My route
Sign in
WorldRussiaYaroslavlAssumption CathedralMy routeRoute

Assumption Cathedral, Yaroslavl

White Assumption Cathedral with golden onion domes above the Strelka park trees in Yaroslavl, from the embankment
Photo: Florstein (Telegram:WikiPhoto.Space), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free — it is a working church
Hours
Daily from about 8:00 to 19:00–20:00 (sources differ); weekday services from 8:00 and at 17:00, Sundays and feast days from 8:40
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Open
Daily from 8:00; closes at 19:00 or 20:00 — sources differ
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Services
Weekdays from 8:00 and at 17:00; Sundays and feast days from 8:40
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Relics
Saints Feodor of Yaroslavl and his sons David and Konstantin
Basement museum
Listed in encyclopedias; ask at the church shop whether it is open to visitors
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Address
Kotoroslnaya naberezhnaya 2/1, in the park at the Strelka
Coordinates
57.62249, 39.90200YesGo MapGoogleAppleYandex
Dress code
Women: headscarf and a skirt below the knee; men: no hat, no shorts
On foot
≈ 10–15 min from Sovetskaya Square

Key facts

2010the rebuilt cathedral was consecrated by Patriarch Kirill for Yaroslavl’s 1000th anniversary
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia, “Uspensky Cathedral (Yaroslavl)”Putevka guide
1937the old cathedral was blown up; the site was a park for more than 60 years
3 sourcesRussian WikipediaVisit Yaroslavia regional tourism portalSputnik8 guide
1215Prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich laid the first stone cathedral here
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaVisit Yaroslavia regional tourism portal
≈ 50 mheight to the base of the cross
4 sourcesRussian WikipediaZnanie.WikiTonkostiSputnik8
4,000worshippers the cathedral can hold
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaZnanie.Wiki
2011the relics of Saints Feodor, David and Konstantin of Yaroslavl were moved here
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaAltapress article on the relics of Prince Feodor
1788it became a cathedral, when the bishop’s seat moved to Yaroslavl
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaSputnik8 guide
Alexey Denisovthe Moscow architect who designed the new building
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaZnanie.Wiki
1918the old cathedral was hit by artillery during the Yaroslavl Uprising
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaPutevka guide

Is the Assumption Cathedral free? Opening hours

Yes, entry is free — there are no tickets. It’s a working Orthodox church, open every day from about 8:00. Closing time varies by source: the regional tourism portal Visit Yaroslavia says 20:00, the Sputnik8 guide says 19:00, so don’t count on a late-evening visit.

Services, according to guidebooks, start around 8:00 and 17:00 on weekdays and around 8:40 on Sundays and feast days. You can stay during a service, but stand quietly near the back and keep the camera away. For a relaxed look around, come between services — late morning to mid-afternoon is calmest.

Candles and small icons are sold in the church shop by the door; it often takes cash only. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards don’t work in Russia (since March 2022), so carry a few roubles if you want to light a candle.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you’re already at the Strelka — it is two minutes away and costs nothing. Come for the scale of the building, the relics of Yaroslavl’s princely saints and the sense of a city that rebuilt the church the Soviets destroyed.

Be clear about what it isn’t: this is a 2010 building, not an old one. If you have time for only one church in Yaroslavl and want real 17th-century frescoes, the Church of Elijah the Prophet is the better pick. The cathedral works best as a 20–30-minute stop on a walk along the rivers.

The new cathedral is larger than the one it replaced, and its size was controversial: historians argued over it, and UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee voiced concern in 2009 about its impact on Yaroslavl’s listed historic centre.

What to see inside and around

  • The shrine of Saints Feodor, David and Konstantin — the 13th-century prince of Yaroslavl and his sons, moved here in 2011.
  • Relic fragments of Princes Vasily and Konstantin Vsevolodovich, sons of the cathedral’s original founder.
  • A copy of the Yaroslavl icon of the Mother of God, the main icon of the old cathedral.
  • The bright, tall central dome — painting of the walls is still under way, so parts of the interior are plain white.
  • The view from the Kotorosl embankment, where the golden domes rise above the park trees — the classic photo.
  • The Strelka — the spit where the rivers meet, two minutes’ walk away, with flowerbeds and views over both.

