Cathedral of Saint Sophia, Novgorod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral of Saint SophiaСофийский собор |
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View of the cathedral from the southeast
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Russian Orthodox |
| Province | Diocese of Novgorod and Staraya Russa |
| Year consecrated | 1050 or 1052 |
| Location | |
| Location | Veliky Novgorod, Russia |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 1045 |
| Completed | 1050 |
| Specifications | |
| Height (max) | 38 metres (125 ft) |
| Dome(s) | 5 |
| Official name: Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 1992 (16th session) |
| Reference no. | 604 |
| State Party | Russia |
| Region | Eastern Europe |
The Cathedral of Saint Sophia, the Holy Wisdom of God (also called Russian: Софийский собор in Russian) is a very old and important church in Veliky Novgorod, Russia. It's the main church for the leader of the Russian Orthodox faith in Novgorod, like a central church for the whole area. This cathedral is a famous landmark and a symbol of the city's rich history.
Contents
History of Saint Sophia Cathedral
This amazing stone cathedral stands 38 meters (about 125 feet) tall and has five domes. It was built between 1045 and 1050 by Vladimir of Novgorod and Bishop Luka Zhidiata. They built it to replace an older wooden church. This makes it one of the oldest church buildings in Russia that is still used today. It was officially opened on September 14, either in 1050 or 1052.
The cathedral is often called St. Sophia's, but it's not named after a person. "Sophia" comes from the Greek word for "wisdom." So, the cathedral is dedicated to the Holy Wisdom of God, just like the famous Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. This "Holy Wisdom" refers to Christ.
Changes Over Time
The main golden dome was covered in gold by Archbishop Ioann in 1408. There's also a sixth, larger dome over a tower that leads to upper areas. In olden times, people believed these upper areas held Novgorod's treasures and a big library. This library was thought to have been started by Yaroslav the Wise. When the library moved in 1859, it had over 1,500 books, some from the 1200s! Today, a new library has been started there, keeping the old tradition alive.
The domes probably got their unique helmet-like shape around the 1150s after a fire. The inside of the church was painted in 1108. Archbishop Nifont had the outside whitewashed and some side chapels painted, but those paintings are hard to see now because of many fires. Most of the frescoes (wall paintings) you see today are from the 1890s.
A white stone belltower was built by Archbishop Evfimy II (1429–1458). He was a great supporter of architecture. He also had the Palace of Facets built nearby in 1433.
Symbol of Novgorod
From the 1100s to the 1400s, the cathedral was the most important religious and ceremonial place in the Novgorod Republic. This republic was a huge area, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains. The cathedral became a symbol of the city itself. People in Novgorod would say they were willing "to lay down their heads for Holy Wisdom," meaning they would fight for their city and faith. They even said, "Where Holy Wisdom is, there is Novgorod."
The "House of Holy Wisdom" was also one of the biggest landowners in the Novgorod region. It owned land and had its own court. The bishop (later archbishop) was in charge of this "House."
Burial Place
The cathedral has been a burial place for many important people in Novgorod's history. This includes princes, city leaders, and 32 bishops and archbishops. The first person buried there was Prince Vladimir in 1052. Many burials are in special porches (side areas) of the cathedral. Today, some sarcophagi (stone coffins) are in the main part of the church. For example, Bishop Nikita's sarcophagus is covered in glass and opened on special days so people can honor him.
Challenges and Restoration
The cathedral was damaged by Ivan the Terrible in the 1570s but was later fixed by Archbishop Leonid. He also added a special seat for the Tsar inside the church.
During the Nazi occupation of Novgorod in World War II, the city was heavily damaged. However, the cathedral itself survived. The large cross on the main dome was taken by Spanish soldiers. For over 60 years, it was kept in a museum in Madrid, Spain. But on November 16, 2004, it was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church by the Spanish brothers who found it. The domes were badly damaged in the war, and a large painting of Christ inside the dome was ruined.
During the Soviet period, the cathedral was used as a museum. It was given back to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1991.
Features of the Cathedral
Novgorod's St. Sophia Cathedral was one of the first Slavic churches to look different from the usual Byzantine style. Its plain walls and narrow windows make it look more like Romanesque architecture from Western Europe than Greek churches of that time.
The Novgorod cathedral also looks very different from its famous cousin, the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. One art expert said the Kyiv cathedral is like a "bride," while the Novgorod cathedral is like a "warrior." It has very little decoration, not much brick, and its design goes up vertically instead of spreading out. These features influenced other churches built in Novgorod later on.
Important Icons
The oldest icon (a religious painting) in the cathedral is probably the Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign. Legend says this icon miraculously saved Novgorod in 1169 when enemies attacked the city. It was brought out and displayed on the city walls, and the attackers supposedly retreated. This icon is now kept just to the right of the main Golden Doors inside the church.
Another very old icon is the one of Sophia, the Holy Wisdom of God. This icon is also part of the main iconostasis (a wall of icons) and is placed where the icon of the church's patron saint usually hangs.
Famous Gates
The cathedral has three famous sets of gates.
- The Korsun Gates are at the western entrance to a side chapel. They are said to have been brought to Novgorod by Bishop Ioakim Korsunianin.
- The Vasilii Gates were given to the cathedral in 1335. However, Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) took them in 1570, and they are now in a town near Moscow.
- The Sigtuna, Magdeburg, or Płock Gates are at the west entrance of the cathedral. Legend says they were taken by Novgorod forces from the Swedish town of Sigtuna in 1187. But it's more likely they were made in Magdeburg (Germany) around 1152–1154 for a cathedral in Płock, Poland. It's thought that Novgorod got them as a gift or through trade in the late 1400s. These special gates are usually opened only twice a year for important events.
The Pigeon Legend
A small figure of a pigeon, which represents the Holy Spirit, sits on top of the cross on the cathedral's main dome. A local legend says that during a terrible event in Novgorod's history, a live pigeon sitting on the dome froze in fear. The legend says that as long as the pigeon stays there, Novgorod will be protected. The original pigeon figure was damaged during World War II but was returned to Novgorod in 2005 by some former Spanish soldiers.
See also
- Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv
- Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk
- Hagia Sophia
Images for kids
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Millennium of Russia and the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom on a 5-ruble bill
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The Cross of Novgorod, found at the Cathedral
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An 11th-century fresco on the wall
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