From 1663 to 1669, the architect Gavrila Antipych Antonovsky was engaged in the construction of the Resurrection Cathedral. During this time, his son David was learning the craft from his father. Twelve years later, David built the Epiphany Church next to the cathedral in the same Resurrection Monastery.
The Epiphany Church was conceived as a "warm" place for conducting services in winter, with the possibility of stove heating. It is characterized by small size and simplicity, which gives it coziness and tranquility. This creation of the son does not seek to overshadow the grandeur of the father's cathedral. The church is a modest pillarless temple with one apse and five blind drums. Originally, a bell tower adjoined the western part, which was dismantled in the late 19th century. In 1686, two chapels were added to the single apse, making the church three-apsed.
Despite its restraint, the Epiphany Church attracts attention with its unusual five domes. These "caps" resemble fairy-tale gnomes and have become a symbol of Soligalich architecture, reflecting the baroque style reworked by local craftsmen. They look picturesque and unexpected for a provincial town, and I would place them at the top of local attractions. The domes, installed in the 1790s, have remained almost unchanged, unlike the domes of the cathedral.
Built between 1681 and 1686, the Epiphany Church has hardly suffered from later reconstructions. The northern windows were enlarged, and the bulbous domes were replaced with baroque ones. The church is now empty and abandoned, but compared to the Resurrection Cathedral, it looks less depressing.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.
To leave a comment, sign in with Google.