The Church of Peter and Paul on Gorodanka is the oldest in Smolensk. It is small in size and unplastered. And in such a “naked” form, it immediately attracts the eye. That is how the church looked originally. And in its original form remained until the twenty-first century.
Church history
The Church of Peter and Paul on Gorodianka (Smolensk) has controversial construction dates. Traditional - 1146. But scientists say that this date is incorrect, because information about many churches is erroneous. And in 1964, it was suggested that the 1170s be considered the date of the appearance of the temple.
There is practically no information on the first 4 centuries of the temple’s work. The church was built in a hunting princely reserve. This is evidenced by the type of temple - "patrimonial." Under the church, princely arkosolias were prepared in advance for burial.
The famous period in the history of the temple begins only in 1611 during the Polish intervention. Having captured the city of Smolensk, the Poles created an episcopate in it, and the church of Peter and Paul was chosen as the residence for it. Over time, from the west, additional chambers were added to it. And the church became a church. After the expulsion of the Poles, the Unitarian episcopate was liquidated. And next to the church there was a sodium bell tower.
Updates, Recovery
Over time, the temple was completed, floors were raised, and a new one appeared - Great Martyr Barbara. In 1812, the church of Peter and Paul on Gorodianka was badly damaged in a fire, even the bells were melted.
Only thanks to the priest Zubovsky partially managed to save the property. After the restoration, everything that he took was returned to the temple. Repair and restoration of the building lasted until 1837. The ancient chapter was replaced with a new one, but the base of the drum remained the same. After the revolution, the church was used as a museum, but at the same time there were services in it. They were only conducted in the temple of Barbara, with which it was connected.
In 1924, the restoration of the building began again. But in 1936 the church was closed, and ministers were repressed. The building was again used for other purposes. The church housed an archive. In the early 60s. The restoration of the church took up the famous architect Pyotr Baranovsky. He separated the temple from Varvarinsky and returned to its former appearance, which was in the twelfth century. And now the city of Smolensk boasts a church of Peter and Paul, which looks like 900 years ago.
Architecture and construction features
The temple of Peter and Paul is characterized by strict proportions. The church has a one-domed four-pillar cross-domed church. The walls are built of plinths, some of them are made of plinths, for the arcature belt and the laying of half columns. At the ends there are many embossed signs. During construction, plastic clay was used as a binder. To facilitate masonry, ceramic large voices were used. The floor was also originally made of plinth. It was later replaced by colored majolica tiles. But over the centuries it has not survived. Only in separate fragments in princely tombs.
The facades of the church are divided by shoulder blades. The middle ones are made in the form of half-columns, which the corner ones do not have. The windows of the temple are semicircular, wide, with single-stage niches. The walls have preserved unfinished canals from forests. On the facades at the zakomar level - a tape with a double curb, forming a kind of cornice.
The Church of Peter and Paul on Gorodianka preserved fragments of Romanesque architecture. These are semicircular portals with tympans. But they are made very modestly and have only rectangular traction. In the interior of the temple there are powerful pillars in the form of a regular cross and connected with supporting arches. Vaults of a cylindrical shape, turned by hoses to the northwest.
The interior of the temple
Thanks to the architectural design of the windows and niches in the Peter and Paul Church, an interesting lighting effect can be observed. In the altar was previously a seat for the clergy. Choirs with cylindrical arches and transverse formwork are located only in the western part of the building.
The Church of Peter and Paul on Gorodianka does not have a narthex. On the south side, the choirs are occupied by an isolated chapel. It is separated by brick piers. A staircase was built in the northern half of the church, illuminated by 2 slit-like windows. Under the choirs in the southern and northern parts - 2 pairs of arkosoliev.
Previously, the walls and openings of the windows of the temple were painted. To date, only fragments of painting remain. But it was not possible to restore the plots, since the painting was almost completely lost. It partially existed at the beginning of the 20th century, but then almost completely disappeared.
Modernity
The Church of Peter and Paul on Gorodianka (Smolensk, address: 20 Kashena St.) is currently operating. Divine services have been restored in the church since 1991. In 1993, the church was visited by Alexy II, Patriarch of All Russia. And in 1996, in honor of the anniversary (85th anniversary) of the temple, a scientific conference was held. From 1992 to 2000 the church was undergoing restoration.