The "Cross" Chapel, which can be seen at the entrance to Pereslavl-Zalessky from the Moscow side, was erected by order of Ivan the Terrible on the spot where his wife Anastasia Romanova gave birth to their son Feodor, or at least so the legend says.
No documents indicating the exact date of construction of this graceful structure have survived, but historians generally believe that this happened in 1557. The village of Sobilovo, near which the chapel was erected, has not survived either.
The architectural style of the Theodore Stratilates Chapel leans toward traditional Old Russian architecture. The square base is crowned by a tented roof on an octagonal tier, and the walls are entirely covered with patterns carved in stone. Previously, a wooden cross stood inside it, which is how the chapel got its second name - "Cross".
At the end of the 19th century, the architect V.V. Suslov undertook the reconstruction of the dilapidated chapel. It was completely dismantled and rebuilt anew from more durable materials based on carefully taken measurements of the original building.
At present, the Theodore Stratilates Chapel is often visited by newlyweds for photo sessions. Distinguished guests of Pereslavl-Zalessky are also usually welcomed here. Nearby there is a cozy cafe styled in an antique manner.
