Krasnoe village, located 20 km northwest of the ancient town of Staritsa in the Tver region, is known for its church. Against the backdrop of a typical Russian landscape, the pink Transfiguration Church, built in Gothic style, looks like a spaceship reaching for the heavens. The effect is enhanced by the vertical ornament of white lines, spires, pointed windows, and doors. This 'exotic wonder' appeared here more than 200 years ago.

History of Creation

Since the late 18th century, Krasnoe village belonged to the original family of Poltoratskys. The old park of their former estate can still be found in the forest descending to the Holokholne River. Remnants of a two-story house with a mezzanine, built by the first owner of the estate, have survived.

Mark Fedorovich Poltoratsky made a career thanks to his beautiful voice. The young Cossack attracted the attention of Count Alexei Razumovsky with his singing and ended up in the court choir, became the director of the Court Singing Chapel, received estates in Little Russia, nobility, and the rank of state councilor.

Mark Fedorovich married the daughter of a poor nobleman, Agafoklea Alexandrovna, a 14-year-old girl with a strong character. She bore him 22 children and actively participated in the construction of the church.

Interestingly! The estate's mistress was the grandmother of Anna Kern, to whom Pushkin dedicated the poem 'Winter Morning.' Anna recalled that Agafoklea could neither read nor write but had organizational skills.

Mark Fedorovich built the stone church in 1790 to replace the old temple, which was moved to the cemetery. The church was completed by the 20th anniversary of the Battle of Chesma. Agafoklea Alexandrovna finished the church, hoping to attract Catherine II's attention to her estates. The church was consecrated by Archbishop Pavel of Tver in 1803.

The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a copy of the Chesme Church in St. Petersburg. The second copy near Pskov has not survived.

Interestingly! The Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in St. Petersburg was built in honor of the Russian fleet's victory in the Battle of Chesma. Legend has it that Catherine learned of the triumph precisely where the church stands. She attended its laying and visited it often. Emperor Joseph II was present at the opening in 1780.

Gothic Wonder in the Tver Region

The Holy Transfiguration Church is a unique structure for the Tver land, where cathedrals were usually built in Russian-Byzantine or classical styles. They were often decorated with 'Staritsa marble,' limestone from the quarries of Staritsa. This material was used for the external details of this church. The white ornament on the walls, the plinth, cornices, and sculptures are made from it. The main material of the church is brick. The author of the project for the Chesme Church in St. Petersburg and in Krasnoe is Yuri Felten.

Interestingly! Yuri Felten, from a German family, was a student of Rastrelli and became one of the main architects of St. Petersburg. He completed the Smolny Monastery, designed the Grand Hermitage, and oversaw the installation of the Bronze Horseman. He built many churches in the Gothic style.

Gothic influence is evident in the decoration of the cathedral. Its walls are covered with narrow vertical lines and pointed arches. The 'Gothic rose' is located above the entrance. The walls and domes are crowned with Gothic spires. The portal was adorned with angels, one with a trumpet, the other with a cross. Inside, the church was richly decorated, evoking admiration.

Equally Beautiful Inside

Poltoratsky built the temple with his own money, and his wife donated sets for the liturgy, Gospels, and a carved iconostasis.

The interiors of the cathedral amazed with their splendor thanks to donations. On the wall was an image of Christ the Savior surrounded by angels. Above the Royal Gates, an image of the Motherland, surrounded by icons of the 12 Apostles, including Apostle Mark. The church had many valuable icons and utensils. Unfortunately, all the interior decoration has been lost.

There was no bell tower at the cathedral, so the bells were located nearby. The church was surrounded by a fence and a moat, which was later replaced by a stone fence.

Businessman and Graphomaniac

Alexander Markovich Poltoratsky, who inherited the estate, also succeeded in service and was a man of broad interests.

As the director of the Olonets factories, he published works under the pseudonym Dormedon Vasilyevich Prutikov. The most famous became 'Provincial Nonsense.' Contemporaries considered his works graphomania, but Vissarion Belinsky was his copyist.

Poltoratsky engaged in the search for minerals and compiled 'Description of the Olonets Factories,' which was highly appreciated. Leading the Mint, he insisted on the production of rifles, which helped the army in 1812.

He had enough funds to build a new fence for the church in 1824.

Pushkin's Places

Krasnoe with the church is part of the 'Pushkin Ring of Upper Volga,' a route through places visited by Pushkin. The estates of his friends inspired the poet. Krasnoe was visited by him in 1826, where he met Anna Kern.

Some historians believe that Alexander Poltoratsky could have been the prototype of the hero of the novel 'Eugene Onegin.' He was born in Petrozavodsk, retired, and lived in the village. His second wife was Ekaterina Bakunina, Pushkin's lyceum love.

In Our Days

In the 1930s, the church was closed and used as a warehouse. In the 1970s, it was preserved. In the 1990s, restoration began, and the church became operational.

The church is a parish one. On the Feast of the Baptism, water is consecrated, and on Easter, kulich is blessed. Restoration works continue.