Square-shaped wooden churches in Zavolzhsky District of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. New typological studies

Abstract

Introduction. The study focuses on typology of square-shaped wooden churches, namely, three virtually unexplored wooden churches that date back to the 17th–18th centuries. They are located in Zavolzhsky district of the Nizhny Novgorod region. This study discovers new, previously unknown architectural solutions. This work is valuable for the practical preservation and restoration of cultural heritage items. The goal of the study is to analyze architectural and construction traditions typical for wooden churches in Central Russia. The objectives of the study include field surveys of the church facilities, review of archived and literary sources, identification of construction periods, comparison of similar construction facilities, and consolidation of distinctive features of wooden churches in Central Russia.
 
 Materials and methods. This work employs a comprehensive approach combining practical restoration methods and research methods of comparative topological, historical, and evolutionary analysis. By adding architectural solutions to the general timeline of wooden architecture, the authors identify architectural solutions, techniques and forms typical for Central Russia.
 
 Results. The following church facilities were studied: Church of the Ascension of the Lord dated 1703 (late 19th century) in Zarubino, Gorodetsky district; Church of the Life-Giving Trinity dated 18th–19th century in Khudyakovo village, Gorodetsky district; Church of the Nativity dated 1776 in Gari village, Sokolsky district. Construction periods and original architectural design were identified. The function and architectural features of the church facilities were identified. These were cold (summer) square-shaped churches with spacious premises capable of accommodating considerable numbers of people. As to their forms, these structures generally demonstrate all the typological features of square-shaped churches, except for their size and absence of heating.
 
 Conclusions. The subgroup of cold square-shaped churches, known for their large size, was identified within the typological group of square-shaped wooden churches. As heated wooden churches turned more frequent, church complexes having two same-type buildings — cold and warm — were constructed.