Friendly Epiphany Square

Good afternoon, dear readers!

Today is my story about the Epiphany Square.

The Epiphany Square in Yaroslavl welcomes guests coming along the Moscow Road, linking the fates of the two cities. Here is a monument to Yaroslav the Wise, the Church of the Epiphany is adorned and the ancient Transfiguration Monastery rises.

The monument to Yaroslav the Wise was erected in 1993 by the project of sculptor Oleg Komov in the heart of the city of Yaroslavl. In the right hand of Yaroslav is a lowered sword as a sign of the peace-loving policy of the prince, and in the left - the towers of the future city. Prince Yaroslav managed to strengthen international relations with many European countries. He himself married the Swedish princess Ingigerd (in Russian her name was Irina), and his daughters married to European princes and kings: Elizabeth for the Norwegian Prince Harald, Anastasia for the Hungarian Prince Andrew, and Anna for the French King Henry I. The sons of Yaroslav were taken as wives: Izyaslav is the sister of the Polish King Gertrude, Svyatoslav is the Austrian Princess Oda, and Igor is the Greek princess (her name is lost in history).

The bas-reliefs of the monument to Yaroslav the Wise depict an ancient legend about the foundation of Yaroslavl.

“In ancient times, amidst high forests and dense grasses stood a settlement called Bear Corner. Its inhabitants were pagans and worshiped the sun god Yarila, the god of wealth Hair (Veles), and especially venerated the bear, the owner of the northern forests. And it was a sinister place: its inhabitants were famous for robbery and robbery.

At that time, in ancient Rostov, Prince Yaroslav the Wise ruled.

One day, inspecting his possessions, he sailed on boats along the Volga and saw how some evil people attacked merchant ships. The prince commanded his army to frighten the unbelievers in order to save the merchants. The pagans submitted to the prince and promised to pay tribute, but they refused to accept Christianity, and Yaroslav returned to such a city of his Rostov.

After some time, the prince returned to Bear Corner, and when he came ashore, the pagans released the bear from the cage. There was a battle in which the prince was not afraid and killed the bear with a sequira. He then ordered the city to be founded and named after his name.

Centuries changed, and Yaroslavl grew and got better. It flourished in periods of calm and found unusual solutions in the steep twists and turns of history. Courage and resourcefulness repeatedly saved Yaroslavl in difficult moments. At the same time, they always appreciated and created beauty with their own hands. In the 17th century, which is considered to be the “Golden Age” in the history of the city, many temples were built in Yaroslavl, which made it picturesque and cozy. In the 17th century, the main trade routes of the country pass through the city: this is the way Arkhangelsk - Moscow and the Volga trade route. Yaroslavl is gaining trade turnover, crafts are blossoming, and merchants build magnificent temples, one more beautiful than the other. A striking example of 17th century architecture is the elegant and elegant Church of the Epiphany, built at the expense of merchant Alexei Zubchaninov.

It's lavishly decorated with tiles. Tile is multicolored ceramic tiles depicting fantastic birds and animals: griffins, lions, unicorns, sirin bird, roses, lotuses, carnations, etc. Tile friezes (ribbons) perfectly harmonize with red-brick walls, diamonds line up in slender rows. Each tiles has its own unique combination of colors. The church itself is often called the “Yaroslavl bride”. In ancient times, the brides dressed not in snow-white dresses, this is a European tradition, and in red sundresses decorated with embroidery and ribbons, kokoshniks wore on their heads. The Yaroslavl Bride is also decorated with two tiers of Kokoshniks. The Church of the Epiphany became the last “pearl” of 17th century architecture. Next door to the ascetic Spassky Monastery it looks joyful and elegant.

While contemplating the walls of the monastery, let us recall the distant 16th century with its strict morals and harsh architecture. The Transfiguration Monastery is a place where the most ancient buildings of Yaroslavl, created in the 16th century, have been preserved: The Transfiguration Cathedral, the Holy Gate and the refectory, part of the monastery belfry remember the times of Basil III and John the Terrible. After the reign of Ioann Vasilyevich and his son Fedor, the Time of Troubles begins in Russia. In 1609, the Spassky Monastery withstood the siege of the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. A little later, in 1612, Nizhny Novgorod militia came to Yaroslavl under the leadership of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky.

During the Troubles, the fire of love for the Fatherland burned in the heart of Nizhny Novgorod Kuzma Minin, a man of noble origin, but with a bright mind and a great soul. A group of warriors gathered at his voice. Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Pozharsky was invited to lead the army. By then he was known for his courage and courage. The militia from Nizhny Novgorod went to Yaroslavl, a city that became a cathedral for the Russian people. Here the militia grew stronger and gained strength, weapons flocked here and soldiers came from nearby cities. On the territory of the Transfiguration Monastery, a temporary government “Council of All the Earth” was formed and a mint was created, where silver pennies were minted. For about four months Yaroslavl assumes the role of the capital of the Russian state.

In 1613, the Savior-Preobrazhensky Monastery hospitably welcomes the elected tsar - Mikhail Romanov. Here, the first ruler of the Romanov dynasty stops for three weeks because of the mudslide, celebrates Easter and writes the first decrees. The Yaroslavl people greeted Mikhail Romanov with bread and salt and gifts, and even words could not be spoken in tears. They were tears of joy when they met the Tsar, the people rejoiced and rejoiced at the liberation of the country from the Troubles. In memory of the events of the Time of Troubles on the territory of the monastery there is a mosaic depicting Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and a monument to the Yaroslavl penny.

Let’s look again at the snow-white walls and towers of the Spasska Monastery. Founded in the 13th century, it has existed for eight centuries. Wooden structures of those times did not survive, old stone temples collapsed in the flames of fire, but the more precious that has survived. Buildings of the 16th century still please the eye. And today the Savior Monastery is an impregnable guardian of the city, which has repeatedly saved people and cultural treasures. Here was a huge book depository, and it was in it that the “Word of Igor’s Regiment” was discovered. This is a monument of literature of amazing beauty, melody, imagery, truly a living Russian word. In the “Word of Igor’s Regiment” the author urges the princes to unite before the enemy comes and disaster happens. The ancient Russian poem was written so vividly and figuratively that it inspired the composer A.P. Borodin to create the opera “Prince Igor”, and such famous poets as Zhukovsky, Pushkin, Zabolotsky created amazing translations of the ancient “Word”. It is a pity that the original work has not survived to this day, but the first publication exists on the territory of the monastery to this day! There is also an interesting exhibition dedicated to the “Word of Igor’s Regiment”, and the monastery itself opens its ancient gates every day and always welcomes guests!

Copyright © Olga Anatolievna Tarakanova.