DISCOVERIES
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Architectural and archaeological researches in the altar part of the Assumption cathedral ↓
Initiated in 2016, in 2019 the field architectural and archaeological researches were continued in the altar part of the cathedral. The main goal of these research works was to define the exact dating of numerous reconstructions that had been held here for the 17th, 18th and 19th cc. Besides, it was planned to continue research on the original frescoes (found in 2016) of the Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel, which was separated into arched tiers as a result of the reconstruction in the 17th c.
Under the programme, approved by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, thirty probings were realized. Most of them were carried out in two south apses of the cathedral. The following premises were under research: the Eulogy of the Virgin and the Demetrius side chapels, cathedral sacristies, libraries and the original white-stone stairs leading to the roof.
While the research of the premises, where the Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel used to be situated, it turned out that primarily the entrance to a small store-room, attached to the north wall, had been set from the side of central apse. Reconstruction of these premises took place in the second half of the 1670-ies - the altar of the side chapel was transferred upside, on the third tier. Door aperture, leading from the central apse, and two windows (round window and cross-shaped window aperture) had been blocked with a brick and a new entrance to the store-room was arranged from the premises of the former altar. At that time a new tier of bricks (about 32 cm thick) had been applied to the chancel screen of the side chapel from the east side, thus how a vault appeared. Research on the south wall of the former altar showed that primarily, before the reconstruction, its walls had been decorated with wall-paintings, fragments of which had been preserved behind the brick tier of 1670-ies. The premises of the sacristy were painted with floral ornament in the 17th c.
Original 'Fiorovanti's' stairs, leading to the roof of the cathedral, were also under research. Original window apertures, built at the end of the 17th c., as well as later wallings, erected due to the heating system installation at the end of the 19th c., were disclosed. Research on the door aperture, leading to the existent Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel, showed that initially, it was a window aperture, reconstructed into the door one in 1670-ies during the transfer of the side chapel to the upper tier of the cathedral. Several probings were made on the second tier, where the sacristy had been situated after the reconstruction of the 1670-ies. These probings shed light upon primal architectural elements as well as the ancient frescoes' fragments, remained after the vaulting in the underground space. An imprint of the chancel screen of the Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel was discovered under the floor of the mid-19th с. The western wall of the sacristy appears to be a chancel screen of the cathedral that was constructed up to the vault in 1670-ies. The vault under the Demetrius side chapel appeared a bit later, in 1680-ies. A cathedral library was arranged on the second tier under the Demetrius side chapel.
Research works in the Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel, that had been transferred to the upper tier of the cathedral in 1670-ies, discovered a level of the original floor on the chapel choirs. Besides, an initial window aperture was disclosed in the iconostasis level after the floor had been dismantled. This window used to lighten lower 'Fiorovanti's' sacristy.
Under the programme, approved by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, thirty probings were realized. Most of them were carried out in two south apses of the cathedral. The following premises were under research: the Eulogy of the Virgin and the Demetrius side chapels, cathedral sacristies, libraries and the original white-stone stairs leading to the roof.
While the research of the premises, where the Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel used to be situated, it turned out that primarily the entrance to a small store-room, attached to the north wall, had been set from the side of central apse. Reconstruction of these premises took place in the second half of the 1670-ies - the altar of the side chapel was transferred upside, on the third tier. Door aperture, leading from the central apse, and two windows (round window and cross-shaped window aperture) had been blocked with a brick and a new entrance to the store-room was arranged from the premises of the former altar. At that time a new tier of bricks (about 32 cm thick) had been applied to the chancel screen of the side chapel from the east side, thus how a vault appeared. Research on the south wall of the former altar showed that primarily, before the reconstruction, its walls had been decorated with wall-paintings, fragments of which had been preserved behind the brick tier of 1670-ies. The premises of the sacristy were painted with floral ornament in the 17th c.
Original 'Fiorovanti's' stairs, leading to the roof of the cathedral, were also under research. Original window apertures, built at the end of the 17th c., as well as later wallings, erected due to the heating system installation at the end of the 19th c., were disclosed. Research on the door aperture, leading to the existent Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel, showed that initially, it was a window aperture, reconstructed into the door one in 1670-ies during the transfer of the side chapel to the upper tier of the cathedral. Several probings were made on the second tier, where the sacristy had been situated after the reconstruction of the 1670-ies. These probings shed light upon primal architectural elements as well as the ancient frescoes' fragments, remained after the vaulting in the underground space. An imprint of the chancel screen of the Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel was discovered under the floor of the mid-19th с. The western wall of the sacristy appears to be a chancel screen of the cathedral that was constructed up to the vault in 1670-ies. The vault under the Demetrius side chapel appeared a bit later, in 1680-ies. A cathedral library was arranged on the second tier under the Demetrius side chapel.
Research works in the Eulogy of the Virgin side chapel, that had been transferred to the upper tier of the cathedral in 1670-ies, discovered a level of the original floor on the chapel choirs. Besides, an initial window aperture was disclosed in the iconostasis level after the floor had been dismantled. This window used to lighten lower 'Fiorovanti's' sacristy.