Exhibition of the Dmitrievsky Cathedral

About exhibition

The Dmitrievsky Cathedral is a unique church of the north-eastern part of Ancient Rus, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The cathedral was built at the behest of Grand Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest in the late 12th century as the prince's palace church, housing the relics of Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, patron of the imperial court, the nobility, and princely families. Created by local craftsmen, it astonishes with its architectural forms, monumentality, majesty, and rich decoration. The church façades are adorned with hundreds of carved stones depicting biblical and mythological scenes. On the walls are images of the biblical King David seated on a throne, Alexander the Great ascending to the heavens, Hercules performing his labors, mounted horsemen and saints, as well as a variety of animals and birds. The themes of the carvings convey the idea of glorifying the land of Vladimir and princely authority. The cathedral preserves 12th-century frescoes by Byzantine masters depicting scenes of the Last Judgment.