Dove on Hagia Sophia. Crosses on domes: a unique collection of Inver Sheydaev
During the Week of the Cross, we figure out what a cross on a church should look like. Photographer Inver Sheydaev devoted his entire life to collecting a collection of photographs of domed crosses of various shapes. We publish the most interesting pictures.
The village of Nikolo-Arkhangelskoye. St. Nicholas-Arkhangelsk Church (XVIII century)
We express special gratitude to the authors of the book “Russian Cross. Symbolism of the Orthodox overhead cross" to Marina Anashkevich and Invrera Sheidaev for the opportunity to truly appreciate the heavenly beauty, which we rarely look closely at in ordinary life.
The main part of this collection was collected during the Khrushchev “thaw”, and then the Brezhnev “stagnation”. The first exhibition took place in 1968, but was immediately closed. Only in the 90s the collection received recognition and was shown not only in Russia, but also in Paris. For thirty years, photographer Inver Sheydayev traveled through the cities and towns of the then Soviet Union and photographed the crosses crowning the heads of Russian churches, the crosses at the head. What did he have to endure on these travels? Once, by some miracle, he even persuaded the men of one distant village to dismantle the scaffolding surrounding the dome of the temple in order to photograph the cross.
It all started in the office of the famous Pyotr Dmitrievich Baranovsky (1892-1984), where the young photographer showed his work to the famous restoration architect. Then Inver was fascinated by the decorative elements of temples.
One day Pyotr Dmitrievich said: “This is full of everything. You better look up. Take off the crosses. No one has ever photographed this beauty before. Collect crosses, sooner or later you will need it, you’ll see.” These words turned out to be prophetic. Later, Inver was approached more than once with “orders” for crosses. He took photographs for the restored churches on Solovki, for the churches of Tobolsk and other cities.
The collection turned out to be invaluable at a time when people began to “collect stones.” Many crosses were restored using photographs from this collection.
Unfortunately, many more destroyed churches, the crosses of which Inver photographed, still stand, overgrown with forests, decapitated. Pyotr Dmitrievich Baranovsky, who has seen many churches in ruins in his lifetime, said: “Why is the cross destroyed in the first place? Because he, like a mother’s breast, nourishes.”
LILY AND GRAPES
Krin is a stylized image of a lily flower, a symbol of purity. Such krinas were usually made at the ends of the “branches” of the cross, because the three leaves of the lily (krin) testify to the One Holy Trinity in three Persons. 
Moscow. Novodevichy Convent. Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. (1525)
A vine entwined with a cross with bunches of berries is a symbol of the Living Christ. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). Vologda blacksmiths were especially successful in forging grape ornaments on the head crosses. Cross of the Church of Demetrius of Prilutsky of the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery in Vologda. And one can be amazed at how subtly the masters conveyed the symbolic connection between the vine and Holy Communion. This headpiece has a crescent moon at the bottom, symbolically representing the Chalice. 
Vologda. Church of Demetrius of Prilutsky Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery.
Vologda. St. Sophia Cathedral (1568-1570)
PIGEON
The dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit since time immemorial. “... and John saw the Spirit of God, which descended like a dove...” (Matthew 3: 16) This bird itself, frozen in flight, has the appearance of a cross. 
Cross of the Church of the Myrrh-Bearing Wives Martha and Mary in Novgorod (1510).
If you look closely, you can see in the openwork heart of this cross a dove with outstretched wings. But such an image is the only one, mostly doves were cast and crowned with a cross. In ancient times, doves on the cross sometimes also showed which direction the wind was blowing; they were called windbirds.
Velikiy Novgorod. Saint Sophia Cathedral. (1049-1050)
This cross and the dove on it have their own legendary history. There is a prophecy that Veliky Novgorod will exist as long as the dove is on top of the cross of Hagia Sophia. In 1942, during the Great Patriotic War, the cross from Hagia Sophia was thrown off by a blast wave. He was taken outside Russia by soldiers of the Blue Division, a Spanish unit of the German army. Instead of the lost shrine, a “double” cross was subsequently installed on the main dome of Sofia; the original was kept in Spain, in the temple gallery of the Military Engineering Academy near Madrid, where it was installed in a prominent place. For more than 60 years, more than one generation of Spanish Christians prayed in front of this Russian shrine. Next to the cross was a memorial plaque with the names of sappers who died in Russia. In 2004, the cross returned to its homeland - Spain voluntarily handed it over to Russia. It was brought to Moscow by the Spanish Minister of Defense, and the cross was solemnly greeted in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Now it is kept in one of the chapels of the St. Sophia Cathedral.
