Icons from Assumption Cathedral Rostov Kremlin. Cultural heritage of Russia: Rostov Kremlin

The Spaso-Yakovlevsky Monastery is behind and our path lies in the center of Rostov - to the Rostov Kremlin...

Literally a few minutes later (we did not find any traffic jams in Rostov even on holidays) - and we are in the city center ....

There were no particular problems with parking (there is plenty of space, and road signs regulating the issues of stopping (parking) a vehicle are somehow not paid much attention here ... (although maybe it seemed so to us ..))

On the way to the Kremlin we meet a local flea market,

located against the backdrop of the skeleton of some (obviously architecturally intact) building ...

And here is the "first sign" - the Church of St. John the Evangelist, which is the main entrance to the territory of the Kremlin and the museum's ticket office...

But either because of its massive door (no one could open it), or because of the lack of necessary information - all those eager to see the sights of the Rostov Kremlin turned left and

passing along the fortress wall, one hundred meters got to its territory through other gates ...

As it turned out, we still made the right decision... The Rostov Kremlin appeared before us through the Holy Gates with the gate Resurrection Church, built in 1670....

The plan of the Kremlin .... It follows from it that the entire territory is conditionally divided into three zones: Cathedral Square, Vladychiy Dvor, Metropolitan Garden ...

We are in zone "A" - on the territory of Cathedral Square ... And in front of us (following from the poster) is the Assumption Cathedral,

and behind it - the belfry of the cathedral ....

To be honest, the dimensions of some of its bells are impressive....

But it seems that we are rushing things.... We are inside the Kremlin, but we don't know anything about it yet. Just a few words to the point...

The Rostov Kremlin was built by the architect Peter Dasaev in the period from 1670-1683. and was the residence of Metropolitan Ion Sysoevich ...

After the church authorities moved to Yaroslavl, the Kremlin lost its significance and began to decline. At the end of the 19th century, local merchants came to the rescue, at the expense of which large-scale repair and restoration work was carried out ... After that, the state gladly took the complex on its balance sheet and in 1907 opened the Rostov Museum of Church Antiquities here ...

Well, we begin our tour of the Kremlin from the Assumption Cathedral ...

His story, no matter how trite it sounds, is typical of many old buildings:

AD 991 - the laying of the cathedral by order of Prince Vladimir (wooden version):

1160 - Andrey Bogolyubsky, after a fire, installs a white-stone version of the cathedral;

1213 - the birth of a new version of the cathedral after the collapse of the predecessor;

1411 - another resurrection of the cathedral after another fire;

1512 - the appearance of the fifth version of the Assumption Cathedral....

It follows from a more modern history that in 1935 the cathedral was converted into a chicory factory, but this product, necessary for the country, was not produced for a long time - in 1953, due to force majeure (a tornado blew off the roof of the cathedral), it had to be covered ... By Assumption Cathedral of the Rostov Kremlin began to be used for its intended purpose in 1991 ...

Well, now we can get acquainted with the interior of the cathedral ...

The main contribution to the painting of the cathedral was made by Yaroslavl masters under the leadership of Dmitriev and Vladimirov (1659 - 1669).

But you can see for yourself that the cathedral has an impressive size, and their Kostroma colleagues (Nikitin and Savinov) were invited to speed up the process...

As for the iconostasis, its countdown goes back to 1730....

The ancient iconostasis is illuminated by a massive chandelier.... Regarding its "experience", we can only say that it was clearly made after 1874 (it was then that Alexander Nikolayevich Lodygin received his patent number 1619 for the invention of a filament lamp) ....

Of the other relics of the cathedral, it is worth mentioning that here, among the many burial places of the higher clergy of Rostov, there is also the burial place of Metropolitan Jonah Sysoevich, already known to us, and in 1884 the shrine of St. Leonty was found here .....

Leaving the walls of the Assumption Cathedral, we rush to the observation deck, which is located in the Belfry....

You have to go up (down) along a rather narrow passage ....

Therefore, before you take a chance - objectively evaluate your dimensions (beer callus can play a cruel joke). And yes, it comes at a cost. With their hard-earned 100 rubles. you can easily part right in front of the entrance to the Belfry - a nice security guard will gladly accept them from you, thereby freeing you from the need to run to the cashier ....

This is how the Belfry of the Assumption Cathedral appears before those who have reached its top....

A few words about the history of this building.....

