Photo: architectural monuments, temples and places of worship, cathedrals and churches, other places, Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Yaroslavl

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Saint Michael the Archangel Church – a Temple for Defenders of the Fatherland

Architectural Monuments • Temples and places of worship • Cathedrals and churches • Other places

Saint Michael the Archangel Church is one of the oldest in Yaroslavl. Consecrated in honor of Archangel Michael, the commander of the Heavenly Host, the church has been serving as the main temple for the Yaroslavl military for several centuries. As stated in the annals, the temple already existed by the 1210s. It was built on the orders of Prince Constantine of Novgorod, who held sway over Yaroslavl.

By the late XIII century, the building of Saint Michael the Archangel Church was dilapidated and a new church was built. This time the construction was initiated by representative of the Khan family from the Golden Horde, who became the wife of Prince Fyodor the Black and adopted the name Anna in Orthodoxy. She also decided to consecrate the church in the name of Archangel Michael. Under Princess Anna, icons appeared in the church which have survived to our time: the images of Archangel Michael, St. Anthony the Great, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God and Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. This building of the church stood until the end of the XVII century. The construction of the next temple took more than 20 years. The church turned out to be diverse in style, since its construction was donated by the Yaroslavl merchants who had different tastes. It is a five-domed church with a massive bell tower and tiles on the facade. It is known for its 18th-century murals, similar to Russian popular print. The paintings have survived, despite a serious desolation in Soviet days. Today the church, having been reopen to believers, also acts as a platform for the bell-ringing festival "Transfiguration".

Saint Michael the Archangel Church – a Temple for Defenders of the Fatherland

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