Cathedral Vladimir's in Kiev

"In the God-preserved city of Kiev, the cradle of the holy Orthodox faith and the sacred repository of the national church until now there is no God in the name of St. Vladimir ... Currently, the most pious Emperor The highest will, it is assumed in this city to build the ancient Byzantine architecture of the cathedral church of the warm, in the name Russian educator holy faith, the true sons of the willing offerings of the Orthodox Church. " With these words, addressed in 1852 to all the people of the Orthodox Metropolitan Filaret Amphitheater. That he belonged to the idea of ??the 900 th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia to build on the holy mountain of Kiev temple-monument worthy of the glorious deeds of Vladimir the Great.

Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimir of Kiev city of those early years, only vaguely resembled our current capital. Up until the 60s of the XIX century Kiev was saved image of the ancient Russian city with earth ramparts, fortifications, desert areas. There was then no beautiful stone buildings, like palaces or convenient bridge, or industrial buildings, or the more trendy shops and neon lights on the streets. Areas that are now central, represented a wasteland, here and there built up a modest petty bourgeois houses. At the spot where now there are Vladimir Cathedral, Kiev University and the Opera House, lay a wide field of city ... The city, however, grew rapidly built up and changed his appearance.

Message from the Metropolitan, who donated the first 7000 rubles for the construction of the temple, found an echo in the hearts of orthodox folk: seven years the people were gathered around a hundred thousand rubles, and the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra contributed to the construction of one million bricks made on its own brick factory.

June 15, 1862, to celebrate the memory of Prince Vladimir, Metropolitan Arseny was made a bookmark of the Vladimir cathedral.

The cathedral was designed in the style of starovizantiyskom, so what the temples were built in Russia at the time of the princes of Vladimir and Yaroslav. According to the original project, a huge cathedral was to have a cross and married thirteen domes. Bold idea was not to materialize: not enough funds available and the project was redesigned. The result is a smaller version of the cathedral with seven domes. Unfortunately, the church is not free from the influences of the architectural tastes of the time. The appearance of St. Vladimir's Cathedral became characteristic for the majority of buildings in those years the features of the so-called "Nicholas' style, and the alleged ancient style had to retreat.

The building went up in 1864, when erected before the walls of the cathedral domes, arches and vaults were suddenly given the deep cracks. The works were stopped, to save the building required enormous funds. Ten years of the unfinished church stood waiting for his fate.

In 1875 the will of the Emperor Alexander II, the work resumed, to 1882, 20 years after the laying, construction finally completed.

Paint Vladimir Cathedral invited the best artists of his time.

The overall theme of paintings of the cathedral - "Cause of our salvation." The walls of the cathedral are looking at us 30 faces of the holy ascetics of Russia: the martyrs, the pious princes, holy women, holy fools for Christ's sake. "The whole history of the Russian faith, all impulses of the seeker of truth and heroism told in the spirit of deep national figures ..." - written in pre-revolutionary book on the cathedral.

It's amazing: stern faces of the martyrs and hermits entwined with bright ornaments, and their clothes are bright and festive, poses ... So quiet traditional Russian artists have expressed their understanding of the Savior's words: "My yoke is easy and my burden is." In the paintings of the cathedral, we can read the interpretation of martyrdom and asceticism as a free and joyous filial trust in the Father's will.

Guidance on the work on the decoration of St. Vladimir's Cathedral was entrusted to Professor Adrian Prakhov Arts, a prominent Russian expert on antiques, art historian, archaeologist. The name of Professor forever linked with the history of Kiev. It Prakhov opened in St. Cyril's church frescoes of the XII century, in the same place under the guidance of Mikhail Vrubel executed his first painting of the temple, being a great Ukrainologists, the ashes of the first to publish their scientific work on the creative legacy of Taras Shevchenko.

The orchestra of artists who worked on the murals, the first violin, of course, was played by Victor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov. "... The work and agree to abide by his assistants, and of its benign materials within two years from the date of signature of this condition," - meant in a signed contract. In fact, the only way to build the altar of Our Lady took two years, and the whole council demanded Vasnetsov 11 years of continuous operation. By the work of this artist was preparing for life. The son of a poor village priest, for admission to the seminary he had no idea how nice it happen way to serve God. Since 1885 the artist was given to his masterpiece Kiev with such intensity, enthusiasm and faith, with which he depicted were devotees of God. Cathedral heated bad, Vasnetsov was often sick. Several times fell from Victor M. Forest, which almost cost him his life, but the grace of God treasured artist.

The image of the Virgin. Kiev. Cathedral of St. Prince VladimiraSredi works by Vasnetsov one of the best works in the history of religious paintings - the altarpiece of the Virgin. Miraculously, the image of the Mother of God appeared on the wall of the altar. According to the stories of the artist himself, he could not decide how to be the same way. Sophisticated design Vasnetsov - compared to the divine and the human face of the Queen of Heaven, to reflect the depth of her suffering, and the holy obedience of this suffering - and demanded inspiration and skill, and God's help. Here, the artist came to the aid itself is immaculate. Early in the morning arriving at the cathedral, Vasnetsov Prahov surprised to find on the altar wall of the shadow of a clear figure of the Blessed Virgin with Bogomladentsem on their hands. Not a loss, Viktor Mikhailovich took paint, climbed to the woods and quickly began to trace the miraculous image. Wondrous shadow slowly melted away, but in its place were already confident contours, identified the artist's hand. Such a miracle of God, we owe the appearance of a unique in its depth and artistic execution of the sacred image of Our Lady.

