Original examples of ancient Russian architecture in the vastness of Karelia

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The first thing that comes to mind when Karelia is mentioned is a picturesque northern forest, rocky shores and, of course, wooden churches. People are poisoned here not only for recreation or hunting, but also in order to feed themselves with spiritual energy, because it is on its prayed ground that you can still find samples of ancient Russian architecture in its original form.

1. Monuments of ancient architecture in Karelia

Original examples of ancient Russian architecture in the vastness of Karelia.

Russia has been famous since ancient times for its craftsmen who created magnificent masterpieces from wood. But, unfortunately, wood is not a very durable material and is susceptible to rain, snow, flooding, not to mention fires and wars. For this reason, quite a few unique examples of wooden architecture remained on the territory of the country.

A pleasant exception was the Karelian land, which has preserved quite a lot of architectural monuments dating back to the 17th-19th centuries. If throughout the country at the end of the 19th century, stone houses and religious buildings began to be erected in full, then in the quiet northern hinterland, wooden architecture flourished for a long time.

And even despite the fact that many nationalities lived on its territory and their mutual influence has enriched the Karelian culture, nevertheless, the primordial Russian traditions have been preserved here almost in their original form.

This is especially noticeable in the unique architecture of churches, the likes of which can no longer be found in the rest of Russia. Pilgrims / travelers flock to these ancient shrines for many centuries in a row. Places sacrificed for centuries and the beauty of ancient wooden churches, preserved to this day like a magnet, attracts travelers with wise simplicity of forms and natural grace of lines.

2. Museum-reserve on the Kizhi island

Perhaps the most famous place of pilgrimage was the island of Kizhi, on which not only temples built in ancient times have been preserved. It was on its territory that some shrines from other regions of Karelia were moved in order to restore them and, if possible, completely restore their former beauty.

Help from Novate. Ru:Kizhi (Kizhi pogost) is a unique architectural ensemble of its kind, which is part of the State Historical and Architectural Museum "Kizhi", founded in 1966. On its territory there are not only temple structures created on the island, but also dozens of unique objects dating back to the 17th-18th centuries.

Despite the fact that the island is very tiny, it can be bypassed in just a couple of hours, but what powerful energy it carries is difficult to describe in words. What is only splendor Churches of the Transfiguration, founded in 1714. Pictures have been painted from it for three centuries, and all this time a string of pilgrims and tourists has not dried up to this shrine. This incredibly beautiful church with 22 wooden domes covered with aspen "scales" was cut down by an unknown master, and there is not a single nail in its structure right up to the dome, located at a height of 37 m.

There is also another attraction - the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos. Despite the fact that it is more modest in size, it is famous for its equally impressive austere beauty. This temple was rebuilt several times due to constant fires and the appearance that we can see now, the church acquired in 1764.

No less famous and Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus, felled in 1244 on the island, where in 1966.was organized by the State Historical, Architectural and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve, brought from Murom. Also on the territory of the complex there is a well-known Tent bell tower, chapel of Michael the Archangel, the chapel of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Vasilyevo, the Chapel of the Three Great Hierarchs from Kavgora and several old wooden houses, a mill, a smithy, a craft school.

3. Assumption Church in the town of Kondopoga

A unique monument of Russian wooden architecture, the Assumption Church in the town of Kondopoga was felled for the first time back in the 16th century. Over the course of three centuries, it was rebuilt, during which time the parishioners also raised funds for the creation of the Tent Bell Tower and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin.

Local residents carefully preserved their shrine and even during the years of Soviet power it survived, although for many decades it was not a place of worship. But in 2018, the church, created at the end of the wooden architecture of Russia, was deliberately set on fire. Despite the efforts of the fire brigade, the Assumption Church burned down almost to the ground.

All valuable icons, the iconostasis and the ceiling-sky - a unique example of the "Divine Liturgy", perished with her. Despite the fact that money has already been raised for its restoration, they cannot decide on the project in any way, because it will never be possible to create exactly the same church. And this is due to the fact that such carpentry skills have been completely lost. Now they do not even know how to harvest wood, as the ancient masters did.

4. Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Kem

The wooden cathedral was built in 1711-1714. in honor of the victory over the Swedes. Gradually, it became a real ensemble, which included 4 churches and a chapel. But time did not spare this wooden masterpiece either; in 2016, during the restoration, it was decided to disassemble it by logs and completely restore it according to the found drawings. Modern masters even promise to recreate the "luminous" iconostasis, with secret windows located in the right places at the top of the structure. It was they who created the famous visual glow effect.

5. Church of the Apostle Peter

In Marcial Waters (Kondopoga District), next to mineral springs, there is another monument of Russian architecture - the Church of Peter the Apostle, cut down in 1721 according to the design and drawings of Peter I. As you know, he often came here for treatment. This is the only church that has preserved the fruits of the activities of the Russian tsar. It is known for certain that he personally carved the chandelier, hangers and wooden floor candlesticks. Almost all of the interior decoration, which was created at the beginning of the 18th century, is still kept in the temple, including the candlesticks, which were created by the first All-Russian Emperor.

6. Church of Peter and Paul in Wyrm

In the Belomorsk region on the White Sea coast there is an old village of Virma, where an extraordinary wooden church, the Church of Peter and Paul, cut down in the 17th century, has been preserved. The first mention of this shrine reached our days from the time of Martha the Posadnitsa (15th century), but the frame that we can see now was created between 1625 and 1696. Despite the fact that the Soviet authorities shot the last priest in 1938, local residents kept it in order, and after partial restoration and major repairs in 2003-2006. services are held there.

7. Temple of the Great Martyr Barbara on Yandomozero

Another temple with a difficult fate is located at the end of a long, narrow peninsula abutting Yandomozero. The wooden tent-roofed church was built in 1653-1656. on the site of the destroyed chapel, which was mentioned in the 16th century. Despite the fact that it experienced several restorations and the troubled years of complete destruction of such structures in the last century, the church was kept in order until 2015, when it was taken apart by an unscrupulous contractor for restoration. The stacked logs remained to rot in the open air, and only recently a new workshop took up its restoration.