Sacred topics of Russian cities (12). The image of King David and the visual codes of medieval Vladimir
- S. S. Avanesov Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1081-4871
Abstract
The traditional Russian city is not only a rationally planned place of habitation, providing its inhabitants with safety and realization of utilitarian needs, but also a work of urban art, embodying the basic principles of axiologically coloured aesthetics. Moreover, like any classical work of art, the Russian medieval city is projected, built and functioning as a spatial visual text – a message about fundamental ideas that form the core of Russian culture and national cultural identity. Specific examples demonstrate how the use of cultural codes opens access to the connotative layer of the sacred image for the recipient. The image of King David is interpreted depending on the code and context, as a symbol of a good ruler, psalmist, saint and prophet. Each of these interpretations is associated with the demonstration of a certain theological idea and has a local reference that allows Vladimir to be perceived as a sacred text. According to this text, Vladimir is a city governed by pious authority, a place of God’s glory, a community under the highest patronage, and a spatial icon of the Heavenly City. These ideas form the integral image of Vladimir and the basis of its cultural identity.
Author Biography
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34680/vistheo-2025-7-2-276-311
Sergey S. Avanesov
Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University,
Veliky Novgorod, Russia
iskiteam@yandex.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1081-4871
Abstract
The traditional Russian city is not only a rationally planned place
of habitation, providing its inhabitants with safety and realization
of utilitarian needs, but also a work of urban art, embodying
the basic principles of axiologically coloured aesthetics. Moreover, like any classical work of art, the Russian medieval city is projected, built and functioning as a spatial visual text – a message about fundamental ideas that form the core of Russian culture and national cultural identity. Specific examples demonstrate how
the use of cultural codes opens access to the connotative layer
of the sacred image for the recipient. The image of King David is interpreted depending on the code and context, as a symbol
of a good ruler, psalmist, saint and prophet. Each of these interpretations is associated with the demonstration of a certain theological idea and has a local reference that allows Vladimir to be perceived as a sacred text. According to this text, Vladimir is a city governed by pious authority, a place of God’s glory, a community under the highest patronage, and a spatial icon of the Heavenly City. These ideas form the integral image of Vladimir and the basis of its cultural identity.
Keywords: Russian city, sacred space, Vladimir-on-Klyazma, Orthodox church, sculptural decor, Cathedral of St. Demetrius,
image of King David, cultural code, semantics of sacred image,
cultural identity
Funding: the research was funded by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 24-18-00672 “City’s cultural code:
People, history, identity”, https://rscf.ru/project/24-18-00672/.
References
Akopyan 2007 – Akopyan Z. V. The image of “Paradise” in the external decoration of monuments of Medieval Armenia and Old Rus’.
The Fifth Readings in memory of Professor Nikolai Fedorovich Kapterev. Russia and the Orthodox East: New research based on materials from archives and museum collections. Moscow, 2007. Pp. 7–20.
In Russian.
Alekseeva 2015 – Alekseeva M. S. The Interpretation of the Irish Manuscript “Visio Tnugdali” in Sculpture. Ideas and Ideals. 2015. 3 (25). Vol. 2. Pp. 101–110. In Russian.
Andronikou 2023 – Andronikou A. La Serenissima in Cyprus: Aspects of Venetian Art on the Edge of a Maritime Empire, 1474/89–1570/1. Arts. 2023. 12. 53 p.
Antypko 2008 – Antypko M. I. Gates with golden designs from
the Trinity Cathedral of the Ipatiev Monastery and the Old Russian tradition of decorating temple gates. Iconographic innovations
and tradition in Russian art of the 16th century. Moscow, 2008.
Pp. 251–266. In Russian.
Augustine 2000 – Augustine the Blessed. Works. Vol. 2: Theological Treatises. Transl. into Russian. St. Petersburg, Kiev, 2000.
Avanesov 2022 a – Avanesov S. S. Visual text of medieval Vladimir: the analysis of dominant image of cathedral exteriors. Slovo.ru: Baltic accent. 2022. Vol. 13. 4. Рp. 43–58. In Russian.
Avanesov 2022 b – Avanesov S. S. Sacred topics of Russian cities (11): visualization of the sacred-political theme in the Vladimir temple decoration. Journal of Visual Theology. 2022. Vol. 4. 1. Pp. 67–98.