The construction of the Belfry was carried out from 1682 to 1687. By order of Metropolitan Jonah, 13 bells were cast, each of which has its own tone and name. Among the first bells were the bells "Polyeleiny", weighing over 16 tons, and "Swan" - weighing about 8 tons.

Later, the largest bell "Sysoy" (named after the Metropolitan's father) was also cast. Its weight is over 32 tons. In order to place such a colossus on the Belfry, an additional pillar was even attached to it ...

It should be noted that the tongue of this bell has very impressive dimensions...

In the second half of the 19th century two more new bells appeared on the Belfry, and at present the famous Rostov bell ringing is formed by a bell system of 15 unique specimens...

The second purpose of the Belfry of the Assumption Cathedral is an observation deck...

Despite the fact that the Belfry is not so high, Rostov's shopping malls, which originate from the late 18th - early 19th centuries, are quite clearly visible from it...

Inside the rows is the Church of the All-Merciful Savior at the Market....

There are also later buildings ... These, for example, include " Emelyanovsky row "(got its name in honor of the Yemelyanov brothers, who laid out a tidy sum for the demolition of old ruins and the construction of retail outlets in a modern style for that time) ...

From "our" observation deck you can see another, higher one, which is located on the territory of the Lord's Court....

Church of the Resurrection of Christ .... Year of issue 1670. It was actually one of the first built temples of the Rostov Kremlin and in its architecture represents a whole complex of structures: the five-domed temple itself, the gate, the gallery and two towers ...

Currently, the temple stands in scaffolding and protective mesh, but even through them you can see all the nuances and charms of this structure..

Through the gates of the temple and its cash desk we get to the territory of the Vladychiy court...

In its center is the Central Pond... One of the versions says that at one time this pond was nothing more than a casting pit in which the bells of the Belfry of the Assumption Cathedral were cast....

We will not go into the details of its origin, in the end, it is a pond everywhere...

It can only be noted that thanks to him, the already magnificent ensemble of the Rostov Kremlin has received even greater development ... In addition, sitting comfortably on benches along the pond, you can think about something eternal ....

The first architectural structure that we saw inside IN lady's court was a church Hodegetria....

It was built after the death of Metropolitan Iona Sysoevich (1962-1963) in the then fashionable "Moscow Baroque" style....

In order for this building not to become a thorn in the already formed (in the architectural sense) Rostov Kremlin, the builders had to spend a lot of effort to somehow join different architectural styles. But alas, the miracle did not happen. Although many experts write that "this temple harmoniously blended into the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin" - it still stands somehow apart ....

Near the temple there is a brisk trade in paintings by local contemporary masters,

Well, numismatists have a unique opportunity to replenish their collection of coins....

Before us is the Church of St. John the Evangelist. Now we have the opportunity to consider it from the other side ....

There is a memorial plaque on it, from which it follows that it was built in the 1680s and was used as a house church at the Red Chamber .... In the 19th century, the Synod wanted to dismantle the church (a brick was needed to build a warm church at the Assumption Cathedral) , but the locals unanimously stood up for the defense of the church .... Thanks to them, we have one more national property ....

Let's go further... State mansions (Mansions for the advent of great sovereigns) (17th century). Based on its name, they were intended to accommodate the royal persons during their visit to the Kremlin ... However, it was not possible to use this object for its intended purpose, because. after the death of Iona Sysoevich, the residence of the metropolitan moved to Yaroslavl ...

Due to its beauty, it was called the Red Chamber....

On the two-hipped porch you can go up to the second floor, where the front rooms are located, from which there is a passage to the western and southern walls of the Kremlin (to the churches of St. John the Theologian and Gregory the Theologian)....

By the way, if you remember, then this beautiful porch is found in the movie "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession" ....

On the approaches to the Red Chamber, we also noticed Ivan Vasilievich himself (perhaps even with his wife) ....

On the porch they were met by some boyar ....

To the left of the Red Chamber is the Samuilov Corps (yellow building) - the living quarters for the metropolitan. The original version of the building was erected in the 16th century, and acquired its current form under Metropolitan Samuil in the 18th century...

Behind the Samuil building (if you climb the stairs) are the White Chamber (the former dining room of the Bishop's House) and

Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands (in the hallway) 1675 - the home church of the Rostov metropolitans ...

The entrance to the church is located on the graveyard,

from which you can gaze at the eastern part of the bishop's court....

