Smolensk, Assumption Cathedral: description, address

In the Middle Ages, the defense of Smolensk took place for two years, which ended in 1611. At that time, Rzeczpospolita wanted to capture the city. When the pressure was particularly strong in Smolensk, the Assumption Cathedral was blown up by its own inhabitants. Partially the structure was destroyed. Many innocent townspeople died, they became victims of confrontation.

Reconstruction and restoration

Then during the 17-18 centuries the inhabitants were engaged in the restoration of the temple. They threw all their strengths into reconstructing the Uspensky Cathedral. Smolensk spent a lot of money not to lose this unique monument of architecture.

During the restoration, critical errors were committed, due to which a multiple collapse of domes occurred. But gross violations were corrected, the guilty were punished, so that the Holy Dormition Cathedral (Smolensk) still revived from the ruins. When the building was rebuilt several times it changed. Today we see it in a different guise, compared with the way the church was in the 12th century. But he did not lose his majesty, impressiveness and beauty. They say that Napoleon, when he first saw the Smolensk Cathedral, took his cocked hat with respect.

Disturbing and difficult times

The life that Smolensk lived was not peaceful. The Assumption Cathedral witnessed two great battles. The first was the Patriotic War, which took place at the beginning of the 19th century. During this time, Napoleon ordered to set up a convoy inside the temple.

Less than 150 years later, another large-scale battle stirred Smolensk. Assumption Cathedral - one of those points that affected the Great Patriotic War, raging from 1941 to 1945.

At the beginning of the last century, the attitude to the shrines was, as we know, not the most respectful. And it's luck, if a church was turned into a warehouse of agricultural products, and not destroyed.

Like mockery in the 1920s, a museum of anti-religious thought was placed in the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk. The icons no longer aroused feelings of reverence for the Most High and the saints. This building previously occupied a dominant position among the temples of the diocese of the city. Now it was just a tourist attraction, where people came from curiosity, and not from the sublime need to come into contact with the divine light.

Beauty and sophistication

It is one of the richest and artfully decorated from the artistic point of view Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk. The description of its architecture, the luxury of interior decoration and the number of icons here amazes imagination. Exposition of them occupies five storeys of a total height of thirty meters. This delightful beauty is decorated with gold and skillfully carved wooden sculptures. Rarely, where you can meet something that strikes your grandeur so much. Parishioners can literally nail to the site the scale and subtle magnificence of the temple.

Holy Artifacts

The guardian of many shrines is the city-hero of Smolensk. The Assumption Cathedral within its walls preserves three things, which are given special significance. They are known not only in their native lands, but also far beyond its borders. People go to kneel before them in the Assumption Cathedral (Smolensk), whose address: st. Cathedral Mountain, 5.

The first is sandals, in which the holy warrior Mercury was in the 13th century. Also here is the shroud, made and woven by the gilded masters of Princess Euphrosyne Staritskaya in the 16th century. There is also a miracle-worker in the face. The icon depicts the Smolensk Mother of God, whose name is Hodegetria. The relic was made in the 17th century.

Feat of the city's brave defender

If we talk in more detail about the holy warrior of Mercury, at the beginning of the thirteenth century he was a Smolensk voivode. A glorious knight defeated the Mongol-Tatar army. The battle took place near the village of Dalgostimya, which could be reached after passing 27 kilometers to the south of the Smolensk region.

Mercury died the heroic death of a true protector of his native land. When the governor chased after the scuffed enemy, they clung to the battle, from which the Tatar emerged victorious. With the reverence and trembling of the power of the commander, ranked after death to the saints, were preserved within the walls of the divine place, which at that time bore the name of the Uspensky Monomakh cathedral.

The 17th century brought the city still suffering. He defended himself against Polish troops. In the heat of the fight, someone stole relics. In the early 19th century, a warrior's spear was also stolen from the temple. On this looting did not stop, and in the middle of the 20th century, the helmet also disappears. And only the sandals are still in their place.

If you believe the legend, the finding of military armor worn by the martyr Mercury in the city provides protection of the Heavenly Queen over Smolensk and defense against all misfortunes.

The Shroud History

As for the shroud woven in the workshop, owned by Princess Staritskaya, the time of its manufacture is considered the middle of the 16th century. Element of the garment was transferred to the walls of the cathedral belonging to the capital, in order to remember the deceased prince, who was Vladimir Staritsky, who was a close relative of the ruler of the state.

The beginning of the nineteenth century was marked by the fact that the French kidnappers who had stolen and deposited in the treasures from the capital, repulsed their prey. Among the things was the shroud. Now she was sent to the walls of the temple in Smolensk for storage. When Napoleon was expelled from the Russian lands, the city was noted for its great contribution to conducting military operations during the Patriotic War of the early 19th century. Alexander I, conferring with the commander M. Kutuzov, decided to present a gift to the city as a token of gratitude for courage.

Now the Smolensk Cathedral of the Assumption became the house of the shroud. This is a real work of art, which has great value because of its uniqueness and perfection.

Holy Icon of the Traveler

The miraculous icon "Hodegetria" in Smolensk, dedicated to the Mother of God, is one of the most important holy artifacts belonging to the Christian world. According to the available information, it was written by the Evangelist Luke at the time when the Most-Holy Mother of God lived on the earth.

Earlier, the icon was kept in Chernigov, where it was taken to the Assumption Cathedral by Vladimir Monomakh. This happened in the early years of the 12th century. Since then, she was identified with Smolensk. The name of the icon means the bright face of the guide.

According to the inhabitants of the city, it was the "Odigitriya" that saved people and their homes from the copies and arrows of the conquerors. The year 1812 was the moment of export of the artifact to the capital before the Battle of Borodino. They carried out the procession near the Kremlin and returned the icon to its place.

The Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Irrevocably took away from people their shrine, because she died or was kidnapped in the course of hostilities.

Return of the Holy Face

When Smolensk was liberated from Hitler's troops, this image reappears in the Christian world. In 1602, in honor of the ritual, during which the Smolensk fortress wall was consecrated , a copy was written from the original, owned by Boris Godunov.

And now, centuries later, this masterpiece in the cathedral. Today, this artifact is contained within the walls of the holy place - an enlarged copy of the original "Odigitriya of Smolensk", which is also revered by the people for the miraculous and is considered one of the main shrines of the Christian world. Where is now the icon, written by the Evangelist Luke, is not known: was killed during the German offensive or stolen and languished in someone's private collection?

Today's temple life

Today, the holy place is actively visited by the parishioners. Fills with a holy word Archpriest Mikhail Gorovoy Uspensky Cathedral of Smolensk. Divine Liturgies are celebrated, icons are worshiped. Many politicians of the city are present at significant events.

Performed the performance of liturgical chants. Clean voices raise to the dome of the church Bishop's choir of the cathedral, children's singing team, which educates an Orthodox gymnasium. Also here the compositions are performed by a summary choir, which is coached by the city's theological seminary and the spiritual school. Divine services are broadcast on television in real time through the main channels of Smolensk.

The church was automated and made convenient for the parishioners, they take care of and improve it. So, when you come to the square near the cathedral or the embankment of the Dnieper, you can look at the divine service shown on the big screen. But you can feel the special atmosphere of the temple only when you visit it.