Cathedral Holy-Sophie de Novgorod

The cathedral Holy-Sophie was built between 1045 and 1050 in Detinets, the fortress of Novgorod. It is one of the first stone constructions in the Russia of North, it is contemporary of Notre-Dame of Paris, but also of the cathedrals of Rheims, of Amiens, Bamberg… It reaches a 38 meters height. It was higher originally, but during the last nine centuries the level of the ground rose of almost two meters, thus retracting the base of the cathedral. It was built by Vladimir (prince de Novgorod of 1036 with its death in 1032), the son of Iaroslav Wise the. Until in the years 1130, it was the principal church of the city and sheltered the skins of princes de Novgorod. For the inhabitants of Novgorod, Holy-Sophie became synonymous, all cmme their city, of independence and democratic and popular capacity.

This church with five cupolas appears simpler and less impressive than its prototype, the Holy-Sophie church of Kiev. The outside of the cathedral is striking by its epic splendor which evokes the memory of the glorious past of Novgorod and its invincible force. At the 11th century, all that seemed more impressive than now. Its frontage shows an enormous stone mosaic and enormous paving stones coarsely cut. At certain places, particulièrment on the apses, the wall is covered by mortar, polished until becoming velvety, is drawn in order to imitate a brick base and blocks of white stone, and slightly coloured. Thus, the frontage was not white, as it is it today, but multicoloured. The play of the stones, decorative paintings and construction materials used emphasizes the impression of simplicity austere and introduced a picturesque effect.

The two carved galleries extend along the southern parts, west and north of the building, with a turn-staircase built with the north-eastern corner. The cathedral has three entries: in the south, in the west, and north. The western entry was the main entrance, used at the time of processions and ceremonies. The gate at the entry is known under the name of the Portail Sigtuna (middle of the 12th century); according to the legend it was brought back Swedish city of Sigtuna in 1187, like spoils of war. The other name of the door is derived from the town of Magdeburg, where it was manufactured. The two exits are decorated with biblical and evangelic scenes in cast Bronze in relief. In the left corner, bellow, one finds the portraits of the craftsmen who created this splendid specimen of medieval work of the Bronze in Europe. Ue inscription in Latin alphabet gives their names, Riquin and Weissmut. The small central figure, to judge some by the inscription in Slavon, is the representation of the Russian craftsman who assembled the gate, Avraam.

There is another bronze gate in the cathedral, called the gate of Korsun . Fact at the 11th century with Kersonesos, a city of current the the Crimea, pertaining to Byzance, it leads by the southern gallery to the vault of the Nativity . According to the legend, this gate was brought to Novgorod by the will of the prince Iaroslav Wise the (978-1054).

The interior of the Cathédrale is majestic ESA that outside. It is divided by enormous walls into five wings, of which three finish in apses in the chorus. In the south-western corner, in the tower, there is an enormous spiral, in relatively small and modest construction industries dating from the 12th century at the 16th century.

Historical range of the cathedral Holy-Sophie de Novgorod

One notices that the cathedral Holy-Sophie of Novgorod bears the same name as that of Kiev, at the time the principal cathedral of the Russian ground. The principal prince was that of Kiev. In a Russia torn by the internal wars, where the princes fought using alliances with foreign powers to obtain Kiev, Novgorod takes field and becomes increasingly independent, according to model of a Slavic but so Scandinavian people's democracy which will finish in 1477, overcome by the power of Vassili III, prince in Moscow.

But while waiting, by building this cathedral Holy-Sophie, Novgorod wants to show her independence and the existence of another center of the Russian ground, centers free and democratic and, finally, rather quiet until in the years 1200.

Source

St Sophia' S Cathedral

See too

Holy-Sophie

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