Alexander Nevsky – 800 Years with Russia

The Transfiguration Cathedral was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky and completed by his son Andrei Bogolyubsky in 1157, in connection with the events that led to the emergence of the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality independent from Kiev. Today, it is the only one of the first five white-stone churches of Northeastern Rus' whose exterior has survived virtually unchanged.

Alexander Yaroslavovich was baptized in this cathedral, and the name Alexander had not previously appeared among the Rurikids. It has been suggested that the newborn was named in honor of Alexander the Great, who, although a pagan, was very popular in Rus' thanks to the work of an unknown Greco-Byzantine author, the "Alexandria."

In the second half of the 13th century (possibly under Alexander Nevsky), the walls were painted with frescoes that have not survived to our time. It is possible that one of the compositions may have repeated a theme reflected in the frescoes of the Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir depicting the ascension of Alexander the Great to heaven.

Subsequently, the church became the burial vault of the appanage princes of Pereslavl, including Dmitry, the elder son of Alexander Nevsky. In 1263–1281 and 1283–1293, he was Grand Prince of Vladimir but was overthrown by his brother Andrei and spent the rest of his life in Pereslavl. His father also took refuge in this city during the most difficult times. In 1945, the Museum of Alexander Nevsky was opened in the cathedral, though it was later, unfortunately, closed.

Completed in 1136, the St. Nicholas Cathedral on Yaroslav's Court is the second oldest church in Novgorod after St. Sophia Cathedral.

Its consecration coincided with an uprising after which the Novgorodians won the right to choose their own princes, whose powers were limited to those of a military commander.

The most important matters of governance were decided at the veche (assembly of full male residents of the city), usually convened in front of St. Nicholas Cathedral.

At the same time, the church itself belonged to the Grand Princes of Vladimir, and it was here that deposed city officials often sought refuge.

The outstanding monument of Vladimir-Suzdal architecture, the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, was built in 1166, 1.5 kilometers from the country residence of the Vladimir princes in the village of Bogolyubovo and near the confluence of the Nerl River with the Klyazma.

Its construction is associated with Andrei Bogolyubsky, brother of Vsevolod the Big Nest (Alexander Nevsky's grandfather). Legend holds that the white stone used for the church was brought from conquered Volga Bulgaria. However, it is more likely that the stone was quarried near Moscow.

The church stands on a site where, in the 12th–13th centuries, ships sailing along the Klyazma would turn toward the princely residence.

The Intercession on the Nerl was part of a small white-stone monastery, dismantled during the reign of Catherine the Great.

The main church of the city of Vladimir was built in 1158–1160 under Andrei Bogolyubsky and greatly expanded under his brother and successor, Vsevolod the Big Nest. The brothers were buried in the cathedral's northern gallery.

In 1238, in the cathedral set ablaze by the Mongols, Bishop Mitrofan, Grand Princess Agatha Vsevolodovna with her daughter and daughters-in-law, later canonized as the Vladimir Martyrs, perished.
Under Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Alexander Nevsky, the church was restored. The next major work was undertaken at the beginning of the 15th century, when the church walls were adorned with frescoes by Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny. The devastation of the cathedral in 1411 by the band of the Tatar prince Talych is depicted in Andrei Tarkovsky's film "Andrei Rublev."

At the turn of the 19th century, the cathedral was extensively remodeled. In the 20th century, it was repeatedly restored.
Currently, the church is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and serves as the cathedral of the Vladimir Metropolitanate.

The remains of Alexander Nevsky were buried in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Vladimir. In 1380, when the reliquary was opened, the body was found incorrupt, which became one of the arguments for canonization.

A wooden church in honor of the Holy Trinity was built in Pskov in the second half of the 10th century by Princess Olga, the first ruler of Rus' to adopt Christianity. A stone church was founded by Prince Vsevolod Mstislavovich, the eldest grandson of Vladimir Monomakh. His mother was Princess Christina, daughter of the Swedish king Inge I the Elder.

The people of Pskov expelled Vsevolod himself in 1136 but later took him back, limiting his powers. An unsuccessful military commander, he was known for his righteous life and was subsequently canonized.
Before the Trinity Cathedral, Alexander Nevsky and his troops prayed before setting out for Lake Peipus.

