Vologda is the largest city in the north-west of Russia, an important historical and cultural center of the country. This article will focus on its symbols. What does the flag and coat of arms of Vologda look like? And what's the point in them?
Vologda: a brief history of the city
Vologda is classified as a city with a particularly valuable historical heritage. On its territory there are more than two hundred architectural and historical-cultural monuments.
When the city was founded, historians do not know for sure, but the first annalistic mention of it dates back to 1147. As for the name of the city, it is most likely that it comes from the old-Veps word "valgeda". Translated, this means "white." Most likely, we are talking about a whitish shade of water in a local river with the same name.
During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, Vologda became an important trading center of the country. What is interesting: the first Russian ambassador in England was a resident of Vologda. Here, the tsar ordered the construction of the Vologda Kremlin, which was to become twice as large as the Moscow. However, the construction work was never completed. According to legend, when visiting the St. Sophia Cathedral in the Kremlin, a stone fell on the head of the sovereign. Ivan the Terrible took this as a bad sign and stopped the construction of a grandiose complex in Vologda.
Coat of arms of Vologda and its flag: history and description
At the heart of the city coat of arms is a classic French shield of red color with a point below. In its right part there is a silvery cloud from which the right hand emerges. This hand holds a golden sword and a golden power.
The coat of arms of Vologda was approved in July 1994. In addition to the official, there is also a ceremonial version of the coat of arms, which is additionally decorated with some elements. First, the heraldic shield is supported by two young men in robes and silver swords in their hands. The shield itself is crowned with a large tower crown with five large battlements.
The history of the coat of arms of Vologda is quite interesting. So, the date of his birth can be considered the year 1712, when the image described above appeared in the form of a banner of the Vologda military regiment. Some historians claim that the author of this emblem was Peter I. After that, in the entire history of Vologda, its official emblem was changed at least six times!
A rather interesting project was developed and approved in Soviet times - in 1967. The coat of arms of Vologda in that version was a classic French shield, divided by a ribbon with an ornament into two parts - the blue top and the green bottom. An elk was depicted in the center of the coat of arms, a boat in the upper right corner, and a green spruce in the lower left. Thus, the main features of Vologda were taken into account in this project, but the main heraldic element - the hand with the sword and the power - was ignored.
The flag of Vologda is practically no different from the coat of arms: the same image on a standard rectangular cloth of red color. The author of this version of the flag, which was officially approved in 2003, was O. Sviridenko.
Semantics of the city coat of arms and flag
What does the coat of arms of Vologda mean? To answer this question, you should talk about one interesting legend.
So, it says some Belorizans, who once allegedly saved Vologda and at the same time died. According to legend, the inhabitants hid in their city from the attacks of a powerful enemy army. Enemies surrounded the fortress and were preparing for a decisive assault. It seemed that nothing could save the inhabitants of Vologda.
However, a miracle happened: unknown young men descended from heaven, who very quickly dealt with the enemy and thereby saved Vologda. However, the heroes themselves also died in this battle.
Thus, the image on the emblem of the city is directly related to this story. The sword in the right hand is a symbol of fair judgment and defense, directly pointing to the legend of the Belorussian. The golden power in the hand personifies state power. Not for nothing that Tsar Ivan the Terrible intended to turn Vologda into the capital of the state. But the young men in vestments depicted on the ceremonial version of the coat of arms of the city are precisely those Belorizans who saved this city.
