Yaroslavl: A City with a Thousand-Year History

24 points11 km3.5 hours

A bear on its coat of arms and a multitude of churches, the cradle of Russian theater and painting, one of the oldest Russian cities, the jewel of the Golden Ring: all of this is Yaroslavl. The city's historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Where better to take a thoughtful stroll along the embankment than here?

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

📜 Learn the city's history
🔍🖼️ Spot interesting details
🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (24)

Church of Elijah the Prophet in Yaroslavl

Point on route “Yaroslavl: A City with a Thousand-Year History”

Point 13

Church of Elijah the Prophet

🕍 Place of worship • 📜 Historic site • 🏟️ Architectural landmark

Historical Background

The Church of Elijah the Prophet stands in the center, on Sovetskaya Square, which until the 19th century was likewise called Ilyinskaya (Elijah) Square. The church survived fire, plunder, and an anti-religious museum set up inside it in Soviet times; during that period a Foucault pendulum even hung beneath its dome. Today it is the city's most recognizable symbol, printed in tourist brochures and on postcards with views of Yaroslavl.

Architecture

The church was built in 1647–1650 by the merchants Vonifaty and Ioanniky Skripin. What makes the Church of Elijah so important and special is that its authentic 17th-century frescoes have survived inside, their colors almost as fresh and bright as when they were painted. The painted walls and ceiling depict scenes from the Gospels and the deeds of the apostles and prophets. Today the Church of Elijah the Prophet is shared by the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve and the Diocese of Yaroslavl.