Kirillovsky District
Encyclopedia
Kirillovsky District is an administrative district (raion
), one of the twenty-six
in Vologda Oblast
, Russia
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Kirillovsky Municipal District. It is located in the north of the oblast
and borders with Kargopolsky and Konoshsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast
in the north, Vozhegodsky
and Ust-Kubinsky District
s in the east, Vologodsky District
in the southeast, Sheksninsky District
in the south, Cherepovetsky District
in the southeast, Belozersky
and Vashkinsky District
s in the west, and Vytegorsky District
in the northwest. The area of the district is 5400 square kilometres (2,085 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Kirillov. District's population: 18,627 (2002 Census
); Population of Kirillov accounts for 44.2% of the district's population.
. In 1397, St. Cyril of White Lake, a monk and a disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh
, founded the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery
on the shore of Lake Siverskoye. The town of Kirillov eventually developed as the posad
of the monastery. In 1398, St. Therapont of White Lake, who arrived with Cyril, moved to a separate location, which later became the Ferapontov Monastery
. Both monasteries were subordinate to Archbishops of Rostov. In the 15th and the 16th century, Kirillo-Belozersky monastery developed into one of the most influential monasteries in Russia. It also helped that the Sheksna River was one of the most heavily used waterways connecting central and northern Russia. At some point, it was the second biggest landowner after the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Vasili III of Russia
, the Grand Prince of Moscow, and Ivan the Terrible, the Tsar, visited the monastery on several occasions. In the end of the 15th century, Nil Sorsky
, a former monk of the monastery and a leader of Non-possessors
movement in Russian Orthodox Church, founded the Nilo-Sorsky Monastery 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of Kirillov.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as Saint Petersburg Governorate
). In 1727, separate Novgorod Governorate
split off. The area became part of Charondsky Uyezd of Belozersk Oblast of Novgorod Governorate. In 1776, the area was transferred to Novgorod Viceroyalty. Simultaneously, Kirillov was chartered and became the administrative center of Kirillovsky Uyezd. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished, and the area was transferred to Novgorod Governorate. Kirillovsky Uyezd was abolished as well, however, it was reestablished in 1802.
In June 1918, five uyezds of the Novgorod Governorate, including Kirillovsky Uyezd, were split off to form Cherepovets Governorate
, with the administrative center in Cherepovets
. In 1919, north-western parts of Kirillovsky Uyezd were transferred into Kadnikovsky Uyezd of Vologda Governorate
and Kargopol Uyezd of Olonets Governorate
. On August 1, 1927 Cherepovets Governorate was abolished, and its area became Cherepovets Okrug of Leningrad Oblast
. Simultaneously, uyezds were abolished, and Kirillovsky District was established. On September 23, 1937 Kirillovsky District was transferred to newly established Vologda Oblast.
On August 1, 1927 also Petropavlovsky District with the center in the selo of Petropavlovskoye and Nikolsko-Torzhsky District with the center in the selo of Nikolsky Torzhok were established. On July 30, 1931 Nikolsko-Torzhsky District was merged into Kirillovsky District, and Petropavlovsky District was renamed into Charozersky District. The selo of Petropavlovskoye was renamed into Charozero. In 1937, Charozersky District was transferred from Leningrad Oblast to Vologda Oblast. On December 12, 1955 Charozersky District was abolished, and its area was appended to Kirillovsky District.
and the Caspian Sea
. The area is divided between the basins of three major rivers - the Volga
, the Onega
, and the Northern Dvina. The northeastern part of the district includes the western half of Lake Vozhe
, which Kirillovsky District shares with Vozhegodsky District. The lake belongs to the basin of the Onega, as well as the northern part of the district. The major tributaries of the Onega within the district are the Sovza and the Pereshna. The Sovza flows through Lake Veshchozero, and the Pereshna has its source in Lake Pereshnoye, which is divided between Kirillovsky and Ust-Kubinsky Districts. Areas in the central-east of the district drain into the Porozovitsa, which belongs to the basin of Lake Kubenskoye
and of the Northern Dvina. A stretch of the western border of the district lies on the shore of Lake Beloye, however, no part of the lake belongs to the district. The rest of the area of the district drains into the Sheksna
, which was made the Sheksna Reservoir
. There are many lakes of the district, among the biggest ones (after Lake Vozhe and the Sheksna Reservoir) are Lake Itkolskoye, Lake Siverskoye, and Lake Zaulomskoye.
The only national park in Vologda Oblast, Russky Sever National Park
, is located in Kirillovsky District.
