The Cross Monument

Every city in the world has its own symbol. In Russian cities, almost all symbols are associated with some important historical events. For example, the city of Stavropol is Suvorov Cross. This monument was erected on the 100th anniversary of the death of the great Russian commander and citizen Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, whose name is associated with the emergence of the Stavropol fortress, on the Cathedral Hill.

According to legend, the Cross was discovered during the laying of the Stavropol fortress. This cross was installed in 1816 after the outbreak of the plague, the famous Stavropol merchant Nikita Plotnikov. The place where the monument is located is one of the most beautiful places in Stavropol. From here, the chain of the far Caucasus mountains with Elbrus is clearly visible. It was from this point that Stavropol was consecrated by Bishop Jeremiah. On his own initiative, the Kazan Cathedral was erected next to the Cross, and the Cross itself was moved to a specially built elegant stone chapel, built on the money of citizens in memory of the Krestov Castle and the memory of Suvorov. Gradually, the name of Suvorov and the Cross merged so much that the townspeople began to attribute the installation of the Cross on the Cathedral Mount to Suvorov. Famous once local historian, teacher of history of the Olginsky women's gymnasium I.P. Kuvshinsky, in the 90s of the XIX century wrote that he managed to read in the lower part of the cross the inscription carved in moist stone: "Suvorov"

As the years passed, the Suvorov chapel began to collapse. And this was the reason for appealing to the City Council of one clergyman of the Kazan Cathedral with a request to preserve the symbol of the city. The administration, in turn, appealed to Stavropol Governor Nikolai Egorovich Nikiforaki, who not only approved the proposal, but also personally chose a place for the installation of the Cross. And on May 9, 1900, on the day of the 100th anniversary of the death of Suvorov, the Cross was opened again, and on the pedestal of the monument, in agreement with the Stavropol policemaster, a board was installed with the inscription “According to legend, it was placed by order of Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov, 1780.”

In the Soviet 1920-1930s, the Kazan Cathedral collapsed, the symbol of Krestograd - the cross monument - was destroyed.

In 1970, Stavropol was included in the list of historical cities of Russia, and in 1975, to the 200th anniversary of the city, the State Institute for Urban Design was developing a "Project of Protected Zones and Regulatory Zones for Building Monuments of Architecture and History". In accordance with it, the central part of the historical core of the city, including the Komsomol (Fortress) Mountain, was declared a complex monument of urban planning and a protected zone was established for it. After 14 years, by the decision of the Presidium of the Stavropol City Council of People's Deputies, the mountain returns its historical name to the Fortress and is given the status of a protected area.

The Cross was fully restored and consecrated in the jubilee year for all Christians in 2000 on the City Day on the site where the regimental Nikolaev Church previously stood. The author of the restoration project is the architect I.P. Efimov. The city has regained its symbol!

The monument is located on the Cathedral Hill, in the area of the upper platform of the famous Parade Staircase leading to the Kazan Cathedral.