On the other side there is a fortress wall separating the Vladychy Court from the Metropolitan Garden....

Before getting there, we will examine the "service" premises of the Bishop's court....

This is where the archbishop's brewery was located....

And this is "living in pantries" ....

Before us is "Help and cook" ...

Drinking water in those days was taken from this well....

And next to it is "Sushila on the glacier and storage chambers" .....

Behind them is a water tower with the same observation deck, which we have already mentioned above....

In short, the Rostov Kremlin had a well-developed infrastructure....

We go around the Samuil building on the other side and

again we go to the central pond ....

On this side is the hotel "House on the cellars" ..... So you can stay here for the night ....

Well, the building of the Judgment Order closes the architectural composition of the Vladychy Court .....

Now our path lies in the third part of the Rostov Kremlin - in the Metropolitan Garden .....

So we got into his territory ....

Before us is the Church of Gregory the Theologian (17th century). It was built on the site of an ancient monastery - Grigorievsky Gate, which was famous for the fact that outstanding writers of ancient Rus' came out of its walls: Stefan of Perm and Epiphanius the Wise....

The Metropolitan Garden is surrounded on all sides by fortress walls, at the corners of which there are towers with loopholes....

Well, if you look back, then in front of you you will see the famous fortress wall along which the impostor Ivan Vasilyevich and Prince Miloslavsky ran from the guards in the comedy "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession" ...

It seems that everything that could be seen on this visit was told about the Rostov Kremlin ....

Now we leave the Kremlin through the main entrance

and heading to Lake Nero.... Now there is a big flood and I want to see what the lake looks like during this period...

One of the most beautiful buildings of the Golden Ring; former residence of the Metropolitan. It was built in the pre-Petrine time in the best traditions of Russian defense architecture, although it has a more decorative character. The Rostov Kremlin was included in the version of our site.

Everyone who travels along the Golden Ring certainly wants to visit this picturesque complex. Due to the fact that for a long time it was the residence of the Metropolitan of the Rostov diocese, another name was assigned to the Kremlin - the Metropolitan's Court. It was built by Metropolitan Iona Sysoevich in the second half of the 17th century.

With the relocation of the metropolis, the Kremlin was abandoned. It was restored in the 19th century. In general, the ensemble consists of the sovereign's court and Cathedral Square with the Assumption Cathedral. This square is the oldest in the city, and the five-domed temple was erected in the 16th century on the site of an older wooden church.

In addition, the Holy Gates, the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands, 11 towers and many other buildings have survived to this day. There is evidence that Sergei Radonezhsky was baptized in one of the ancient temples of the Kremlin.

On the territory of the complex there is a museum-reserve, which houses the largest collection of enamel in Russia, as well as the Altar Cross of the 16th century. Currently, the Rostov Kremlin is considered one of the most valuable cultural monuments and is under state protection.

Geographically, the attraction is located on the shores of the freshwater lake Nero. The gates are open to visitors from 10 am. You can get to Rostov both from Moscow (by train) and from Yaroslavl (by train or bus). An interesting fact: in the courtyard of the Rostov Kremlin, some scenes from the famous movie "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession" were filmed.

Photo attraction: Rostov Kremlin

Very beautiful and really impressive building! At the moment, it is almost completely restored and impresses with its scope and majesty of architecture. The Rostov Kremlin is a whole complex of buildings united by common walls: there are multi-domed churches, belfries, ancient chambers, and towers covered with wooden tiles. The Rostov Kremlin is much more interesting than the Kremlin in Pskov and Veliky Novgorod. Undoubtedly, this is the most important of the sights of Rostov the Great.
Do not be surprised if it seems to you that you have already seen the Rostov Kremlin somewhere: that's right, it was here that the "Old Russian" episodes of the famous film by Leonid Gaidai "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession" were filmed.
Address of the Rostov Kremlin, you definitely won't need to find the Kremlin in Rostov: as soon as you arrive in the center of Rostov the Great, you simply cannot help but notice the whole bunches, clusters of domes towering over one- and two-story buildings!

The Kremlin in Rostov the Great is not really a Kremlin. This is the residence of the bishops of the Rostov-Yaroslavl diocese, the Bishop's House, which began to be built in the 1660s under Metropolitan Ion Sysoevich. Therefore, the correct name of the Rostov Kremlin is the Bishop's (or Metropolitan's) Court.

