Church of Varlaam Khutynsky description and photo - Russia - North-West: Pskov (Topic)

Church of Varlaam Khutynsky description and photos - Russia - North-West: Pskov. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

The Church of Varlaam Khutynsky located on Zvannitsa is an Orthodox church in the city of Pskov, as well as a monument of historical and cultural significance of the 15th-19th centuries under federal protection. The temple was consecrated in the name of the Novgorod ascetic Varlaam, who founded the famous Khutynsky monastery near the city of Novgorod.

The first chronicle mentions of the church date back to 1466, when a wooden church was built at the time of a frost plague. Soon, in 1495, the existing stone church was built. In the historical information of the Church of Barlaam, 1615 plays a significant role, which became famous thanks to the repulsion of the army of Gustav-Adolf. The main point of attack was a place near the Varlaam Gate, above which a tower of special purpose was located. The gate survived a heavy bombardment, while the tower was practically destroyed. Chronicle sources say that the Swedish troops were severely hit by shots that came directly from the church dome.

The entire Varlaam Church is made of slabs, its height is 5 sazhens (just over 10 meters). The temple building is almost cubic in shape. From the west, the church is adjoined by the porch and the vestibule, on which the belfry is built; the porch has a parapet. The belfry consists of two spans, and the covering is made of a four-pitched roof with a cross located on it.

On the north side there is an extension in the form of a gatehouse with a storeroom, and on the south side there is a chapel, consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker ... On the front of the main temple, there are triple blade divisions. The hipped roof is built over four medium-high walls. The cornice is decorated with small depressions made in the form of kokoshniks, squares and triangles. The dome has a bulbous cupola, which is covered with sheet iron. Previously, above the head was a tiled belt, currently covered with lime. Even in ancient times, the temple roof was eight-pitched. Above the chapel in the name of St. Nicholas, a wooden blank tribune with a dome made of iron was placed.

In the north side of the vestibule there is a special section, which is arranged in the form of a chapel, which houses the icon of the Mother of God. From this place you can go to the pantry or the gatehouse. Previously, there was a life-size carved image of Christ in a crown of thorns. According to the general resolution of the Synod concerning the seizure of sacred sculptures, this image was moved to the sacristy of the Trinity Cathedral in 1808; now the holy image is in the museum of the historical and archaeological committee. In the central part of the main church there are four pillars, which were tetrahedral until 1860 and were rounded to increase the space during the same year.

The internal structure of the church of Varlaam Khutynsky has a certain peculiarity, which consists in the fact that the domed arches are not decorated at the same height with the church vaults, but much lower. In 1831, a choir was made at the western wall. The last alteration of the temple was made in 1900.

The church iconostasis has three tiers. Its renewal was carried out two times: during 1861 and 1895. The twisted columns at the royal gates are made in the rococo style. In a special department there is a miraculous holy icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" of ancient writing. Below, part of the icon is slightly sawn off - they say that a certain priest, who allowed damage to the icon, soon fell seriously ill and died. In the sacristy there is a copper cross, hollow inside, it is an ancient relic.

After the revolution in 1917, the temple of Varlaam Khutynsky was closed. The revival of the church is closely intertwined with the activities and work of the Orthodox Pskov mission - in December 1943 it became operational again.

The Church of Varlaam Khutynsky is a unique and significant monument, it forms a single compositional whole with the adjacent fortifications and structures of the Varlaam corner ...

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Topic: Church of Varlaam Khutynsky description and photo - Russia - North-West: Pskov.