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Monuments of Ancient Rus' Manuscript design ArchitecturePainting. Kievan Rus: where to find the oldest monuments of the past in Ukraine The most famous architectural monuments of ancient Rus'

Despite the progress in our time and the constantly ongoing discoveries, very few facts have come down to us about the architecture of the ancient Slavs. All this is because in those days, basically, all structures were built of wood, and since this material is short-lived, the main historical monuments have not been preserved.

The ancient Slavs had good building abilities. And with the establishment of Christianity in Rus', many stone structures began to be built, such as temples and churches. The construction of cross-domed cathedrals was then very developed. All this is due to the fact that Christianity came to us from Byzantium, and, accordingly, the construction of temples was carried out on the basis of the schemes of Byzantine structures.

Story architecture of ancient Rus' began with the creation of the Kievan state and ended this stage only with the advent of Russian Empire. The first temples are Novgorod, Kyiv and Vladimir. The heyday of architectural architecture is considered the period of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise (XII century). In the XIII century, the development of church architecture in Rus' slowed down, this is due to the emergence of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. And in the XV century, already during the reign of Ivan III, the rapid development of architectural architecture again begins.

Hagia Sophia in Novgorod

The history of this cathedral is very interesting. It was built in honor of the Novgorodians, who once helped Yaroslav the Wise to sit on the throne of the Grand Duke. It was built for seven years and the temple was consecrated already in 1052. The son of Grand Duke Yaroslav, Vladimir, who died on October 4, 1052, is buried in the Kyiv church of St. Sophia.

It is worth noting that the cathedral was built of mixed material - stone and brick. Its design is strictly symmetrical, and it also has no galleries. Initially, the walls of this cathedral were not whitewashed. This is due to the fact that Slavic architects primarily focused on Byzantine structures, in which mosaic and marble cladding was preferred. A little later, the mosaics were replaced with frescoes, and marble with limestone.

The frame of the composition looks like a cross-domed temple with five naves. This type of construction is inherent only in temples built in the 11th century.

The first cathedral painting was made in 1109, but most of the frescoes have not been preserved to our time, with the exception of Konstantin and Elena. Many frescoes were lost during the Great Patriotic War.

In the Hagia Sophia, several iconostases were constructed, or rather, there were three of them. The main icons in the cathedral: the icon of the Mother of God "The Sign", Euthymius the Great, Anthony the Great, Savva the Sanctified, Tikhvin icon Mother of God. It was possible to save the remains of the holy books, of which the most surviving are six books: Princess Irina, Prince Vladimir, Princes Mstislav and Fedor, Archbishops Nikita and John.

The figure in the form of a dove is decorated with a cross of the central dome, which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

Hagia Sophia in Kyiv

The history of this cathedral begins in 1037, when it was founded prince of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise. Sophia of Kiev has been very well preserved to this day, even picturesque decorations, such as frescoes and mosaics, have survived. These are two types of painting, combined not only in the Hagia Sophia, but also in almost all architectural monuments of Ancient Rus'. Now the church has 260 square meters of mosaics and almost three thousand square meters of frescoes.

The temple has a huge number of mosaics with images of the main saints. Such works are made on a golden background, which helps to emphasize the richness of these masterpieces. Mosaics include more than 177 shades. But the names creative masters who created such beauty, and to this day remain unknown.

The main cathedral mosaics: the Mother of God "Indestructible Wall", the Annunciation, John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great.
In addition to fresco and mosaic paintings, a large number of graphic images (graffiti) have been preserved. There are more than seven thousand graffiti on the walls of the cathedral.

Five princes are buried in the Sophia Church: Yaroslav the Wise, Vsevolod, Rostislav Vsevolodovich, Vladimir Monomakh, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich.

Church of the Intercession on the Nerl

One of the outstanding architectural monuments of Ancient Rus'. The church is entirely made of stone and is considered the pinnacle of white stone architecture. It was built in 1165, by order of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, in honor of him. dead son who was killed by the Bulgars. The temple was erected in the Vladimir region, on the interfluve of the Nerl and Klyazma rivers.

This is the first monument in the history of architecture of Ancient Rus', which is dedicated to the feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos.
The structure of the church is quite simple. It consists of four pillars, a cruciform dome and three apses. This is a one-domed church with exquisite proportions, due to which from afar it seems as if the temple is floating in the air.
The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir

The date of foundation of the cathedral is considered to be 1197. This temple is famous among other architectural monuments of Ancient Rus' for its technique of execution - white stone carving.

The temple was erected personally for Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest and his family. Later, the church was consecrated in honor of the heavenly patron - Dmitry Thessalonica.

The composition is based on typical structures of Byzantine temples (four pillars and three apses). The dome of the church is gilded and crowned with a neat cross, the weather vane of which is depicted in the form of a dove. The construction of the temple was carried out exclusively by Russian architects, but the decoration was carried out by Greek craftsmen, which is why in the cathedral you can find features characteristic of Western basilicas. Elements of Romanesque architecture are clearly expressed in the masonry technique, as well as in the decoration.

The walls of the cathedral are decorated with various mythical images, horsemen, psalmists and saints. In the temple there is a sculpture of David the Musician. His miniature symbolizes the idea of a god of a protected state. Also in the church there is an image of Vsevolod the Big Nest and his sons.

Although Dmitrievsky Cathedral does not have external beauty, inside its interior is quite rich. Unfortunately, of the frescoes, only the Last Judgment has survived to this day.

Golden gates of the city of Vladimir

The composition was erected in Vladimir, the basis for the construction of which was the order of Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1164. In total, 5 gates were built, of which only the Golden ones have survived to this day. They served as the entrance to the princely city part, which was considered the richest. The construction of the gate was carried out by Vladimir craftsmen.

There are rumors that at the end of the construction work, they fell on the twelve people involved in the construction. The townspeople thought that the masters had died, and then Bogolyubsky decided to turn to the icon with prayers. Mother of God. When the collapse was cleared, the people littered with the remains of the gate were pulled out safe and sound. After this incident, a white-stone chapel was built over the gate.

Height triumphal arch The Golden Gate reaches fourteen meters. The main task of the building was to protect the city of Vladimir from raids. The design was based on a combat platform from which enemies were fired. The remains of the site are still in the gate. It was possible to enter and leave the site with the help of a stone staircase adjoining it.

Golden Gate is symbolic image princely power and majesty.

During the Mongol-Tatar invasion, many monuments from the Golden Gate were hidden by the townspeople. Most of them are included in the UNESCO list and recognized as destroyed monuments. In 1970, a group of Japanese archaeologists came to the Soviet Union to clear the bottom of the Klyazma River. At the end of the expedition, many items that archaeologists considered lost were found. Among them were precious doors taken out of the Golden Gates of Vladimir. Although this version is still more perceived as a legend. Since historical facts show that the inhabitants of Vladimir did not have enough time to hide the relics, and even more so to take them out of the city. If the sashes were found, then the location of the gold plates is unknown to this day.

tithe church

This is the first Russian church that was built of stone; it was consecrated in 996. The church is lit with the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Its name is due to the fact that Grand Duke Vladimir allocated a tithe of the state budget, that is, a tenth, for the construction of the church.

