Jurjev-Polsky
Jurjev-Polsky is located on the Koloksha river. It became one of the creations of indefatigable warrior and founder of cities – prince Jury Dolgoruky. The city, founded in 1152, was named in his honor. The second additional name Polsky from word “polevoi” (i.e. field, located in the middle of fields).
The town is younger on five years than Moscow. Unfortunately, many old constructions couldn't be kept. Only a part of them is now accessible to tourists. Above the Sacred gate, inside which special bays for devotees’ sitting were constructed, the five-domed church of John the Divine, built in 1670, towers. Behind the gate the main erection of the monastery – the Cathedral of St. Michael Archangel with a hip bell tower, built in 1729, opens up before visitors’ eyes.
Russian scientists consider the bell tower one of the best monastic constructions of 17 century. Emerald-white, with an oblong triangular dome, it draws attention of all tourists who have arrived in Jurjev-Polsky. Near these erections, in the southern side of the court yard of the monastery the Znamenskaya refectory church is situated. On its first floor there are household rooms, and the whole second one is allotted to the refectory.
Behind the walls of the monastery towers the headless temple of St. Trinity, erected in 1907-1909, and right behind it – the Georgievsky cathedral, erected by order of Jury Dolgoruky are situated. Appearance of this construction takes an indelible impression upon visitors: the formidable green-grey building stands on the spacious lawn, all its walls are covered with bas-reliefs. Unlike the Dmitrovsky cathedral in Vladimir, the fretwork decorates all surface of the walls and even architectural details of the Georgievsky temple. To our days figures of animals, saints and plots of some bible scene were kept. Now it is practically impossible to catch the meaning of the reliefs, principles of their arrangement. This is connected with decay of the cathedral, the history of which history totals eight centuries. During this time the temple has had time to collapse several times. So, in 1230 son of Vsevolod the Big Jack and son of Jury Dolgoruky ordered to erect a new cathedral in the place of the former one, decayed by that time. In 1460-s vaulting of the temple collapsed, not having sustained the heavy load. For restoration of the building the famous Moscow architect V. Yermolin came. He assembled the cathedral of old stones anew. Now with the naked eye one can see the border of destruction of the walls: the cathedral fell as though diagonally - from the north-west corner to southeast.
Owing to this the northern wall was kept in the best way; the southern one is practically destroyed. Formerly the temple had a hood-shaped dome, now – onion-shaped. It became the reason of collapse of the cathedral, as the base, on which it stood, produced the heavy load on the walls. While restoring the temple, Yermolin tried to find connection between the reliefs. There, where he did not manage to do it, they were laid confusedly because the architect didn’t have designs for the building. As a result the cathedral was renewed chaotically, and the reliefs began reminding a huge stone rebus. The fact, that some of the stones got lost in the vicinities, doesn’t please. It was possible to find them only in the 20-th century. Now they are kept inside the cathedral.
Above the entrance in the temple there is an image of Saint George, who is going, resting on his long spear and almond-shaped shield with portrayal of leopard - the emblem of Vladimir dynasty. The central composition of the northern facade is “Crucifixion”, which is sometimes called “Svjatoslav’s cross”. This name originates from the fact that in the center of the relief the inscription about raising of the cross by organizer of the cathedral, prince Svjatoslav was cut out. At the foot of the cross dragons are depicted.
The western facade is decorated with reliefs of archangels, apostles, healers, martyrs and saints. Their portrayals reveal the theme of glory Vladimir power. Here, under the vestibule, there was the prince’s bed. Above the threefold window portrayals of bible prophets, tsars David and Solomon are seen. Above them the figure of Mother of God Orenta, symbolizing the idea of general protection, is visible. By the way, “Oranta” was Mother of God with hands, upraised while praying. Few reliefs of the southern facade of the building were kept. Formerly in the center there was the image “Christ’s Ascension”. Here Mother of God Oranta is repeated for the second time. A little easter “Ascension of Alexander Makedonsky was placed. It symbolized power and divinity of prince’s authority.
The Georgievsky cathedral has become the last erection of Juriev architects. In 1238 the city was captured by Tatars, many masters were taken prisoner, others were killed. The Georgievsky cathedral put an end to the brilliant epoch of development of the Vladimir-Suzdal architecture. At the same time it gave birth to new architecture - Moscow: just canons of building the Georgievsky cathedral were assumed as basis while erecting the Uspensky cathedral, located in the Moscow Kremlin.
At a distance of 25 km from the town there is a village Sima where princes Golitsins’ country house was kept. Here prince P.I.Bagration, wounded in the battle of Borodino, was brought. He died in the house of his relatives and was buried in Sima. Afterwards his ashes were transferred in Borodino field. On the first burial place there is an obelisk and in the house of princes Golitsins P.I.Bagration national museum is placed.
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