LIFE SOURCE
Thriving shoots
If shoots grow from under the base of the cross, then it is called “flourishing”. The shoots symbolize rebirth, the Resurrection of Christ from the dead.
Ascended into the heavens, the overhead “flourished” crosses showed for the Russian people a visible image of the Garden of Eden and the tree of life growing in it. Some of these crosses are completely strewn with flowers, so it is impossible to look away. They truly resemble plants in a spring garden; the plant elements were chosen with such artistic flair. 
Moscow. Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary in Fili (1690-1693).
Drops of blood
Copper bulges - “dewdrops” and beads on the chains mean drops of blood shed by the Savior on the cross. In Rus' they were also called “tears”. 
St. Petersburg. Church of the Resurrection of Christ "Savior on Blood") (1883-1907), built on the site of the assassination of Emperor Alexander II in 1881.
VOLUNTARY SACRIFICE
Cane and spear
Kirillov. Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. Church of John Climacus (1572).
A cane with a sponge and a spear - instruments of the Passion of the Lord - are a frequent occurrence on domes. The main cross with the instruments of the Passion seems to replace the Crucifixion, which cannot be on the dome (it is located inside the temple). But the realism of the Savior’s terrible tortures on the cross should not overshadow the main thing - the triumph of the Crucified Redeemer, who defeated death. The lily flowers that complete the cross “branches” speak of this in the best possible way. 
Pskov region, village of Videlebye. Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (XVI century) The spear and sponge are stylized as two flowers that bloomed on the cross.
Now above the head of the already restored church, its cross rises again
HEAVEN KING
Crown
The crown on top of the main cross symbolizes the Cross of the Heavenly King and indicates to us that the church was erected by order of the king of the earth, or with donations from the royal treasury. The crown can be either quite real or very conditional. 
Ryazan. Spassky Monastery. Church of the Epiphany (1647)
Moscow. Church of the Deposition of the Robe in Leonovo (1719-1722)
Sovereign Scepter
The cross can also symbolize the second sign of Christ's royal power - the scepter. Giving the cross the appearance of a scepter is possible with the help of one well-known symbolism. The top of the scepters of the Russian tsars was the figure of a crowned double-headed eagle - the sovereign sign of Byzantium. However, domes with a double-headed eagle were installed on churches only in the era of Peter I, a tsar known for his imperial ambitions. 
Moscow. Church of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary in Fili (1693).
In unity and equality
A four-pointed cross (usually with a crescent at the bottom) has been placed on the domes of churches since ancient times. This type of cross symbolizes the Church of Christ in the unity and equality of its visible and invisible sides. Over time, there were detractors of the four-pointed cross, they said that this was the wrong cross, because it was not the one on which Christ was crucified. But Saint Demetrius of Rostov put an end to this dispute. He suggested that when Christ carried the cross on His shoulders, the cross was not yet four-pointed, because there was no title or foot on it yet, and only on Golgotha the soldiers, not knowing where Christ’s feet would reach, attached a foot. 
Vladimir. Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady (1158-1160)
Tula region, Arsenyevsky district, village of Monaenki. Church of St. George the Victorious (XIX)
And this is what the temple looks like now. The cross was preserved only in a photograph by Inver Sheydaev
Russian foothills
One of the oldest Russian crosses is six-pointed with an oblique lower crossbar. The oblique foot symbolically represents the crossbar of the “scales” of the Last Judgment. Some researchers of Christian symbols and, in particular, N.V. Pokrovsky suggest that the oblique crossbar is nothing more than a modified form of the ancient Byzantine foot of the cross. One way or another, this form became established in Russian icon painting. The oblique crossbar was given the meaning of “the measure of the righteous.” And people began to call the foot “stood”. 
Vologda. Bishop's House. Church of the Nativity (1670)
The Same Cross
The seven-pointed, T-shaped cross, apparently, was the oldest form of the Christian cross, since this is exactly what the cross, the instrument of execution of the Savior, looked like.
This cross has the appearance of an altar, due to the top crossbar, which looks like a throne. The Old Testament priests made sacrifices on a golden stool attached to the throne, therefore, if the upper crossbar symbolically represents the altar, then the lower crossbar of such a cross signifies this stool of the cross and points to the sacrificial priestly service of the Savior. 
