Moscow, like other large cities of Russia, is rich not only in its history, but also in historical and cultural objects reminiscent of the events of this history. From time to time, the collection of monuments to the characters of Russian statehood is replenished with new exhibits. One of these monuments was the monument to Prince Vladimir of Kiev on Borovitskaya Square in Moscow. Let's talk about it in more detail.
How to choose a place for a monument to Prince Vladimir on Borovitskaya Square
This is one of the youngest historical monuments in Moscow. It was opened on November 4 last year near the heart of the capital - the Kremlin, near the historical building of the Manege - on Borovitskaya Square. The place for the monument was not immediately determined: the huge size of the sculpture - 24 meters - assumed a large territory, on a grand scale, so much so that it was visible from afar. It was with the choice of place that the history of the monument to Vladimir the Great began. Initially, an observation deck was planned under it on the Sparrow Hills, but the public opposed this: only the back of the Prince of Kiev will be visible from the university. To survey the entire monument, it was necessary to stand on the opposite bank of the Moscow River, to which he was turned to face. Whether this or that was the reason, but the experts did not agree with the original plan. Long disputes and discussions ended in a unanimous decision - to establish the figure of Vladimir, Prince of Kiev, reducing it to 18 meters in the very center of Moscow, just in its original place - not far from Borovitsky Hill. Yes, and the sculpture will be visible there from all sides.
Before opening
The author of the monument to Prince Vladimir the Great of the seventeen-meter height was Salvat Shcherbakov. And the idea was expressed back in 2014 by the Military Historical Society of Russia.
A lot of time was spent on creating the monument, and a lot of bronzes were also used - as many as 25 tons. The author himself at the opening of the sculpture said that the work on the image was based on the masterpieces of the famous Russian artist Viktor Vasnetsov - murals of the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev, sculptures of the 19th century, as well as the faces of Vladimir the Holy, embodied in iconic works by Russian icon painters.
The history of the monument to Prince Vladimir on Borovitskaya Square is associated with interesting facts. Almost a month was spent on delivering the monument to the installation site, and the opening ceremony was timed to coincide with an important public holiday - National Unity Day. Welding and installation of the sculpture lasted several days. During the installation, we used a 500-ton crane with a lifting capacity and a huge welded metal construction-container, in which a bronze sculpture was transported to Borovitsky Hill.
Monument to Vladimir the Great in Moscow
The monument is quite heavy: its weight is about 40 tons. The granite pedestal of the monument is almost three meters high, and the growth of the bronze Vladimir himself is about 12 meters; the figure is crowned by a cross 3 meters high above the head of the prince.
The sculptor drew ten sitters to work on the monument to Prince Vladimir on Borovitskaya Square, from which he wrote angles of different parts of the figure and the prince's pose. The background for the monument is three thematic bas-reliefs behind the princely figure: the baptism of Prince Vladimir himself, the baptism of Rus by him and the unification of Russian people. And this is not accidental, just as the idea of perpetuating this historical character is not accidental. Indeed, it was thanks to Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich who managed to subjugate many autocratic and free-thinking tribes and unite the lands around the capital city of Kiev. It was Orthodoxy, chosen by Prince Vladimir as a unifying religion, that could become the instrument with which it was possible to complete what was begun. After all, the idea to unite the Rus with faith in a new idol, created by him, with a silver head, collapsed. And without the unification of the people, the state would not become strong, would not be able to confront its external enemies.
Negative character
Prince Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko is the son of the Kiev prince Svyatoslav Igorevich from the Rurikovich clan and the daughter of the prince of the Drevlyansky Malusha. He was born far from the capital city, but was soon demanded by Princess Olga and returned to his father’s homeland. He was the heir to Novgorod, who wrote to him in possession before his disastrous campaign Svyatoslav.
The first period of growing up in the reign of Vladimir was barbaric and bloody: the insidious and bloody murder of Brother Yaropolk and the father and brothers of his wife Rogneda, committed violence against Rogneda for forced marriage, forcibly taking the murdered Yaropolk, the former nun and Greek woman, as a concubine of the pregnant wife.