The Rostov Kremlin consists of three large parts, each of which has a spacious courtyard. The central part is the Bishops proper or the Lord's Court with residential and outbuildings, enclosed by high walls and surrounded by temples (in the diagram below - B). To the north of the central courtyard is located Cathedral Square with the Assumption Cathedral (in the diagram - A). And from the south, the Bishop's Court adjoins the territory Metropolitan Garden(IN).

Designations on the scheme of the Rostov Kremlin:

1. Church of John the Evangelist. Main entrance, ticket office.
2. Church of the Hodegetria. Exhibition "Shining gold and azure".
3. Church of the Resurrection. Crossings along the walls of the Kremlin.
4. Bell towers.
5. Entrance to the Cathedral Square.
6. Judgment order. Finift Museum.
7. Pond.
8. House in the Cellars. Hotel, cafe "Pogrebok".
9. Water tower. Observation deck.
10. Samuil Corps. Department of ancient Russian art. Art Gallery.
11. Church of the Savior on Senyah.
12. White Chamber. Museum of Church Antiquities.
13. Red Chamber. Museum lounge. Historical exposition. Meeting restaurant.
14. Passage to the Metropolitan Garden.
15. Church of Gregory the Theologian.
16. Pond in the Metropolitan Garden.
17. Tent in the Metropolitan Garden. Cozy cafe.
18. Clock tower.
19. Princely towers.
20. Wood tower.

Rostov Kremlin - photo and walk

Let's start the walk with Cathedral Square . Entrance to this part of the Kremlin is free.

Assumption Cathedral- the oldest temple on the territory of the Rostov Kremlin, it dates back to 1508-1512. It is crowned with five powerful chapters. Temples have stood on this site since ancient times. One of them, built in the 12th century under Andrei Bogolyubsky, left the Leontief chapel, which is also called the cave chapel, since it is much lower than the level of the altar. It contains the relics of the Rostov Bishop Leonty, who was killed in 1071 by pagans.

In 1314, the son of the Rostov boyar, the infant Bartholomew, the future Sergius of Radonezh, was baptized here.

Back in the 1660s, the walls of the Assumption Cathedral were painted with frescoes, the work was carried out by the famous artel of masters Gury Nikitin (she also painted the Trinity Cathedral of the Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma). The first frescoes survived only in fragments - later a new layer was laid on top of them. At present, the inside of the cathedral makes, of course, a depressing impression.

From the Cathedral Square you can climb the Belfry (1682-1687) - this is no longer free. Here hang 13 unique bells of different sizes and weights, cast in the 17th - 19th centuries. Most of the bells have their own names. The largest, 2000-pound (about 32 tons) bell is called "Sysa": in honor of Metropolitan Jonah. The second largest (1000-pood) is called "Polyeleos", as it calls for polyeleos church holidays. There is also "Swan", "Ram", "Goat". The bell, which was used during the days of Great Lent, is called "Hunger". Visitors are strictly prohibited from ringing the bells.

Downstairs in the building of the belfry there is a souvenir shop, as well as a very interesting shop-workshop "Black Polished Ceramics" - this traditional folk craft has existed on Rostov land since the 16th century. Fired in a smoky flame without access to oxygen, ceramics get a deep black, charcoal color, then it is already painted with paints. In this workshop, you can see the process of making souvenirs and various figurines and immediately purchase these figurines, they are inexpensive.

We are heading to the next, central part of the Kremlin - Bishop's Court . We pass under the richly decorated front gate of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ. Here you have to buy a ticket.

Church of the Resurrection of Christ(1670) was specially built on high basements, in which openings were cut for two asymmetric gates - travel and pedestrian. In the photo below - the same Church of the Resurrection, but this time the view from the side of the Bishop's Court.

So, we ended up in a cozy courtyard with a pond in the middle. Notice the corner towers built in the 1670s. The characteristic bulbous ("snub-nosed") tops of the round corner towers make the silhouette of Rostov Veliky always recognizable.

To the left of the Resurrection Church we see building at the clock, the base of the former Clock Tower, which had to be dismantled in the 19th century due to the danger of destruction.

