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One of the most convenient approaches to
Kiev from the North was through the place known as Dorogozhichi. It was for
this reason that Chernigov's princes decided to establish at this particular
place a monastery and to build a stone church intended to serve as their family
sepulcher (burial place). The church built in 1146 was dedicated to Saint
Cyril, who, according to the legend, killed on that spot a twelve-headed dragon
and decided to found in that spot a monastery, which was then named after him.
The Saint Cyril church repeats the main features of the Cathedral of Assumption
in the Lavra; a single cupola, three-aisles church built in the form of a Greek
cross. As most other churches in this region it was restored in the seventeenth
century when four more pear shaped cupolas were added. At this time the church
was redecorated and most frescoes repainted. Part of the original frescoes were
discovered in 1860 and later restored. They are on the southern wall and show
Saint Cyril preaching Christianity. This is a very fine and well preserved
example of the early Russian fresco painting. The restoration was headed by
professor A. V. Prakhov. Among the artists who helped him was M. A.Vroubel. He
painted the scene of the Pentecost on an empty portion of the gallery and also
created a few icons that in the Soviet time were removed, but later displayed
in the Museum of Russian art in Kiev. It was difficult to discover what
happened to the remains of Kiev Prince Svyatoslav III Vsyevolodovich who was
buried in the church. In 1184 he led the coalition army of Russian princes
against the Cumans, known in Russian as Polovtsy (Kipchaki), a nomadic tribe of
Turk origin who in the eleventh century established several hordes in the
steppes between the Volga and the Dnieper rivers. From here they undertook
their violent attacks for plunder against Russian principalities and other
states. In 1929 the last religious service was celebrated in Saint Cyril's
church, after which the priests were ousted from it. The church remained closed
for several years and then was converted to a museum of ancient art.
After the death of Svyatopolk in 1113, and in violation of the agreement
reached among the Russian princes at Liubech (in 1097) that sanctioned the
principle of patrimonial succession, (called in Russian "Otchina,"
Kiev's throne passed not to Svyatopolk's but to Vsevolod's son Vladimir
Monomakh. Though considered capable rulers, neither Vladimir nor his son,
Mstislav I Vladimirovich, could stop the disintegration of the once unified and
mighty Kievan state. Internal conflicts and even wars between brothers and the
various princes (pretenders to the Kievan throne), continued to weaken and
break it up. But even before the eclipse of Kiev, several other capitals of
principalities, most of them headed by local dynasties, gained additional
independence and a few of them became new political and cultural centers. The
most important of these principalities that originally developed from the
city-states were Chernigov, Rostov, Suzdal and Novgorod.
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