The north of the district, especially the areas around Lake Vozhe, are covered by swamps, the biggest of which is the Charonda Swamp (shared also with Ust-Kubensky and Vozhegodsky Districts).
The woods occupy 67% of the area of the district.
, Cherepovets
, Belozersk
, and Vytegra
. There are also local roads.
The Volga–Baltic Waterway (formerly known as the Mariinsk Canal System), connecting the Rybinsk Reservoir
in the river basin of the Volga
and Lake Onega
in the river basin of the Neva
, runs through the district, following the river course of the Sheksna.
The northern part of Lake Kubenskoye, which belongs to the basin of the Northern Dvina River, is connected by the Northern Dvina Canal
with Lake Siverskoye, the town of Kirillov, and the Sheksna River, thus connecting the basins of the White Sea and the Volga. In 19th century, the canal was the main waterway connecting the Volga with the White Sea. However, in 1930s the White Sea – Baltic Canal was built, and the Northern Dvina Canal lost its significance. The canal is still in operation, serving cargo traffic and occasional cruise ships, which move from the Sheksna to Lake Kubenskoye.
(male) in the town of Kirillov and the Goritsky Monastery
(female) in the village of Goritsy, close to Kirillov.
is the only World Heritage site in Vologda oblast. The Cathedral of Nativity of the Virgin (1490) in the monastery is the only remaining Russian church with fully painted walls. The frescoes were carried out by Dionysios. The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is a fortified ensemble built in the 15th and the 16th centuries. The Resurrection Church of the Goritsky Monastery also originates from the 16th century.
The district contains ten objects classified as cultural and historical heritage by Russian Federal law, and additionally 143 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. The cultural heritage monuments of the federal significance are the ensembles of the Kirillo-Belozersky, the Gorisky, and the Ferapontov monasteries, as well as the St. Iliya Church of the Tsypin Pogost and a number of archaeological monuments.
The Ferapontov monastery operates as a museum - The Dionysios Frescoes Muesum. All other museums of the district are operated under the umbrella of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum of History, Art, and Architecture which is located in the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. The ensemble of the monastery is shared between the monastery and the museum.
Raion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
), one of the twenty-six
Administrative divisions of Vologda Oblast
Administratively, Vologda Oblast is divided into four cities and towns of oblast significance and twenty-six districts.In terms of the area, the biggest administrative district is Vytegorsky District ....
in Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Municipally, it is incorporated as Kirillovsky Municipal District. It is located in the north of the oblast
Oblast
Oblast is a type of administrative division in Slavic countries, including some countries of the former Soviet Union. The word "oblast" is a loanword in English, but it is nevertheless often translated as "area", "zone", "province", or "region"...
and borders with Kargopolsky and Konoshsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast
Arkhangelsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It includes the Arctic archipelagos of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya, as well as the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea....
in the north, Vozhegodsky
Vozhegodsky District
Vozhegodsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vozhegodsky Municipal District...
and Ust-Kubinsky District
Ust-Kubinsky District
Ust-Kubinsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Ust-Kubinsky Municipal District...
s in the east, Vologodsky District
Vologodsky District
Vologodsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vologodsky Municipal District...
in the southeast, Sheksninsky District
Sheksninsky District
Sheksninsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Sheksninsky Municipal District...
in the south, Cherepovetsky District
Cherepovetsky District
Cherepovetsky District is an administrative and municipal district , one of the 26 in Vologda Oblast, Russia....
in the southeast, Belozersky
Belozersky District
Belozersky District is the name of several administrative and municipal districts in Russia. The name literally means "pertaining to white lakes".*Belozersky District, Kurgan Oblast, an administrative and municipal district of Kurgan Oblast...
and Vashkinsky District
Vashkinsky District
Vashkinsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vashkinsky Municipal District. It is located in the northwest of the oblast and borders with Vytegorsky District in the north, Kirillovsky District in the east,...
s in the west, and Vytegorsky District
Vytegorsky District
Vytegorsky District is an administrative district , one of the twenty-six in Vologda Oblast, Russia. Municipally, it is incorporated as Vytegorsky Municipal District...
in the northwest. The area of the district is 5400 square kilometres (2,085 sq mi). Its administrative center is the town of Kirillov. District's population: 18,627 (2002 Census
Russian Census (2002)
Russian Census of 2002 was the first census of the Russian Federation carried out on October 9 through October 16, 2002. It was carried out by the Russian Federal Service of State Statistics .-Resident population:...
); Population of Kirillov accounts for 44.2% of the district's population.