The history of the church is directly connected with the baptism of Rus'. The fact is that it was erected on the site where a skirmish between pagans and Christians took place. The building itself is a kind of symbol of religious discord.

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

Another unique architectural monument of Ancient Rus' is the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. This monastery is included in the list of the first ancient Russian monasteries. Its construction was carried out in 1051, during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. Its founder is considered to be the monk Anthony, whose roots came from Lyubech.

The location of the monastery is the city of Kyiv (Ukraine). Located on the coast of the Dnieper, on two hills. At first, there was an ordinary cave on the site of the monastery, to which the clergyman Hilarion came, but when he was appointed Metropolitan of Kyiv, the cave was abandoned. Around the same time, the monk Anthony arrived in Kyiv, he found the cave of Hilarion and stayed in it. A little later, a church was erected over the cave, and already in 1073 it was finished with stone. In 1089 it was consecrated.

The frescoes and mosaics decorating the church were made by Byzantine masters.

St. Cyril's Church

It is considered the oldest monument in the history of architecture of Ancient Rus'. The date of its foundation is considered to be 1139. The name of the church is associated with the names of Saints Athanasius and Cyril. The church is one of the main components of the composition of the St. Cyril Monastery, which is located near Chernigov, in the village of Dorohozhychi. St. Cyril's Church was built under Prince Vsevolod Olgovich and later became the tomb of the Olgovich family. Vsevolod's wife, Maria, who was the daughter of Mstislav the Great, was buried there. Also in this church, Prince Svyatoslav was buried in 1194.

In 1786, the lands were confiscated from the church in favor of the state, and this was the end of the history of the St. Cyril Monastery. The church was converted into a hospital temple.

Church of the Savior on the River Nereditsa

The cathedral was built in the city of Novgorod and the date of its construction is 1198. The building style stands out for its unusually simple construction and strict motifs; it is worth noting that all Novgorod buildings are made in this style. The church is in perfect harmony with the landscape due to the simplicity of the composition. The Cathedral of the Savior on the Nereditsa River, like most buildings of that time, is made of white stone. The interior of the church is fully consistent with the external style.

The execution of the paintings is of a strictly strict nature, the predominance of clear forms. In the images of saints, open views can be traced, it seems that the images are not simply depicted on the walls of the temple, but, as it were, boarded up in them. In general, the cathedral is a symbol of power and strength.

Novgorod Kremlin

The basis of each ancient Russian city was considered a strong Kremlin, which could protect the townspeople and survive during the defense against enemies. The Novgorod Kremlin is one of the oldest. For the tenth century now, he has been decorating and protecting his city. It is worth noting that, despite the fact that the Kremlin of the city of Novgorod is an old building, it still retains its original appearance. The Kremlin is made of red brick. On the territory of the Kremlin is the Novgorod Sophia Cathedral, which is also included in the list of architectural masterpieces of Ancient Rus'. His appearance and the interior is made in a sophisticated style. The floor is decorated with mosaics, on which the best masters of that time worked.

The Novgorod Kremlin is an ensemble of the best architectural monuments that city dwellers can be proud of even today.

Multi-tiered buildings Crowning of buildings with turrets and towers Presence of outbuildings Artistic wood carving Cross-domed At the base is a square divided by four columns Rectangular cells adjacent to the space under the dome form an architectural cross Wooden architecture Pagan Russia Stone architecture Christian Rus' CHURCHES ARCHITECTURE OF ANCIENT Rus'

Europeans called Rus' "Gradariki" - a country of cities. Medieval cities were centers of culture. The largest in Europe were Kyiv, Novgorod, Galich. Behind the fortress walls, handicrafts of which there were about 70 developed. Many items were for sale. 1. Development of cities. Torzhok. Engraving of the 16th century.

Inside the Kremlin there were monasteries, churches, princely mansions. Often the fortresses were divided by internal walls. 1. Development of cities. The townspeople were literate people, had broader horizons than the villagers. They traveled to other countries and received merchants. Plan of Kyiv in ser. 12th century.

The entrance to the city symbolized its power. As a rule, the Golden Gate was built at the entrance. The education of the townspeople helped them to build complex architectural structures. On the walls, on birch bark, scientists find many inscriptions. 1. Development of cities. Golden Gate in Vladimir. Reconstruction.

In the 11th century, stone mansions of princes appeared in large cities. Small rooms were located on the 1st floor, and a spacious hall occupied the second floor. Outside, the building was decorated with arches, stone carvings, and colonnades. 2.Architecture.Painting. Princely mansions in Chernihiv. Reconstruction.

ADOPTION OF CHRISTIANITY - The pagan period in the history of the ancient Slavs was not an example highly developed civilization and did not leave samples of outstanding cultural monuments. - The adoption of Christianity was a necessary step for the entry of the Slavs into the community of Western European countries, standing at a higher stage of development - The architectural monuments of Ancient Rus' reflect the development of religious ideas, and the main historical stages in the formation of a single Russian state. Stone cathedrals were built in honor of the most important events in the history of Ancient Rus'. The legend about Vladimir's choice of the Christian religion is told in The Tale of Bygone Years

In the temple, not only divine services and sacraments (baptism, communion, etc.) were performed, but also secular ceremonies, for example, the solemn accession of the prince to the throne. The building of the temple was the residence of the metropolitan (head of the Orthodox Church). Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv had the first library, archive and school in Rus'. Princes and metropolitans were buried here. Yaroslav the Wise himself was buried in this temple in 1054. This temple in Kyiv has survived to this day. QUESTION: What building was simultaneously an archive, a library, a school, a hall for secular ceremonies, and a cemetery?

ORTHODOX TEMPLE STRUCTURE AND INTERIOR DEVELOPMENT Together with Christianity, Rus' adopted the cross-domed structure of the temple from Byzantium. This type of church is square in plan. Its interior space is divided by four pillars into three naves (from Latin ship): central and lateral. The two vaults intersect at right angles, forming a cross in the space under the dome, the most important symbol of Christianity. At the intersection of the vaults there is a light drum topped with a dome. It rests on pillars connected by arches (they are called girth arches). The upper part of the walls of the temple is completed by zakomaras (from the other Russian mosquito mosquito vault). They are semicircular, as they repeat the shape of the vaults.

The first domes in Rus' were low, semicircular. They repeated the shape of the domes of Byzantine churches. Then helmet-shaped domes appeared (a helmet, an old military metal headdress), and even later bulbous ones. The number of domes had a symbolic meaning. Two domes meant the divine and earthly origin of Christ, three domes symbolize the Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit), five Christ and four evangelists, thirteen Christ and 12 apostle disciples. Each dome is completed Orthodox cross, always facing east.

Usually the temple has three entrances: the main (western) and two side (northern and southern). In Ancient Rus', galleries, or walks (from the word “walk”) were built around the church. They were erected on three sides - north, west and south. Some temples had annexes, each of which had its own altar and could perform services. The extension on the western side of the temple (where the main entrance was) was called the vestibule.

Under the floor of the church there were cellars in which noble people and clergymen were buried. The eastern part of the temple has apses (from the Greek apse arc) semicircular ledges. Depending on the size of the temple, there may be one or five apses. Each is covered with a semi-dome. In the apses there is an altar ("altar"). Only men can enter the altar.

