The architecture of ancient Russia in the museum of Kizhi

the north of Russia, in the midst of the cold of Lake Onega, is the miracle of Kizhi Island.And it is a legendary masterpiece of Russian wooden architecture of the church - Transfiguration Church, which is the best reflects the true architecture of ancient Russia.Twenty-three domes in several tiers unstoppable cascade rushed into the sky.Each of them is covered with carved silver plate, aspen shingles.Ploughshare covered and "drums", on which rests the head of the church, and "barrel", bearing the head of these.More than thirty thousand wooden tiles cut architects to protect the church from rain and snow.

vociferous gang of thirty craftsmen built on the island of Kizhi Church of the Transfiguration.Everyone was in the hands of only one ax, but this unpretentious instrument of unique beauty carved openwork pricheliny and valances, they decorated the porch.Each curl carved splendor shines through inescapable culture of Russia.High skills of carpenters helped build a church without a single nail, and it is already exactly three hundred years.According to legend, at that time, the chief carpenter at the construction master Nestor finished work, went to the shore of Lake Onega, looked majestic wooden temple and saying, "... there was such and will not Bole ..." threw away his ax into the waves.

wonderful church was built exactly one year, and it was in 1714.Very little is left before the anniversary.Church is under the protection of UNESCO, and is currently the main exhibit of Kizhi open-air museum.Except for the Transfiguration Church in the ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost is also unique Intercession church and bell tower, which rises between the two masterpieces of church architecture.It also reflected the wooden architecture of ancient Russia.Not for the Church of the Saviour Peobrazhenskoy or the Intercession of the belfry was not there.The bell tower was built in 1862-63 on the site of an old, dilapidated, in his belfry carrying six medium-sized bells.

The interior of the Church of the Transfiguration is striking for its wealth.The culture and architecture of ancient Russia are inextricably linked to the art of icon painting.The iconostasis covers the entire eastern part of the church.Four tiers of icons stretch up to the ceiling and slowly transform into "heaven" with a large medallion in the center.

iconostasis was originally tyablovym, ie the icons have relied on the horizontal bars, tyably.More recently he became a carved gilt baroque.The Baroque style did not always match the icons on the iconostasis, and I had to sacrifice the colorful horizontal and vertical joints.

In the center of the lower part of the iconostasis of the Transfiguration Church, at the level of "local" number of icons are "royal doors" through which open the way to the chapel altar during worship.The rest of the ministers pass through the side gate.On the wings, "the king's gate" are small icons.The culture of medieval Russia, its spirit is present in each of them.

over "local" is located next to the iconostasis of the festive row of 30 icons.Above are the icons Deesis.And it completed the iconostasis of the Transfiguration Church near prophetic icons.Total iconostasis of the Church of the Transfiguration has 104 copies.Church architecture of ancient Russia, coupled with the magnificent specimens of iconography is an extensive layer of culture of the Russian people.