Ascension Cathedral, Yelets: description, history, address

The town of Yelets is one of the most mysterious Russian cities in Russia. This regional center is part of the Lipetsk region. Once in its place was a fortress, stretched on the shore of a small river Bystraya Pine, flowing into the Don. The town of Yelets is considered one of the few settlements where almost all monuments of architecture of past centuries were preserved. That is why it is included in the Golden Ring of Russia. Still from the road at the entrance to the city blue domes are visible. This is the Ascension Cathedral.

Dace

The history of the city is not fully understood yet. Experts can not yet determine the exact date of its occurrence. In the annals of the city is mentioned since 1146 as a bastion on the south-eastern border. He protected Rus from the raids of the Tatar-Mongols, Polovtsy and Pechenegs. In the old documents it is said that it was at this time that Prince Svyatoslav drove through Yelets to Ryazan. It is this date that is considered to be the approximate year of its foundation. But there is an opinion that Yelets was built much earlier: according to unconfirmed reports - at the end of the tenth century.

Until the time the city entered the Moscow patrimony, it was listed in documents as a military fortress. Elets on himself survived not one major attack. He suffered hundreds of Tatar-Mongol yoke, from the troops of Khan Akhmat Temir, Khan Uzbek, Khan Togay, even the bloody Kulikovo battle this city did not pass.

In 1395, the Elets were ravaged by the troops of Tamerlane. But until now chroniclers and historians do not know why the commander, who successfully captured the fortress, never went further to Russia. So it remained a mystery when the conqueror, turning his horde back, grounded his decision with a prophetic dream connected with this city. Allegedly, Tamerlane was met with saints who, with a great army, defeated him.

The city's attractions

Elets since ancient times is considered one of the holiest cities in Russia. Many monasteries, temples and churches are built here. Apparently, due to this the city is considered sanctified. Is it not a miracle that the event that happened here with Tamerlane many centuries ago? By itself Yelets, located eighty kilometers from Lipetsk, is difficult to name a large.

Initially, it was located on the left bank of the small river Bystraya Sosna, but later, at the expense of surrounding surrounding villages and settlements, eventually merged into the city limits, Elets grew and now occupies both banks.

In general, in this small village there are seventeen churches. Most of them are in a state of ruins. However, for tourists this is the whole mystery of this city. Restoring them, of course, you can make the appearance of the city more attractive, but not everyone thinks so. On the contrary, in the opinion of most of the townspeople, it is the ruins that conceal the spirit of the ancient centuries. One of the interesting sights that tourists are shown is the Vladimir Church. Of course, first of all travelers are shown the Ascension Cathedral. Yelets, as is known, was a fortress. And the brick red vaults of the Vladimir Church are the custodians of secrets and memories of the ancient Yelets.

Ascension Cathedral: history of origin

Although the city has a lot of ancient architectural monuments, nevertheless all residents know about it. Even the smallest child can name the address of the Ascension Cathedral. After all, it stands on Red Square and is considered one of the main buildings of Yelets. This outstanding monument of the past was built at the end of the nineteenth century (1845-1889) by the architect Constantine Ton's project. The idea of building a large new cathedral was born in townspeople long enough. From 1815 the collection of donations was started. Accounting was conducted, as it was then accepted, in a special stitched - "snurovoy" - book. The Voznesensky Cathedral was named a real people's building. Elets collected seventy-five years' donations, which went not only from local residents, but also from St. Petersburg, Moscow, etc. Even at the famous Nizhny Novgorod fair money was collected for the cathedral to be erected.

Project

The first drawings of the temple in the classical style were developed in 1824 by Kharkov architect Danilov. But the project was rejected, and the townspeople turned to Ton himself, who is the creator of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

The project, made in the typical Byzantine style of architecture, fell in love with the people. Dimensions of the building were much higher than those proposed by Danilov. The tone provided for the total length of the structure is one hundred and thirty-two arshins. The height of the temple with the cross is seventy-four meters.

The solemn divine service in honor of the laying of the first stone of the cathedral took place on the twenty-second of August, the day when Nikolai the First was crowned. Over the project of interior decoration of the temple worked no less famous architect A. Kaminsky. Thus began the construction of the Ascension Cathedral.

Elets in the last quarter of the nineteenth century changed a lot. His appearance greatly influenced the active creative activity of A. Kaminsky. Being a pupil of K. Ton, he left his mark on many buildings of the city of that time: at the tobacco plant of Zausailov, the Tsar's chapel, etc.

Description

Ascension Cathedral (Yelets) has a huge artistic value. Only in the temple part can count more than two hundred and twenty wall paintings and paintings. A icon painting work, most of which - the work of the brush of outstanding Russian Wanderers K. Lebedev and A. Korzukhin, annually attract hundreds of tourists to the temple. The upper dome, sails, as well as mural paintings and the top row of icons in the iconostasis, the "Crucifixion of Christ", which is central - all this represents a real exposition. Brushes Korzukhin belongs to the famous painting in the cathedral - Eletskaya God's Mother. The patroness of the Virgin, depicted on it with her arms raised, her heavenly army barred the way hordes of bloody Tamerlane, trying to capture Russia.

Another artist, Lebedev, being a student of Korzukhin, worked on icons of the cathedral for six years. During this time he had already become a mature master. For forty-four years the Ascension Cathedral was built.

Address

The temple is located in the heart of the city. His address is 399770, Lipetsk region, Yelets, Red Square, building 1. He has the status of the functioning cathedral.

Daily liturgy and evening services are held in its walls. The rector of the church is Bishop Eletsky and Lebedyansky, the Most Reverend Maxim. Phone of the Ascension Cathedral (47467) 2-14-30. There is also a Sunday school, which can be used by both adults and children.