The Church of Tsarevich Dmitry on the Blood is the main attraction and historical symbol of Uglich, representing the decorative "uzornochny" style of the second half of the 17th century.

Visitors to the city are eager to see this church, as Uglich is part of the "Golden Ring" of Russia. The temple was built in 1692 on the site of Dmitry's death on the banks of the Volga and has survived to this day. It is located within the Uglich Kremlin.

History of Creation

The Church of Dmitry was erected in memory of the tragic events in Russian history. On May 15, 1591, at noon, Tsarevich Dmitry, the son of Ivan the Terrible and his last wife Maria Nagaya, died under mysterious circumstances. More details about the versions of his death and history can be found later.

Legend of the Church's Construction

The history of the creation of the Church of Dmitry is interesting and connected with a legend. In the summer of 1606, the relics of the tsarevich were transferred from Uglich to Moscow. On the way, the stretcher with the relics unexpectedly stopped at the John the Theologian Monastery. This was perceived as a sign, and the procession continued along the Rostov road. Upon exiting the city, the procession stopped again so that the faithful could say goodbye to the tsarevich. The farewell lasted a day, and during the service, an event occurred that became the reason for the church's foundation: blood seeped from the coffin onto the ground.

Stages of Church Construction

In the early 17th century, a chapel was built at the site of the farewell with Dmitry's relics, which burned down in 1611 during the war with the Poles. In 1630, a wooden church was erected at the site of Dmitry's murder, which stood for 40 years. According to legend, on each anniversary of the tsarevich's death, blood would appear through the sand. The first tsar of the Romanov dynasty, Mikhail Fyodorovich, was said to have shared Dmitry's fate but was saved by Ivan Susanin, thus he ordered the construction of a stone church. The Romanovs, including Peter I, supported the cult of Dmitry, giving it state significance.

The construction of the stone church began in 1681 and was completed in 1692. The temple, located on the banks of the Volga in the northeastern part of the Kremlin, has survived to this day. The Church of Dmitry on the Blood is visible from afar and adorns Uglich, reminding of the bloody events of the past.

Architecture of the Church

The Church of Tsarevich Dmitry is an example of the decorative "uzornochny" style of the second half of the 17th century. It stands out with red brick, symbolizing spilled blood, white details, and five blue domes with golden stars and crosses. The temple is built in the Moscow manner of the 17th century and resembles a ship. It consists of an elongated, pillarless square with decorative five-headed domes, a refectory, a porch, and a tent-like bell tower. The building is decorated in a festive manner typical of the late 17th century. The southern facade has been well preserved, while a chapel was added on the northern side in the 19th century, which does not harmonize with the main building.

Church of Dmitry, Painting and Interior Decoration

Inside, the temple is adorned with interesting pictorial compositions. The central piece is the composition "The Murder of Tsarevich Dmitry," which is a work of historical monumental painting. It reproduces the chronology of the tragic event: the tsarevich's walk, his death, and the people's uprising. It is believed that the painting was executed by the Moscow contractor Sapozhnikov's artel in 1772.

In the church's refectory, there are paintings "The Creation of the World" and "The Fall of Adam and Eve," created by Pyotr Khlebnikov in 1788. The iconostasis, installed in 1865, includes the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God, a contribution from Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich to the wooden church of 1630. Special attention is drawn to the Uglich exiled bell, whose ringing announced the beginning of the Time of Troubles in Russia.

Exiled Bell

One of the Uglich bells, which spread the news of the tsarevich's death, gathered people for retribution against the murderers. Boris Godunov ordered the bell to be punished: it was deprived of its tongue, its ear was cut off, and it was exiled to Siberia. In 1677, the bell melted in a fire, but in the 18th century, a similar one was cast. In the late 19th century, it was transferred to the Tyumen Museum, and for the three-hundredth anniversary of the exile, it was returned to Uglich and placed in the Church of Dmitry on the Blood.

Church Relics

The church houses icons and relics associated with Tsarevich Dmitry. Among them are the icon of the Smolensk Mother of God, the icon of Christ the Almighty, and the image of Saint Tsarevich Dmitry. There are also the stretcher and coffin in which the tsarevich's relics were carried.

Relic Box

There is a version that the tsarevich was not playing with a knife, but with nuts, and therefore could not accidentally kill himself. The nuts with blood stains were kept in the relic box during the transfer of the relics to Moscow.

Unique Items

In 2018, the collection was supplemented with unique items: a pectoral cross made of porphyry and a relic icon of Dmitry. Photographs from 1910 show relics that were once in the church but lost in the 20th century.

Services in the Church

Mandatory services are held in the church on November 1 and May 28. On these days, festive services are usually led by the Bishop of Pereslavl and Uglich, Theodor. On other days, the temple is open for excursions.

Address and Opening Hours of the Church

The Church of Dmitry on the Blood is located 230 km from Moscow in the city of Uglich, at the address: Russia, Yaroslavl Region, Uglich, Kremlin, 3. The museum operates from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. In the summer, it is open without days off, while in winter, the days off are Monday and Tuesday.