The next red building is the economic building "House in the cellars". There used to be cellars here. And now - a hotel where absolutely anyone can stay. The hotel, however, is not of a very high level, while everything is rather "Soviet", and the rooms are not very cheap. But if someone has a desire to live in the Rostov Kremlin itself - please! Moreover, hotel guests have a rare opportunity to wander around the Kremlin in the evening after its closing, and in the morning you can wake up to the ringing of bells instead of an alarm clock;)

Among the buildings of official, economic and residential importance, the White Chamber, built around 1675 on the model of the Patriarchal Palace in the Moscow Kremlin, almost does not stand out. Adjacent to it is a small one-headed Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands on Senya(pictured right), conceived as the Metropolitan's home church. It is called so because it stands on a two-story basement, where the canopy was located: storerooms and other utility rooms. The church is unusual in its completion: each of its facades ends with a triangular pediment, and it turns out that the church is covered with eight slopes. To get into it and see the frescoes, you need to buy a ticket for "Crossing the Kremlin Walls".

Inside a very small and outwardly inconspicuous church, there is rich decoration, and two-thirds of the temple's premises are occupied by soles - an elevation in front of the altar - dozens of priests could be placed here during the service! Metropolitan Jonah was very fond of solemn and crowded services.

The yellow three-story building in the Bishop's Yard - the Samuil Corps - was the former residential quarters of the Rostov metropolitans. They say that hanging galleries stretched to this house from all sides, and from here, without going outside, one could go to any room, utility or residential, to any tower or church.

On the opposite bank of the pond stands an unusually colored Church of Hodegetria, erected in 1692-1693, its colorful ornament imitates the relief. The church differs from other buildings of the Kremlin, it was built in the style of "Naryshkin baroque".

To the left of the church Hodegetria rises Church of John the Evangelist with dark green domes (1683). In the interior wall painting of the temple there are not only traditional scenes from the life of Christ, but scenes from the life of John the Theologian and Abraham of Rostov are also depicted. For example, the fresco "John and Prokhor melting the bathhouse" in the third tier of the western wall is very interesting))

To the left of the Church of St. John the Evangelist is the Red Chamber, which consists of several buildings. "Red" because it's beautiful. Tsars and emperors who came to Rostov stayed here.

This building is an interesting example of residential premises of the 17th century. It is impossible not to pay attention to the porch.

On the first floor of the Red Chamber, an excellent restaurant-museum "Collection" has recently been opened. To be honest, we usually avoid restaurants located in the very epicenter of attractions, they are often unreasonably expensive, and the quality of food leaves much to be desired ("well, why bother, there will still be visitors"). But on that day, it started to rain and recurrent hunger “driven” us to this particular restaurant. Here the portions were large, the food was delicious, and the bread, the freshest buns of their own making, just melted in your mouth! And the price tag, I must say, is not Moscow. Recommended.

Finally, we pass into the third part of the Rostov Kremlin - Metropolitan Garden . Left - Church of Gregory the Theologian. On right - Wood (Garden) Tower. The walls surrounding the Metropolitan Garden have been recently restored. The garden is also gradually being put in order. In May, apple trees and other fruit trees bloom profusely here. You can relax in the garden, sit on the grass or on a bench, have a bite to eat in a cafe located on the opposite side of the passage to the central part of the Kremlin.

Outwardly, the Rostov Kremlin was inspected!
To enter the ancient temples of the Kremlin, see their beautiful frescoes, walk along the upper passages, you need to buy a ticket "Crossing the walls of the Kremlin" (you can get inside the churches of the Resurrection, St. John the Evangelist and the Savior on Senya). We advise you to do this if time permits. Buying these tickets will certainly not ruin you, and the impressions will be more complete.

We also visited the observation deck in the Water Tower of the Bishop's Court (for a small fee): we did not regret it.

The Rostov Kremlin is currently largely restored and restored. From the federal budget: of course, there is no money in the local budget. And now the Kremlin in Rostov is a striking contrast with the dilapidated buildings surrounding it. This picture is rather sad. Restoration work in the Kremlin is still ongoing. Most likely, when the restoration of the last structures is completed, the first ones will already need renovation - as is often the case in Russia.

The Rostov Kremlin has a number of permanent and temporary exhibitions, their admission is paid separately, but the price of tickets is low.

State Museum-Reserve (GMZ) "Rostov Kremlin" open daily except January 1, opening hours from 10.00 to 17.00. Frescoes and fortress walls can be seen from May 1 to October 1.

It also has the name Metropolitan Court, as it is the former residence of the Metropolitan of the Rostov diocese.

