Symbols

Blazon of Vologda

The history of the blazon of Vologda begins with a military unit of the Russian Army - the Vologda regiment which was formed on June 25, 1700 in the city of Novgorod. In 1708 the regiment was named in honour of a large Russian city - Vologda.

There are some proofs testifying to the fact that the Vologda regiment participated in the fierce battles of the Northern war - the battles of Poltava and Gangut. In 1712 a flag of the regiment depicting an emblem on it was made in the Moscow Kremlin Armory Museum. In 1729 the emblem, though altered a little bit by Mr. Santi, King of Arms, was approved by the Supreme Privy Council as an emblem of the city of Vologda.

As a result of an administrative reform of 1775, the Vologda region was set up. Catherine II confirmed the Senate report "On Blazons of the Cities within the Vologda Region" on October 2, 1780 and thereby granted the first coat of arms to the city of Vologda. It was based on the image depicted in the book "Symbols and Emblems" released in Amsterdam in 1705 by request of Peter the Great.

In the mid-19th century the blazons were refined - crowns and an escutcheon framing appeared on them. By these decorations on the coat of arms one could judge about the importance of a city in the state, its economic development and the number of population. The blazon of Vologda was awarded the imperial crown framed in the oak leaves and an ensign of Imperial Russia - a blue ribbon. The imperial crown was often depicted on the blazons of gubernias and capitals. This is a description of Vologda's coat of arms: a hand in golden clothes with a golden orb and a silver sword appears out of the silver cloud against the red background.

On July 5, 1878 Alexander II approved of this image as the coat of arms of Vologda and the Vologda gubernia.

The Vologda City Council of people's deputies adopted this blazon one more time on April 11, 1991.

Flag of Vologda

Like the coat of arms the flag of Vologda is an official symbol of the city. It is a red rectangular sheet with a hand in golden clothes with a golden orb and a silver sword with a golden sword - hilt appearing out of the silver cloud.

The flag of Vologda may be raised above administrative buildings where the head of the city, the city Duma and department of internal affairs are situated.

The flag may be hoisted during official ceremonies and other solemn activities held by the city institutions of local governing, public organizations, enterprises irrespective of type of property, and during family celebrations.