In Russian.
Avanesov 2023 – Avanesov S. S. Sacred topics of Russian cities. Moscow, 2023. In Russian.
Bobrov 2010 – Bobrov Yu. G. Fundamentals of the iconography
of Christian art monuments. Moscow, 2010. In Russian.
Bobrovnitskaya 1976 – Bobrovnitskaya I. A. Silver panagiar from
the Assumption Cathedral. State Museums of the Moscow Kremlin. Materials and Research. Is. 2. Moscow, 1976. Pp. 116‒122. In Russian.
Bocharov, Vygolov 1970 – Bocharov G. N., Vygolov V. P. Alexandrovskaya Sloboda. Moscow, 1970. In Russian.
Bulkin 2015 – Bulkin V. A. On the scenes in the sixth tier
of Vasilyevsky Gates. Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art. 2015. 5. Pp. 333–337. In Russian.
Buslaev 1908 – Buslaev F. I. Works. Vol. 1. St. Petersburg, 1908.
In Russian.
CCRC 1846 – Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles. Vol. 1. St. Petersburg, 1846. In Russian.
Chernetsov 1992 – Chernetsov A. V. Gilded doors of the 16th century. Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin and the Trinity Cathedral
of the Ipatiev Monastery in Kostroma. Moscow, 1992. In Russian.
Chernetsov 2002 – Chernetsov A. V. Doors of Christian churches: iconography and symbolism. Bulletin of the Russian Foundation
for Humanities. 2002. 4. Pp. 6–14. In Russian.
Darkevich 1964 – Darkevich V. P. The image of King David in Vladimir-Suzdal sculpture. Brief Reports of the Institute of Archeology
of the USSR Academy of Sciences. 1964. 99. P. 46–53. In Russian.
Darkevich 1976 – Darkevich V. P. On one relief of St. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir. Medieval Rus’. Moscow, 1976. Pp. 204–208.
In Russian.
Endoltseva, Skakov 2020 – Endoltseva E., Skakov A. Zoomorphic images in architectural decoration of Caucasus of the 9th –
11th centuries (Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia): Traditional culture
in the formation of Christian images. St. Tikhon’s University Review. Problems of History and Theory of Christian Art. 2020. Vol. 37.
Pp. 9–27. In Russian.
Etinhof 1999 – Etinhof O. E. The Virgin of Vladimir and the Tradition of the Veneration of the Virgin in Blachernai to Russia in the 11th – 12th centuries. Old Russian art. Byzantium and ancient Russia.
St. Petersburg, 1999. Pp. 290–305. In Russian.
Etinhof 2000 – Etinhof O. E. The image of the Virgin Mary. Essays on the Byzantine iconography from the 11th – 13th centuries. Moscow, 2000. In Russian.
Gippius, Laschuk 2021 – Gippius A. A., Laschuk S. A. Inscriptions on Vasilyevsky Gates, 1336. Bulletin of the Russian Medieval Art Department. 2021. 2. Pp. 67–100. In Russian.
Gladkaya 1997 – Gladkaya M. S. Relief sculpture of the Demetrius Cathedral of the 12th century in Vladimir. Some results of work on the “Catalogue”. Bulletin of the Russian Humanitarian Foundation. 1997. 4. Pp. 154–161. In Russian.
Gladkaya 2001 – Gladkaya M. S. Tree-like motifs in the carving
of the St. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir. Church Antiquities.
Moscow, 2001. Pp. 116–131. In Russian.
Gladkaya 2009 – Gladkaya M. S. Reliefs of the Demetrius Cathedral
in Vladimir. Comprehensive research experience. Moscow, 2009.
In Russian.
Golubinsky 1881 – Golubinsky E. History of the Russian Church. Vol. 1. Part 2. Moscow, 1881. In Russian.
Grilikhes et al. 2006 – Grilikhes L., Archpriest, Tkachenko A. A., Petrov A. E., Lukashevich A. A., Zhuravleva I. A. David. Orthodox Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. Moscow, 2006. Pp. 544‒555. In Russian.
