Kirzhach

Infobox Settlement
name =Kirzhach
official_name =
other_name =
native_name =Киржа́ч
nickname =
settlement_type =Town
total_type =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


flag_size =
image_

seal_size =
image_shield =
shield_size =
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
blank_emblem_size =


mapsize =
map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
image_dot_

dot_mapsize =
dot_map_caption =
dot_x = |dot_y =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =none
pushpin_map_caption =Location within Vladimir Oblast
pushpin_mapsize =
pushpin_map1 =Russia
pushpin_label_position1 =
pushpin_map_caption1 =Location within Russia
pushpin_mapsize1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|Russia
subdivision_type1 = Oblast
subdivision_name1 = Vladimir Oblast
subdivision_type2 = District
subdivision_name2 = Kirzhachsky
seat_type =
seat =
parts_type =
parts_style =
parts =
p1 =
p2 =
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Founded
established_date =14th century
area_magnitude =
unit_pref =
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 =
area_land_km2 =
area_water_km2 =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_water_sq_mi =
area_water_percent =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
elevation_max_m =
elevation_max_ft =
elevation_min_m =
elevation_min_ft =
population_as_of =2002
population_footnotes =
population_note =
population_total =22704
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi =
timezone = MSK
utc_offset = +3
timezone_DST = MSD
utc_offset_DST =+4
coor_type =
latd=56 |latm=10 |lats= |latNS=N
longd=38 |longm=52 |longs= |longEW=E
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
website =
footnotes =

Kirzhach ( _ru. Киржа́ч) is a town on the Kirzhach River in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, situated in the west of the oblast some convert|125|km west of Vladimir and convert|29|km south of Alexandrov. Population: ru-census|p2002=22704|p1989=25431

The town originated in the 14th century as a "sloboda" assigned to the Annunciation Monastery. The latter was established by Saint Sergius of Radonezh, who lived in the area between 1354 and 1358. For most of its history, the abbey remained heavily dependent upon the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra, which lies convert|48|km to the west.

The diminutive monastery cathedral, erected during the reign of Ivan the Great, conforms to the early Muscovite type of cathedral church. It is commonly regarded as one of the last and loveliest specimens of this conservative strain ( [http://www.sobory.ru/pic/00200/00208_20050416_152048.jpgpicture)] . An open gallery connects the cathedral with the nearby Saviour church, built in the shape of a square tower and surmounted by a tent-like belfry. This church, commissioned by the Miloslavsky boyars in 1656, contains their family sepulchre. The 16th-century refectory with St. Sergius Church was demolished during the Soviet years.

After the monastery was disbanded in 1764, the sloboda received municipal rights (1778). Thereafter, Kirzhach, like so many towns in the vicinity, developed primarily as a textile centre.

Yuri Gagarin, the first man to orbit the Earth, died in a jet crash convert|21|km from Kirzhach. There is an obelisk marking the spot of the catastrophe.

References

Template group
list=