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Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Lukyanitsevo

Фото 1
The construction of a new five-domed stone cathedral on the site of the first wooden church of the Nativity of the Theotokos began in the late 17th century thanks to the efforts of a monk from the Lukianov Desert, the abbot of the monastery from 1694 to 1696, and later the cellarer of the Chudov Monastery, Hieromonk Joasaph. The work was entrusted to stonemason Shabunin and his team. The church was consecrated in 1712 under Abbot Avraamy. The cathedral is an example of Naryshkin Baroque, where the late style combines with traditional Russian pillarless composition. The high three-light square base on a basement is topped with five small drums with domes and a three-part altar apse, which is three-lobed in plan. The square is covered with a steep vault, while the apse has a three-part conch. The facades of the church are divided by pilasters into three tall panels, each topped with a kokoshnik. The western facade and parts of the northern and southern facades are surrounded by a spacious gallery. Despite numerous owners, the monastery has remained in a semi-ruined state and awaits restoration. On the third level of light, there are high windows with frames in the style of Naryshkin Baroque, decorated with thin columns and broken triangular pediments. Iron wrought-iron grilles have been preserved in the windows of all tiers. The grilles on the second and third tiers are wavy, made of round rods. Large S-shaped anchor ties, used during the restoration of the church in 1851 to strengthen the building, attract attention. In the basement, before the monastery was closed, there was a necropolis where members of the noble Sobakin family, Abbot Avraamy, and other benefactors of the monastery were buried. The crypt was restored in 2016. In 1893, under Abbot Hieronymus, who was the head of the monastery from 1887 to 1895, the monastery was preparing to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the appearance of the miraculous icon of the Nativity of the Theotokos. For this date, frescoes were completed on the interior walls of the cathedral in the style of late classicism, illustrating the life of Jesus Christ. Gospel scenes were placed above the windows, three on each wall, and images of saints below, between the windows. The frescoes were distinguished by chiaroscuro technique, refined proportions, and restrained color combinations. The northern, western, and southern walls of the square were painted, each with three compositions united by ornamental arches. On the northern wall are depicted 'Healing of the Blind', 'Preaching of John the Baptist', and 'Blessing of the Children', between the windows, the venerable Cyril, Andrew, and John. On the western wall, 'Baptism of Rus by St. Vladimir', 'The Mother of God on the Throne', and 'Baptism of Princess Olga', between the windows, the venerable Savvatiy, Sergey, Hieronymus, Anthony, Theodosius, and Daniel. On the southern wall are located 'Resurrection of the Daughter of Jairus', 'Sermon on the Mount', and 'Healing of the Paralytic', between the windows, the venerable Ephraim and Euphemius. The images of the saints are dominated by rich shades of blue, light green, and pink. After the closure of the monastery, when a home for the disabled was located on its territory, the central part of the cathedral was used for drying laundry, which is why the frescoes have mostly survived. The brethren of the monastery hope that in the future the frescoes will be restored and shine again in the restored cathedral.

Geo point

Собор Рождества Пресвятой Богородицы Свято-Лукианова Рождественского мужского монастыря в Лукьянцево

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