Biography

Arzamas is one of the oldest cities in Russia and the third largest city in the Nizhny Novgorod region. It is located 110 km south of Nizhny Novgorod, and 410 km east of Moscow. It is located on the right bank of the Tesha River (a tributary of the Oka). A major railway junction connecting the central part of Russia with the Urals and Siberia. The city was founded by order of Ivan the Terrible during the third campaign against Kazan in 1552. Officially, the founding date is considered to be 1578, although the fortress city was built on the site of the ancient capital of the Erzya people, according to legend, founded in 1245. Arzamas or Erzamas is the cradle of the Erzya people and this place is special for them. The name of the city in translation from Erzya means — the beautiful city of Erzya

The heraldic figures of the coat of arms of the city of Arzamas reflect its historical merit. The image of rafters one above the other with touching points means a military battle that ended with the victory of one of the opponents (the one from above). The rafter, meaning the winner, is painted red — the color of the coat of arms of Moscow, the rafter, meaning the defeated, is green — the color of nomadic tribes preaching Islam.

Arzamas, along with Diveev and Sarov, located nearby, is the cradle of Orthodox Christianity. "The city of 33 churches", pilgrims come here, hoping to find answers to their questions, just to stay in holy places, and it is with them that the whole city is permeated. Wherever you look, the domes of temples shine, and bells can be heard at certain hours. By the beginning of the 19th century, 36 church buildings had been erected in Arzamas. The crowning achievement of church building was the construction of the Resurrection Cathedral in honor of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812. The Resurrection Cathedral, built according to the project of M. P. Korinthsky, became the main decoration of the city. This cathedral has been preserved, occupying a dominant position in the appearance and silhouette of the historical center of Arzamas.

Come to Arzamas, touch the mysterious and charming past of the city, feel its extraordinary appeal. And you will understand what attracted many famous Russian writers and public figures here, who considered it their duty to visit the holy land of Arzamas.

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