Rostov Kremlin Museum - history, description and photos.

The Rostov Kremlin Museum was built according to the plan of Metropolitan Iona Sysoevich, who wanted heaven on Earth. According to his idea, everything had to correspond to the Bible, the tower should have been surrounded by walls, and on the territory there should have been a Garden of Eden with a pond in the center. The construction of the Rostov Kremlin lasted thirteen years - from 1670 to 1683. The walls of the Kremlin did not have a defensive function and were purely decorative.

In the Rostov Kremlin there was a bishop's chair, but in 1787 it was transferred from Rostov to Yaroslavl. It was because of this decision that the metropolitan court was empty and began to gradually deteriorate. The Rostov Kremlin is not just a building, it is a whole ensemble of buildings. The temples of this complex were empty, there were no worship services, and the rest of the buildings served as departments of various warehouses.

The bishops had thoughts to sell this ensemble, but fortunately this did not happen.

In the 1860s and 1880s, it became possible to restore Rostov Kremlin Museum at the expense of the Rostov merchants. Since 1883, on the initiative of Shlyakov and Titov, the White Chamber of the Kremlin opened Rostov Museum church antiquities. And since 1910, the status of an all-Russian museum was assigned to the Metropolitan Court, and funds from the state treasury began to be allocated for its maintenance.

On August 23, 1953, a terrible tornado swept through Rostov, which destroyed many elements of the Rostov Kremlin, and it took a lot of time to restore it.

As for the present, in 2013 the Rostov Kremlin won the Russia-10 media competition and thus entered the top ten Symbols of Russia.

The Rostov Kremlin includes 14 architectural monuments:

• holy gate
• Church of Gregory the Theologian
• Church of John the Evangelist
• Red Chamber
• Kremlin towers
• "House in the cellars"
• Belfry of the Assumption Cathedral
• Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands
• white chamber
• Gate Church of the Resurrection
• Church of Hodegetria
• Judgment order
• Assumption Cathedral
• Samuilov Corps

Among these sights, the belfry of the Rostov Kremlin stands out in particular. A set of 15 bells has been completely preserved on the belfry. Each large bell has its own name and tone. The bells were cast in such a way that different tonality would create correct and harmonious musical chimes. The belfry of the Rostov Kremlin was built from 1682 to 1687. The most famous bells of this belfry:

• "Swan", which weighs 500 pounds;
• "Polyeline". It weighs like two "Swans", namely 1000 pounds;
• "Sysy". This is the largest bell, its weight is 2000 pounds.

Where was the film "Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession" filmed?

The Rostov Kremlin can be seen in the Soviet film "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession". It was here that in 1970 the shooting of episodes for the image of old Moscow took place. It was along these corridors that the famous actors who played everyone's favorite characters escaped from the chase. In 2010, the Kremlin also hosted the shooting of the series "Split". And again the Rostov Kremlin played the role of an old Moscow building.

Today there are guided tours on the territory of the museum. Often in the Rostov Kremlin Museum you can meet people dressed as characters from a Soviet film: these are people who simply take pictures in this form or participate in various quests.

The Rostov Kremlin is one of the most beautiful in the world - the domes of churches, white stone towers and walls look like illustrations for The Tale of Tsar Saltan or the epic Sadko. The history of the Rostov Kremlin began at a time when the Finno-Ugric population lived in these places. Only later, in the 10th-11th centuries, Slavic tribes came to these lands and founded the city here.

Rostov Kremlin - from history

On the river Sara, which flows into Lake Nero, in the time of the Varangians, a settlement called Sarsky was built. Later, the Slavs settled in this place, who came in the 10th-11th centuries from the northwest. The remains of the fortifications of the Sarsky settlement have been preserved, representing four ramparts that divided the settlement into three parts.

The center of ancient Rostov was located approximately where the Assumption Cathedral and the metropolitan fortress are now located.

Here, in 911, the first wooden church was built, but Christianity spread very slowly in this region. So, the first bishops Theodore and Hilarion were forced to flee from their flock, and in 1071 local pagans killed the Rostov Bishop Leonty, who was later canonized.

Assumption Cathedral in Rostov the Great

The first stone temple - the Assumption Cathedral was built under Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1161 - 1162 on the site of a wooden church. The newly built temple stood for only three decades, after which it collapsed. The Assumption Cathedral was being restored for 17 years, work began under Prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich, and ended under his son, Prince Vasilko.

