The iconostasis of the temple is striking in its grandeur - a 30-meter, five-tiered, carved gilded one, decorated with a large number of wooden sculptures; You will not find anything like this in other Russian lands. The temple contains three Orthodox shrines, the fame of which goes far beyond the borders of the Smolensk land: the sandals of St. warrior of Mercury (XIII century), gold woven shroud from the workshops of Prince. Euphrosyne of Staritskaya (XVI century) and, of course, the miraculous image of the Icon of the Smolensk Mother of God “Hodegetria” (XVII century).

The holy warrior Mercury in 1238 (9), being the governor of Smolensk, defeated a detachment of Mongol Tatars near the village. Longitude 27 km. south of Smolensk, but he himself died in the process - he was beheaded by a fleeing Tatar. Relics of St. Mercury were laid in the Assumption Monomakh Cathedral, where his armor was also located. After the Polish invasion in the 17th century, they disappeared; in 1812 a spear was stolen, and in 1954 a helmet was stolen. Only Mercury's sandals have survived to this day. Tradition says that while the military armor of St. Martyr Mercury are in Smolensk, the Queen of Heaven will constantly remain with this city, preserving it from all troubles and evils.

Shroud of the book's workshops. Euphrosyne Staritskaya was made in 1561 and donated to the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin to commemorate the soul of the murdered prince. Vladimir Staritsky, cousin of Ivan IV the Terrible. In the fall of 1812, a convoy with looted Moscow valuables, which contained the shroud, was recaptured from the French by a Russian detachment, and the shroud was transferred for storage to the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral. After Napoleon was expelled from Russia for the outstanding services of Smolensk in the Patriotic War of 1812, according to the unanimous opinion of Emperor Alexander I and commander M.I. Kutuzov, it was decided to leave the shroud for eternal storage in Smolensk. The shroud was made using the technique of facial embroidery and, in terms of complexity and purity of execution, is a precious rarity.

The miraculous Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” is one of the greatest shrines of the entire Christian world. According to legend, it was written by the holy evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was moved to Smolensk from Chernigov by Vladimir Monomakh at the beginning of the 12th century and placed in the Assumption Cathedral. From that time on, the Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” (translated from Greek as “guidebook”) began to be called “Smolensk”. Many times she saved the city and its inhabitants during invasions. In 1812, the icon was taken to Moscow and on the eve of the Battle of Borodino they carried it in a religious procession around the Kremlin. During the Great Patriotic War, the ancient miraculous image disappeared without a trace.

In 1943, after the liberation of Smolensk from the Nazi invaders, the Holy miraculous gate icon of the Smolensk Mother of God, painted in 1602 from the original image, and donated by Tsar Boris Godunov for the consecration of the newly built Smolensk fortress wall, was transferred from the Odigitrievskaya gate church to the Holy Assumption Cathedral . It is Godunov’s list that is now in the Assumption Cathedral. On August 5, 1812, Russian troops, leaving Smolensk, took the icon out of the city and from then until the expulsion of Napoleon’s army from the territory of the Smolensk province in November 1812, Godunov’s image of “Hodegetria” was in the active army. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the Russian camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers for a great feat. In 1912 and 2012, a religious procession was made with this image to Borodino.

The Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk is both the main cathedral of the city and a monument symbolizing its heroic and turbulent history, and, together with the rest of the buildings of the Cathedral Mountain, a luxurious architectural ensemble that is the main dominant feature of Smolensk, its symbol and decoration. If you don’t visit here, it means you won’t see the city. And therefore, first of all, we go to the Holy Assumption Cathedral.

1. The ensemble of Cathedral Hill in the form in which it exists today was formed mainly by the middle of the 18th century. How good it is that there are no multi-storey buildings in the historical center of Smolensk! Thanks to this, the turquoise and white stucco cathedral is clearly visible from almost anywhere in the city, and even from trains passing through Smolensk. On the left is the Assumption Cathedral, on the right is the gateway Epiphany Cathedral, built in different years, but in the same style - Baroque. You can get to the top of the Cathedral Hill by passing under the arch of the gateway Epiphany Cathedral, built in 1787, or along the stairs from Bolshaya Sovetskaya.

