Architecture of Kievan Rus
St. Sophia Cathedral as the first architecture of Kievan Rus
The first stone architectural buildings were built in the late 10th century, with the advent of Christianity. The first stone church was built in 989, by order of Vladimir the Great. It has not survived until our time. The style of the building was Byzantine. A vivid example, which remained from those times is the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. The date of completion of its construction dates back to 1036, under the principality of Yaroslav the Wise.
St. Sophia Cathedral was built on the site of the prince's victory over the Pechenegs. The cathedral was first crowned with thirteen baths, which created a pyramidal structure. Now the temple has 19 baths. From the west, according to the Byzantine tradition, two towers, called staircases, approach the temple, they lead to choirs, and also a flat roof. St. Sophia Cathedral is a pearl of architecture of Kievan Rus. This temple connects Byzantine and Russian styles.
The Transfiguration Cathedral
Another masterpiece of Rus' architecture is the Transfiguration Cathedral in Chernigov. He was founded by the brother of Yaroslav the Wise Mstislav in 1030.The Spassky Cathedral was the main shrine of the Chernigov earth and city, and also the burial vault in which Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich, his wife Anastasia, their son Eustathius, Prince Svyatoslav Yaroslavovich were buried. Spassky Cathedral - a unique structure, belongs to the oldest temples of Kievan Rus.
Pyatnitskaya church
Also one of the oldest churches is Pyatnitskaya church in Chernigov. Danae church belongs to the standard single-dome churches with four pillars. The name of the architect is unknown. Pyatnitsky temple - a unique, unique and, perhaps, the most beautiful in all the pre-Mongolian temple architecture of Kievan Rus. By the way, this church was restored.
The Church of Panteleimon
The only architectural monument of the Galicia-Volyn principality, which has survived to our times - is the church of Panteleimon. It is built on top of a hill, to the places where the Dniester and Lokva merge together. A temple is built of blocks that are very tightly fitted to each other and fixed with a thin layer of fastening mortar. The construction was very durable. In the architecture of the temple there are three styles united: the Byzantine, the Roman and the traditional Old Russian. In those days, the warrior and internecine struggle, churches and cathedrals were built as defensive structures, therefore the Church of Panteleimon has such a special architecture.
Top lock
Also to the architecture of Rus it is possible to attribute the Upper Castle in Lutsk, which was built in the second half of the XIV century. Through a deep ditch a drawbridge led to the castle. The length of the walls of the castle is 240 m, height - 10 m, in the corners are three towers.
- The entrance tower was erected at the end of the 13th century. At first it was three-tiered. After the addition of two more levels, its height reached 27 meters. The thickness of the walls of the lower tiers reaches 3.6 m.
- Styrova tower. Has received such name, because it is above the river Styr. It was built during the 13th-14th centuries. The height of the tower is 27 m.
- The lord is the third tower, has a height of 13, 5 meters. In ancient times, she was held at the expense of the lord, from where her name comes. In the tower itself is a museum of bells, in a dungeon - a prison.
Between the Entrance and Styrovaya towers in place of the prince's hotel is a "noble house".
Most of the temples and castles of Rus have been repeatedly restored in connection with the Mongol invasion.