Vasnetsov wrote the song "Sacrament of the Eucharist", "Cathedral of Saints," the Russian and the Universal Church, the Holy Prophet, "God the Word," "God the Father" and "God the Son," "Christ the Savior," "The Baptism of Prince Vladimir," and "Baptism of Kiev", "Last Judgement", "Bliss of Paradise," "The Fall", the central figure of the iconostasis, images of saints, bishops and princes, as well as some of the medallions and ornaments. In general, over 11 years of hard work was painted by Victor M. 2 thousand square meters.

The artist was an amazing way to write their creative vision to icon-painting tradition that allows us to easily recognizable features likah holy see living people. "... The eyes of all figures Vasnetsov - traditional Byzantine iconography eye - an exaggeratedly large, all the same cut, same color. The solid black color makes them a bottomless imagination and allows them to inhabit the depths of all shades of mystical feelings "- says one of the researchers paintings of the cathedral.

Upon completion of work Viktor Mikhailovich uttered the famous phrase, bring an end to all his work and deed: "I lit a candle to God."

Princess Olga. Kiev. Cathedral of St. Prince Vladimira.Odarenny young painter Mikhail Nesterov, is also a visiting Prahov to work on the paintings, made in the overall artistic fabric of the cathedral amazingly gentle, lyrical imagery. Its remarkable feature - the "transfer ink is not the reality of the event, and its fragrance, something intangible ...". Brushes Nesterov images belong to Saints Cyril and Methodius, the pious princes Boris and Gleb, the Grand Duchess Olga, Barbara, Saints Constantine and Helen, and other icons of the iconostasis of four upper and lower chapels of the cathedral ... tenderness and warmth of the Note attached to a common scale paintings he created the song "Christmas Christ, "" Epiphany, "" Resurrection, "etc. Nesterov, Vasnetsov was a family friend, knew the artist's children. He wrote like - the fact that "Misha, his favorite, found in the paintings of Victor Mikhailovich all seraphim and cherubim." The features of Misha, the future priest, clearly readable, and in the face of the Divine Child Jesus.

Also worked on the paintings and artists William Kotarbinsky Svedomsky brothers, authors of "Days of Creation" and the songs "The Transfiguration of the Lord," "Ascension," "The Raising of Lazarus", "Entry into Jerusalem," etc. If the first two painters Prakhov jokingly called "the Greek ", the second -" Varangian ". Indeed, students of European academies, and Svedomsky Kotarbinsky clearly gravitated to the Western style of writing. Their work served as a worthy backdrop for the unique and original works by Vasnetsov and Nesterov - the revival of Russian national anthem painting.

It is unfair modest place in the history of painting belongs to the genius of the artist with the tragic fate of Mikhail Vrubel. Originally developed sketches of murals that he, however, they were not approved as a final option. Participate in the painting the artist was a fulfillment of some ornaments.

Participated in the painting of the cathedral and Ukrainian artists icon workshop AI Murashko, among them his son - AA Murashko, as well as graduates of Kyiv Drawing School Kostenko and H. Pimonenko. Ukrainian masters brought their own style, your color.

The iconostasis of the cathedral is made of smoky-gray Carrara marble - the best in the world. Nedra Carrara, mountainous terrain in the Italian province of Tuscany, gave rise to masterpieces by Michelangelo for the material and unique in its significance Florentine churches. Multi-colored marbles from Italy, France, Belgium, Russia and Spain decorate the interior of the Vladimir cathedral. Is made of marble and mosaic floor of the temple. In the interior decoration of the cathedral mosaics participated masters from Venice. AV Prakhov is the author of a number of projects, details of the interior, in particular - the massive bronze doors, which we see the cast bronze figures of Princess Olga and Prince Vladimir.

Rich silverware for the cathedral was carried out to order the famous jewelry firm of Khlebnikov.

August 20, 1896, 34 years after construction began, the long-awaited blessing of St. Vladimir's Cathedral. At the celebration was attended by the Emperor Nicholas and his wife, Alexandra Feodorovna. Hallowed temple of His Eminence Metropolitan Ioanniky. All participants in the work, some posthumously awarded the commemorative gold medal of the Prahova professor.

St. Vladimir's Cathedral immediately attracted the attention of his contemporaries, who unanimously called it "the first inspirational work of Russian religious art."

Thus, the majestic temple-monument was born on the initiative of Nicholas I, was built in the reign of Alexander II and Alexander III, was completed and consecrated under Nicholas II.

St. Vladimir's Cathedral hosts the country's councils have ordered a temple in his own way. From 1929 to 1941 in the cathedral housed the Museum of the anti-religious propaganda. Over the years, due to constant dampness frescoes and wall paintings were damaged and were in jeopardy. In the years of occupation in the cathedral resumed service after the war - was closed, and in the 60s once again resumed.

Today in church the relics of the martyr Barbara and Macarius. The relics of Saint Barbara has brought to Kiev, Prince Svyatopolk. For many centuries they were kept in the monastery of St. Michael in the 500 - pound carcinoma of pure silver. When in the thirties of the twentieth century, the Soviet authorities to disperse the monks of the monastery, the holy relics were secretly transferred to St. Vladimir's Cathedral, with the precious silver cancer mysteriously disappeared.

Next to the monument are these apartments for rent in Kiev: One-bedroom apartment in the city center code 202 ~ 15 minutes on foot apartment in the center of # 203