In 1299, the valiant Prince Dovmont (baptized Timothy), who for 33 years successfully defended Pskov from the crusaders and was also glorified as a saint, was buried in the cathedral next to Vsevolod Mstislavovich.
The last, fourth Trinity Cathedral was built in 1699 and now serves as the cathedral of the Pskov Metropolitanate.

The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasily III of Moscow in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria."

According to legend, in 1239 this icon saved Smolensk from the Mongol invasion; Smolensk itself was considered the "key to Moscow," and it was in its vicinity that Alexander Nevsky won his victories over the Lithuanians.

Many representatives of the dynasties that ruled Russia ended their lives as nuns in the Novodevichy Convent.

During the transfer of Alexander Nevsky's relics to St. Petersburg, the shrine was also displayed at the Novodevichy Convent.
In 1915–1916, on the convent's farmstead at the Maryino estate near Moscow, funded by Princess Olga Alexandrovna Shcherbatova (née Stroganova), the Alexander Nevsky Church was built, where her son and husband, both named after the holy prince, found their rest.

Pskov was considered part of the Novgorod Land and the "younger brother" of Novgorod, but as it grew, it sought independence.
In 1241, a group of Pskov boyars, led by the posadnik Tverdilo, helped the crusaders take the city. However, as early as March of the following year, Alexander Nevsky liberated Pskov from the Livonians.

In the 13th century, the fortified part of Pskov – the Krom (Kremlin) – was defended mainly by earthen ramparts.

Over the next three centuries, the Pskov Fortress expanded in size. Its main part, sprawling on the left bank of the Pskova River, includes, besides the Kremlin, the adjacent Dovmont Town.

The chronicles first mention Tver in 1135 as the possession of Prince Vladimir Mstislavovich. The city's advantageous location at the source of the Volga contributed to its flourishing. Around 1247, Tver was part of Alexander Nevsky's appanage, but after 5–7 years it passed to Yaroslav Yaroslavovich, who, after his elder brother's death, became the new Grand Prince of Vladimir.

Yaroslav Yaroslavovich's son Mikhail also ruled in Tver and was Grand Prince of Vladimir in 1305–1318. He was killed in the Horde due to the intrigues of rival Moscow princes. In 1549, he was canonized.

On August 26, 1723, during the transfer of Alexander Nevsky's relics, the shrine was brought to Tver, which was at that time the center of a province.

From 1212, the city of Yuriev-Polsky was the center of an appanage principality within Vladimir-Suzdal Rus', ruled by Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, brother of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and uncle of Alexander Nevsky.

Under him, in 1230–1234, the Yuriev Cathedral was built, replacing the dilapidated eponymous church dedicated to the patron saint of the first Vladimir-Suzdal prince, Yuri (George) Dolgoruky.

The main adornment of the cathedral became its unique white-stone reliefs, some of which have been lost.

In 1246–1248, Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, without Mongol sanction, declared himself Grand Prince of Vladimir but was overthrown two years later by Alexander Nevsky's brother, Mikhail the Brave, and returned to Yuriev-Polsky.

The photograph shows the Yuriev Cathedral along with a bell tower, sacristy, and heated side chapel built later. However, these structures were dismantled in the early 1920s during restoration work. Today, only the church itself remains.

According to archaeological data, Staraya Ladoga was founded in the mid-8th century and was populated by Slavs, Finno-Ugrians, and Scandinavians. The Varangian leader Rurik, summoned to rule as prince, initially settled in Ladoga and only moved to Novgorod after consolidating his power.
In 1164, the first major battle between Russians and Swedes took place at Ladoga at the mouth of the Voronaya River, ending in victory for the Novgorodian army led by Posadnik Nezhata and Prince Svyatoslav Rostislavovich. St. George's Church was built in honor of this triumph.

The fact that Ladoga housed Rurik's residence allows it to be positioned as the first capital of Rus', whose 1250th anniversary was widely celebrated in 2003.

In 1710, at the mouth of the Chernaya River (now Monastyrka) flowing into the Neva, the Alexander Nevsky Monastery was founded.

