Golden Gate in Vladimir

The Golden Gate in Vladimir is a symbol of the greatness and power of Ancient Rus.
Grand Duke Andrei Bogolyubsky, having declared Vladimir the capital of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, began to strengthen his capital city. In 1158, he surrounded the city with a rampart, and in 1164 he built five entrance gates. Only the Golden Gate has survived to this day, serving as the front entrance to the richest princely boyar part of the city. The oak gates, which are not there now, were bound with sheets of gilded copper, shining brightly in the sun, therefore the gates were called Golden. The gate was built by Vladimir architects. There is a legend that when the work was coming to an end, the arches of the gate suddenly collapsed and buried 12 people under them. None of the eyewitnesses doubted that people were crushed to death under the weight of stones, but Andrei Bogolyubsky ordered to bring the miraculous icon of the Mother of God and turned to the heavenly patroness with a prayer for the unfortunate. The blockage was cleared away and the people lying under it were found safe and sound. In honor of the miracle that happened, Andrei Bogolyubsky ordered to build a tiny white-stone chapel of the Position of the Robe of the Mother of God over the Golden Gate