, folk and mythological heroes are amazingly combined. The single-domed temple is crowned with a gilded dome with a cross. The temple has three tiers:

• the top one is all decorated with carvings and has high elongated windows.
• the second (middle) tier is rich in ornaments and figures of animals, birds, and saints.
• the lower tier has no decoration, as it was previously closed by lost galleries and towers.

The hero of several facades of the cathedral is the biblical King David, and Alexander the Great is depicted on one of the facades.

White stone reliefs of the cathedral

Dmitrievsky Cathedral is famous for its reliefs - white stone carvings decorate about 600 reliefs. Most of them have been preserved in their original form, they are decorated with various subjects: both biblical and mythical, and there are many images of animals on them. It is interesting that not all reliefs are still understandable to contemporaries, but the ideas of the Heavenly City can be discerned in them. The founder of the temple himself, Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest, and his sons are also depicted on the reliefs. Thanks to its numerous reliefs with different themes, the cathedral is called the “white stone book.”

Interior of the cathedral

Only a small part of the 12th century frescoes has survived inside the cathedral. Here you can now see a 4-meter cross with an ornament that originally adorned the dome of the temple - during the restoration of the 2000s, the cross was replaced with a replica. The cathedral also houses the tombstone of the first governor of the city of Vladimir, Count R. Vorontsov. Of the sacred artifacts, only copies of the silver ark with the clothes of the great martyr were left in the cathedral.

How to get to Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir

You can approach the cathedral by public transport from the street. Bolshaya Moskovskaya:

• Trolleybus No. 1, 5: stop “Sobornaya Square”
• Bus No. 12С, 15, 22, 25, 26, 28, 152: stop “Sobornaya Square”. Next you will need to go through the park to the cathedral.

At a distance of 1 km from the Dmitrievsky Cathedral there is the Vladimir-Passenger railway station. Opposite it is the bus station. Travel time on foot from the station is about 15 minutes. You can take trolleybus No. 5 at the railway station, but it will take a detour - the journey will take about 20-30 minutes.

A leisurely walk from the cathedral to the observation deck, which offers a wonderful view of the city and the Klyazma River, will take about 4 minutes.

Within walking distance from this cathedral there are many historical attractions of the city: the Holy Assumption Cathedral, the monument to Prince Vladimir and St. Feodor, the Historical Museum, the monument to Alexander Nevsky, the State Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve.

Typically, the Dmitrievsky Cathedral is included in excursion programs around the historical center of the city with visits to the most outstanding and beautiful sights.

There are many popular taxi services in Vladimir, using which you can come to the Dmitrievsky Cathedral: Yandex. Taxi, Maxim, Taxi Lucky, Uber.

Map of the walking route from the bus stop “Sobornaya Square” to St. Demetrius Cathedral:

Panoramic view of the Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir:

Video about the cathedral:

The entire cathedral is made of white limestone brought from Volga Bulgaria.

The cathedral has the shape of a regular quadrangle, the oblong sides of which face north and south. The eastern altar side stands out as three semicircles, of which the middle one is larger than the others. The western, northern and southern walls are each divided into three parts by thin columns that run from the ground to the roof, and, arcing together, form round kokoshniks at the top, and hollows in the walls themselves. In the middle of the walls, all around the cathedral, there is a luxurious patterned belt. The vaults, supported by four internal pillars, support a high dome (lantern, tribune), topped with a helmet-shaped head with a copper carved four-pointed cross.

The basic plan of the Demetrius Cathedral resembles the structure of Byzantine-style churches, according to which the ancient Russian Kyiv churches were built, but the main difference that sharply distinguishes this cathedral from contemporaneous architectural monuments of church architecture is the external decorations with which almost the entire building is dotted. These bas-reliefs have nothing similar in the works of Byzantine art that adorned Byzantine churches, and indicate that Western architects took part in the construction of the cathedral, creating their own special architectural style, known as Romanesque, and in our Rus', Vladimir-Suzdasl. Bas-relief decorations were in small quantities at the Assumption Cathedral, but at the Dmitrievsky Cathedral this love of Romanesque architects for bas-relief decorations received the widest application: all the walls on the outer depressions between the columns, starting from the belt to the roof, and the dome itself were dotted with these decorations, consisting of figures of saints, various herbs, birds and animals, almost exclusively fantastic, carved in relief on stones.

The distribution of these figures is basically the same in all three walls, especially in the depressions. The main and central figure represents an unknown saint, sitting on a richly decorated throne with a crown on his head and radiance around it. According to some, this is the Lord Almighty, according to others, this is the king and prophet David.

