Church of the Intercession on the Nerl, Russia
Church of the Intercession on the Nerl is a Russian Orthodox Church and masterpiece of Vladimir twelfth-century architecture. The church is located at the confluence of Nerl and Klyazma Rivers in Bogolyubovo 13 km north-east of the ancient capital of Vladimir in Russia. The church was built in 1165 by Prince Andrei Bogolyubskiy to commemorate his victorious campaign against the Volga's Bulgars in 1164 and in memory of his son who was killed during the campaign. The Church of the Intercession is dedicated to the Intercession of the Virgin, a new Christian holiday which had been instituted by Prince Andrei and the Vladimir Church authorities despite opposition of the Kiev Metropolitan and Patriarch of Orthodox Church.
The church is build in white stone, has four columns in the interior and is topped with helmet-shaped dome with an gilded cross. The excavations in 1950's revealed the foundations of a white-stone gallery which encircled the Church. Despite solitary position the church was never completely destroyed and remained almost untouched except for the removal of the frescoes during the restoration works in 1877 and slightly changed dome. Carefully decorated walls are still covered with 12th-century carvings.
The Church of the Intercession on the Nerl was inscribed on the UN World Heritage List as part of the site White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal in 1992.
