Assumption Cathedral, Staraya Ladoga

Assumption Cathedral, also Dormition Cathedral (Russian: Успенский Собор) in the selo of Staraya Ladoga, Volkhovsky District, Leningrad Oblast, Russia is one of the oldest churches of Russia, dating from the second half of the 12th century.[1] It is one of the few surviving pre-Mongol buildings in Russia, and the northernmost one. The cathedral is the katholikon of the female Assumption Monastery, one of the several monasteries in Staraya Ladoga, and is located on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The building was designated an architectural monument of federal significance (#4710028015).[2]

Assumption Cathedral
Assumption Cathedral
LocationStaraya Ladoga
CountryRussia
DenominationRussian Orthodox
History
DedicationDormition of the Theotokos
Architecture
StyleRussian
CompletedThe third quarter of the 12th century

History

Staraya Ladoga was the first seat of Rurik in 862, and, after Rurik moved the seat to Novgorod, remained in the Novgorod Lands. It controlled one of the most important waterways at the time, the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, of which the Volkhov River was a part of. The cathedral was built presumably in the third quarter of the 12th century by Novgorodians. It was rebuilt several times since. In 1761, a side-chapel was built at the northern side of the cathedral, and in 1854-1856 another two were built at the western side, and a bell-tower was erected. In 1925, the cathedral was closed for service. In the 1950s, a complex restoration was performed, the side chapels and the bell-tower were demolished. In 2005, the cathedral was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.[1]

Architecture

The cathedral is made of plinthite and has a very simple composition. The western wall has two relief crosses.[3]

Frescoes

In the 12th century, the interior of the church was covered by frescoes. The 20th century restorations uncovered approximately 50 square metres (540 sq ft) of the original painting, but most of them in fragments, so that it is difficult to reconstruct the original topics and disposition.[4] The frescoes seem to be close in style to those in Polotsk and in Veliky Novgorod.[5]

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References
  1. Филиппова, Елена. Собор Успения Пресвятой Богородицы в Староладожском Успенском монастыре (in Russian). Храмы России. Archived from the original on 16 March 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  2. Собор Успенский (Церковь Успенская) (in Russian). Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation. Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  3. Собор Успения Пресвятой Богородицы (in Russian). Музей-заповедник “Старая Ладога”. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  4. Васильев, Б.Г. (2006). Реконструкция цхемы росписи Успенского собора XII века в Старой Ладоге. «Новгород и Новгородская Земля. История и археология». Материалы научной конференции (in Russian). 20.
  5. Васильев, Б. Г. "Новые фрагменты фресок церкви Успения XII века в Старой Ладоге" (in Russian). Музей-заповедник “Старая Ладога”. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
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