Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral, 12th century

About museum

Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of the 12th century — the oldest church in Pereslavl-Zalessky and one of the earliest monuments of the Vladimir-Suzdal school of architecture. It was founded in 1152 by Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy and completed five years later under his son Andrei Bogolyubsky. It served both as the princely church and as the fortress garrison. Since then it has remained the principal town-forming element of Pereslavl-Zalessky. In 2015 it was recognized as a particularly valuable object of the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia. In this cathedral Alexander Nevsky was baptized and tonsured to the princely office; here the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh was ordained an igumen, and Alexander Nevsky's son and grandson are buried. The volunteer army of Minin and Pozharsky prayed here for victory over the Lithuanians, and the genius Chaliapin sang the All-Night Vigil in the choir. After the 2015 restoration the cathedral restored its original appearance.