On the western side of the cathedral, on both sides of the person sitting on the throne, two angels are depicted blessing him, above, between two dove-like birds, a soaring angel is depicted, below the angels - two unknown animals resembling leopards, and two lions; Even lower in rows are the same animals, griffins and unknown birds, which alternate with rows of various herbs and flowers. On the north side, this central, majestic figure of the saint is surrounded by simply the same birds, lions, griffins and other monstrous animals. Here the artist’s imagination receives great scope and fantastic animals prevail over all other images. A similar scope of the artist’s imagination can be seen in the middle and both side depressions of the southern wall of the cathedral. Here, by the way, is depicted to me about Alexander the Great ascending to heaven on griffins. Under the luxurious belt surrounding the cathedral, there are small columns decorated with carvings and interconnected by arched lintels. Between these columns there are figures of saints in hierarchal, royal, monastic and military robes, and among them stands out the figure of Archdeacon Stephen with a censer in his hands and an orarion on his shoulder. All the saints on the western wall of the temple (22 figures) are depicted sitting on thrones, while on the southern and northern walls (24 figures on each) in a standing position with crosses or scrolls in their hands, or with their hands raised in prayer. Fantastic animals, birds, flowers and herbs surround the saints here too, but in much smaller numbers. On the dome, the figures of saints are placed in round medallions and alternate with ornaments of flowers and trees.

Unfortunately, there is still no accurate and detailed explanation of these decorations. There are several explanations, more or less incomplete and in any case unsatisfactory. Some see in these images an illustration of the words of the psalmist David: “Let every breath praise the Lord.” Others suggest here an indication of one of the passages of the Apocalypse: “And every creature that is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, which they are, and that which is in them, all hear the blessing of the one sitting on the throne and Agitsa, and honor, and glory, and power forever and ever. (Apoc. V, chapter 13, art.). Count Stroganov made an attempt to explain some of the images, hinting at scenes from the circus, with circumstances from the life of St. Demetrius of Thessalonica, who patronized one fighter in the circus. But all these interpretations are insufficient and do not explain all the images placed on the walls of the cathedral.

The temple has three entrance doors from the west, north and south, the arched arches of which are also decorated with fine stone carvings. Light enters the temple through long, slit-shaped windows with large internal and external slopes.

In 1883, through the care and diligence of the cathedral elder, merchant V.N. Muravkin, not far from the cathedral, a small belfry was built in the old Russian style, which also housed a spiritual oven with pipes leading from it into the cathedral itself, thanks to which the entire the cathedral is dry and there is no longer a danger for the frescoes to perish from dampness.

Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir was erected under the Grand Duke Vsevolod the Big Nest in the 12th century, when the Principality of Vladimir was at the zenith of its glory. Demetrius Cathedral is one of the most outstanding buildings of that time, famous for its white stone decoration, thanks to which it is often compared to a “precious casket” and a “stone poem.”

Address of St. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir

Vladimir, st. Bolshaya Moskovskaya, 60.

How to get to Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir

The temple is located in the very center of the city. From the train and bus stations you can walk in 15-20 minutes: walk two blocks along Communal Descent, to Bolshaya Moskovskaya Street. Turn left and follow Bolshaya Moskovskaya Street.

The main attractions of Vladimir, such as the Golden Gate and the Assumption Cathedral, are within walking distance.

Opening hours of the Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir in 2019

• In February
  • Daily from 10:00 to 17:00
• In March
  • Daily from 10:00 to 17:00
  • On Saturdays, opening hours are extended until 18:00
  • Third Thursday of the month - sanitary day
• In April
  • Every day, except Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00
  • Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00
  • Third Friday of the month - sanitary day

Cost of tickets to St. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir in 2019.

• Adults - 150 rub.
• Children under 16 years old - free
• Children over 16 years old, students and pensioners (citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS) - 75 rubles.

From the history

By the end of the 12th century, Kyiv had lost its former significance, while the Vladimir-Suzdal principality was in its peak stage of prosperity. Dmitrievsky Cathedral became the personification of the strength, rise and power of the Vladimir land.

The temple was erected by Prince Vsevolod III, who was called Vsevolod the Big Nest for his large family - he had 12 children. At that time, the princes had two names - princely and Christian, which they received at baptism. Vsevolod III received the name Dmitry of Thessalonica at baptism, in whose name he decided to build a temple.

The exact date of construction of the Dmitrievsky Cathedral has not been established: according to historians, it was built by Russian craftsmen in the period from 1194 to 1197.

The temple was built as the palace church of Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest. The structure was located in the grand ducal courtyard, surrounded by palace buildings that have not survived to this day, but traces of them were discovered during restoration carried out in the 19th century.

During the invasion of the Tatar-Mongol yoke and the capture of Vladimir in 1238, the Dmitrievsky Cathedral, like the main temple of the principality - the Assumption Cathedral, was looted and set on fire. In subsequent years, the temple was devastated several more times by the Tatars, Lithuanians and Poles.