In the center of the altar is a square stone table, a symbol of the Holy Sepulcher. According to the Orthodox faith, during the service, the Lord invisibly abides on the throne. In the southern part of the altar there is a sacristy (diakonnik) - a room where church utensils and vestments (robes) of priests are stored. To the left of the throne, in the northern or northeastern part of the altar, there is a special altar table. During the service, consecrated bread and wine are placed on it for communion. The altar is separated from the rest of the church by an iconostasis (a partition with icons). In front of him is an elevation of salt. On the sides of the salt there are choirs for choristers. The protrusion in the center of the salt, opposite the Royal Doors, is called the pulpit (from the Greek. "Ascend"). Sermons are delivered from the ambo, the Gospel is read.

Church of the Tithes According to the annals, Grand Duke Vladimir Krasnoe Solnyshko "think to create a church of the Most Holy Theotokos and send masters from the Greeks to drive." The brick church was founded in Kiev next to the princely court in 989. Prince Vladimir gave her a tithe from his income, so the church was called the Tithe. This is the oldest of the monumental buildings known to us in Rus'. The many-domed Desyatinnaya Church consisted of three naves, separated by three pairs of pillars; It had three apses. Its dimensions were 27.2 x 18.2 m. It was surrounded by galleries on three sides. Inside the temple there were balconies for the prince and his entourage. The building of the church was built from plinth. Plinth is a flat brick measuring 30 x 40 x 5 cm. In Kyiv, the plinth was special, thin, only 2.5-3 cm thick. Greek craftsmen brought many marble details of interior decoration with them (Rus did not yet know marble). Trophy sculptures from Korsun were placed on the square in front of the temple. The church collapsed during the capture of Kyiv by the Mongols in 1240, when the surviving residents of the city took refuge in it. Only the remains of the foundation have been preserved.

New Church of the Tithes (architect Stasov)

During the time of Yaroslav the Wise (), the Old Russian state with a center in Kyiv reached a special flowering. Metropolitan Hilarion wrote: “See the city shining with majesty, the leader of the church flourishing, the leader of Christianity growing, the leader of the city with the icons of the saints ... and with praises and divine singing we announce the saints. And seeing all this, rejoice, and rejoice, and they called ... to all of them the builder. Architecture of Kievan Rus

Hagia Sophia in Kyiv “He, like a helmet, pulled the heads “He, like a helmet, pulled the heads And put up the walls like a shield. And exposed the walls like a shield. He is all - tight proportion, He is all - tight proportion, The ratio of heights, The ratio of heights, Asymmetry, heaviness, fidelity Asymmetry, heaviness, fidelity And arches slow flight. And vaults slow flight. V. A. Rozhdestvensky (“Novgorodskaya Sofia”) V. A. Rozhdestvensky (“Novgorodskaya Sofia”)

Cathedral of St. Sophia in Kyiv In 1019, Yaroslav, nicknamed the Wise (), became the sole ruler of the Russian land. In 1037, the construction of the grandiose main temple of the capital, the Cathedral of St. Sophia, began. Thus, Yaroslav the Wise proclaimed Kyiv equal to Constantinople, where the main cathedral was also dedicated to St. Sofia.

The central dome (the symbol of Jesus Christ) is surrounded by four smaller domes (symbols of the four evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), and the remaining eight domes adjoin them. There are 13 in total, according to the number of students and their teachers. Four domes around the main dome.

The cathedral was built by Russian masters under the guidance of architects from Byzantium. The building material was pink plinth. The columns were made of bricks. Cornices, fences, floors were made of local slate, the so-called red slate, which has a beautiful raspberry color. purple. The floors were covered with mosaics. Outside, the cathedral was decorated with niches and windows, crosses and meanders laid out of plinth - geometric ornaments, masonry with a hidden row and stripes of rough, unworked stone. In the ХVП-ХVШ centuries. The cathedral has been remodeled. In our time, the ancient masonry is visible only in areas where the plaster was specially removed.

The light, wide choirs of the “chambers of the cathedral open into the central, cruciform space in plan with the help of a series of arches. These arches are located in two tiers in the form of arcades and rest on pillars. The area of the choirs is 260 sq.

The magnificent interior of St. Sophia Cathedral has largely been preserved. These are mosaics and frescoes. Pieces of smalt (colored opaque glass), from which the mosaics are made, have a different slope and therefore sparkle in the light, creating the impression of a “shimmering painting”.

In the main dome, Christ the Pantocrator is depicted with the Gospel in his left hand, in a round framed medallion. It is surrounded by archangels (a mosaic image of one of them has been preserved, the rest are painted in oil). In the drum of the central dome, in the piers between the windows, there are figures of the apostles-disciples of Christ, as if floating in the air. On the pillars supporting the dome are the images of the four evangelists.

Christ, archangels, apostles symbolize the heavenly Church. The image of the Mother of God the intercessor is a symbol of the earthly Church. The figure of the Mother of God is placed in the central apse against a golden background. Its height reaches five meters. She is depicted with her hands raised in prayer to the Savior. Such an image of the Mother of God is called Oranta (from Lat. praying). Huge; the inner strength of the image of the intercessor led to the fact that during the years of trials, the people began to call her the Indestructible Wall.

The cross-domed church is a type of Christian church that arose in Byzantium and was used in the temple construction of Kievan Rus. Four, six or more pillars formed a cross in plan, over which a dome towered. The eastern part had ledges - apses that made up the altar of the temple, in the western part there was a balcony - the choirs, where the prince and his family were during the service. The altar is separated from the hall by a partition with icons (iconostasis).

Architectural schools of Rus' XII-XIII centuries Southern (Kiev, Chernigov) Novgorod Vladimir-Suzdal Brick ordinal masonry, plinths Multi-tiered, an abundance of elongated arched windows Traditions of Byzantine architects Masonry made of gray stone flagstone Simplicity and geometric shapes, temples-fortresses Original version of Orthodox architecture Masonry from slabs white limestone Arched belts of semi-columns, stone carvings The art of inscribing buildings into the landscape

Sophia of Novgorod The most ancient monument of stone architecture in the north of Rus', Sophia of Novgorod is only a few years younger than Sophia of Kyiv. Built in the years by Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise, St. Sophia Cathedral already from the 30s of the XII century became the main temple of the Novgorod Veche Republic: "Where St. Sophia is, here is the city!" 57

Vladimir school Novgorod school Temples of the Novgorod school are more squat, as if grown into the ground. Vladimir churches, on the contrary, tend to the sky. Novgorod churches have a lower dome, drum and apse. Novgorod churches are not decorated, while Vladimir ones are decorated with arcade-columnar belt, they have carved zakomaras, a portal.

