Coordinates: 56°10′N 38°52′E / 56.167°N 38.867°E / 56.167; 38.867

1781 coat of arms of Kirzhach

Kirzhach (Russian: Киржа́ч) is a town on the Kirzhach River in Vladimir Oblast, Russia, located in the western of the oblast, 125 kilometers (78 mi) west of Vladimir and 29 kilometers (18 mi) south of Alexandrov. Population: 30,044 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[1] 22,704 (2002 Census);^[2] 25,431 (1989 Census).^[3]

History[link]

The town was established 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 48 kilometres (30 mi) to the west.

Annunciation Monastery in 2011

The diminutive katholikon, erected during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, 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. An open gallery connects the cathedral with the nearby Saviour church, which has a square tower and 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 time.

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

On October 12, 2004, the settlement of Krasny Oktyabr was merged with the town.

Climate[link]

City's climate is moderately continental: a warm summer, a cold winter with a moderate spring and autumn. Average temperature in January is -10.6 degrees Celsius and 18.2 in July. Mean annual precipitation is 584 mm. It averages 151 days per year with temperatures above zero degrees Celsius. A snow cover is present for 4 to 5 months, snow starts to fall usually at the end of November to the beginning of December. Snow melts on sun covered places in the middle of April and in forests at the end of April.

Population[link]

Etymology[link]

The city has received the name from the Kirzhach-river. A root of the name — Kirzh — corresponds to a Moksha or Erzya word with the meaning "left".

References[link]

v t e Cities and towns in Vladimir Oblast Administrative center: Vladimir Alexandrov Gorokhovets Gus-Khrustalny Kameshkovo Karabanovo Kirzhach Kolchugino Kosteryovo Kovrov Kurlovo Lakinsk Melenki Murom Petushki Pokrov Raduzhny Sobinka Strunino Sudogda Suzdal Vladimir Vyazniki Yuryev-Polsky

v t e Historical towns and monasteries of the former Grand Duchy of Moscow Borovsk Dmitrov Joseph-Volokolamsk Monastery Kirzhach Klin Kolomna Mozhaysk New Jerusalem Monastery Radonezh Ruza Serpukhov Staritsa Trinity Vereya Volokolamsk Zaraysk Zvenigorod