"Smolensk 12th century - back in the past" 2-3 hours. excursion

The duration of the tour is 2-3 hours, on foot or by car.

The cost is indicated from ...; for 1 hour of excursion without renting transport, depends on the season and the number of people.

In the upper reaches of the Dnieper, the Slavs have lived since at least the 5th century. And Smolensk, as one of the oldest Russian cities, played a significant role in the formation of Kievan Rus. So, and the founder of the dynasty of the Grand Dukes of Smolensk Rostislav (grandson of Vladimir Monomakh), and 3 of his sons eventually became Grand Dukes of Kiev.

The first of the Smolensk Grand Dukes, Rostislav, had five sons; of them, two princes in Smolensk were Roman and David.

And it so happened that out of a large number of stone temples built in the 12th century, three have survived to this day - erected by Rostislav Smolensky and his two sons.

We will begin our journey into the depths of the centuries from the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, built in 1146. Inside the church there are remains of scratched graffiti inscriptions, some of which belonged to Prince Rostislav Mstislavich, the builder of the temple, who chose the right bank of the Dnieper as his residence.

The Peter and Paul Church is one of the three surviving churches of Smolensk from the pre-Mongol period.

• The Prince's Terem and other wooden buildings have not survived to this day. But on the site of the princely tower in the 18th century, the temple of St. Barbara was erected.
• Today, the temple complex includes the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul of the XII century, the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara of the XVIII century and temple buildings.

Then we go (only in a car tour) to the former Smyadyn pier, where in 1015 people sent by Svyatopolk overtook Prince Gleb and killed him. Not far from the crime scene now stands a memorial sign, built a small chapel.

• One of the first after the Baptism of the tragic events on the Smolensk land occurred in the area of Smyadyn. They became a fratricide, which occurred in 1015, after the death of St. Vladimir.
• The Smolensk tragedy is related to his three sons - Svyatopolk, Boris and Gleb. The murderers sent by Svyatopolk overtake Boris on the Alta River, and Gleba on the Smyadyn River, in Smolensk. This is where Prince Gleb died.
• Boris and Gleb became the first Holy Martyrs of the Russian Orthodox Church.
• The first Russian Saints Boris and Gleb became the heavenly patrons of the Smolensk princely house Rostislavich. Prince Roman's baptism name is Boris, and David's is Gleb.

Then we go (only in an excursion by car, in a pedestrian admiring from afar) to the Svir Hill, where at the end of the 12th century the residence of Prince David Rostislavich, mentioned in the “Word of Igor’s regiment”, was located to the Church of Archangel Michael (Svirskaya), built in 1191-94.

At the moment it is the only church of the pre-Mongol period in Smolensk, which preserved fragments of frescoes.

• The most beautiful church in the West of Russia is the Church of Archangel Michael, built in 1194 at the court of Prince David, in memory of his father, Prince Rostislav.
• For many more than 800 years, the temple, born of filial devotion, stretches upwards as a visible embodiment of the fervent prayer of Prince Rostislav of Smolensk.

We are going to the church of John the Theologian (the year of construction 1173). The temple, called in the old days the church "on the Varangian", was built at the expense of the Smolensk Prince Roman Rostislavich.

• In this temple, the first church school in the Smolensk region was opened, numerous Smolensk chronicles were compiled here.
• From here, writing was distributed to nearby areas.

From the church of John the Theologian we go along the embankment of the Dnieper. Once there was a famous trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks", it was from Byzantium that Christianity came to Russia.

• In the summer of 2015, a monument to Prince Vladimir was solemnly opened on the embankment.
• Since that time, the embankment in Smolensk bears the name “Vladimirskaya”, in honor of the Baptist of Russia.

And finally, the calling card of Smolensk is the Cathedral of the Assumption, built on the place where Vladimir Monomakh married back in the 11th century.

• Here in 1101 he built the first stone cathedral in the city, and from the 12th century Cathedral Mountain is forever transferred to the Church.
• How the Prototype, the icon of the Mother of God Odigitria, written during the earthly life of the Most Holy Theotokos by the holy evangelist Luke, appeared in Russia and passed to Vladimir Monomakh, you will learn from our excursion!
• We will talk about the list of icons sent by Boris Godunov in the 17th century - the Miraculous Image of the Smolensk Mother of God Oligitria - you will learn how the events of 1812 elevated the image to the rank of a military shrine of the Russian people.

The Cathedral of the Assumption is an Orthodox shrine and one of the main symbols of Smolensk.

This architectural masterpiece embodies the calm majesty of Russian cathedrals. Five gilded domes shine, creating a sense of festive solemnity.

• The Assumption Cathedral survived two wars: Patriotic 1812 (by order of Napoleon in the cathedral was exhibited security) and the Great Patriotic 1941-45.
• He survived the period of the “war with the temples” in the 20-30s of the last century – an anti-religious museum was opened in the temple.
• And now the cathedral is not only the main temple of the Smolensk diocese, but also the most famous tourist attraction of Smolensk.

Smolensk Cathedral is not only one of the most revered churches in Russia and the main temple of the Smolensk diocese, but also the most significant attraction of the city.

The history of the Cathedral, Orthodox shrines stored in the Church and the history of Smolensk are inextricably intertwined. This is what you will hear on the tour!

• The gilded 30-meter five-tier carved iconostasis of the temple, decorated with a large number of wooden sculptures, is striking; you will not find anything like this in other Russian lands.

• The Royal Gate is the largest in Europe. In addition, they end unconventionally - a nest with a pelican sitting in it - an ancient Christian symbol.

In the temple there are three Orthodox shrines, the fame of which goes far beyond the borders of the Smolensk land:

• Sandals of St. Mercury (XIII century),

• gold woven shroud of workshops kn. Euphrosyne Staritskaya (XVI century),

• The miraculous image of the Icon of the Smolensk Mother of God “Odigitria” (XVII century).

The tour will continue in the courtyard,

The architectural ensemble includes 3 churches of the 18th century, the building of the Chambers of Bishops, the Cathedral Bell Tower, the monument to Vladimir Monomakh.

We will visit two observation decks of the Cathedral Mountain, one of them is the highest point of the city. We will admire the sites of the Smolensk fortress; on the church of the Transniprovye and on the Old Smolensk Road.

• Cost from 2000 r. / hour from 1 to 16 people,
• The cost on holiday weekends from 2500 rubles \ hour from 1 to 16 people.
• Transportation is additionally paid.

We invite adults and children, Smolensk and guests who want to learn the history of Smolensk!