Periayaslavl Zalessky

John Sloan
Micha Jelisavcic

The town was built by Plescheyevo lake, which centuries later became the birthplace of the Russian navy. It has the only well-preserved medieval ramparts in Russia. Return to Xenophon page here.
Periayaslavl-Zalessky was built in 1152 to defend approaches to Vladimir-Suzdal. Among the Russian princes of the 12th century, Yuri Dolgoruki (Long-arm) is considered to be the most active and far seeing. After having founded Moscow in 1147, he decided to protect northeastern Russia from invasions of disturbing neighbors. He built Periayaslavl-Zalessky near the place where the Trubezh River flows into Pleshcheevo Lake on the cross roads of the route leading from Kiev to Rostov Veliky and the river route from Novgorod to Vladimir-Suzdal territory and on to the lands of the Volga Bulgars.
Yuri also laid the foundation for the white stone Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Savior in 1152. It is the oldest building in northeast Russia. Around the cathedral and former town is the remains of the massive earthen rampart. The oldest other building is the Church of the Metropolitan Peter, built in 1585. There are other churches in the city including the Church of Our Savior and St. Cornelius, built in 1696-1705.
Cathedral of the Transfiguration. View shows the cathedral with bust of Alexander Nevski on entrance walk.
In 1220 the glorious Russian commander Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich, who later came to be called Alexander Nevsky, was born in Periayaslavl Zalessky. "Those who will come sword in hand, will be put to the sword", once that famous Periayaslavlian said. And up to the present the city reveres the memory of its great citizen. A large part of the Periayaslavl city tour is devoted to Prince Alexander Nevsky.
There are three monasteries in Periayaslavl. The oldest is the Goritsky Monastery begun during the reign of Ivan I. It is well fortified on an imposing hill site. There is a small gate church. Inside is a lovely baroque, seven-domed Cathedral of the Dormition, built in 1757.
The Danilov Monastery is located on low ground southwest of town. It was begun by Vasilii III. The Cathedral of the Trinity was built there in 1530-32 on the birth of Vasilii's son, Ivan IV. It contains extremely valuable frescoes by Guri Nikitin. Next door is the Church of All Saints built in 1687.
The St. Nicetas Monastery on the road to Yaroslavl is especially important. It contains a church dating from the reign of Vasilii III. But the massive fortification was completed in the unheard of brief period 1561-64 on order of Ivan IV who wanted to create yet another fortress for his own protection. He later changed his mind and went to Alexandrov Sloboda. But the fortress was strong enough to hold out the Polish army of Jan Sapieha in 1608. The five domed cathedral dates from Ivan IV. The eastern influences seen in this building may originate from the entourage of Ivan's Kabardinian wife, Princess Maria Temriukovna. The large Church of the Annunciation dates from the 17th century. The bell tower was built in 1818.

On the banks of the beautiful Pleshcheevo Lake the young prince Peter I studied shipbuilding. During four years he built his famous Poteshny (fun) Flotilla there. That is considered the ancestor of the Russian Navy. In Periayaslavl itself Peter found experienced assistants who as well as the Dutch shipwrights made their contribution to the construction of galleys, yachts, and frigates. They helped make Russia a sea power. Peter's boat This is one of the two remaining original boats from Peter's first fleet on the lake. It is in a small museum built on the site of Peter's shipyard beside the lake. From this location one can see how far the lake has receeded in the last three centuries.