Moscow. Kremlin. Church of the Twelve Apostles (1652-1656)
HEAVENLY POWERS
Sun and stars
Straight or wavy lines emanating from the center of the cross convey the radiance of the sun. Straight rays indicate direct light, and wavy rays indicate combustion and heat. The motif emanating from the cross of the “light of life” is conveyed by each artist in his own way. 
Pskov region, Loknyansky district, village of Dunyani. Church of the Archangel Michael (XVI-XVIII centuries) Such a cross is very rare. 
The temple itself is now ruins. The cross is lost.
Often the ends of the rays were also decorated with stars. 
Nizhny Novgorod. Church of the Nativity (1719)
Tobolsk Church of the Seven Youths of Ephesus. (XVIII century)
Lightning
“Like lightning seeing the power of the cross,” evil forces flee from the cross. That’s why lightning can be found on temple crosses. 
Moscow region, Odintsovo district, Yudino village. Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (1720)
Angels and Cherubs
By attaching a copper angel to the cross, the author emphasized that the temple also has a guardian angel. The most famous and traditional are angels carrying a cross, like a banner, as on the spire of the Cathedral of the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. 
Ryazan. Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (XVII)
Often in the main crosses there are images of Cherubim. 
Moscow region, village of Komyagino. Church of Sergius of Rajonezh
Now the church has been completely restored.
EARTHLY HAVEN
Ship and anchor
Our most ancient churches, on the heads of which there is a cross with a crescent, are the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral and the Demetrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir. The crescent is a church ship, led by the helmsman Christ. 
Moscow. Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God in Gonchary.
In the 19th century, the theme of a sailing ship was no longer limited to just the crescent symbol.
Thus, in the cross of the eight-pointed cross of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ on the Obvodny Canal in St. Petersburg, the steering wheel of a sea vessel is depicted, and instead of a semi-lunar one we see an oblique foot.
If the ship is anchored, then in terms of its safety it is as if already on the ground. And although the waves rock it, they cannot drown it. In many cases, it is almost impossible to distinguish a domed cross on a “lunar base” from a “anchor” cross. The only detail that unmistakably points to an “anchor” is all kinds of decorations and thickenings at the ends of the arc. 
Moscow region, Lukhovitsky district, Didinovo village. Church of the Life-Giving Trinity
Between heaven and earth
The place where the horizontal and the vertical intersect on the cross, the place of the middle cross, symbolizes the intersection of the human and the divine. The cross is a mediator between earth and heaven. Therefore, this place on the cross was often decorated with a “figure eight”, shaped like a keyhole. It is formed by the addition of two symbols - a halo (the radiance of holiness) and a tsata (a precious pendant denoting royal “purity”). 
Moscow. Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Kadashi (1687-1713)
The article uses materials from the book “Russian Cross. Symbolism of the Orthodox overhead cross." Moscow, “AST”, 2006.
The majestic St. Sophia Cathedral, the main temple of Veliky Novgorod, fascinates with its power. Like a stone embodiment of a Russian hero, he guards the peace of the city. Since the day of its foundation, the cathedral, otherwise called Sophia of Novgorod or St. Sophia, has been a city symbol. Built in the mid-11th century by Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, Sophia of Novgorod is the only temple of that time preserved in Russia.
The walls of the cathedral, reaching a thickness of 1.2 meters, were laid out of limestone of different shades, which gave Hagia Sophia a special beauty. Later the temple was plastered and painted white. Initially, all six domes of the St. Sophia Cathedral were covered with lead sheets. In the 15th century, the main dome was covered with gilded copper, thanks to which the cathedral acquired an even more solemn appearance.
The cathedral, designed in the Byzantine style, nevertheless had its own unique appearance. Severe restraint in details, nobility of precise proportions, solidity of closely spaced domes - all this created the impression of powerful energy contained in the image of the temple.
In general, the style of the cathedral was organically combined with the northern nature. It is no wonder that it was he who became the forerunner of the stone architecture of Northwestern Rus'; it was this architectural style that reigned in these parts for many centuries.
Associated with the St. Sophia Cathedral, the oldest architectural and historical monument of Russia several interesting legends. Here they are:
1. Dove on the cross
St. Sophia Cathedral, doveThe cross of the main dome of St. Sophia of Novgorod is decorated with a dove. According to legend, it was no coincidence that the bird figurine appeared there. In 1570, Tsar Ivan the Terrible ruthlessly suppressed the rebellion of the residents of Novgorod. In the midst of the terrible massacre, a dove sat on the cross of the temple and became petrified with fear. Around this time, one of the local monks had a dream in which the Mother of God enlightened him about the dove. According to her, the bird was sent to Novgorod as a sign of protection. " As long as the dove is on the cross of Hagia Sophia, the city will be safe.”