A big loss for the cathedral was the transfer in 1380, at the behest of Moscow Prince Dmitry Ivanovich, of its main shrine - the tombstone of St. Dmitry of Thessaloniki to the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow.

During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, extensions were made of white stone to the temple. They were located on three sides and contained chapels:

• In the northern part there is a chapel in honor of St. Nicholas
• On the south side - in honor of the beheading of John the Baptist

There was a porch in the western part.

In 1807-1808, repair work was carried out, as a result of which the iconostasis was updated and the wooden roof was replaced with iron. At the same time, a bell tower was built over the ancient chapels, and a porch with columns was built on the western side of the temple.

In 1834, Nicholas I, during a visit to Vladimir, ordered the destruction of the ancient outbuildings and the restoration of the temple to its original appearance. In 1837, the restoration was completed and St. Demetrius Cathedral appeared in all its ancient beauty.

For a long time the temple remained cold and services were held there only in the summer. In 1883, the cathedral elder, merchant V.N. Muravkin built a small belfry nearby with a guardhouse in which there was an oven. Pipes led from it into the temple, through which warm air flowed. Thanks to this, services began to take place year-round, the temple became dry, and thus a favorable atmosphere was created for frescoes.

Exterior decoration

White stone carving

The white stone carvings of the cathedral were created by Vladimir carvers who worked together with Bulgarians, Dalmatians or Serbs. Therefore, in the white stone decoration you can see scenes common in the Balkans, Byzantium and throughout Europe.

In total, about a thousand carved stones are installed on the facades, representing a bizarre picture of the world: these are images of Christianity, heroes of folk myths and plots of medieval literature.

Architecture

In plan, St. Demetrius Cathedral is an oblong quadrangle, the narrow sides of which face east and west.

The facades of the building are divided into three tiers:

• The lower façade has no decoration, this is explained by the fact that it was previously covered with galleries on three sides. In addition, on the western façade, at the corners of the galleries, there were two staircase towers. These galleries and towers were also decorated with white stone carvings. But, unfortunately, to date these buildings have not survived
• On the middle tier are white stone carved figures of saints, including princes Boris and Gleb, bizarre plants, figures of fantastic animals and birds, in short, a real fairy tale in stone
• The upper tier, which has narrow high windows, is completely covered with carvings.

The gilded dome has a flat shape, reminiscent of a hero’s helmet. On top there is an openwork cross made of gilded copper.

Temple facades

• On the southern façade of the temple there is a composition “The Ascension of Alexander the Great to Heaven”. This story was very popular in Rus', Europe and the East. The plot is based on two griffins carrying a king sitting in a wicker basket on their wings. In Alexander's hands is a bait for griffins in the form of small lion cubs. The griffins are drawn to the bait and thus carry the king into the sky
• On the northern facade you can see the relief “Prince Vsevolod with his sons”, depicting Prince Vsevolod III, thanks to whom the temple was built. He holds his newborn son on his lap, and around him are his other sons.
• On the western façade there are scenes depicting the exploits of David and Hercules.

In each of the facades, the central place is occupied by the figure of King David, whose image is the key to understanding the symbolism of the white stone carvings of the cathedral. All the characters in the reliefs of St. Demetrius Cathedral are illustrations of the lines of David’s psalm “Let every breath praise the Lord!”

Frescoes

Admiring the numerous patterns on the facades of the temple, you expect that we will be greeted with similar decoration inside. However, at present the interior of the temple is quite modest.

At the same time, initially the vault of the ancient cathedral was completely painted with frescoes and, probably, the worshipers were literally breathtaking from the splendor of church painting.

The restoration carried out in 1843 made it possible to discover under the vaults of the choir the remains of a 12th-century fresco painting depicting one of the best compositions - scenes from the Last Judgment. To date, only fragments of this painting have survived:

• In the central vault under the choir you can see the figures of 12 apostle-judges on thrones and angels behind them
• In the small vault under the choir, scenes of paradise are depicted: trumpeting angels and the Apostle Peter leading the holy women to paradise, the prudent thief, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as the Mother of God on the throne.

The frescoes are made in delicate halftones - light green and blue, greenish-yellow and bluish-gray. The faces of the apostles are distinguished by their strict beauty, portrait features and individuality. Judging by the style of painting, it was done by two painters - Greek and Russian.

Demetrius Cathedral is small in size, because it was built as a “house of prayer” for the princely family and was not designed for a large number of parishioners. Its internal space is filled with air and light, everything here is permeated with solemn calm and tranquility.

Official website of St. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir

It is part of the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve: www.vladmuseum.ru




Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir is one of the masterpieces of architecture of North-Eastern Rus'. In 1992, the architectural monument was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.