In 1408, a strong fire broke out in Rostov, which did not spare many churches, including the Assumption Cathedral. Three years later, thanks to the efforts of Archbishop Vassian, the temple was rebuilt, it became five-domed. For its design, Vassian invited talented craftsmen, among whom was the famous painter Dionysius.

The Assumption Cathedral is associated with significant events and the most revered names:

• According to legend, the epic knight Alyosha Popovich, who died in the first battle of Russian soldiers with the Mongols on Kalka, was the son of the rector of the Assumption Cathedral
• In 1314, the baptism of the youth Bartholomew, the future St. Sergius of Radonezh, took place here.
• At the beginning of the 18th century, St. Demetrius of Rostov read sermons in the temple
• In 1894, the Holy Righteous John of Kronstadt served the liturgy in the cathedral
• In 1913, the last tsar from the Romanov dynasty, Nicholas II, and the future Patriarch, Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov Tikhon, prayed at the service in the Assumption Cathedral.

Currently, the Assumption Cathedral is a functioning temple. Its fence merges with the Kremlin wall.

Fortifications of the city in the XIII - XIV centuries

In the 30s of the XIII century, Rostov the Great, like most Russian cities, had fortifications in the form of earthen ramparts with wooden walls and towers. On the territory of the Kremlin there were the white-stone Assumption Church and the Grigorievsky Monastery, the courts of the prince and the bishop, and behind the fortress camps there were urban settlements.

On the outskirts of the city from the east, on the shores of Lake Nero, in the 11th-12th centuries, Abraham's Monastery was founded, enclosed by a wooden fortress that protected the city from the side of the road to Yaroslavl. Later, two more monasteries were founded near Rostov:

• Petrovsky, located north of Avraamiev, built in the 13th century
• Yakovlevsky, which defended the city from the western side, built in the 14th century.

Invasion of Batu Khan

In the winter of 1238, like many other Russian cities, Rostov was captured and burned by the Mongol-Tatars. At the same time, its inhabitants left the city in a timely manner and took refuge in the north of the region. Compared to Vladimir, Suzdal and Moscow, the city suffered less damage and was able to recover faster after being devastated by the hordes of Batu Khan.

The 29-year-old Prince Vasilko, ruling at that time, was captured by the Horde during the battle on the City River. He refused to accept their faith, before his death he prayed for the Christians and thanked God that he was dying a glorious death as a martyr. His widow raised two brave sons, Gleb and Boris.

In subsequent years, local princes tried not to arouse the khan's wrath and often had noble Tatars in their entourage.

Prince Gleb Vasilyevich redeemed many Russians from captivity in the Golden Horde, and Boris Vasilyevich, risking his life, went to the Horde eight times to protect Rostov from new troubles.

In 1253, Bishop Kirill of Rostov visited Berke, Khan of the Horde, and healed his sick son with the power of prayer. On the way back to Rostov, the Khan's nephew caught up with Cyril and wished to accept the Christian faith. Upon arrival in Rostov, he was christened under the name Peter.

Later, Prince Boris fraternized with the baptized Tatar prince Peter, a relative of the khans Batu and Berke.

Thanks to this policy, the city suffered less from the attacks of the Horde. So, one of the descendants of Tsarevich Peter, using his family ties with the Horde khans, saved Rostov from the attack of the Tatars.

At the same time, Rostov also experienced all the hardships of that time: resentment from the Horde ambassadors and harassment from the Moscow princes, who extorted funds from the city to pay the Horde dues.

Accession of Rostov to Moscow

Gradually, the principality became smaller and was divided into destinies. Taking advantage of the weakness of the local rulers, the Moscow princes seized the divided lands. Ivan Kalita was the first to acquire part of the principality, and the last inheritance was bought in 1447 by Ivan III.

Moreover, because of the desire for power, Rostov itself was divided into two parts in 1320 between the brothers Konstantin and Feodor Vasilyevich. As a result, in 1409 the Usretinskaya part of the city, owned by Fedor, was bought out by the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily I, and in 1474 John III acquired the Borisoglebskaya part from Konstantin. So the Rostov land was completely annexed to the Moscow principality.

Kremlin construction

For a long time, there were no reliable defensive structures in Rostov - earthen ramparts and wooden fortifications could not resist the enemy. But since the city was located in the center of the country and the Crimean Tatars did not reach it, and from the west - Lithuanians, Swedes and Germans, the issue of building new fortifications was not paramount.