Grushevoi 2008 – Grushevoi A. G. Jews and Judaism in the history
of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. St. Petersburg, 2008.
In Russian.
Ioannisyan 1985 – Architecture of North-Eastern Rus’ in the 12th –
13th centuries. Dubov I. V. Cities shining of majesty. Leningrad, 1985. Pp. 140–181. In Russian.
John Chrysostom 1899 – Works of our holy father John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. Vol. 5. Transl. into Russian. St. Petersburg, 1899.
John of Damascus 1997 ‒ Works of St. John of Damascus. Christological and polemical treatises. Words for the Mother of God holidays. Transl. into Russian by priest M. Kozlov, D. E. Afinogenov. Moscow, 1997.
John of Damascus 2002 – Works of St. John of Damascus. Source of knowledge. Transl. into Russian by D. E. Afinogenov, A. A. Bronzov, A. I. Sagarda, N. I. Sagarda. Moscow, 2002.
Kolchin 1978 – Kolchin B. A. Gusli of Old Novgorod. Old Rus’
and the Slavs. Moscow, 1978. Pp. 358‒366. In Russian.
Komashko 2006 ‒ Komashko N. Russian icon of the 18th century. Moscow, 2006. In Russian.
Kondakov 1905 ‒ Kondakov N. The Illustrated Iconographical Script. Vol. 1. Iconography of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.
St. Petersburg, 1905. In Russian.
Kuftin 1949 – Kuftin B. A. Materials for the archeology of Colchis. Vol. 1. Tbilisi, 1949. In Russian.
Kutepov 2011 – Alexey (Kutepov), Archimandrite. Patristic Teaching on the Mother of God. Tula, 2011. In Russian.
Lazarev 1953 – Lazarev V. N. Vasilyevsky Gates, 1336. Soviet Archeology. 1953. 18. Pp. 386–442. In Russian.
Lazarev 1970 – Lazarev V. N. Russian medieval painting: articles
and research. Moscow, 1970. In Russian.
Leonid 1884 – Leonid, Archimandrite. Historical and archaeological description of the Assumption first-class convent in the city
of Alexandrov (Vladimir Province). St. Petersburg, 1884. In Russian.
Lidov 1997 – Lidov A. M. On the symbolic concept of sculptural decoration of Vladimir-Suzdalian churches of the 12th –
13th centuries. Old Russian art. Rus’. Byzantium. Balkans. 13th century. St. Petersburg, 1997. Pp. 172–184. In Russian.
Lifshits 2015 – Lifshits L. I. White-stone carving of North-Eastern Rus’. History of Russian Art. Vol. 2. Part 2. Moscow, 2015. Pp. 354–431. In Russian.
Lifshits 2019 – Lifshits L. I. The Iconographic Program of Stone-carved Decor in the Cathedral of St. George in Yuriev-Polskoy. Art Studies Magazine. 2019. 3. Pp. 80–99.
In Russian.
Lifshits et al. 2004 – Lifshits L. I., Sarabyanov V. D., Tsarevskaya T. Yu. Monumental painting of Veliky Novgorod. Late 11th – first quarter of the 12th century. St. Petersburg, 2004. In Russian.
Likhachev 1980 – The Prayer of Daniil Zatochnik. Ed. by D. S. Likhachev. Monuments of literature of Old Rus’. 12th century.
Moscow, 1980. Pp. 388–399. In Russian.
Likhacheva 1977 – Likhacheva V. D. Byzantine miniature.
Moscow, 1977. In Russian.
Lossky 2010 – Lossky V. Essai sur la théologie mystique de l’Eglise d’Orient. Théologie dogmatique. Transl. into Russian by V. Reschikova. Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, 2010.
Lovyagin 1875 – Liturgical Canons in Greek, Slavonic and Russian. Transl. into Russian by E. Lovyagin. St. Petersburg, 1875.
Maksimov 1976 – Maksimov P. N. Creative methods of Old Russian architects. Moscow, 1976. In Russian.
Manukian 2012 – Manukian A. M. On the constructional principles of the Golden Door in Suzdal (early 13th cent.). Moscow University Bulletin. Series 8: History. 2012. 1. Pp. 118–130. In Russian.
