The Cathedral of St Nicholas
The only structure that remains of Yaroslav's Court is the
Cathedral of St Nicholas. Its foundation-stone was laid by Prince
Mstislav in 1113, following a successful campaign against the
Tchuds, the neighbouring Ugro-Finnic tribe. Legend, however,
attributes the church's founding to Mstislav's miraculous healing
by the icon of St Nicholas the Wonder-Worker.
The present-day aspect of the cathedral gives no idea of the
role it used to play in the overall ensemble of the city. This is
not only due to the dull-looking dwellings constructed along its
north and west sides in the 19th century. The artistic merit of
the cathedral severely suffered from unfortunate distortions and
the loss of original forms; there appeared a cornice and a flat
roof, the four lateral drums were dismantled and the windows
splayed or sealed off. The initial integral interior changed out
of all recognition, and is now divided into two floors. Like St
Sophia in the Detinets, St Nicholas was the centrepiece of the
Market Side.