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Transfiguration Church in Votkinsk

Фото 1
The significant increase in the population of Votkinsk, the improvement of the material well-being of the residents, and the strengthening of Orthodox traditions led to the necessity of constructing the fourth cemetery church. This church became the largest and operational year-round, as it was heated.

The new Transfiguration Church was built on donations from workers under the supervision of a special construction committee consisting of workers and officials. The chairman of the committee was Priest Karteriy Nikolayevich Kataev from the Annunciation Cathedral, a relative of the writer V.P. Kataev. He graduated from the theological seminary in 1803, served in Izhevsk, and since 1888 in Votkinsk. His contribution to the construction of the church was significant. The committee also included Priest Ioann Levitsky, mining engineer Moskvin, and representatives of the merchant class and craftsmen.

The laying of the building took place on August 6, 1897, even before the project was approved. On October 13, 1897, Archpriest Mikhail Utrobin appealed to Bishop Nikodim with a request to bless the plan for the construction of a new church instead of the old one. The project was revised by architect I.A. Charushin, who used the project for the reconstruction of the third Transfiguration Church from 1895 as a basis.

Despite being busy in the Vyatka province, Charushin visited Votkinsk several times, paying attention to the construction of the church. In the inspection act dated December 17, 1899, he noted some deviations from the plan but considered them insignificant for the beauty of the building.

Materials from the previous building were used in the construction, and the stone for the floor and stairs was delivered from Kungur. The masonry was made of red brick in the style of "Polish milestone Gothic masonry," and the church is still considered a model of high-quality construction work.

The consecration of the new church took place on September 10, 1900. Although it was sometimes referred to as the "old" reconstructed church, architecturally it was completely new and surpassed the previous churches.

From 1991 to 1996, a two-story building with a baptismal church, Sunday school, and other facilities was built according to the project of N.L. Zvirzdynia, harmonizing with the architectural ensemble.

The church is a monument of the Russian-Byzantine style, designed in the form of an elongated cross. The architectural solution took into account the height difference on the slope of the hill, which required the creation of a high porch and a basement.

This church belongs to the first group of "domed" churches by Charushin, serving as a transition from the Byzantine to the Russian style. Unlike other churches, the drum in Votkinsk is already a dome, creating a unique architectural technique.

The bell towers of churches in this group always had tent-like finishes, contrasting with the dome but topped with an onion-shaped cupola, which softens the contrast. This creates a special charm for the Votkinsk church.

Charushin was not only an architect but also a kind of missionary, carefully choosing the location for the church and controlling the quality of the work. The church became a harmonious ensemble of various forms of art.

The three-tiered carved iconostasis of the church features powerful outlines of arches reminiscent of Baroque. The painting of the iconostasis is solid and academic. During the Soviet years, the iconostasis did not suffer much, but the valuables were confiscated in 1922.

In 1952-1953, wall paintings were completed, giving integrity to the interior of the church. Among the church's relics is the icon of "Saint George the Victorious," with which, according to tradition, the Votkinsk plant was laid in 1759. It was transferred to the church after the closure of the Annunciation Cathedral in 1929.

Geo point

Церковь Спаса Преображения в Воткинске

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