History
In the 13th century, the area was part of the Principality of Beloozero, and in the 14th century, together with the principality, entered the Grand Duchy of MoscowGrand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Duchy of Moscow or Grand Principality of Moscow, also known in English simply as Muscovy , was a late medieval Rus' principality centered on Moscow, and the predecessor state of the early modern Tsardom of Russia....
. In 1397, St. Cyril of White Lake, a monk and a disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh
Sergius of Radonezh
Venerable Sergius of Radonezh , also transliterated as Sergey Radonezhsky or Serge of Radonezh, was a spiritual leader and monastic reformer of medieval Russia. Together with Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, he is one of the Russian Orthodox Church's most highly venerated saints.-Early life:The date of...
, founded the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery , loosely translated in English as the St. Cyril-Belozersk Monastery, used to be the largest monastery of Northern Russia. The monastery was dedicated to the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, for which cause it was sometimes referred to as the Dormition Monastery...
on the shore of Lake Siverskoye. The town of Kirillov eventually developed as the posad
Posad
A posad was a settlement, often surrounded by ramparts and a moat, adjoining a town or a kremlin, but outside of it, or adjoining a monastery in the 10th to 15th centuries. Usually it was inhabited by craftsmen and merchants, known as posadskiye lyudi .In the Russian Empire a posad was a small...
of the monastery. In 1398, St. Therapont of White Lake, who arrived with Cyril, moved to a separate location, which later became the Ferapontov Monastery
Ferapontov Monastery
The Ferapontov convent , in the Vologda region of Russia, is considered one of the purest examples of Russian medieval art, a reason given by UNESCO for its inscription on the World Heritage List....
. Both monasteries were subordinate to Archbishops of Rostov. In the 15th and the 16th century, Kirillo-Belozersky monastery developed into one of the most influential monasteries in Russia. It also helped that the Sheksna River was one of the most heavily used waterways connecting central and northern Russia. At some point, it was the second biggest landowner after the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Vasili III of Russia
Vasili III of Russia
Vasili III Ivanovich was the Grand Prince of Moscow from 1505 to 1533. He was the son of Ivan III Vasiliyevich and Sophia Paleologue and was christened with the name Gavriil...
, the Grand Prince of Moscow, and Ivan the Terrible, the Tsar, visited the monastery on several occasions. In the end of the 15th century, Nil Sorsky
Nil Sorsky
Nil Sorsky was a leader of the Russian medieval movement opposing ecclesiastic landownership . Nil Sorsky is venerated as a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. His feast day is on the anniversary of his repose on May 7.-Early life:Before becoming a monk, Nil Sorsky worked as a scribe and was...
, a former monk of the monastery and a leader of Non-possessors
Non-possessors
Non-possessors belonged to a 16th-century movement in the Russian Orthodox Church in opposition to ecclesiastical land-ownership...
movement in Russian Orthodox Church, founded the Nilo-Sorsky Monastery 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of Kirillov.
In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Ingermanland Governorate (known since 1710 as Saint Petersburg Governorate
Saint Petersburg Governorate
Saint Petersburg Governorate , or Government of Saint Petersburg, was an administrative division of the Russian Empire, which existed in 1708–1927....
). In 1727, separate Novgorod Governorate
Novgorod Governorate
Novgorod Governorate , or Government of Novgorod, was a governorate of the Russian Empire.The governorate was established in 1727 from Belozersk, Novgorod, Pskov, Tver, and Velikiye Luki Provinces of the St. Petersburg Governorate and existed until 1927, when its territory was included into...
split off. The area became part of Charondsky Uyezd of Belozersk Oblast of Novgorod Governorate. In 1776, the area was transferred to Novgorod Viceroyalty. Simultaneously, Kirillov was chartered and became the administrative center of Kirillovsky Uyezd. In 1796, the viceroyalty was abolished, and the area was transferred to Novgorod Governorate. Kirillovsky Uyezd was abolished as well, however, it was reestablished in 1802.
In June 1918, five uyezds of the Novgorod Governorate, including Kirillovsky Uyezd, were split off to form Cherepovets Governorate
Cherepovets Governorate
Cherepovets Governorate was a governorate of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic from 1918 to 1927. Its seat was in the city of Cherepovets...
, with the administrative center in Cherepovets
Cherepovets
Cherepovets is the largest city in Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Rybinsk Reservoir of the Sheksna River, a tributary of the Volga River. Population: 311,869 ; It is served by Cherepovets Airport.-Location:...
