There are some my photos from last weekend trip to Vologda.

The oldest stone building of Vologda city - St. Sophia Cathedral

This is the first temple you see in the center of Vologda

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The oldest stone building of the city - St. Sophia Cathedral - a monument of architecture of the XVI century. Dimensions of the temple are monumental - the length of the walls is 38.5 m, the width is 25.6 m, the total height is 59 m. Temples like Sofia's are very characteristic of Russian architecture of the 16th century and are one of the most common types of city and monastery cathedrals, the likeness of the Assumption Cathedral in Moscow. Nevertheless, the Vologda Cathedral differs from all similar type of churches with a special laconic architecture, which gives the cathedral a specifically northern severity.
The foundation of the cathedral is associated with the name of Tsar Ivan IV, by order of which from 1568 to 1570. in Vologda the grandiose construction is being developed. After the departure of Ivan the Terrible from the city, the church remained uninitiated and undigested for 17 years. Only during the reign of Fyodor Ioannovich the cathedral was partially decorated. Frescos of St. Sophia Cathedral, after a century, were created under the Archbishop Gabriel artel of Yaroslavl icon painters. The artel was headed by the outstanding master of the wall letter Dmitry G. Plekhanov, whose names are also associated with the murals of the Assumption Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad and the Church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo in Yaroslavl. In the middle of the XIX century, the frescoes of the cathedral were rewritten by the artel of the Yaroslavl icon painter A.M. Kolchina. By the peculiarity of iconography and mastery of the execution of the frescoes of St. Sophia Cathedral belong to the best monuments of Russian monumental painting of the second half of the 17th century, the area of ​​which is about 5000 square meters.
By the will of Ivan the Terrible, St. Sophia Cathedral has one quite remarkable feature. According to the ancient church canon, the altar of any temple should be facing east. The altar of St. Sophia Cathedral looks to the north-east, and to the north mostly. Probably, Ivan IV wanted the altar of the cathedral to be turned towards the Vologda River, although this disposition was contrary to the traditions of church construction.
Until now, a five-tier wooden carved gilded iconostasis of 1724-1738 has been fully preserved. (the third since the construction of the cathedral), icons for which are painted by the Polish painter Maxim Iskritsky.
Throughout its existence, the Sophia Cathedral was repeatedly updated and decorated; His final form he took only in the XX century.

There is a legend

The Tsar personally supervised the construction, observed how the masonry is done, the masters did not need anything. The legend says that when Ivan the Terrible once again came to the unfinished Sofia Cathedral, a piece of plaster fell on his head. The king rushed out of the cathedral in anger, ordered to break the temple, but later, giving in to the entreaties of his entourage, canceled the order, but he himself left Vologda forever, changing his mind to make it his residence. An old song describes this episode.

Maybe It's true maybe not but I advise you visit this place and feel old times in this temple.

The construction of the temple was completed in 1571. The Cathedral was consecrated only in 1588 in the name of St. Sophia the Wisdom of God. However, neither decoration nor interior decoration in it was not very long. Works on the creation of the temple were renewed already under Fedor Ioannovich, and wall painting was created 100 years later. Under Tsar Fedor Ioannovich, only the southern side-chapel was finished, the middle part of the church was completed later. In 1587, His Eminence Anthony, Bishop of Vologda and Great Perm, consecrated the chapel in the name of the Beheading of John the Baptist. Soon the main throne of St. Sophia Cathedral was consecrated.

In September 1612 the Polish-Lithuanian troops raided Vologda. St. Sophia Cathedral was looted and set on fire. A year later, both thrones were rebuilt and consecrated. Over the centuries, the St. Sophia Cathedral was repeatedly updated and decorated, and its final appearance took only in the XX century.

In 1923 the cathedral was closed and handed over to the Vologda Museum of Local History. The exposition on the history of religion and atheism was placed in the temple, in 1929 a Foucault pendulum was installed here, which is used for an experimental demonstration of the daily rotation of the Earth. Since 1935, St. Sophia Cathedral is a monument of federal significance. From 1999 to 2007, a comprehensive restoration of the cathedral was carried out. Now it is run by the Vologda State Museum-Reserve. On major church holidays, services are held in the cathedral.