Due to the lack of reliable defense, Rostov suffered during times of unrest: it was burned and devastated.

Therefore, after the order was established, under the leadership of the Dutch engineer Rodenburg, new earthen fortifications were built in the form of embankments and ditches. The shafts had nine corners and three gates - Frolovsky, Borisoglebsky and Petrovsky.

By the 50-70 years of the XVII century, the fortress was far from being in the best condition, in connection with which the construction of the white-stone buildings of the metropolitan residence began in the city center.

In 1664, Metropolitan Jonah came to the city and for 30 years, the famous Rostov Metropolis, known as the Rostov Kremlin, was built on his order.

Rostov Kremlin

Metropolitan Jonah put all his talent and energy into the construction of the Rostov Kremlin. According to his plan, the Metropolitan House was to become the Russian Vatican. For three decades, a majestic architectural ensemble was created on the flat shore of Lake Nero. After the death of Jonah, construction work was carried out under the leadership of Metropolitan Joasaph.

Domes and towers rise in the center of the fabulous panorama, and two monasteries complete the picture: on the right - Avraamievsky, on the left - Yakovlevsky. The built ensemble is the embodiment of the skill of several generations of Rostov architects.

All the buildings of the Kremlin were interconnected by covered passages and galleries, through which one could go to six churches and the Cathedral, as well as to the towers and chambers.

In 1788, the metropolis was transferred from Rostov to Yaroslavl, and the magnificent architectural ensemble was abandoned and began to collapse.

In this regard, the engineer Betancourt proposed to liquidate the Kremlin and build a Gostiny Dvor in its place. Fortunately, this project was not carried out. At the end of the 19th century, at the expense of the merchants of Rostov, the buildings of a beautiful architectural ensemble were restored and a museum of church antiquities was opened.

Currently, the churches housed departments of the museum, where you can see church utensils and enamel, porcelain and ceramics.

The following buildings have been preserved on the territory of the Rostov Kremlin:

• Gate Church of St. John the Theologian, 1683
• The Red Chamber, built in the 1680s
• Church of Gregory the Theologian 1680s
• The Hodegetria Church was built in the Naryshkin baroque style in 1693 under Metropolitan Iosaph
• Metropolitan mansions built in the 1660s
• Church of the Savior on Senyah 1675
• Writ of Judgment, building built in the 1660s
• Cellar house of the 17th century
• white chamber
• Holy Gates and Gate Church of the Resurrection of Christ 1670
• Assumption Cathedral, built in 1512
• Belfry of 1682
• Gostiny Dvor, built in the 1830s
• Church of the Savior at the Market, built in 1654-1690.

The Rostov Kremlin strikes with its beauty.

The fortress has eleven towers covered with plowshares, excellent in shape and decoration. Five of them are corner, four gate and two sentinel.

From the side of the square, the facade looks especially magnificent, where the Holy Gates and the gate of the Resurrection Church, two round towers with domes are located. From the side of Lake Nero, the Rostov Kremlin looks more austere and severe.

The white walls and high towers of the fortress separated the residence of the metropolitan from the rest of the city. Behind the fortress walls were stone chambers and white-stone multi-domed temples.

Belfry of the Rostov Kremlin

One of the attractions of Rostov is the belfry, built in 1682-1687 next to the Assumption Cathedral. The belfry was famous for its 13 unique bells, each of which has a bright name, for example, the 500-pound "Swan", the 1000-pound "Polyeleyny" or "Hunger", which rang during Lent.

Among the bells was the “Sysoi” bell, which weighed 2,000 pounds, and its ringing was heard far beyond the city limits. It got its name in memory of the father of Metropolitan Jonah, who built the belfry. Only one language "Sysoya" weighed more than a ton.

The famous bell tradition of Rostov began with the construction of the belfry.

In 1883, the first restoration of ancient monuments was carried out, and in 1953, when a powerful hurricane damaged many temples, restoration work was again carried out.

In Rus', only two cities were called Great: Novgorod - the northern capital of Rus' and Rostov. The history of the Rostov Kremlin keeps the memory of all the twists and turns in the fate of the Russian state. This is a pioneering city that has known both glory and humiliation. Perhaps it is called the Great because it was one of the major cities of its time.