How to get to the Assumption Cathedral

Tap a route to highlight it on the map.

Loading the map…

on footdestinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

On foot

  • Strelka Park is about 2 min away on foot.
  • Metropolitan's Chambers is about 1 min away on foot.
  • Church of Elijah the Prophet is about 9 min away on foot.

More tips

  1. From Sovetskaya Square and the Church of Elijah the Prophet: walk down to the Volga and follow the Volga Embankment past the Metropolitan’s Chambers to the park at the Strelka — 10–15 minutes.
  2. From elsewhere in town: take a bus or trolleybus to the central stops Krasnaya Ploshchad or Ploshchad Volkova, walk 5–10 minutes to Sovetskaya Square, then 10–15 minutes along the embankment.
  3. From the Yaroslavl Kremlin (Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery): about 15 minutes on foot downstream along the Kotorosl embankment.
  4. From Yaroslavl-Glavny railway station: a taxi to Kotoroslnaya naberezhnaya 2/1 takes 15–20 minutes; walking to the centre takes close to an hour. Yandex Go works here; foreign cards don’t, so link a Russian card or pay the driver in cash.

A short history

Prince Konstantin Vsevolodovich of Rostov laid the first stone cathedral of the Dormition here in 1215. It burned and was rebuilt several times; by the 17th century it was a five-domed church with a tall bell tower, and in 1788 it became the city’s cathedral when the bishop’s seat moved to Yaroslavl.

Artillery damaged it during the 1918 Yaroslavl Uprising. Under Soviet rule it was used as a warehouse, the bell tower came down, and in 1937 the cathedral was blown up. Archaeologists excavated the site before the rebuild; the foundations of the original 13th-century church were never found.

Work on the new cathedral began in the mid-2000s, and Patriarch Kirill consecrated it on 12 September 2010 during Yaroslavl’s millennium celebrations. The tall separate bell tower wasn’t rebuilt — a plan for a 70-metre one was dropped.

Before you go: checklist

Ready: 0 of 5

Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.

Assumption Cathedral vs Church of Elijah vs Tolga Convent

Assumption Cathedralyou are hereMain cathedral, rebuilt in 2010New buildingFreeStrelka, centre20–30 min
Church of Elijah the Prophet17th-century church with frescoes, a museumGenuine 17th centuryMuseum ticketSovetskaya Square, centre30–45 min
Tolga ConventWorking convent17th-century buildingsFreeLeft bank of the Volga, out of townHalf a day with travel

For frescoes, choose Elijah the Prophet. The cathedral is for the relics and the Strelka next door. Tolga suits a quiet half-day if you have one spare.

Yaroslavl’s churches compared

Every church and monastery in Yaroslavl rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Assumption Cathedralyou are here5130 minFree—
Church of Elijah the Prophet4745 min≈ 200–250 ₽, May to October12 min walk
Metropolitan's Chambers451 h200 ₽, concessions 100 ₽3 min walk
Church of St John the Baptist at Tolchkovo4140 minFree3.0 km
Tolga Convent401 hFree9.4 km
Yaroslavl Kremlin (Transfiguration Monastery)352 hGrounds 100 ₽, combined ticket 800 ₽14 min walk

From Elijah the Prophet to the Kremlin in half a day

Start with the frescoes at Elijah the Prophet, walk the Volga Embankment past the Metropolitan’s Chambers to the Strelka, step into the cathedral and follow the Kotorosl to the Kremlin. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Church of Elijah the Prophet45 min · ≈ 200–250 ₽, May to October
  2. 11 min walk from the previous stopMetropolitan's Chambers1 h · 200 ₽, concessions 100 ₽
  3. 3 min walk from the previous stopStrelka Park40 min · Free
  4. 3 min walk from the previous stopAssumption Cathedralyou are here30 min · Free
  5. 14 min walk from the previous stopYaroslavl Kremlin (Transfiguration Monastery)2 h · Grounds 100 ₽, combined ticket 800 ₽