The temples of the Novgorod school are more squat, as if grown into the ground. Vladimir churches, on the contrary, tend to the sky. Novgorod churches have a lower dome, drum and apse. Novgorod churches are not decorated, while Vladimir ones are decorated with arcade-columnar belt, they have carved zakomaras, a portal. Vladimir School Dmitrovsky Cathedral in Vladimir Novgorod School Church of the Savior on Nereditsa in Novgorod

Georgievsky Cathedral of the Yuriev Monastery in Novgorod This temple is characterized by the division of form, the liberation of the internal space

The new form of the temple is a three-lobed completion. Facades are decorated with many windows with their frames - brows. Lancet windows also create a sense of upward movement. This desire is also emphasized by the triangular completion three layers building walls. Novgorod temples of the 14th century Church of the Transfiguration in Novgorod The Church of Fyodor Stratilat in Novgorod. 1361

Vladimir school This school developed in the 12th century, when the Vladimir-Suzdal principality became one of the leading ones. Temples are built of white stone. They are characterized by elongated proportions, aspiration upwards. Vladimir churches are richly decorated. Five-domed Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir Golden Gate in Vladimir

Eleventh to twelfth centuries there was an upsurge in the development of the culture of the Kyiv state. Large cities become cultural centers, which have acquired the status of European centers due to reforms (Kyiv, Galich, Novgorod).

Excavations carried out in these lands have shown scientists that the people who lived at that time were for the most part literate (at least at a basic level). This was concluded based on the preserved business receipts, petitions, orders on business affairs and other documents.

In addition, it is known for certain that even before Christianity was adopted, Rus' knew writing. The first handwritten books surviving from that time are unique works of art. They were written, as a rule, on very expensive parchment, which was made from processed goat, calf or ram skin, and was decorated with excellent color miniatures.

Most of the books that have come down to us, which refers to this period, has a religious content(out of one hundred and thirty books, about eighty contain basic knowledge of Christian morality and dogma). However, along with this, then there was also religious literature for reading.

Perfectly preserved "Physiologist"- a collection of short stories about legendary and real-life stones, trees and birds (at the end of each story there was a religious parable associated with this creature or object). By the same time, researchers also attribute such outstanding literary church monuments as the “Sermon on Law and Grace”, attributed to the pen of Metropolitan Hilarion, as well as the sermons of Cyril of Turov. There were also "apocrypha" (from Greek word"hidden") - stories that unconventionally interpret biblical stories. The most popular of them is considered to be the “Walking of the Virgin through the torments”.

Outstanding literary monument Vladimir Monomakh's "Instruction" is also considered, which is an instruction to princely children and contains instructions on how the offspring of combatants should behave in the world.

And finally, the most a significant colossus of ancient Russian literature is "The Tale of Igor's Campaign", the basis of which was the campaign undertaken by Igor Svyatoslavich against the Polovtsians. It is considered a huge loss that the only manuscript of this text burned down in Moscow during a fire (1812).

The times of Ancient Rus', whose cultural monuments are the subject of this review, are the most important period in Russian history, since it was then that the foundations of statehood, social, political, economic and social structures were laid, which found its expression in written, archaeological and architectural sources.

General characteristics of the era

The foundations of the state administration were formed in the times of Ancient Rus'. Cultural monuments of this era are interesting because they reflected the ideological foundations of the young Russian society, which had just converted to Orthodoxy. An important role in their creation was played by the initiative of the princes, who very often contributed to stone construction, writing chronicles, and the construction of civil and defensive buildings. Subsequently, the initiative passed to the population, primarily to urban residents, who very often built churches and temples at their own expense. Great importance in this cultural process played by the Greek influence. Byzantine masters became the builders of many monuments, and also taught a lot of Russians, who, having adopted their rules and traditions, soon began to create their own unique structures.

Type of temples

The times of Ancient Rus', whose cultural monuments are mainly represented by church construction, are traditionally dated to the pre-Mongolian period, from the 9th to the beginning of the 13th century, but in a broader sense, to this concept apply to later centuries. Russian architecture adopted Byzantine traditions, so the cross-domed churches of Ancient Rus', in principle, repeat their features. However, in our country, the construction of white-stone rectangular churches was mainly widespread, and the semicircular dome was replaced by a helmet-shaped one. Masters very often created mosaics and frescoes. Temples with four pillars were especially common, less often they met with six and eight columns. Most often they had three naves.

early church

The times of Ancient Rus', whose cultural monuments are inextricably linked with baptism and the adoption of Orthodoxy, became the heyday of stone temple construction. In the list of these buildings, the most basic ones should be singled out, the construction of which became a landmark event in history and served as the beginning for further construction. One of the first largest and most significant churches was the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was also popularly called the Tithe Church, since the prince specially allocated a tenth of his income for it. It was built under Vladimir Svyatoslavich the Holy, who baptized the Russian land.

Peculiarities

Archaeologists find it difficult to restore its original appearance, however, some surviving data, such as Greek stamps on bricks, marble decorations, and a mosaic floor, indicate that the construction was carried out by Greek craftsmen. At the same time, the preserved inscriptions in Cyrillic and ceramic tiles allow us to speak about the participation of the Slavs in the construction. The church was built as a cross-domed structure according to the traditional Byzantine canon.

Temples of the 11th century

The times of Ancient Rus', whose cultural monuments prove the rapid spread and establishment of Orthodoxy in our country, became a period of active construction of churches, different in size, composition and structure. The second most important temple on this list is St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. It was erected during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise and was to become the main religious center of the new state. Its feature is the presence of large choirs. It has thirteen domes with windows. In the center is the main one, below - four smaller ones, and then there are even smaller eight domes. The cathedral has two stair towers, two-tier and one-tier galleries. Inside there are mosaics and frescoes.

The cross-domed churches of Ancient Rus' have become widespread in our country. Another important building was the Assumption Church of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. It had three naves, a spacious interior and one dome. It was blown up during the Second World War and subsequently restored in the traditions of the Ukrainian Baroque.

Novgorod architecture

Monuments of Russian culture are diverse in style and structure. Novgorod temples and churches have their own unique features that make this tradition stand out as a special one in the history of Russian architecture. Separately, in the list of ancient Russian buildings, St. Sophia Cathedral should be singled out, which for a long time remained the main religious center of the republic. It has five domes and a stair tower. The domes are shaped like helmets. The walls are built of limestone, the interior is similar to the Kyiv church, the arches are elongated, but some details have undergone a slight simplification, which later became a characteristic feature of the city's architecture.

At first, the masters imitated the Kyiv models, but later the Novgorod architecture received its own original appearance due to unique and easily recognizable features. Their temples are small, squat and simple in design. One of the most famous churches in this style- This is the Transfiguration Church on Nereditsa. It is very simple, but has a very majestic appearance. It has a small size, it has no external decor, the lines are very simple. These features are typical for Novgorod churches, appearance which even differ in some disproportion, which makes them unique.

Buildings in other cities

monuments in Nizhny Novgorod are also included in the list of the most famous ancient Russian buildings. One of the churches is dedicated to the holy prophet Elijah. It was erected in the 16th century in memory of the deliverance of the city from the invasion of the Tatars and Nogais. At first it was wooden, but then, in the middle of the 17th century, it was rebuilt in stone. In the 19th century, the church was rebuilt from a single-domed church into a five-domed one, which gave its name to a street in the city.

Monuments in Nizhny Novgorod occupy a prominent place in the history of Russian architecture. One of the most famous is the Mikhailo-Arkhangelsky Cathedral, built in the 13th century. It was a white stone church with 4 pillars and 3 apses.

