Church of Prince Dimitry-on-Blood - Uglich, Russian Federation - Orthodox Churches on Waymarking.com

This church is a memorial for an infamous event in the history of Uglich. At his death in 1584, Ivan the Terrible left two sons, Fyodor, who was mentally handicapped, and Dimitri, an infant. Fyodor became Czar and because of his inability to rule Boris Godunov became his regent. Dimitri, a bright child, and his mother were exiled to Uglich and kept in captivity, living in a small palace within the Uglich Kremlin which at that time was a walled enclosure.

On May 15, 1591, eight year old Dimitri was found dead with a knife wound to his throat. Dimitri's mother and her local supporters, summoned by the ringing of a church bell, naturally suspected murder and the regent's agents and other Muscovites were killed immediately.

Boris sent soldiers to Uglich and the rebellion was quickly quelled with a number of people executed and most of the town sent off to exile in Siberia. Dimitri's mother was sent to the monastery at Goritsy. The bell which sounded the alarm had its clapper removed and it was also exiled to Siberia. Boris Godunov's official inquiry ruled that the Prince had been playing with knives, had suffered an epileptic seizure and had fallen on his own knife. Historians have supported both explanations of Dimitry's death.

After Fyodor died Boris became Czar, ushering in a period of Russian History known as the "Time of Troubles" which persisted until the establishment of the Romanov dynasty in 1613. By the early 17th century Uglich had become a pilgrimage site and Dimitry had become a saint. A small wooden church was erected at the spot where he died.

The present memorial church was constructed in 1692. The church is currently on the tentative list for inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site where it is described as follows:
"The Church of Prince Dimitri The temple of consists of the three parts: the altar, the double filament main section, the worship, refectory and vestibule with porch. The facade is decorated with intricate brickwork. This monument is one of the best known on the Volga river. More than hundred thousand people visit this cite every year. The wall paintings of the church were made by the group of artists from Rostov Velikii headed by P.I. Khlebnikov in 1787-1788. In the refectory and the main section, the worship, there are icons of 17-18 centuries painted by the best tzar's icon painters. There are also some historical documents connected with the death of Prince Dimitri. The well known bell that had announced to Uglich the news of his death is also there.

The death of Dimitri and the subsequent reign of Boris Godunov inspired a narrative poem by Pushkin, which in turn was the basis for Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov"

The blue spangled domes and the bright red coloration of this small church make it a striking sight as one approaches Uglich on the river. Cruise ships anchor very close to the back side of the church. Frescoes inside the church depict both explanations of Dimitri's death. The exiled bell has been restored and tour guides will gently ring it.

Type of Orthodox Church: Eastern Type of Building: Church Status of Building: Actively in use for worship Date of building construction: 07/01/1692 Associated Icons, Reliefs, art, etc.: Historical Frescos, The exiled Bell. Address: The kremlin Uglich, Russian Federation . Date of organization: Not listed Diocese: Not listed Archdiocese: Not listed Relevant Website: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   01/07/2008 NevaP visited it

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