Dove on the cross of St. Sophia Cathedral It is noteworthy that the cross was taken to Spain during the Great Patriotic War. Volunteers from Spain also took part in the war on the side of the Third Reich - the so-called “Blue Division”. (The division got its name from the blue shirts - the uniform of the far-right party - the Spanish Phalanx). During one of the Soviet artillery attacks, several shells hit the central dome of Hagia Sophia, and the cross leaned down heavily. The religious Spaniards decided to take away the shrine because it seemed to them that shrines were being desecrated in Bolshevik Russia. For many years it stood at the Engineering Academy. There was an inscription under it, that this cross is in storage in Spain and will return to Russia when the godless Bolshevik regime disappears.
He returned to his hometown relatively recently, in 2004, having been exchanged for an exact copy.
2. Miracles icons
The second legend is associated with the city’s shrine, “The Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” kept in the St. Sophia Cathedral. The icon depicts the Virgin Mary with her hands raised to heaven and with the baby Jesus on her chest.
During the clash of Novgorod residents with Suzdal in 1169, the advantage was on the side of the latter. The townspeople could only hope for a miracle. And it happened!
The rector of St. Sophia Cathedral, John, prayed for several days, calling on the Lord for help. Finally, the abbot heard a voice that ordered him to transfer the icon of the Mother of God from the temple to the fortress wall of Novgorod. John immediately followed her and then, controlled by an invisible hand, the cathedral bells began to ring. The icon was installed on the wall, and immediately the enemy’s arrows stuck into the image of the Virgin Mary. After which the icon itself turned its face to Novgorod and tears flowed from it... At the same time, the Suzdal people became distraught and began to beat their own comrades. The enemy fled in horror and confusion. It is not known how true the legend is, but even now marks from arrows are visible on the icon.
Icon of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary 3. Right hand of Jesus
According to the chronicles, in 1045 Greek icon painters began painting the vault of the St. Sophia Cathedral. It was necessary to create an image of Jesus Christ with a blessing hand, according to the Orthodox canon. The craftsmen began their work, but in the morning the right hand of Jesus they depicted was clenched into a fist. Three times the icon painters re-copied Christ, and all three times in the morning the Savior’s hand was clenched. For the fourth time, the masters heard from heaven:
“Clerks, oh, clerks! Do not write me with a blessing hand, write me with a clenched hand, for in this hand I hold Veliky Novgorod; and when my hand extends, then this city will come to an end..."
Much later, in 1941, the image of Jesus Christ under the main dome of the temple was destroyed by a German shell. The hand of the Savior Almighty, figuratively speaking, turned out to be unclenched, and the city turned into ruins...
4. “Earless” bell of Hagia Sophia
Tsarevich Ivan on a walk with the guardsmen. Hood. M. Avilov The next legend was associated with the bell of Hagia Sophia. One day Tsar Ivan the Terrible was heading to church for mass. As soon as his horse entered the bridge over Volkhov, the bell ringer, wanting to please the king, struck the bell too zealously. Frightened by the loud ringing, the stallion almost knocked the rider into the river. Enraged, the king ordered the ears of the “impudent” bell to be cut off so that only the middle loop remained. Despite this, the bell, nicknamed “earless,” served the temple for a long time.
Preamble.
Irina Evgenievna Efremova, 3rd year student of the legal training direction of the non-state educational institution of the Modern Humanitarian Academy (Moscow) Novgorod branch.Report.
FROM THE MILITARY HISTORY OF SOPHIA'S CROSS
Mister Veliky Novgorod - one of the largest trading cities in Northern Europe, arose on the site of one of the ancient centers of Rus'. In ancient times, the city of Slovensk stood on the shores of Lake Ilmen. Then a new city was built nearby - Novgorod. Veliky Novgorod was liberated in January 1944, after which special commissions began to identify what was taken out by the occupiers. It was then that it was first noticed that on the broken dome of the St. Sophia Cathedral there was no ancient symbol of the city - a cross with a dove. He was never found; the tide was new after the war. The act of transferring the Novgorod shrine to Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' took place with the participation of the defense ministers of both sides. The return of the domed cross of the Cathedral of Sophia of the Wisdom of God testifies to the restoration of the continuity of the historical destiny of Veliky Novgorod, to the return of the Novgorodians under the saving canopy of the Cross of the Lord, under the cover of His mercy and intercession.