So, the cities of other lands and specific principalities also became centers of active architectural construction. Their traditions are distinguished by their original and unique features. Church of Nikola Nadein in Yaroslavl is a unique temple of the 17th century. It was erected on the banks of the Volga and became the first stone temple in the suburbs of the city.

The initiator was the merchant Nadia Sveteshnikov, after whom many merchants and artisans also began to build churches. The base of the temple was raised on a high base, at the top there were five domes on thin drum necks. Church of St. Nicholas Nadein has a unique iconostasis. It is made in the Baroque style and replaced the older one in the 18th century.

Meaning

Thus, ancient Russian architecture is unique in its features, style and interior. Therefore, it occupies a prominent place not only in national culture, but also in world art in general. In this regard, the protection of historical and cultural monuments is especially important at present. Many of them have not survived to our time, some were destroyed during the war, so modern archaeologists and restorers attach great importance their reconstruction and renovation.

By the decree of Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1165, between the rivers Klyazma and Nerl in the Vladimir region, a church was erected in memory of the son of the prince who died at the hands of the Bulgars. The church is single-domed, but it was built of white stone, which was a novelty at that time. In those days, the main building material was wood. But wooden buildings were often destroyed by fires, were unstable before the attacks of enemies.

Although they built a temple in memory of the son of Andrei Bogolyubsky, it was dedicated to the church holiday of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. This is the first such monument and very important, since Orthodoxy in Rus' was just being affirmed.

The design of the temple seems very simple. Its main components are four pillars, three apses, and a cruciform dome. The church has one head. But it was created in such proportions that from a distance it appears to be hovering above the earth. This church is rightfully on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

tithe church

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kyiv, called the Tithes, is connected with the baptism of Rus'. It was the first stone building. The church was built for five years, from 991 to 996, on the site of the battle between Christians and pagans. Although in the Tale of Bygone Years, the year 989 is named as the beginning of the construction of the temple.

Here the earthly path of the first martyrs Theodore, as well as his son John, was completed. Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, by his decree, allocated a tithe from the state treasury, at the present time, from the budget for the construction of the church. That is why the church got its name.

At one time it was the largest temple. In 1240, the troops of the Tatar-Mongol Khanate destroyed the temple. According to other sources, the church collapsed under the weight of the people gathered there in the hope of hiding from the invaders. From this archaeological site only the foundation has been preserved.

Golden Gate

The Golden Gate is considered a symbol of the power and greatness of Ancient Rus'. In 1158, Andrei Bogolyubsky instructed to surround the city of Vladimir with a rampart. After 6 years, he ordered the construction of five entrance gates. So far, only the Golden Gate, which is an architectural monument, has survived.

These gates were made of oak. Subsequently, they were bound with sheets of copper, covered with gilding. But not only for this the gate got its name. The gilded sashes were a real work of art. The inhabitants of the city removed them before the invasion of the Mongol-Tatar army. These sashes are included in the UNESCO register as masterpieces lost by mankind.

True, in 1970 there was a message that the wings were found by Japanese archaeologists who took part in the cleaning of the Klyazma River. It was then that many artifacts were discovered, including sashes. But here is the most valuable thing in them - gold plates have not been found so far.

According to legend, the arches of the gate fell during the completion of construction, crushing 12 builders. Eyewitnesses thought they were all dead. Andrei Bogolyubsky ordered to bring the icon of the Mother of God and began to pray for people in trouble. When the gates were freed from blockages and raised, the workers there were alive. They didn't even get any damage.

It took seven years to build this cathedral. It was erected in honor of the inhabitants of Novgorod, with the help of which Yaroslav the Wise became the Grand Duke. The construction of the cathedral was completed in 1052. For Yaroslav the Wise, this year has become a landmark. He buried his son Vladimir in Kyiv.

The cathedral was built from different materials. The main ones were brick and stone. The walls of the cathedral were faced with marble, mosaic patterns and paintings were built into them. This is a trend of Byzantine masters who sought to adopt Slavic architects. Later, marble was replaced with limestone, and frescoes were inserted instead of mosaics.

The first painting is dated 1109. But the frescoes were also destroyed over time. Especially much was lost during the Great Patriotic War. Only the fresco "Konstantin and Elena" has survived to the 21st century.

There are no galleries in the cathedral; outwardly, it appears as a cross-domed temple with five naves. At that time, this style was inherent in most temples. There are three iconostasis created in the distant past. Among the main icons in the cathedral are the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God, Euthymius the Great, Savva the Illuminated, Anthony the Great, the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”.

There are also old books. There are many partially scattered works, although there are survivors. These are the books of Prince Vladimir, Princess Irina, Archbishops John and Nikita, Princes Fedor and Mstislav. The figurine of a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, adorns the cross of the dome, located in the center.

This temple is unique not only because it is made in the style of romanticism. The cathedral impresses with elements reminiscent of Western basilicas. The most important thing is the white stone carving. Everything turned out due to the fact that the construction of the cathedral lay solely on the shoulders of Russian architects. Finishing work was carried out by Greek craftsmen. Everyone tried to do their work in such a way as not to shame their state.

The best masters were gathered here, since the cathedral was built for Prince Vsevolod a large nest. The cathedral subsequently housed his family. The history of the cathedral dates back to 1197. Later, the cathedral was consecrated in memory of Demetrius of Thessalonica, who was considered the heavenly patron.

The compositional construction of the cathedral is based on the design features of Byzantine churches. As a rule, these are 4 pillars and 3 apses. The gilded church dome crowns the cross. The figure of a dove serves as a weather vane. The walls of the temple attract images of a mythical nature, saints, psalmists. The miniature of David the musician is a symbol of the state protected by God.

There could not have been an image of Vsevolod the Big Nest here. He was sculpted together with his sons. Interior decoration the temple is amazing. Despite the fact that many frescoes have been lost, it is still beautiful and solemn here.

The Church of the Savior was built on Mount Nereditsa in just one season in 1198. The temple was erected by decree of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich, who ruled at that time in Veliky Novgorod. The temple grew on the elevated bank of the Maly Volkhovets riverbed, not far from Rurik's Settlement.

The church was built in memory of the two sons of Yaroslav Vladimirovich who fell in battle. Externally, the church is not distinguished by majestic superstructures. However, it is an architectural monument. The church was built according to the traditional design for that time. One cubic dome, then, as in other projects, a four-pillar and three-apse version.

The interior of the church is amazing. The walls are fully painted and represent a gallery of Russian art, one of the most ancient and unique. These paintings were actively studied by scientists in the first third of the last century. Preserved detailed descriptions paintings that shed light on the history of the time when the church was being built, on the way of life of Novgorodians. The artist N.Martynov in 1862 made watercolor copies of Nereditsa frescoes. They were demonstrated with great success in Paris, at the World Exhibition. The sketches were awarded a bronze medal.

These frescoes are a very valuable example of Novgorod monumental painting. Created in the XII century, they are still of great artistic, especially historical value.

Many consider the Novgorod Kremlin to be the most unique architectural monument. It belongs to one of the oldest monuments. Each city in Rus' erected its own Kremlin. It was a fortress that helped to protect the inhabitants from enemy raids.

