Three Orthodox Temples of Lappeenranta — Art Through the Prism of History

Abstract

The article discusses the history of the creation of three Russian military churches in the Finnish city of Lappeenranta (Villmanstrand), representing vivid examples of stone and wooden architecture: churches of the Protection of the Virgin (The Intercession church) (1785), St. Nicholas the Thaumaturge (1904) and the Nativity of Christ (1914). A comprehensive analysis of the history of construction, architectural features and preserved decoration of the mentioned churches, which are significant for Russian Orthodox church construction abroad, is presented for the first time ever in the article. The Intercession Church in the Villmanstrand Fortress is the first brick freestanding Russian church built in Western Europe. The dynamics of changes of the temple as a result of reconstruction and renovation of the decoration is considered. For the first time, the church works of academician Nikanor Tiutriumov (1821–1877) for the Intercession Church are described and late painting interventions in unsigned images, which may also belong to Tiutriumov, are analyzed. The history of the construction of the wooden camp church of St. Nicholas the Thaumaturge is outlined, the uniqueness of which was expressed in the rich carved decor that distinguished the church from other Russian wooden churches in Finland. However, in the early 1920s the church was dismantled and only a few archival photographs make it possible to recreate its appearance. For the dragoon regiment stationed in Villmanstrand, a regiment church in the neo-Russian style was built according to Georgy Kosyakov’s design — the only example of this kind in Finland and one of the few examples of this style in Western Europe. After 1918, the church building was transferred to the Lutheran community and modified by the removal of domes and a radical redevelopment. The degree of embodiment of the architect’s original plan based on the author’s drawings and preserved photographs is analyzed.