| Mozhaysk (English) Можайск (Russian) |
|
|---|---|
| - Town - | |
The new Mozhaysk Cathedral, constructed in 1802–1814 |
|
Location of Moscow Oblast in Russia |
|
|
Mozhaysk
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
|
|
|
| Administrative status | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Moscow Oblast |
| Municipal status | |
| Municipal district | Mozhaysky Municipal District |
| Urban settlement | Mozhaysk Urban Settlement |
| Mayor | Igor Sungurov |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 15 km2 (5.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2010 Census, preliminary) |
31,388 inhabitants[1] |
| Population (2002 Census) | 31,459 inhabitants[2] |
| Density | 2,093 /km2 (5,420 /sq mi)[3] |
| Time zone | MSD (UTC+04:00)[4] |
| Founded | 1231 |
| Dialing code(s) | +7 49638 |
| Official website | |
Mozhaysk[5] (Russian: Можайск; IPA: [məˈʐajsk]) is a town and the administrative center of Mozhaysky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located 110 kilometers (68 mi) to the west from the Russian capital, on the historic road leading to Smolensk and then to Poland. Population: 31,388 (2010 Census preliminary results);[1] 31,459 (2002 Census);[2] 30,735 (1989 Census).[6]
The town was first mentioned in 1231 as an appanage of Chernigov; it was named after the river Mozhai or Mozhaya, whose name is of Baltic origin (cf. Lithuanian mažoja 'small').[7] Later it was an important stronghold of the Smolensk dynasty, one time owned by Feodor the Black. The Muscovites seized it in 1303, but in the course of the following century had serious troubles defending it against Algirdas of Lithuania. The principality was usually held by a younger brother of the ruling Grand Duke of Moscow, until the practice was dropped in 1493. In 1562, the Treaty of Mozhaysk was signed there. Mozhaysk continued to defend the Western approaches to Moscow during Napoleon's invasion of Russia and World War II (during which it was captured by the Germans on October 16, 1941). The great Battle of Borodino took place 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) from the city. Town status was granted to it in 1708.
The first stone cathedral was built in the kremlin in the early 14th century; in 1849, it was demolished stone by stone and then reconstructed exactly as it used to be. A larger blood-red cathedral in the Gothic Revival style was completed in 1814. The church of St. Joachim and Anna preserves some parts from the early 15th century. Another important landmark is the Luzhetsky monastery, founded in 1408 by Saint Ferapont and rebuilt in brick in the 16th century. The monastery cathedral, erected during the reign of Basil III, was formerly known for its frescoes, ascribed to Dionisy's circle.
Contents |
The fact that Mozhaysk is beyond the 101st km zone outside of Moscow and was frequently the last major stop on the way to the capital, led to the "push beyond Mozhay" expression (загнать за Можай, zagnat' za Mozhay), which literally means "push (people, enemy) away (from Moscow) further than Mozhaysk."[8]
Mozhaysk is twinned with:
|
|||||||