Markov, Shtayn 2024 – Markov A. V., Shtayn O. A. Jagged and Curved: Mascaron as Philosophy of the City. Science. Arts. Culture. 2024.
4 (44). Pp. 152–159. In Russian.
McBee 2011 – McBee R. Beit Alpha Mosaics of the Akeidah.
Richard McBee, Artist & Writer. September 11, 2001.
URL: https://richardmcbee.com/writings/jewish-art-before-1800/item/beit-alpha-mosaics-of-the-akeidah.
Nasonov 1950 – The First Novgorod Chronicle of the Senior and Junior Editions. Ed. by A. N. Nasonov. Moscow, Leningrad, 1950.
In Russian.
Novakovskaya 1978 – Novakovskaya S. M. Late reliefs in the carving of St. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir. Soviet archeology. 1978. 4. Pp. 128–141. In Russian.
Novakovskaya-Buhman 2002 – Novakovskaya-Buhman S. King David in the sculpture of the Dmitriev Cathedral in Vladimir. Old Russian Art: Byzantium, Russia, Western Europe. Art and culture.
St. Petersburg, 2002. P. 172–186. In Russian.
Orlova 2019 – Orlova M. A. Decor of the Facade of Nativity Cathedral in Suzdal: The Problem of Reconstruction. St. Tikhon’s University Review. Series V: Problems of History and Theory of Christian Art. 2019. Vol. 36. Pp. 48–65. In Russian.
Pastoureau 2012 ‒ Pastoureau M. Une histoire symbolique du Moyen Âge occidental. Transl. into Russian by E. Reshetnikova. St. Petersburg, 2012.
Paul of Aleppo 1898 – Journey of the Antiochian Patriarch Macarius to Russia in the middle of the 17th century, described by his son, Archdeacon Paul of Aleppo. Transl. into Russian by G. Murkos. Is. 3. Moscow, 1898.
Petroff 2009 – Petroff V. V. Kithara and Psaltery in the Symbolical Organology of Antiquity and the Early Middle Age. History of Philosophy Yearbook. 2008. Moscow, 2009. Pp. 27–51. In Russian.
Piven 2022 ‒ Piven M. G. The 15th-century “picture-chronicles” manuscripts. Miniatures iconography in the context of migration of art images in humanistic art. New Art Studies. 2022. 3. Pp. 54‒63.
In Russian.
Podosinov 2000 – Podosinov A. V. Symbols of the four Evangelists, their origin and meaning. Moscow, 2000. In Russian.
Polunina 1970 – Polunina K. S. Vladimir. Moscow, 1970. In Russian.
Popova 2003 – Popova O. S. Byzantine and Old Russian Miniatures. Moscow, 2003. In Russian.
Porfiridov 1996 – Porfiridov N. G. The art of gilding in Novgorod. Decorative and applied art of Veliky Novgorod. Moscow, 1996. Pp. 284–290. In Russian.
Povetkin 1997 – Povetkin V. I. Musical instruments. Old Rus’. Everyday life and culture. Moscow, 1997. Pp. 179–185. In Russian.
Rappoport 1982 – Rappoport P. A. Russian architecture of the 10th – 13th centuries. Catalogue of monuments. Leningrad, 1982. In Russian.
Rogov 2024 – Rogov M. A. Intervisuality in iconographical studies of Speculum humanae salvationis. Journal of Visual Theology. 2024. Vol. 6. 1. Pp. 77–101.
Ryndina 1994 – Ryndina A. V. On the liturgical symbolism of Old Russian silver panagias. Eastern Christian Temple. Liturgy and Art. St. Petersburg, 1994. Pp. 204–219. In Russian.
Schennikova 2013 – Schennikova L. A. Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. The Main Shrine of Russia. St. Petersburg, 2013. In Russian.
Sedov 2019 – Sedov V. V. The Church of Intercession on the Nerl’
and the Cathedral in Modena. Moscow University Bulletin. Series 8: History. 2019. 3. Pp. 161–181. In Russian.
Shokhin 1988 – Shokhin V. K. Ancient India in the Culture of Rus’ (11th – mid-15th century). Source Studies Problems. Moscow, 1988.
In Russian.