2. At the end of the 11th century, Smolensk became an appanage city of the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise - Vladimir Monomakh. The prince attached great importance to Smolensk. In 1101, he founded a large stone cathedral here in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God. Vladimir Monomakh took part in the consecration of the cathedral and at the same time placed in it the image of the Mother of God Hodegetria. By the 40s of the 12th century, an ancient architectural ensemble had formed on Cathedral Hill.

3. On Cathedral Hill there is not only the ensemble of the Assumption Cathedral, but also the complex of the bishop's courtyard.

4. Until the beginning of the 17th century, despite the turbulent historical events that took place in Smolensk, the cathedral retained its original appearance. In 1609, the Polish king Sigismund launched a military campaign against Russia. In September of the same year, the Polish army besieged Smolensk. The heroic defense of the city lasted 20 months. During the assault, the powder magazines located in the thickness of the Cathedral Mountain were blown up. The explosion destroyed almost the entire top of the cathedral. The Poles covered the building with boards and built a church in it.

5. After the return of Smolensk, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, taking care of the construction of Orthodox churches in the cities returned from Poland, on November 30, 1676, sent Smolensk Archbishop Simeon a plan for the construction of the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral on the site of the former church. On August 2, 1677, the cathedral was founded. Construction work proceeded quite quickly at first. But since 1679, the construction of the temple was suspended and only resumed in 1728. The author of the project for the completion of the cathedral is considered to be the architect Anton Ivanovich Shedel. On August 13, 1740, the cathedral was consecrated. But its fragility was revealed almost immediately: dangerous cracks appeared in the vaults and domes. It was decided to replace the plank roof with a tin one.

6. By 1760, the architect Pyotr Obukhov rebuilt the domes of the cathedral. He removed the seven-domed crown and crowned the cathedral with a traditional five-domed dome; instead of a large stone dome, he installed a wooden one.

7. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the cathedral went through difficult times. He miraculously survived the Patriotic War of 1812. Having taken Smolensk, the French not only did not destroy the temple, but also guarded it. Only the helmet of the patron saint of Smolensk, Saint Mercury, has disappeared. During the Great Patriotic War, the cathedral also survived, but forever lost its main shrine - the Smolensk miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria".

8. Forged gates leading to the cathedral courtyard.

9. An elegant two-tier bell tower was erected at the northwestern corner of the cathedral in 1766-1772. It has a convex roof with a dome and two floors, the lower of which was built on the remains of a 17th-century bell tower. The stone fence around the Assumption Cathedral and the upper part of the granite staircase were built simultaneously with the bell tower (60-70s of the 18th century).

10. An extension for the clock adjoins the eastern wall of the bell tower. The watch was made in 1791 by Smolensk master V. Sokolov.

11. Detail of the decoration of the bell tower.

12. On the turquoise facades of the cathedral and bell tower there is an abundance of white baroque decor.

13. Near the bell tower there is an ancient bell on a wooden stand. The date on it is 1636.

14. On both sides of the entrance to the cathedral there are signs telling about the heroic history of Smolensk: “The architectural monument of the Assumption Cathedral. Erected as a monument to the heroic defense of Smolensk in 1609-1611. Its construction began in 1677 by Moscow stone mason apprentice Alexei Korolkov. The eastern wall collapsed during construction in 1679. The construction of the cathedral was completed in 1732-1740 according to the design of the architect A. I. Shedel.

15. The cathedral stores many unique items. Its main shrines are the Smolensk icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria", the sandals of Saint Mercury, the patron saint of Smolensk, the embroidered shroud "Entombment".
The five-tiered iconostasis of the cathedral was made in the 1730-40s by the Ukrainian carver S. Trusitsky with assistants P. Durnitsky, F. Olitsky and S. Yakovlev. The icons were probably painted by the same masters. The iconostasis is an outstanding monument of Baroque architecture.