	Photo	Description
		Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Savior begun by Yuri Dolgoruki in 1152. It is the oldest building in this part of Russia. The bust of Prince Alexander Nevski, who was born here in 1220, stands in front of the cathedral.
		Another view of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Savior.
		View of the side of the Cathedral.
		Interior of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Savior
		Interior of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Savior
		View of the back of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of our Savior from on top of the earthen rampart of the city wall of 1150's.
		View of the outside of the earthen rampart beside the Trubezh River.
		View from the top of the earthen rampart down to the Trubezh river.
		Administrative building inside city ramparts.
		Church of the Metropolitan Peter built in 1585 stands near the Cathedral inside the ramparts of Periayaslavl.
		Church built inside ancient ramparts 1745 by merchants
		One of a pair of churches built in 1745 by merchants next to the Chruch of the Metropolital Peter inside the ramparts.
		Simeonovski Church built in 1771 on the main street across the Trubezh river from the ancient town.
		View of the Goritski Monastery on hill overlooking Periayaslavl.
		Entering the Goritski Monastery on a hill overlooking Periayaslavl and Lake Pleshchevo. Inside are the bell tower and the Uspenski (Assumption) Cathedral
		The red bell tower and orange Cathedral of the Assumption in the Goritski Monastery
		Another view of the bell tower and Cathedral of the Assumption.
		Carved iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Assumption
		Gate of the Goritski Monastery from outside.
		Corner of the walls of the Goritski Monastery from inside
		Holy Gate of the Goritski Monastery from inside
		Walls of the Goritski Monastery
		Wall of the Goritski Monastery
		Outside the walls of the Goritski Monastery
		View from the hill outside the Goritski Monastery over Periayaslavl.
		Tower of the Feydorovski Monastery
		In the Feydorovski Monastery, the Kazan Hospital Church, 1714.
		Cathedral of St Theodore Stratilat in the Fyodorovski Convent built in 1557 by Ivan IV on the birth of his son, Fyedor.
		Cathedral of St Theodore Stratilat
		Entrance gate and Church of Archangel Gabriel over the gate of the Nikitski Monastery outside Periayaslavl. The St Nicias Cathedral shows its green domes over the wall.
		St Nikita's Cathedral in the Nikitsky Monastery. The cathedral was ordered and dedicated by Ivan IV in 1574.
		Inside the Nikitski Monastery across the lake from Pereyaslavl. The St Nikita Cathederal was built from 1561 to 1574 and the bell tower was built in 1688.
		Corner tower and walls of the Monastery outside Pereyaslavl. In side is thee St Nikita's Cathedral, dedicated by Ivan IV himself in 1574, and the Blagoveschenskaya (Annunciation) Church
		Nikitski Monastery outside Pereyaslavl. Inside are the St Nikita Cathedral, the Annunciation Church with large bell tower and the Archangel Gabriel gate-church.
		Nikitski Monastery outside Pereyaslavl - inside are the St Nikita Cathedral, the Annunciation Church with large bell tower and the Archangel Gabriel gate church.
		Nikitski Monastery outside Periayaslavl
		Corner tower and walls of the St Nikitski Monastery outside Periayaslavl
		Wall of the Nikitski Monastery and domes of the St Nikita Cathedral built in 1574 outside Periayaslavl.
		Towers and wall of the Nikitski Monastery. The stone walls were built on order of Ivan IV who thought to make this fortress his base.
		Tower of the Nikitski Monastery built in1560's.
		Walls and corner tower of the Nikitski Monastery built in the 1560's.
		Bell tower at entrance gate church of Archangel Gabriel of the Nikitski Monastery. The Cathedral of St Nikita shows its green domes behind the local home.
		Bust of Peter I at the Botnik museum to his first 'navy' on Lake Pleshchevo.
		Memorial to Peter the Great at the Botnik museum on the location of his shipyard at Lake Pleshchevo.
		Buildings at the Botnik museum south of Periayaslavl.
		The last remaining of Peter's boats built on Lake Pleshchevo in the Botnik museum here.
		A painting of one of Peter's boats under sail.
		The immense carveed wooden iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Goritski Monastery
		The immense carveed wooden iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Dormition in the Goritski Monastery. Three monks fill the space with gorgeous chant thanks to the remarkable acoustics.
		Detail of the carved iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Dormition.
		Another view of detail of the carved iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Dormition.
		Another view of detail of the carved iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Dormition.
		Another view of detail of the carved iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Dormition.
		Another view of detail of the carved iconostasis in the Cathedral of the Dormition.
		View of the ceiling and open dome in the Cathedral of the Dormition.
		View of the cathedral in the Goritski monastery and of Lake Pleshchevo in the distance.
		View of the Holy Gate and part of the monastery wall - Goritski monastery. - Note the monument with t-34 tank on pedestal in the parking lot.
		View of the cathedral and church with Lake Pleshchevo in distance.
		View of the cathedral and church with Lake Pleshchevo in distance.
		View of the bell tower in the Goritski monastery
		View of domes and upper part of Cathedral of the Dormition.
		View of church in the Goritski monastery
		View of domes of cathedral and church.
		Church in kremlin area
		Interior view of dome in Cathedral of the Transfiguration.
		Church in kremlin
		Domes of two churches in area next to cathedral.
		Interior of Cathedral of the Transfiguration.
		Small remaining piece of fresco decoration in the interior of Cathedral of the Transfiguration.
		Bust of Alexander Nevski
		scafold covering restoration work on cathedral.
		Magnificent church on the main road from Periyaslavl to Moscow.
		Cathedral domes.

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