Simsky 2022 – Simsky A. D. Drink and live! Roman gold glasses and early Christian hierotopy. Journal of Visual Theology. 2022. Vol. 4. 1. Pp. 10–38. In Russian.
Sizonenko 2000 – Sizonenko T. D. The Old Testament symbolism of the Royal Doors of the Russian Iconostasis. The Iconostasis. Origins – Evolution – Symbolism. Moscow, 2000. Pp. 501–524.
In Russian.
Stoletov 1974 ‒ Stoletov A. V. St. George’s cathedral in Yuryev-Polsky of the 13th century and its reconstruction. From the History of Restoration of Cultural Monuments. Moscow, 1974. Pp. 111–134.
In Russian.
Stroganov 1849 – Antiquities of the Russian State. Ed. S. Stroganov. Section 1. Moscow, 1849. In Russian.
Solntsev 2012 – Solntsev N. I. The concept of “New Jerusalem”
in the construction initiative of Andrey Bogolubsky. Vestnik of Lobachevsky University of Nizhni Novgorod. 2012. 4 (1). P. 275–281. In Russian.
Sycheva 2019 – Sycheva Yu. A. Typology in the programme of miniatures of the Stammheim Missal. History Studies. 2019. 13. Pp. 17–26. In Russian.
Tatarnikova 2021 – Tatarnikova A. Iconography of the Tree of Life
in Christian Art. St. Petersburg Art History Notebooks. 2021. Is. 63. Pp. 197–212. In Russian.
Trifonova 2015 – Trifonova A. N. Doors of the Novgorod Sophia Cathedral. Veliky Novgorod, 2015. In Russian.
Tvorogov 1978 – Life of Theodosius of the Caves. Ed. by O. V. Tvorogov. Monuments of Literature of Old Rus’. 11th – beginning of 12th century. Moscow, 1978. Pp. 304‒391. In Russian.
Ukhova, Pisarskaya 1969 – Ukhova T., Pisarskaya L. Illuminated manuscript of the Assumption Cathedral. Gospel of the early
15th century from the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Leningrad, 1969. In Russian.
Uvarov 1908 – Uvarov A. S. Christian Symbolism. Part 1: Symbolism of the Ancient Christian Period. Moscow, 1908. In Russian.
Visotskij 2002 – Visotskij A. M. The Iezekiil Cathedral as the source of the external sculptural decoration of the churches in Vladimir and Suzdal. Old Russian Art. Rus’ and the countries of the Byzantine world. 12th century. St. Petersburg, 2002. Pp. 255–269. In Russian.
Voronin 1961 – Voronin N. N. The architecture of North-Eastern Russia of the 12th – 15th centuries. Vol. 1. Moscow, 1961. In Russian.
Voronin 1967 – Voronin N. N. Vladimir. Bogolyubovo. Suzdal.
Yuryev-Polskoy. Moscow, 1967. In Russian.
Wagner 1962 – Wagner G. K. On the issue of Vladimir-Suzdal emblematics. Historical and archaeological collection. To Artemy Vladimirovich Artsikhovsky on the sixtieth birthday. Moscow, 1962. Pp. 254–264. In Russian.
Wagner 1969 – Wagner G. K. St. Demetrius Cathedral. Architecture and sculpture of the St. Demetrius Cathedral in Vladimir. Leningrad, 1969. In Russian.
Zagraevsky 2015 – Zagraevsky S. V. Issues of reconstruction
of the original appearance of the Suzdal Virgin Mary Nativity Cathedral of the early 13th century. On the threshold of millenniums.
Suzdal in the history and culture of Russia. Vladimir, 2015. Pp. 75‒84.
In Russian.
About author
Sergey S. Avanesov
Dr. Sci. (Philosophy), Professor,
Professor of Cultural Studies Department
Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University
41, Bolshaya Sankt-Peterburgskaya St., Veliky Novgorod, 173003, Russian Federation
E-mail: iskiteam@yandex.ru
For citation:
Avanesov S. S. Sacred topics of Russian cities (12). The image of King David and the visual codes of medieval Vladimir. Journal of Visual Theology. 2025. Vol. 7. 2. Pp. 276–311. https://doi.org/10.34680/
vistheo-2025-7-2-276-311