Few Kremlin walls survived. The Novgorod Kremlin has been faithfully serving its inhabitants for the tenth century. This building is the oldest. But she retained her original appearance.

That is why this architectural monument is valuable. The Kremlin was laid out of red brick, at that time in Rus' the building material was outlandish and expensive. But it was not in vain that the Novgorod builders used it. The walls of the city did not flinch before the onslaught of many enemy troops.

St. Sophia Cathedral rises on the territory of the Novgorod Kremlin. This is another of the great architectural monuments of Ancient Rus'. The floor of the cathedral is paved with mosaics. The entire interior is an example of the refined craftsmanship of architects. Every detail, the smallest touch, has been worked out.

Residents of the Novgorod land are proud of their Kremlin, believing that it contains an ensemble of architectural monuments that should inspire every Russian.

Trinity-Sergius Lavra is the largest male monastery in Russia, which is located in the city of Sergiev Posad in the Moscow region. The founder of the monastery was Sergei Radonezhsky. From the day it was founded, the monastery became the center of the spiritual life of the Moscow lands. Here the army of Prince Dmitry Donskoy received a blessing for the battle with Mamai.

Moreover, Sergius of Radonezh sent the monks Oslyabya and Peresvet to the army, distinguished by zeal in prayer and heroic strength, who showed themselves heroically during the battle on September 8, 1830. The monastery has been the center of religious education for Russians for centuries, as well as the heart of cultural enlightenment.

Many icons were painted in the monastery. This was done by Andrey Rublev and Daniil Cherny - outstanding icon painters. It was here that the well-known icon "Trinity" was painted. She became integral part monastery iconostasis. Historians call the siege of the monastery by the Polish-Lithuanian invaders a test. It was a troubled time. The siege lasted 16 months. The besieged held out and won.

Not all architectural monuments of Ancient Rus' survived and survived. Many left no trace. But descriptions have been preserved in ancient books. Scientists decipher them, locate them. Patriots find the strength and means and begin to restore the ancient buildings. The more actively this work is carried out, the more the greatness of Russia will increase.

Writing and education[edit | edit code]

The existence of writing among the Eastern Slavs in the pre-Christian period is evidenced by numerous written sources and archaeological finds. Creation Slavic alphabet associated with the names of the Byzantine monks Cyril and Methodius. Cyril in the second half of the 9th century created the Glagolitic alphabet (Glagolitic), in which the first translations of church books were written for the Slavic population of Moravia and Pannonia. At the turn of the 9th-10th centuries, on the territory of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, as a result of the synthesis of the Greek script, which had long been widespread here, and those elements of the Glagolitic alphabet that successfully conveyed the features Slavic languages, an alphabet arose, later called the Cyrillic alphabet. In the future, this easier and more convenient alphabet replaced the Glagolitic alphabet and became the only one among the southern and eastern Slavs.

The Baptism of Rus' contributed to the widespread and rapid development of writing and written culture. It was essential that Christianity was adopted in its Eastern, Orthodox version, which, unlike Catholicism, allowed worship in national languages. This created favorable conditions for the development of writing in mother tongue.

The development of writing in the native language led to the fact that the Russian Church from the very beginning did not become a monopoly in the field of literacy and education. The spread of literacy among sections of the urban population is evidenced by birch bark letters, discovered during archaeological excavations in Novgorod, Tver, Smolensk, Torzhka, Staraya Russa, Pskov, Staraya Ryazan, etc. These are letters, memos, training exercises, etc. The letter, therefore, was used not only to create books, state and legal acts, but also in everyday life. Often there are inscriptions on handicraft products. Ordinary citizens left numerous records on the walls of churches in Kyiv, Novgorod, Smolensk, Vladimir and other cities. The oldest surviving book in Rus' is the so-called. "Novgorod Psalter" of the first quarter of the 11th century: wooden, wax-covered tablets with texts of 75 and 76 psalms.

Most of the written monuments of the pre-Mongolian period perished during numerous fires and foreign invasions. Only a small part of them survived. The oldest of them are the Ostromir Gospel, written by deacon Gregory for the Novgorod posadnik Ostromir in 1057, and two Izborniks by Prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavich of 1073 and 1076. High level The professional skill with which these books were made testifies to the well-established production of handwritten books already in the first half of the 11th century, as well as to the skills of “book construction” that had been established by that time.

Correspondence of books was carried out mainly in monasteries. The situation changed in the 12th century, when the craft of "book describers" also arose in large cities. This speaks of the growing literacy of the population and the increased need for books, which the monastic scribes could not satisfy. Many princes kept copyists of books, and some of them copied books on their own.

At the same time, the main centers of literacy continued to be monasteries and cathedral churches, where there were special workshops with permanent teams of scribes. They were engaged not only in the correspondence of books, but also kept chronicles, created original literary works, and translated foreign books. One of the leading centers of this activity was the Kiev Caves Monastery, which developed a special literary trend that had a great influence on the literature and culture of Ancient Rus'. As chronicles testify, already in the 11th century in Rus', libraries with up to several hundred books were created at monasteries and cathedral churches.

Needing literate people, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich organized the first schools. Literacy was not only the privilege of the ruling class, it also penetrated into the environment of the townspeople. Letters found in a significant number in Novgorod, written on birch bark (from the 11th century), contain the correspondence of ordinary citizens; inscriptions were also made on handicrafts.

Education was highly valued in ancient Russian society. In the literature of that time, one can find many panegyrics on the book, statements about the benefits of books and “book teaching”.

With the adoption of Christianity, Ancient Rus' was attached to book culture. The development of Russian writing gradually became the basis for the emergence of literature and was closely connected with Christianity. Despite the fact that writing was known in the Russian lands before, only after the baptism of Rus' did it become widespread. It also received a basis in the form of a developed cultural tradition Eastern Christianity. An extensive translated literature became the basis for the formation of a non-own tradition.

The original literature of Ancient Rus' is characterized by great ideological richness and high artistic perfection. Its prominent representative was Metropolitan Hilarion, the author of the famous "Sermon on Law and Grace", dating from the middle of the 11th century. In this work, the idea of the need for the unity of Rus' is clearly manifested. Using the form of a church sermon, Hilarion created a political treatise, which reflected the pressing problems of Russian reality. Contrasting "grace" (Christianity) with "law" (Judaism), Hilarion rejects the concept of God's chosen people inherent in Judaism and affirms the idea of transferring heavenly attention and disposition from one chosen people to all mankind, the equality of all peoples.

An outstanding writer and historian was the monk of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery Nestor. His “Reading” about the princes Boris and Gleb and the “Life of Theodosius”, valuable for the history of life, have been preserved. "Reading" is written in a somewhat abstract style, instructive and ecclesiastical elements are reinforced in it. Approximately 1113 is an outstanding monument of ancient Russian chronicle - "The Tale of Bygone Years", preserved in the composition of later chronicles of the XIV-XV centuries. This work is compiled on the basis of earlier chronicles - historical works dedicated to the past of the Russian land. The author of the Tale, the monk Nestor, managed to vividly and figuratively tell about the emergence of Rus' and connect its history with the history of other countries. The main attention in the "Tale" is given to the events of political history, the deeds of princes and other representatives of the nobility. economic life and the life of the people are described in less detail. The religious worldview of its compiler was clearly manifested in the annals: he sees the ultimate cause of all events and actions of people in the action of divine forces, “providence”. However, religious differences and references to the will of God often hide a practical approach to reality, the desire to identify real causal relationships between events.