16. It is not known exactly how the ancient icon “Hodegetria” came to Rus'. According to legend, she was brought by the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh, who was married to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich. The Byzantine princess and the Russian prince had a son, Vladimir, and a daughter, Yanka. After the death of his parents, the icon passed to Vladimir Monomakh. It was he who brought it to Smolensk at the beginning of the 12th century and placed it in the new cathedral. Then it began to be called “Smolenskaya”.
The image was miraculous. One of the main miracles was the deliverance of the city from Batu’s invasion in 1239. At the behest of the icon, the righteous warrior Mercury went to the enemy camp and saved Smolensk at the cost of his life. Mercury was canonized and buried in the cathedral church.
In 1941, in place of the missing icon, the image of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” (1602), brought by Boris Godunov, was installed. Now this icon is located on the right side of the cathedral; two cast-iron stairs lead to it, converging on a cast-iron platform near the icon.

17. In the left support column there is another shrine of the Smolensk Cathedral - the shroud "Entombment". As the inscription embroidered on it at the feet of Christ says, the shroud was embroidered in the workshops of Euphrosyne Staritskaya in 1561. Princess Staritskaya, the aunt of Ivan the Terrible, was involved in a conspiracy against Ivan. In 1563, she was exiled to the Goritsky monastery near Kirillov. In addition to this shroud, two more have been preserved, from Staritskaya’s workshops - one in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery (1561), the second in the Russian Museum (1560).
The Shroud, located in the Assumption Cathedral, was the princess's contribution to the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. From it, along with other valuables, the shroud was stolen by the French in 1812 and sent to France. Smolensk partisans recaptured Napoleonic convoys and, as a reward for this, the shroud was granted to the Smolensk Assumption Cathedral.

22. June 9-12 became special days for the Holy Assumption Cathedral. A particle of relics was delivered to the cathedral - the right hand of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, and a miraculous icon.

23. The ark with the relics was accompanied by a delegation of Athonite monks from the Xenophon monastery. They also accepted notes from believers in the courtyard of the cathedral.

24. On Cathedral Hill, in the souvenir shop you can buy icons, books, and booklets.

25. View from the Assumption Cathedral to the Resurrection Monastery.

27. Staircase leading from the cathedral. To the right is the monument to Kutuzov and the parking lot, to the left is Bolshaya Sovetskaya.

29. Behind the walls of the cathedral...

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30. View of the bell tower and the Assumption Cathedral.

33. It is interesting that historically the Cathedral Mountain complex begins not with the cathedral, but with an observation deck in the eastern part. There was once a princely tower here, built in the middle of the 12th century, presumably by Prince Rostislav.

In the ancient Russian city of Tula, so famous for its skilled gunsmiths, samovars and gingerbread, there is a wonderful temple, the main chapel of which is consecrated in honor of the great holiday - the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was not the antiquity of the building (it was erected a little over a century ago) or the famous names of historical figures who visited its walls that brought it great fame, but its remarkable architecture, which placed it on a par with the best monuments of Russian temple architecture.

The care of the Empress Mother

In 1791, the pious Empress Catherine II ordered money to be allocated for the reconstruction of the monastery of the same name in the glorious city of Tula, which was by that time very dilapidated. These funds came at a very opportune time, since the old building, who knows when it was built (no documents have been preserved), had fallen into complete disrepair. Over many years, the walls of this two-story building sank into the ground so much that on rainy autumn and spring days the first floor was mercilessly flooded with water.

In 1792, it was dismantled and a new one was erected in the same place, also made of stone, but one-story and with three aisles. The work was supervised by the Tula civil governor Andrei Ivanovich Lopukhin. It served people and God until 1857, when it also began to show signs of dilapidation, somewhat strange for a stone structure that had not stood for even seventy years. However, measures were taken: the building was strengthened and expanded, which is why, as is clear from the documents, it fell into an even worse state. It’s a common thing - we wanted the best, but it turned out...

