One of the most remarkable churches of the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery is the church dedicated to the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos. It is adjacent to the refectory, and a covered gallery connects it to the Spassky Cathedral. The Entry Church, which has one dome and a column-free structure with a tented roof, consists of two floors. The lower floor used to house a church that no longer exists, and in the refectory, an altar in honor of St. Barbara was arranged in 1876. The exact date of the construction of the Entry Church is unknown, but according to a description from 1623, it was already made of stone. Most researchers believe it was built in the early second half of the 16th century, shortly after the completion of the Spassky Cathedral. It is evident that in designing the decorative elements of the church, such as the cornices and decorative bands, the architects were inspired by the design of the drums of the cathedral's domes.
The church is distinguished by its ornate appearance and is memorable for its three-tiered pyramid topped with a drum and an onion dome. The cubic shape of the church, devoid of altar apses, is characteristic of the 16th century. It is known that the space of the abolished altar was used as a cellar for bread, kvass, and cabbage in the late 17th century. On the western side, a large refectory adjoins the church, whose single-column hall has an area of about 15 by 15 meters, which is typical for Russian monasteries of the 16th-17th centuries.
In 1918, the church was closed, and in 1927-1928, after the dismantling of the dome, it housed a club where film screenings and performances were held, and a buffet operated. During this time, disabled individuals lived in the residential and utility buildings. The presumed original appearance of the church was restored during the renovation that began at the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery in 1954. Currently, the Entry Church is not used for regular services.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.
To leave a comment, sign in with Google.