In a residential area of Veliky Novgorod, called the Nerevsky end since medieval times, a group of architectural structures has been preserved. They are located along the left bank of the Volkhov River on the Sofia side to the north, inside the earthen rampart. All of them are the most mature and artistically finished monuments of Novgorod architecture dating back to the 15th century and are subject to protection as a public heritage. Historians associate their location with the Nerevsky end, often calling them Kozhevnitsky.
Church of Peter and Paul in Kozhevniki: description
The architects decided to build this temple on the banks of the mighty Volkhov, it was to him that he turned with his eastern facade. Professionally selected proportions, creating a magnificent silhouette, and the right location, today made this temple a wonderful monument of ancient art, studying which, you can see how architecture progressed over time.
Behind the rampart on the side of Dmitrievskaya Street, which leads to the Zverin-Pokrovsky Monastery, is still this ancient and amazing structure, characterized by completeness and maturity. This is truly a wonderful example of architecture, which was characteristic of the heyday of the Novgorod land.
The Church of Peter and Paul in Kozhevniki was erected in 1406. It is built of limestone blocks, all the decorative work of the facade, as well as arches, shoulder blades and the head of the church are made of red brick.
Architecture of antiquity
According to historical legend, this beautiful temple was built at the expense of artisans-tanners. A very long time, or more precisely, in 1227, a wooden church stood on this site. But in 1384 she suffered from a severe fire. The walls of the new church were erected from blocks of limestone and brick and were not specially plastered.
By 1930, the bell tower of the temple was demolished. However, it was during the fascist occupation that he suffered the most. It was possible to completely restore its original beauty only by 1960. This process was carried out by architects Shtender G. M. and Shulyak L. M.
Divine splendor
The Church of Peter and Paul in Kozhevniki, photographs of which fully show all the graceful beauty and grandeur that has not been broken for centuries, is a rather high one-domed four-pillar building. Its facades are finished and strict in proportion, and in the final areas, emphasis is placed on expertly decorated masonry of a multi-blade ornamental arch, the ensemble of which includes belts carved from triangular cavities, an arched frieze, rosettes, niches of round and pentagonal shapes, a curb and relief crosses.
On the facade from the south to the present day, a five-membered composition has been preserved. It consists of two niches and three windows located between them. Ancient architects crowned the church of Peter and Paul in Kozhevniki with a decorative five-bladed brow. The very apse of the temple is decorated with very original vertical tie rods. They were pulled together by semicircular small arches.
Study of antiquity
The most important and vivid elements of the interior decoration are made in the traditional style developed in the XIV century, in its second half. Another striking and distinctive architectural solution of the Peter and Paul Church was the arrangement of the entrance to the gates not in the very thickness of the wall (such techniques were often used in the construction of Novgorod churches of the XII-XV centuries), but in the form of a separate stone staircase located in the northwestern part of the temple . Interestingly, this particular feature of the temple repeats and shows the technique used by the architects of the famous temple of Fyodor Stratilat, built in 1360.
Already in the XVIII century the chapel of the Three Saints was added to the south side. A little later, a small bell tower was built on the west side.
In the period from the XV to the XVI century, the whole church of Peter and Paul in Kozhevniki underwent changes. The plan for its reconstruction turned out to be very interesting - it became a two-story building. In the western part, choirs began to be placed, where a staircase led from the northwest corner. Thus, the under-church appeared or, in another way, underlining. The church itself was on the second floor in the so-called entrance hall.
Paintings and Murals
The sharp-shaped portal was knocked out at a time when the temple was divided into two floors. On the sides of this portal, the remains of an ancient painting were visible, and on one side one could see the image of the apostles Paul and Peter, on the other - an angel with a sword in his hand.
Researcher Gusev , who conducted the analysis of the images, found that the icon of the apostles Peter and Paul was painted with oil in a craft-painting style, and the angel was painted using fresco technique. In the end, he concluded that the works belong to completely different eras. The angel was attributed to the XVI century, the image of Peter and Paul - to the XVIII century, when the temple was transferred to the second floor.
Today, the temple is no longer operational, and worship is not held there. Now there is a branch of the State Museum-Reserve, which operates on Wednesday and Sunday from 11.00 to 16.00. Monday and Tuesday are days off. Admission is paid - 50 rubles, for students and students - 30 rubles, for children under 16 years old - for free. Every year from October 1 to March 1, the museum closes.