Cathedral - beauty and wonder

However, they did not lose heart, but waited another forty years and, having received their blessing, dismantled the temple to its foundations. At the beginning of the next century, or rather in 1902, a new building was erected in its place. This time the result was a truly beautiful temple, known today as the Assumption Cathedral (Tula). The combination of red brick walls and black domes topped with golden crosses and crescents was found very successfully. Two-story, built in pseudo-Russian style and richly decorated, it has become a real decoration that Tula is rightfully proud of.

The Assumption Cathedral is also famous for its interior paintings. It accurately reproduces the frescoes made by Viktor Vasnetsov when he decorated the famous Vladimir Cathedral in Kyiv. The level of execution is so high that it suggests the participation in their creation of masters who were previously involved in painting the Kyiv Cathedral. Work on them was completed in 1909, as evidenced by the inscription on one of the walls that has survived to this day.

Age of Destruction

The Bolsheviks, who seized power in 1917, abolished the monastery, its inhabitants were dispersed, and the Assumption Cathedral (Tula) was closed. Since the primary task was to destroy everything that had been created before, and, as it is said in their hymn, “to the foundations,” they destroyed it without hesitation. Hundreds of masterpieces of Russian temple architecture perished irrevocably in those years, but in defiance of their evil will the Assumption Cathedral (Tula) survived.

In the thirties, they repeatedly tried to blow it up, but the walls, covered with gunpowder soot, stubbornly refused to give up. This was all the more surprising since two buildings previously erected on this site had prematurely deteriorated and threatened to collapse without any explosions. One can only guess: whether the diligence of the builders of this “third temple” gave its walls such unprecedented strength or whether the Lord did not allow the dirty deed to happen and thanks to Him ancient Tula did not part with its shrine.

The Assumption Cathedral survived, and, having failed to destroy it, the city authorities decided to use the building for their own purely secular purposes - they placed an archive within its walls. But since the Soviet institution could not be under the shadow of domes and crosses, which were, as they said then, a relic of the past, they were demolished, hopelessly violating the harmony of the entire architectural composition.

The difficult process of reviving the shrine

The Assumption Cathedral photo of which is presented in the article, as a result of new trends brought with it by perestroika, was returned to the believers, but this process turned out to be long and complex. At the end of the eighties, it was possible to reconstruct the facade of the building, and, despite the fact that it still housed an archive, install domes and crosses destroyed in the thirties on the roof. The appearance of the building began to resemble in many ways what it was like on the eve of the 1917 disaster.

Only in September 2006, when all the formalities were settled, did ancient Tula regain its shrine. After many decades, the Assumption Cathedral again became the property of the church. In January of the following year, the diocesan bishop, Metropolitan Alexy, consecrated his lower warm church, and in May the upper church was also consecrated. This event is considered to be the day of completion of restoration work and the beginning of a new era in the life of the cathedral.

Temple today

Today, this magnificent monument of temple architecture of the early 20th century is visited daily by parishioners of the temple and numerous tourists, who are received in large numbers by hospitable Tula. The Assumption Cathedral attracts them not only with its amazing architecture, but with the significance that it has acquired in the spiritual life of the region.

Among its shrines are particles of the relics of many saints who glorified the Lord with their lives and deaths. Here you can also venerate the image of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which has gained fame through many miracles revealed through prayers before it, as well as many other holy images for which the Assumption Cathedral in Tula is famous. The schedule of services held in it can be seen on the doors of the temple and on its Internet sites.

Temple opening hours

On weekdays, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated at 8:00, and evening services begin at 17:00. On holidays and weekends, the schedule changes slightly. Early mass is celebrated at 7:00, and late mass at 10:00. Evening services begin in the same way as on ordinary days - at 17:00. Additional information for everyone who wants to visit the Assumption Cathedral (Tula) - address: st. Mendeleeva, 13 (liter L).

The Holy Dormition Cathedral (also known as the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary) is the main religious attraction of Smolensk, located in its center, on Cathedral Hill, offering panoramic views of the city. The cathedral is a cultural heritage site of federal significance.