5 places · about 5 h 26 min with walks · 31 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Strelka Park

Yaroslavl, Russia

40 min · Free · 3 min walk

Metropolitan's Chambers

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h · 200 ₽, concessions 100 ₽ · 3 min walk

Church of Elijah the Prophet

Yaroslavl, Russia

45 min · ≈ 200–250 ₽, May to October · 12 min walk

Governor's House

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h · 300 ₽, everything 750 ₽ · 12 min walk

How to do it right

  • Best photo: from the Kotorosl embankment or the bridge over the Kotorosl, with the domes above the trees.
  • Pair it with the Strelka — two minutes apart, about an hour for both.
  • Short on time? YesGo suggests 20 minutes inside and 10 at the Strelka — enough to get the place.
  • Want old Yaroslavl? Head next to the Church of Elijah the Prophet or the Kremlin.
  • Around 17:00 you may catch the start of the evening service and the bells.
  • At Christmas and Easter the cathedral is packed — arrive early.

Questions

Is the Assumption Cathedral in Yaroslavl free to enter?

Yes. It’s a working church with no tickets; you pay only for candles or a guided tour if you book one.

What are the opening hours?

Daily from about 8:00. It closes at 19:00 or 20:00 — sources differ, so plan your visit for the daytime.

Is there a dress code?

Yes, as in any Orthodox church: women cover their hair and wear a skirt below the knee, men remove hats and avoid shorts, and everyone keeps shoulders covered.

Can I visit during a service?

Yes. Stand quietly near the back, don’t walk through the centre and don’t take photos during the service.

How long do I need?

20–30 minutes inside; about an hour if you add a walk around the Strelka.

Is the cathedral old?

No. The original, founded in 1215, was blown up in 1937. Today’s building was rebuilt from scratch and consecrated in 2010.

How do I get there from the city centre?

Walk from Sovetskaya Square along the Volga Embankment — 10–15 minutes. From the Yaroslavl Kremlin it’s about 15 minutes along the Kotorosl.

Whose relics are in the cathedral?

Saints Feodor of Yaroslavl and his sons David and Konstantin, moved here in 2011, plus relic fragments of Princes Vasily and Konstantin Vsevolodovich.

Can I take photos inside?

Discreet photos without flash between services are usually tolerated; during a service, put the camera away. If staff ask you to stop, do so.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Visit Yaroslavia regional tourism portal: Cathedral of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos — address, hours, phone, rebuilding history, 30.10.2026
  • Russian Wikipedia: Uspensky Cathedral (Yaroslavl); Wikidata Q1140551
  • Znanie.Wiki: Uspensky Cathedral (Yaroslavl)
  • Sputnik8 guide: Uspensky Cathedral, Yaroslavl — hours and services, 30.10.2026
  • Tonkosti guide: Uspensky Cathedral in Yaroslavl
  • Altapress: the fate of the relics of Prince Feodor and his sons
  • Visa and Mastercard statements on suspending operations in Russia, March 2022
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedThe websites of the cathedral and the Yaroslavl Metropolia did not open on 30.10.2026, so nothing on this page carries an “official” badge. Closing time differs: the Visit Yaroslavia portal gives 8:00–20:00, Sputnik8 8:00–19:00; we show both. Service times come from Sputnik8 and Tonkosti, which agree on the morning start. The foundation year of the new building differs (2004 in Wikipedia, 2005 on the regional portal), so we say “mid-2000s”. Sources give five or seven domes, so we give no number. Wikipedia describes a museum in the basement as existing, Tonkosti as planned; whether it is open to visitors wasn’t confirmed. Wikipedia gives the address as Kotoroslnaya naberezhnaya 1, the regional portal and guides as 2/1; we use 2/1. Photo etiquette and walking times are our own guidance, not official rules.

Top YesGo picks: Yaroslavl

Volga Embankment

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h · Free, open 24/7

Tolga Convent

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h · Free entry

Tereshkova Planetarium

Yaroslavl, Russia

1 h 30 min · show 300–400 ₽, museum 150 ₽

All places: Yaroslavl →