In turn, Theodosius, hegumen of the Pechersk Monastery, about whom Nestor also wrote, wrote several teachings and letters to Prince Izyaslav.

Vladimir Monomakh was an outstanding writer. His "Instruction" painted the ideal image of a prince - a just feudal ruler, touched upon the pressing issues of our time: the need for strong princely power, unity in repelling nomadic raids, etc. "Instruction" is a work of a secular nature. It is imbued with the immediacy of human experiences, alien to abstraction and filled with real images and examples taken from real life.

The question of princely power in the life of the state, its duties and methods of implementation becomes one of the central ones in literature. The idea arises of the need for strong power as a condition for a successful struggle against external enemies and overcoming internal contradictions. These reflections are embodied in one of the most talented works of the 12th-13th centuries, which has come down to us in two main editions of the “Word” and “Prayer” by Daniil Zatochnik. A staunch supporter of strong princely power, Daniel writes with humor and sarcasm about the sad reality surrounding him.

A special place in the literature of Ancient Rus' is occupied by the "Tale of Igor's Campaign", dating from the end of the 12th century. It tells about the unsuccessful campaign against the Polovtsians in 1185 by the Novgorod-Seversky prince Igor Svyatoslavich. The description of this campaign only serves as an occasion for the author to reflect on the fate of the Russian land. The author sees the reasons for the defeats in the struggle against the nomads, the reasons for the disasters of Rus' in the princely civil strife, in the egoistic policy of the princes, thirsting for personal glory. Central to the "Word" is the image of the Russian land. The author belonged to the milieu. He constantly used the concepts of “honor” and “glory” characteristic of her, but filled them with a broader, patriotic content. The Tale of Igor's Campaign embodied character traits ancient Russian literature of that time: a living connection with historical reality, citizenship and patriotism.

The Batu invasion had a great influence on Russian culture. The first work devoted to the invasion - "The Word about the destruction of the Russian land." This word has not come down to us completely. Also Batu's invasion is dedicated to "The Tale of the Devastation of Ryazan by Batu" - component cycle of stories about the "miracle-working" icon of St. Nicholas of Zaraisk.

Architecture[edit | edit code]

Until the end of the tenth century, there was no monumental stone architecture in Rus', but there were rich traditions of wooden construction, some forms of which subsequently influenced stone architecture. Significant skills in the field of wooden architecture led to the rapid development of stone architecture and its originality. After the adoption of Christianity, the construction of stone temples begins, the principles of construction of which were borrowed from Byzantium. The Byzantine architects called to Kyiv passed on to the Russian masters the extensive experience of the building culture of Byzantium.

The large churches of Kievan Rus, built after the adoption of Christianity in 988, were the first examples of monumental architecture in the Eastern Slavic lands. Architectural style Kievan Rus established itself under the influence of the Byzantine. Early Orthodox churches were mostly made of wood.

The first stone church of Kievan Rus was the Church of the Tithes in Kyiv, the construction of which dates back to 989. The church was built as a cathedral not far from the prince's tower. In the first half of the XII century. The church has undergone significant renovations. At this time, the southwestern corner of the temple was completely rebuilt, a powerful pylon appeared in front of the western facade, supporting the wall. These events, most likely, were the restoration of the temple after a partial collapse due to an earthquake.

Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, built in the 11th century, is one of the most significant architectural structures of this period. Initially, St. Sophia Cathedral was a five-nave cross-domed church with 13 domes. On three sides, it was surrounded by a two-tier gallery, and from the outside - an even wider single-tier one. The cathedral was built by the builders of Constantinople, with the participation of Kyiv masters. At the turn of the 17th-18th centuries, it was externally rebuilt in the Ukrainian baroque style. The temple is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Painting[edit | edit code]

After the baptism of Rus', new types of monumental painting came from Byzantium - mosaics and frescoes, as well as easel painting (icon painting). Also, the iconographic canon was adopted from Byzantium, the invariability of which was strictly guarded by the church. This predetermined a longer and more stable Byzantine influence in painting than in architecture.

The earliest surviving works of ancient Russian painting were created in Kyiv. According to the chronicles, the first temples were decorated by visiting Greek masters, who added to the existing iconography a system for arranging plots in the interior of the temple, as well as a manner of planar writing. The mosaics and frescoes of St. Sophia Cathedral are known for their special beauty. They are made in a strict and solemn manner, characteristic of Byzantine monumental painting. Their creators skillfully used a variety of shades of smalt, skillfully combined the mosaic with the fresco. Of the mosaic works, the images of Christ the Almighty in the central dome are especially significant. All images are imbued with the idea of greatness, triumph and inviolability of the Orthodox Church and earthly power.

Another unique monument of the secular painting of Ancient Rus' is the wall paintings of the two towers of the Kyiv Sophia. They depict scenes of princely hunting, circus competitions, musicians, buffoons, acrobats, fantastic animals and birds, which somewhat distinguishes them from ordinary church paintings. Among the frescoes in Sofia are two group portraits of the family of Yaroslav the Wise.

In the XII-XIII centuries, local features began to appear in the painting of individual cultural centers. This is typical for the Novgorod land and the Vladimir-Suzdal principality. Since the XII century, a specific Novgorod style of monumental painting has been formed, which reaches a fuller expression in the paintings of the churches of St. George in Staraya Ladoga, the Annunciation in Arkazhy and especially the Savior-Nereditsa. In these fresco cycles, in contrast to the Kyiv cycles, there is a noticeable desire to simplify artistic techniques, to an expressive interpretation of iconographic types. In easel painting, Novgorod features were less pronounced.

In Vladimir-Suzdal Rus' of the pre-Mongolian period, fragments of frescoes of the Dmitrievsky and Assumption Cathedrals in Vladimir and the Church of Boris and Gleb in Kideksha, as well as several icons, have been preserved. Based on this material, the researchers consider it possible to talk about the gradual formation of the Vladimir-Suzdal school of painting. The best preserved fresco of the Dmitrievsky Cathedral depicting the Last Judgment. It was created by two masters - a Greek and a Russian. The Vladimir-Suzdal school includes several large icons XII - early XII I centuries. The earliest of them is the "Bogolyubskaya Mother of God", dating from the middle of the XII century, stylistically close to the famous "Vladimir Mother of God", which is of Byzantine origin.

Folklore[edit | edit code]

Written sources testify to the richness and diversity of the folklore of Ancient Rus'. significant place it was occupied by calendar ritual poetry: incantations, spells, songs, which were an integral part of the agrarian cult. Ritual folklore also included pre-wedding songs, funeral laments, songs at feasts and feasts. Mythological tales, reflecting the pagan ideas of the ancient Slavs, also became widespread. For many years, the church, in an effort to eradicate the remnants of paganism, waged a stubborn struggle against "vile" customs, "demonic games" and "blasphemers". However, these types of folklore survived in folk life up to the 19th-20th centuries, having lost their initial religious meaning over time, the rites turned into folk games.