It is believed that when choosing the site for the monastery, Peter I mistakenly thought it was here that Alexander Yaroslavovich had defeated the Swedes in 1240. In fact, Peter I knew the actual site of the Battle of the Neva and therefore in 1711–1712 ordered the construction of the Alexander Nevsky Church in Ust-Izhora.

However, he wanted the monastery to be within walking distance of his residence. Moreover, the mouth of the Chernaya River was also associated with contemporary historical associations – on the opposite bank of the Neva, the Swedes had built the fortress of Landskrona (Crown of the Land) in 1300, which was captured and destroyed by the Novgorod-Vladimir army of Grand Prince Andrei Alexandrovich (son of Alexander Nevsky).

The chief architect of the complex was Domenico Trezzini. In 1797, the monastery received the status of a lavra.

In Soviet times, the monastery was closed, and all sorts of institutions were located on its grounds. The Museum of Urban Sculpture was created on the basis of the monastery's necropolis.

In the post-Soviet period, the lavra was returned to the church and is the main center of Orthodox life in St. Petersburg.

The Feodorovsky building of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra was built in 1725–1748 after Peter I's death. It received its name from the church located on the second floor, consecrated in memory of Alexander Nevsky's elder brother Fyodor, who died at the age of 13 and was also canonized.

On the first floor is the Church of St. John Chrysostom. In 1791, a cavalier hall was built in the wing near the cathedral for meetings of the knights of the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.

In the mid-19th century, the churches were remodeled and rededicated: the lower church in honor of the holy prince Fyodor, the upper in honor of Nicholas the Wonderworker.

In Soviet times, the building housed a dormitory.

After the restoration of church life, the workshops of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra are located here.

In the presented image, the prince engages in single combat with the Grand Master, something that did not actually happen. The crusaders were commanded by the Landmeister of the Livonian Order, who did not fight the prince and was not taken prisoner. However, in the Battle of the Neva, Alexander Yaroslavovich probably did unhorse the enemy leader Duke Birger, though he did not capture him but only left the "seal of his spear on his face."

Outside Moscow, the film crew worked in Pereslavl-Zalessky.

The technology of combined shooting – miniature model work – was often used, where models of buildings were placed before the camera to blend with the sets and landscape.

Although many scenes took place in Novgorod and Pskov, the film crew did not travel to these cities. Their medieval appearance was reconstructed in Kolomna, where, based on sketches by production designer Iosif Shpinel, streets and cathedral sets were built.

For the filming of the Battle on the Ice, a special asphalt surface was made in the courtyard of Mosfilm on Potylikha, covered with sawdust and salt. Naphthalene with chalk was added for a frosty sheen, and the whole thing was covered with liquid glass.

The role of Lake Peipus was assigned to a pond near the studio.

Ice floes were made from white-painted polystyrene, plywood, and wood.

The filming took place in the midst of summer heat, so the actors suffered under their sheepskin coats and armor; when chainmail and armor were made of real metal, the actors were burned by them.

The Alexander Nevsky Church built in Ust-Izhora under Peter I burned down six months after the emperor's death. It was restored and burned down a second time shortly after the death of Catherine the Great.

Another restoration was carried out using funds from the residents of Ust-Izhora and workers from state-owned brick factories.

In the 19th century, it was expanded with a refectory, a bell tower, and side chapels of John the Baptist and Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The church was closed in 1934. The bell tower was blown up by Soviet sappers at the beginning of the siege because it served as a landmark for enemy artillery.

In 1987–1990, the church was restored and returned to the faithful.

On July 14, 1990, a church service was held here dedicated to the 750th anniversary of the Battle of the Neva, with a religious procession during which the relics were carried around the church.

In 2002, the "Chapel on the Site of God's Help on the Day of the Battle of the Neva" with a sculptural portrait of Alexander Nevsky was restored nearby. In 2003, a monument to the prince-commander was unveiled on the shore (figure height: 340 cm, pedestal height: 280 cm, sculptor V. E. Gorevoy, architect V. V. Popov). Next to the church, the "Battle of the Neva" diorama museum operates.