. In 1919, north-western parts of Kirillovsky Uyezd were transferred into Kadnikovsky Uyezd of Vologda Governorate
Vologda Governorate
The Vologda Governorate or Government of Vologda was a guberniya in the historical northern region of the European part of Russian Empire.In its size it was second right after the neighboring Archangelgorod Governorate...
and Kargopol Uyezd of Olonets Governorate
Olonets Governorate
The Olonets Governorate or Government of Olonets was a guberniya of north-western Imperial Russia, extending from Lake Ladoga almost to the White Sea, bounded W. by Finland, N. and E. by Arkhangelsk and Vologda, and S. by Novgorod and St. Petersburg...
. On August 1, 1927 Cherepovets Governorate was abolished, and its area became Cherepovets Okrug of Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on August 1, 1927, although it was not until 1946 that the oblast's borders had been mostly settled in their present position...
. Simultaneously, uyezds were abolished, and Kirillovsky District was established. On September 23, 1937 Kirillovsky District was transferred to newly established Vologda Oblast.
On August 1, 1927 also Petropavlovsky District with the center in the selo of Petropavlovskoye and Nikolsko-Torzhsky District with the center in the selo of Nikolsky Torzhok were established. On July 30, 1931 Nikolsko-Torzhsky District was merged into Kirillovsky District, and Petropavlovsky District was renamed into Charozersky District. The selo of Petropavlovskoye was renamed into Charozero. In 1937, Charozersky District was transferred from Leningrad Oblast to Vologda Oblast. On December 12, 1955 Charozersky District was abolished, and its area was appended to Kirillovsky District.
Location and geography
The area of the district is elongated from the north to the south, and it is split to roughly equal parts by the divide between the basins of the Arctic OceanArctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
and the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
. The area is divided between the basins of three major rivers - the Volga
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
, the Onega
Onega River
The Onega is a river in Kargopolsky, Plesetsky, and Onezhsky Districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. The Onega connects Lake Lacha with the Onega Bay in the White Sea southwest of Arkhangelsk, flowing in the northern direction. The discharge at the source is and at the mouth is . The river is ...
, and the Northern Dvina. The northeastern part of the district includes the western half of Lake Vozhe
Lake Vozhe
Lake Vozhe, also known as Lake Charondskoye , is a lake in the northern part of Vologda Oblast in Russia. The area of the lake is , and the are of its basin is and the area of its basin is . The average depth is around . Lake Vozhe drains through the Svid River into Lake Lacha, from which the...
, which Kirillovsky District shares with Vozhegodsky District. The lake belongs to the basin of the Onega, as well as the northern part of the district. The major tributaries of the Onega within the district are the Sovza and the Pereshna. The Sovza flows through Lake Veshchozero, and the Pereshna has its source in Lake Pereshnoye, which is divided between Kirillovsky and Ust-Kubinsky Districts. Areas in the central-east of the district drain into the Porozovitsa, which belongs to the basin of Lake Kubenskoye
Lake Kubenskoye
Kubenskoe Lake is a large and shallow lake in Vologda Oblast of Russia, situated at the height of 109 metres above mean sea level, stretching for 60 km from north-west to south-east....
and of the Northern Dvina. A stretch of the western border of the district lies on the shore of Lake Beloye, however, no part of the lake belongs to the district. The rest of the area of the district drains into the Sheksna
Sheksna River
The Sheksna is a river in Belozersky, Kirillovsky, Sheksninsky, and Cherepovetsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Volga River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, which was made the Sheksna Reservoir
Sheksna Reservoir
The Sheknsna Reservoir or the Sheksninskoe Reservoir is a water reservoir on Sheksna River and Lake Beloye, in Belozersky, Vashkinsky, Kirillovsky, and Sheksninsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia...
. There are many lakes of the district, among the biggest ones (after Lake Vozhe and the Sheksna Reservoir) are Lake Itkolskoye, Lake Siverskoye, and Lake Zaulomskoye.
The only national park in Vologda Oblast, Russky Sever National Park
Russky Sever National Park
Russky Sever National Park is the national park in the north of Russia, located in Kirillovsky District of Vologda Oblast. It was established on March 20, 1992. The name of the park means Russian North in Russian...
, is located in Kirillovsky District.
The north of the district, especially the areas around Lake Vozhe, are covered by swamps, the biggest of which is the Charonda Swamp (shared also with Ust-Kubensky and Vozhegodsky Districts).
The woods occupy 67% of the area of the district.
Agriculture
The agriculture of the district is essentially crop growing and cattle breeding, resulting and meat and milk production.Transport
Kirillov is connected by all-seasonal roads with VologdaVologda
Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport knot of the Northwest of Russia. Vologda is among the Russian cities possessing an especially valuable historical heritage...
