| Despite
of numerous military expeditions, which took a lot
of time and resources, demanded allocation of huge
monies, and distracted the population, and first of
all the prince himself of course, from their primary
occupations, the reign of Yaroslav the Wise is
linked with impressive cultural achievements, which
deserve to be called great by the measures of that
epoque. The most important were the needs of the new
religion, ever expanding and consolidating. The
prince encouraged and supported building of churches
and monasteries, and often generously donated them
from his personal purse. |
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Most of the
construction was, of course, made in the capital, which
thanks to it became the greatest city in Rus, "mother
of all Russian cities", with marvellous and monumental
sacral objects, as well as her main trade centre. In 1037,
to commemorate the first anniversary of the victory over the
Pechenegs, started the building of the famous Sophia
Cathedral. The construction began under the supervision of
the Greek architects; it lasted ten years, and the Sophia
Cathedral became one of the greatest cultural monuments not
only in Russia, but the whole mankind. Also the first
library was founded there. In 1051 there was built the
Monstery of the Caves, the oldest Russian convent (its rank
was elevated in the 16th century), main cultural centre of
the ancient Rus, and the cradle of the Russian literature.
The name of the monastery comes from the caves chiseled in
the rocks, where mumified remnants of the monks are still
preserved.
Monumental
cathedrals in Yaroslav's times were also built in other
cities, and they were often given the name of Sophia after
the Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople. Hence the
construction of the Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod was
initiated by Yaroslav's brother Vladimir, who became the
ruler of Novgorod yet during his father's reign. At the same
time started the construction of the Sophia Cathedral in
Polotsk. Earlier, in 1036, started the construction of the
Redeemer Cathedral in Chernigov. Sacral building was
indissolubly bound with the development of the sacral
painting; churches could not do without the icons, and their
walls and floors were decorated with frescoes and mosaics.
With the energence of the Russian spiritual literature
developed miniature painting.
Monasteries
and cathedrals for a long time remained the sole centres of
the enlightenment and literature. Already in the mid-11th
century there appeared first convent schools. Byzantine
traditions left big impression on the education: temples
were built according to the Greek patterns, books were
translated from the Greek, and the Greeks held spiritual
offices. But such a state of the matters started changing in
all the spheres of the human activity, and it is remarkable
that since some time that process had been consciously
encouraged by the prince's policy. Yaroslav strove to limit
the Byzantine influence, which had been manifested, for
example, in elevation of the first Russian metropolitan. It
was Hilarion, the author of the Sermon on Law and Grace - a
political teaching praising the ruler of Rus. However, the
influence of Hilarion, elevated to the metropolitan office
in 1051, was short - only till the death of Yaroslav.
Broad cultural
and administrative activities also included a range of
important legal issues, which are reflected in the Russian
Truth; its significance is presented separately. One also
cannot ignore the art of politics and diplomacy - it linked
the prince with many courts of Europe. Yaroslav was married
with a Swedish duchess, and his three daughters married
three kings - French, Norwegian and Hungarian. His sister
Dobronega married the Polish king Casimir the Restorer -
that marriage brought a favourable break-through in the
Polish-Russian relations. Also Yaroslav's sons got married
with West European duchesses. But it was not solely Kiev
that showed political initiative; Western monarchs were also
eager to reproach with Rus - a rich country at the peak of
its splendour and power. And once the richess are mentioned,
one ought to mention animated trade: eight markets in Kiev
alone, a stream of imported goods, and Russian caravans
reaching not only Constantinople, but also Baghdad and
Central Asia. The early feudal Russian monarchy of the
mid-11th century was at the peak of its development.
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