 The Holy Transfiguration monastery |
Novhorod Siversky (14,400 residents) is a regional center; it is situated on the high right bank of Desna River. The annals mention it for the first time in 1096 as the capital of Novhorod Siversky Principality. In 1185, local prince Igor Sviatoslavych set for a campaign against Polovtsys, which served a subject of Old Rus masterpiece Lai of Igor's Campaign (1187). Destructed by the Mongols in 1239, it became a one-horse town. Its revival began after the Liberation war of Ukrainian people (1648-1654) and annexation of Ukrainian lands by Muscovy. Over a century, Novhorod Siversky was a sotnia town of Nizhyn and then of Starodub regiments. At that time there emerged the best-known landmarks, including the oldest one—the Dormition Cathedral (1671). The Holy Transfiguration monastery on the picturesque high riverbank was renovated. The new monastic buildings included Chambers with the Sts. Peter and Paul Church (1693), gateway tower (1699), walls and towers, superior's house with the church of St. Elijah, monastic cells and school (17th c). In 1796, they built the main monasterial building of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral according to the design of D. Kvarenga. In 1782-1796, Novhorod Siversky was the great commissioner's center of Malorussian Province. The Triumphal Arch (1786-1787) with the coats of arms of ten districts built on the eve of the visit of Russian Empress Catherine II reminds about it. The raw of stalls (early 19th c.) is another well-preserved landmark. The gymnasium opened its doors here in 1804; among its pupils there were M. Maksymovych, K. Ushynsky A. Mykhailov, and M. Kybalchych. The best twentieth-century landmarks include the expressive monument to twenty thousand citizens, victims of the Great Patriotic war and monument to prince Igor Sviatoslavych. |
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