And in religion, Vladimir was originally not only an ardent pagan. It is believed that he actively used bloody human sacrifices to idols and gods.
On the way to correction
Feeling guilty for the murder of his brother and fate almost distraught from the grief of Rogneda, nicknamed Gorislav, over time, began to torment Vadimir Svyatoslavich more and more. Prayers and sacrifices to pagan gods and idols did not facilitate the experience. Gradually, the prince began to realize that they were powerless to alleviate his moral suffering. Vladimir came to the conclusion that it was necessary to find the right faith. This was also facilitated by the difficulties in uniting the tribes of Ancient Russia into a single state on the basis of the former faith, since each tribe has its own faith, its gods were the only true ones. Vladimir sent ambassadors to different countries to get acquainted with other religions. Faith, elected at the council, was Greek - Orthodox. However, for its adoption and inheritance, reconciliation with the long-standing enemy of Russia, Byzantium, was necessary. Vladimir asked the rulers of Constantinople Constantine and Basil not only for baptism, but also the hands of their sister Anna. So that there was no refusal, Vladimir Svyatoslavich captured the Greek city of Chersonese and in case of refusal threatened to seize Constantinople. Konstantin and Vasily obeyed and persuaded the obedient Anna to marry the Russian prince. Anna’s meeting with Vladimir took place in Khersones.
Vladimir and the baptism of Rus
At that time, the Kiev prince was sick with a strange eye disease, from which healers could not save him. Anna insisted on urgent baptism. During the ceremony, Vladimir’s disease was miraculously healed. From this moment, other Rusich began to be baptized in the new faith. And upon the newlyweds' arrival in Kiev, according to the decree of Prince Vladimir, all idols were dropped in the Dnieper, and the majority of the city’s population was baptized in the waters of the river. The prince himself refused polygamy, leaving behind his only wife - Anna.
Positive character
After baptism, Vladimir Svyatoslavich began to lead a virtuous life. The aggressive campaigns of the Russian army on neighboring tribes and states ceased. Prince of Kiev began to care primarily about the enlightenment of the people. Schools and schools were opened for them, churches were built, charity developed: the poor could find shelter, food and financial support in the prince’s court, and those who couldn’t leave the house were brought food at the prince’s decree. In his mercy, Prince Vladimir sometimes even went too far. For example, the death penalty of criminals was replaced by a ransom. Too soft attitude towards Novgorod led to the fact that the Novgorodians came out of obedience, refused to pay tribute to Kiev and demanded liberties. Shortly before his death, Vladimir the Holy made another major political mistake - he divided the lands into inheritance between his sons, thereby dooming the Fatherland during the internecine wars.
Sculptural character
Vladimir is represented in the Shcherbakov monument as a holy prince of equal apostles and as the baptist of Russia in the Orthodox faith. That is why he is dressed in a long robe of a resident of Ancient Russia, which flutters in the wind. The clothes are belted with a wide belt, to which a sword is hitched, sheathed in a sheath, as a symbol of peace. In the hand is a cross raised into the sky as a spiritual landmark. He points the way to true faith.
The head of Prince Vladimir is crowned with a princely hat trimmed with fur and decorated with precious stones as a symbol of power and wealth. Of course, both fur and precious stones are also made of bronze.
The area around the monument
With the installation of the monument to Vladimir Borovitskaya Square changed its appearance.
The sculpture is set in the center of a historic hill and fenced off by trees from residential buildings. From the side of the Alexander Garden, gently sloping steps lead to it, which diverge below the fan, resembling waves from a person who has entered the water. This is an allegory of the baptism of Russian people in the Dnieper water. And near the Alexander Garden, the steps resemble a pointed wing as an angelic symbol of heavenly grace and heavenly powers. Near the monument, an electric artistic illumination is included, focusing on his figure even in the dark.