, Cherepovets
Cherepovets
Cherepovets is the largest city in Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the bank of the Rybinsk Reservoir of the Sheksna River, a tributary of the Volga River. Population: 311,869 ; It is served by Cherepovets Airport.-Location:...
, Belozersk
Belozersk
Belozersk , known as Beloozero until 1777 , is a town and the administrative center of Belozersky District of Vologda Oblast, Russia, situated on the southern bank of Lake Beloye, from which it takes the name...
, and Vytegra
Vytegra
Vytegra may refer to:*Vytegra, a town in Vologda Oblast, Russia*Vytegra River, a river in Vologda Oblast, Russia...
. There are also local roads.
The Volga–Baltic Waterway (formerly known as the Mariinsk Canal System), connecting the Rybinsk Reservoir
Rybinsk Reservoir
Rybinsk Reservoir , informally called the Rybinsk Sea, is a water reservoir on the Volga River and its tributaries Sheksna and Mologa, formed by Rybinsk Hydroelectric Station dam, located on the territories of Tver, Vologda, and Yaroslavl Oblasts. At the time of its construction, it was the largest...
in the river basin of the Volga
Volga River
The Volga is the largest river in Europe in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. Out of the twenty largest cities of Russia, eleven, including the capital Moscow, are situated in the Volga's drainage...
and Lake Onega
Lake Onega
Lake Onega is a lake in the north-west European part of Russia, located on the territory of Republic of Karelia, Leningrad Oblast and Vologda Oblast. It belongs to the basin of Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and is the second largest lake in Europe after Lake Ladoga...
in the river basin of the Neva
Neva River
The Neva is a river in northwestern Russia flowing from Lake Ladoga through the western part of Leningrad Oblast to the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland. Despite its modest length , it is the third largest river in Europe in terms of average discharge .The Neva is the only river flowing from Lake...
, runs through the district, following the river course of the Sheksna.
The northern part of Lake Kubenskoye, which belongs to the basin of the Northern Dvina River, is connected by the Northern Dvina Canal
Northern Dvina Canal
The Northern Dvina Canal is a 64 km long canal in Vologda Oblast in Russia. It connects the Volga-Baltic Waterway to the Northern Dvina River through its tributary, the Sukhona River...
with Lake Siverskoye, the town of Kirillov, and the Sheksna River, thus connecting the basins of the White Sea and the Volga. In 19th century, the canal was the main waterway connecting the Volga with the White Sea. However, in 1930s the White Sea – Baltic Canal was built, and the Northern Dvina Canal lost its significance. The canal is still in operation, serving cargo traffic and occasional cruise ships, which move from the Sheksna to Lake Kubenskoye.
Religion
The district hosts two acting monasteries of the total four open in Vologda Oblast. These are the Kirillo-Belozersky MonasteryKirillo-Belozersky Monastery
Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery , loosely translated in English as the St. Cyril-Belozersk Monastery, used to be the largest monastery of Northern Russia. The monastery was dedicated to the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, for which cause it was sometimes referred to as the Dormition Monastery...
(male) in the town of Kirillov and the Goritsky Monastery
Goritsky Monastery (Goritsy)
The Goritsky Monastery of Resurrection is a Russian Orthodox convent in the village of Goritsy, north of the town of Kirillov, Kirillovsky District, Vologda oblast, Russia...
(female) in the village of Goritsy, close to Kirillov.
Culture and recreation
Kirillovsky district preserves a number of medieval ensembles which are considered among the best monuments of art and architecture in Russia. The Ferapontov MonasteryFerapontov Monastery
The Ferapontov convent , in the Vologda region of Russia, is considered one of the purest examples of Russian medieval art, a reason given by UNESCO for its inscription on the World Heritage List....
is the only World Heritage site in Vologda oblast. The Cathedral of Nativity of the Virgin (1490) in the monastery is the only remaining Russian church with fully painted walls. The frescoes were carried out by Dionysios. The Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery is a fortified ensemble built in the 15th and the 16th centuries. The Resurrection Church of the Goritsky Monastery also originates from the 16th century.
The district contains ten objects classified as cultural and historical heritage by Russian Federal law, and additionally 143 objects classified as cultural and historical heritage of local importance. The cultural heritage monuments of the federal significance are the ensembles of the Kirillo-Belozersky, the Gorisky, and the Ferapontov monasteries, as well as the St. Iliya Church of the Tsypin Pogost and a number of archaeological monuments.
The Ferapontov monastery operates as a museum - The Dionysios Frescoes Muesum. All other museums of the district are operated under the umbrella of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum of History, Art, and Architecture which is located in the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. The ensemble of the monastery is shared between the monastery and the museum.