Kirzhach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 56°10′N 38°52′E / 56.167°N 38.867°E
| Kirzhach Киржа́ч |
|
| — Town — | |
  |
|
 Kirzhach
|
|
| Coordinates: 56°10′N 38°52′E / 56.167°N 38.867°E | |
| Country |  Russia |
|---|---|
| Oblast | Vladimir Oblast |
| District | Kirzhachsky |
| Founded | 14th century |
| Population (2002) | |
| - Total | 22,704 |
| Time zone | MSK (UTC+3) |
| - Summer (DST) | MSD (UTC+4) |
Kirzhach (Russian: Киржа́ч) is a town on the Kirzhach River in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, situated in the west of the oblast some 125 kilometres (78 mi) west of Vladimir and 29 kilometres (18 mi) south of Alexandrov. Population: 22,704 (2002 Census);[1] 25,431 (1989 Census).[2]
The town originated in the 14th century as a sloboda assigned to the Annunciation Monastery. The latter was established by Saint Sergius of Radonezh, who lived in the area between 1354 and 1358. For most of its history, the abbey remained heavily dependent upon the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra, which lies 48 kilometres (30 mi) to the west.
The diminutive monastery cathedral, erected during the reign of Ivan the Great, conforms to the early Muscovite type of cathedral church. It is commonly regarded as one of the last and loveliest specimens of this conservative strain (picture). An open gallery connects the cathedral with the nearby Saviour church, built in the shape of a square tower and surmounted by a tent-like belfry. This church, commissioned by the Miloslavsky boyars in 1656, contains their family sepulchre. The 16th-century refectory with St. Sergius Church was demolished during the Soviet years.
After the monastery was disbanded in 1764, the sloboda received municipal rights (1778). Thereafter, Kirzhach, like so many towns in the vicinity, developed primarily as a textile centre.
Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the Earth, died in a jet crash 21 kilometres (13 mi) from Kirzhach. There is an obelisk marking the spot of the catastrophe.
[edit] References
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved on 2008-07-25.
- ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg2.php. Retrieved on 2007-12-13.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