There were also such forms of folklore that were not associated with a pagan cult. These include proverbs, sayings, riddles, fairy tales, labor songs. The authors of literary works widely used them in their work. Written monuments have preserved numerous traditions and legends about the founders of tribes and princely dynasties, about the founders of cities, about the struggle against foreigners. So, folk tales about the events of the II-VI centuries were reflected in the "Tale of Igor's Campaign".

In the ninth century a new epic genre- the heroic epic epic, which became the pinnacle of oral folk art and the result of the growth of national consciousness. Epics - oral poetic works about the past. Epics were based on real historical events, the prototypes of some epic heroes are real people. So, the prototype of the epic Dobrynya Nikitich was the uncle of Vladimir Svyatoslavich - the governor Dobrynya, whose name is repeatedly mentioned in the ancient Russian chronicles.

In turn, in the military estate, in the princely retinue environment, there was their own oral poetry. In squad songs, princes and their exploits were glorified. The princely squads had their own "songwriters" - professionals who composed "glory" songs in honor of the princes and their warriors.

Folklore continued to develop even after the spread of written literature, remaining an important element of ancient Russian culture. In the following centuries, many writers and poets used the plots of oral poetry and the arsenal of its artistic means and techniques. The art of playing the harp was also widespread in Rus', of which it is the homeland.

Arts and crafts[edit | edit code]

Kievan Rus famous for its masters in applied, decorative arts who were fluent in various techniques: filigree, enamel, granulation, niello, as evidenced by jewelry. It is no coincidence that the admiration of foreigners was great artistic creativity our craftsmen. L. Lyubimov in his book “The Art of Ancient Rus'” gives a description of star-shaped silver kolts from the Tver treasure of the 11th–12th centuries: “Six silver cones with balls are soldered to a ring with a semicircular shield. 5000 tiny rings with a diameter of 0.06 cm from wire 0.02 cm thick are soldered onto each cone! Only microphotography made it possible to establish these dimensions. But that's not all. The rings serve only as a pedestal for grains, so each one has another silver grain with a diameter of 0.04 cm! Jewelry decorated with cloisonné enamel. Masters used bright colors, skillfully selected colors. In the drawings, mythological pagan plots and images were traced, which were especially often used in applied art. They can be seen on carved wooden furniture, household utensils, fabrics embroidered with gold, in carved bone products, known in Western Europe under the name "carving of the Taurus", "carving of the Rus".

Clothing[edit | edit code]

Modern researchers have numerous evidence of how princes and boyars dressed. Verbal descriptions, images on icons, frescoes and miniatures, as well as fragments of fabrics from sarcophagi have been preserved. Various researchers compared these materials in their works with references to clothing in written documentary and narrative sources - chronicles, lives and various acts.

Literature[edit | edit code]

V. V. Bychkov Russian medieval aesthetics of the XI-XVII centuries. - M., 1995.
Vladyshevskaya T. F. musical culture Ancient Rus'. - M. : Sign, 2006. - 472 p. - 800 copies. - ISBN 5-9551-0115-2.
History of culture of Ancient Rus' / Ed. ed. acad. B. D. Grekova and prof. M. I. Artamonova. - L., 1951.
Book Centers of Ancient Rus': Scribes and Manuscripts of the Solovetsky Monastery / Ros. acad. Sciences. In-t rus. lit. (Pushk. Dom); Rep. ed. S. A. Semyachko. - St. Petersburg. , 2004.
Kolesov V.V. Sources of ancient Russian culture and the origins of Russian mentality // Ancient Rus'. Questions of medieval studies. - 2001. - No. 1 (3). - S. 1–9.
Culture of Ancient Rus' // Culturology: Textbook / Comp. resp. ed. A. A. Radugin. - M. : Center, 2001. - 304 p. (copy)
Culture of Kievan Rus // The World History in ten volumes / USSR Academy of Sciences. Institute of History. Asian Peoples Institute. Africa Institute. Institute of Slavic Studies. Ed. V. V. Kurasov, A. M. Nekrich, E. A. Boltin, A. Ya. Grunt, N. G. Pavlenko, S. P. Platonov, A. M. Samsonov, S. L. Tikhvinsky. - Sotsekgiz, 1957. - T. 3. - S. 261-265. - 896 p. (copy)
Lyubimov L. Art of Ancient Rus'. - 1981. - 336 p.
Ostroumov N.I. Wedding customs in ancient Rus'. - Printing house of I. D. Fortunatov, 1905. - 70 p.
Prokhorov G. M. Ancient Rus' as a historical and cultural phenomenon. - St. Petersburg. , 2010.
Rabinovich E. G. Old Russian clothes of the 9th-13th centuries. // Ancient clothes of the peoples of Eastern Europe: Materials for the historical and ethnographic atlas / Rabinovich M. G. (editor-in-chief). - M.: Nauka, 1986. - S. 40–111. - 273 p.
Romanov B. A. People and customs of Ancient Rus': Historical and household essays of the XI-XIII centuries. - M.: Territory, 200. - 256 p. - (Monuments of Russian historical thought). - 1000 copies. - ISBN 5-900829-19-7.
Rybakov B. A. Decorative and applied art of Rus' X-XIII centuries. - Aurora, 1971. - 118 p.
Rybakov B. A. Ancient Rus': Legends. Epics. Chronicles. - M. : Academic project, 2016. - 495 p. - ISBN 978-5-8291-1894-5.
Skurat K. E. Orthodox foundations of culture in the literary monuments of Ancient Rus'. - M. : NOU Institute of Expertise educational programs and state-confessional relations, 2006. - 128 p. - 5000 copies. - ISBN 5-94790-010-6.
Starikova I. V., nun Elena (Khilovskaya). The history of Russian church singing in the early 12th - late 17th centuries. in research 2000–2010: Bibliographic list // Bulletin of Church History. - 2011. - No. 3-4. - S. 311-336.
Fedorov G. B. In the footsteps of ancient cultures. Ancient Rus'. - M.: State publishing house of cultural and educational literature, 1953. - 403 p.
Chernaya L.A. History of culture of Ancient Rus'. - M. : Logos, 2007. - 288 p. - ISBN 978-5-98704-035-3.

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the Spassky Monastery in Yaroslavl

The Transfiguration Cathedral of the Spassky Monastery is the oldest stone church in Yaroslavl that has come down to us. Founded back in pre-Mongolian times, under Prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich, it was rebuilt in 1515-1516. New Cathedral combined the traditional forms of ancient Russian architecture with Italian influence, characteristic of Russian architecture of the late 15th - early 16th centuries. The names of the holy Metropolitan Macarius, the formidable Tsar Ivan IV, the liberators of Russia Kozma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty Mikhail and the disgraced Patriarch Nikon are connected with the history of the cathedral. The acquisition of the famous poetic work of Russian literature "The Tale of Igor's Campaign" is also associated by many researchers with this cathedral. The murals of the cathedral are one of the few fresco ensembles from the time of Ivan the Terrible that have survived to our time without significant loss.

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