Vologda is the largest city in the north-west of Russia, an important historical and cultural center of the country. This article will focus on its symbols. What does the flag and coat of arms of Vologda look like? And what is their meaning?
Vologda: a brief history of the city
Vologda is classified as a city with a particularly valuable historical heritage. There are more than two hundred architectural, historical and cultural monuments on its territory.
When the city was founded, historians do not know exactly, but the first annalistic mention of it dates back to 1147. As for the name of the city, it is most likely that it comes from the Old Veppian word "valgeda". It means "white" in translation. Most likely, we are talking about the whitish tint of water in the local rivulet of the same name.
During the reign of Ivan the Terrible, Vologda becomes an important trade center of the country. Interestingly, the first Russian ambassador to England was a resident of Vologda. Here the tsar ordered the construction of the Vologda Kremlin, which was to be twice the size of the Moscow one. However, the construction work was never completed. According to legend, when visiting the St. Sophia Cathedral, the Kremlinthe emperor's stone fell. Ivan the Terrible took this as a bad sign and stopped the construction of a grandiose complex in Vologda.
Coat of arms of Vologda and its flag: history and description
At the heart of the city coat of arms is a classic red French shield with a pointed bottom. On the right side of it is a silvery cloud, from which the right hand emerges. This hand holds a golden sword and a golden orb.
The coat of arms of Vologda was approved in July 1994. In addition to the official one, there is also a formal version of the coat of arms, which is additionally decorated with some elements. Firstly, the heraldic shield is supported by two young men in robes and with silver swords in their hands. The shield itself is topped with a large tower crown with five large teeth.
The history of the emblem of Vologda is quite interesting. So, the date of his birth can be considered 1712, when the image described above appeared in the form of the banner of the Vologda military regiment. Some historians claim that Peter I himself was the author of this emblem. After that, in the entire history of Vologda, its official coat of arms was changed at least six times!
A rather interesting project was developed and approved in Soviet times - in 1967. The emblem of Vologda in that version was a classic French shield, divided by a ribbon with an ornament into two parts - a blue top and a green bottom. An elk was depicted in the center of the coat of arms, a boat was depicted in the upper right corner, and a green spruce was depicted in the lower left corner. Thus, this project took into account the mainfeatures of Vologda, but the main heraldic element - a hand with a sword and an orb - was ignored.
The flag of Vologda practically does not differ from the coat of arms: the same image on a standard red rectangular cloth. The author of this version of the flag, which was officially approved in 2003, was O. Sviridenko.
Semantics of the city emblem and flag
What does the coat of arms of Vologda mean? To answer this question, one should tell about one interesting legend.
So, it says some Belarusians who once allegedly saved Vologda and died themselves. According to legend, the inhabitants hid in their city from the attacks of a powerful enemy army. Enemies surrounded the fortress and prepared for a decisive assault. It seemed that nothing could save the inhabitants of Vologda.
However, a miracle happened: unknown young men descended from heaven, who very quickly de alt with the enemy and thereby saved Vologda. However, the heroes themselves also died in this battle.
Thus, the image on the coat of arms of the city is directly related to this story. The sword in the right hand is a symbol of a fair trial and protection, directly pointing to the legend of the Belarusians. The golden orb in the hand represents state power. Not in vain, after all, Tsar Ivan the Terrible intended to turn Vologda into the capital of the state. But the young men in robes depicted on the front version of the coat of arms of the city are exactly those Belarusians who saved this city.
Conclusion
Vologda is attractive for many touristsa city in the north-west of Russia, which is known for its ancient temples and wooden monuments. No less interesting are the symbols of the city - the coat of arms of Vologda and its flag, the semantics of which are associated with the most curious legends.
