Nativity Cathedral of the Nativity Monastery description and photos - Russia - Golden Ring: Rostov the Great (Topic)

Nativity Cathedral of the Nativity Monastery description and photos - Russia - Golden Ring: Rostov the Great. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

One of the most remarkable churches in the city of Rostov is the Nativity Cathedral, located on Sovetskaya Square. Information has reached our time that the temple was rebuilt several times. Unfortunately, contemporaries will never be able to see the bell tower related to the temple, because it was lost.

In the middle of 1715, the Nativity Cathedral, operating at the Rozhdestvensky Monastery, was decorated with fresco painting. A wall chronicle located on the slope of the portal on the western wall has survived to this day. Judging by these chronicles, the painting of the cathedral was carried out by "the diligence and diligence of Mother Superior Natalia." The names of the masters who worked on the painting of the cathedral are still unknown. It is important to note that the features of the style in which the painting was carried out, characterized by indescribable saturation and even slightly variegated colors, multi-layered and lively narrative language, richness of patterned floral ornaments, a passion for beautiful patterning when decorating the wings, as well as utensils - all this makes this painting one of the best works of the style of the Petrine era, which is especially typical for Yaroslavl. At the end of 1873, in the Nativity Cathedral, when Mother Superior Maria was the abbess, the painting was carried out, funds for which were allocated from Rulev Ivan Alekseevich.

As for the iconography of the central church, it is also true to the Yaroslavl traditions. Since the temple is small in size, the closed vault inherent in it is divided by means of cut-outs into several parts, on which plots are written: "Resurrection", "New Testament Trinity", "Ascension" and "Descent of the Holy Spirit." All the available images of the Evangelists are very competently transferred to the upper slopes of window openings, which are located on the wall from the west. The wall surfaces are subdivided into five tiers, in the uppermost of which the earthly life of Jesus Christ is very briefly depicted. The next two tiers are dedicated to the theme of the Akathist of the Most Holy Theotokos. It is important to note that, judging by the completeness of the performance, this akathist cycle is the best from the point of view of iconographic versions, as well as the Yaroslavl school. The two lowest rows are especially vividly written, because they tell about the Passion of Christ. Next to the cathedral iconostasis, the cycle of Passions is depicted, which is complemented by several scenes from the life of the Most Holy Theotokos: Conception, Christmas, and Ascension.

The portal architectonics of the window openings of the temple is revealed somewhat indistinctly and not in all places to the same extent. Some window openings contain full-length figures of saints, while others depict seals that continue the plot.

Three entrance portals are very wide and connect the central space of the temple with the refectory; at the same time they are adorned with figures of martyrs and reverend saints. The main portal, including the angels guarding the entrance to the cathedral, depicts the Monks Isaac of Dalmatia and Stephen, who were considered the patrons of the city of St. Petersburg, the new Russian capital. On the side of the southern portal are depicted the Rostov miracle workers - the Horde Peter, Blessed Joseph, Abraham, who receives a rod from the hands of John the Theologian. The most recent image is written with spatial text, and it was chosen from the ancient existence of Abraham.

As for the altar painting, here Yaroslavl artists are completely faithful to the traditions of classical iconography depicted in the temple of Iona Sysoevich. At the very end of the main altar is depicted "Joys in You", in the deaconnik - "Seven Sacraments", "Praise of the Most Holy Theotokos", and in the altar - "Lamb in the chalice." On the altar wall, located on the west side, there is a large composition called "May God", while the space between the portals depicts "Washing of feet" and "The Last Supper".

In the middle of 1874, the Nativity Cathedral was decorated with oil paint in the locations of the refectory and the Trinity chapel. This mural is of great value, despite the fact that it was done in a traditional manner for that time.

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Topic: Nativity Cathedral of the Nativity Monastery description and photos - Russia - Golden Ring: Rostov the Great.