Cathedral Square

Today, the broad open space between Bolshaya Moskovskaya Street and the white-stone churches is given over to city celebrations and concerts. The square was named Cathedral Square because of the Assumption Cathedral and the Cathedral of Saint Demetrius. In the nineteenth century, the name described its everyday function even more precisely: crowded prayer services were held in front of the Assumption Cathedral, while nearby soldiers took their oath and learned to hold formation.

At that time, the square remained an unpaved parade ground, with potholes, mounds, and dust. In eighteen sixty-seven, officials responsible for improving Vladimir decided to turn the parade ground into a public garden. They planned to plant lindens and birches here, so that city residents would have a place to stroll.

This required ending the military exercises. The military officer in charge of the parade ground agreed to move the young soldiers across the Lybed River, near Yuryevskaya Outpost. The project was stopped by the square's other masters: the clergy of the Assumption Cathedral.

On major church holidays, pilgrims came here from different parts of Russia. They needed open space in front of the church, and the prayer services brought the cathedral clergy a substantial income. The clergymen called the future garden a “strolling ground” and secured the cancellation of the plantings. They preserved both a place for gatherings of many thousands and a source of income; the city was left without its promised garden.

Linden avenues were later laid out nearby, in front of the Government Offices building. This is today’s Lipki Park. No trees were ever planted on the parade ground itself: an open field remained in front of the Assumption Cathedral, the same field over which the cathedral clergy argued with city officials in eighteen sixty-seven.