The Assumption Cathedral was built in 1677 on the site of the 12th century cathedral of the same name.

The height of the Holy Assumption Cathedral is 69 meters.

The architectural ensemble also includes a bell tower, chambers and carriage buildings.

The cathedral itself is made in the Baroque style; inside there is an iconostasis more than 30 meters high.

Schedule of services in the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk

Divine services are held according to the traditional schedule: on weekdays at 09:00 - Divine Liturgy, at 18:00 - all-night vigil. On weekends and holidays: 07:00 - early liturgy, 10:00 - late, 18:00 - all-night vigil. On Orthodox holidays, the schedule may change; for more detailed information, please call.

History of the Assumption Cathedral

The original cathedral was founded back in 1101 by Prince Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh, who ordered the foundation of the stone Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on this site (simultaneously with the foundation of the cathedral of the same name in Suzdal).

This stone cathedral remained the only stone church building in the city for almost half a century. After the consecration of the cathedral, Vladimir Monomakh moved into it the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria, which he inherited from his parents.

In 1127, with the coming to power of the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, Prince Rostislav Mstislavovich, the Smolensk principality began to flourish, and in 1136-1137 a special Smolensk diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church was established, and the Assumption Cathedral (finally completed by that time) became the main cathedral.

The tragic event of the destruction of the Assumption Cathedral occurred in 1611 - then the stocks of explosives that were stored next to the cathedral hill were blown up. As a result of the explosion, part of the cathedral also collapsed.

In 1674-75, after the liberation of Smolensk from the Polish-Lithuanian occupation, the old building of the Assumption Cathedral was finally dismantled. Two years later, it was decided to build a new cathedral building, increasing its size. The architect was Alexey Korolkov. But he was unable to complete the construction, work was suspended until 1712. The temple was finally completed only in 1740 and had 7 domes. After 20 years, two chapters collapsed. The temple was rebuilt by the architect Obukhov, who gave the cathedral a traditional look with 5 domes.

The cathedral was practically not damaged during the Patriotic War of 1812. The French Emperor Napoleon was struck by the beauty of the cathedral and ordered its protection.

The cathedral also survived the Nazi occupation. Then the prototype of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God disappeared from it, the building itself remained unharmed.

During the period of Soviet power, during times of religious persecution, the church housed an anti-religious museum.

Eventually the Assumption Cathedral was given back to the Russian Orthodox Church, and is now one of the city's main tourist attractions.

Icons of the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk

The Smolensk Holy Assumption Cathedral houses several Orthodox shrines, including the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov and the image of the Mother of God Hodegetria (“Guide”), which according to legend was painted by the holy evangelist Luke.

Among other shrines, it is worth noting the iron sandals of the patron saint of Smolensk, Saint Mercury, who is revered among the martyrs. He defended Smolensk from the attack of Batu Khan in 1239, accepting martyrdom. His body was buried in the Assumption Cathedral.

The skillfully made five-tiered iconostasis, more than 30 meters high, presumably dates back to the 1730s-40s.

How to get there

It is easy to get to the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk by public transport.

The nearest public transport stop is Sobolev Street.

The following routes are suitable for you:

• buses No. 3, 7, 9, 10, 19, 22, 22sh, 23, 27, 31, 33, 38, 113, 164
• minibuses No. 2n, 9n, 13n, 16n, 27n, 38n, 41n, 46n, 52n, 55n, 56n and 119.

From Sobolev Street you will need to turn onto Sobornaya Gora Street, on which the Assumption Cathedral is located. The walk from the stop will take you 10 minutes.

You can walk from the city's railway station in half an hour: the road will pass along 12 Let Oktyabrya Street, then along Kashena Street and down Belyaeva Street across the bridge across the Dnieper to Sobolev Street.

To order a car, you can use applications of local taxi services: Gett and the Vezet taxi network operate in Smolensk.

Entrance to the Assumption Cathedral on Google panoramas:

Video about the Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk:

Photo: Holy Assumption Cathedral