Situated in an open area, it dominates the village's development. Two parallel rows of huts, stretching from west to east, frame a vast rectangular area, the western part of which previously served as a trading area, and the eastern part was occupied by a cemetery, where the churches were built. Until 1764, the large trading village was part of the possessions of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. In the 18th century, there were wooden churches of John the Baptist, the Nativity of the Virgin, and Joachim and Anna. After the fire of 1802, which destroyed all the churches, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin (1806-13), the Church of Joachim and Anna (completed by 1808) and their free-standing bell towers were built of brick and white stone. In 1849-52, a refectory was built for the Church of Joachim and Anna, connecting it with the bell tower; Apparently, the western narthex of the refectory of the Church of the Nativity and the passage from it to the bell tower date back to the same period.
In the middle - 3rd quarter of the 19th century, the complex was surrounded by a fence (not preserved) with a bench to the north of the Church of the Nativity; a chapel (1866, not preserved) and a gatehouse were also built - to the north of the Church of Joachim and Anna. The walls of all the buildings are whitewashed over plaster or covered with lime plaster. The churches, placed one after another, are shifted from the middle of the territory to the south, which provides a wide panorama of the complex when viewed from the village square. This openness is enhanced by a slight deviation from the longitudinal axis, which is further from the square of the Church of Joachim and Anna. The unifying element not only of the ensemble, but also of the surrounding buildings is the high and monumental bell tower of the Church of the Nativity. The main road goes around the complex from the south, from where the buildings are perceived in turn, which allows one to appreciate the picturesque variety of their silhouettes. The developed spatial composition, large scale and richness of forms make the complex a significant example of rural religious construction of the classical era.
Translated by Google •
In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!