Native Church Research Articles

Educational and Charitable Activities of Baptist Christians: On the Example of the Religious Organization of Evangelical Christians Baptists, Called 'Church of the Nativity,' in Zhytomyr

Educational and Charitable Activities of Baptist Christians: On the Example of the Religious Organization of Evangelical Christians Baptists, Called 'Church of the Nativity,' in Zhytomyr

Results of Archaeometrical Studies on a Kontush Sash from Piaseczno (Pomorskie Province, Poland)

Archaeometric studies on silk thread wound around with metal strips are still rarely undertaken in Poland. Their popularization seems to be necessary, however, as there are many problems to solve. In the case of a kontush sash manufactured in Gdańsk as archaeological finds, the main question is whether they used metal strips prepared by local craftsmen, what raw material was employed, and what methods of gilding were implemented. Only future regular studies and analyses can answer these questions. The article presents the results of tests on metal strips wound around silk threads coming from a kontush sash manufactured by Besch, excavated in the crypt under the presbytery of the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Piaseczno (Pomorskie voivodeship, Poland).

Recording of acts of status in the Russian empire: many years of work on errors (based on the materials of the metrical books of the churches of the Yaroslavl district)

This article discusses the issues of registration of state acts in the Russian Empire. The authors analyzed the legislation (primarily the decrees of the Synod) on the maintenance of metric books, as well as metrics themselves. Trends in the development of forms and content of status acts in pre-revolutionary Russia, their features, errors in the implementation of registration activities in church parishes are revealed. Assumptions are made about the causes of shortcomings and errors, which mainly consisted in a negligent attitude on the part of the law enforcement officer to the relevant duties, as well as poor-quality legal regulation of the registration of state acts. The significance of metric books for the emergence or termination of rights and obligations is revealed. The study, in addition to sources on church law, is based on archival materials of the churches of the villages of the Yaroslavl district (mainly the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the village of Ponomarevo) from 1736 to 1918.

Characterization of art materials and degradation processes in the exterior wall paintings of the main church of Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

The present study focused on the characterization of the art materials and the degradation processes in the exterior (exonarthex) mural paintings of the main church of the Nativity of the Virgin in Rila monastery, Bulgaria, which is believed to be the last large-scale example of Eastern Orthodox wall painting. For the first time the art materials used to create a unique and colourful polychrome decoration of the outer gallery and the possible degradation products, caused by atmospheric influence - permanent exposure to open air and moisture - were revealed by a multi-technique approach. The mineral pigments were identified by means of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), micro-Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The natural yellow, red ochre, and green earth pigments, as well as some synthetic ones such as ultramarine and vermillion, were found in stable condition. Minium and emerald green pigments showed chemical transformations due to adverse environmental conditions which lead to chromatic changes of wall paintings. Black discolouration occurred due to the conversion of orange minium to black plattnerite (PbO2) and white discolouration – due to its transformation to white lead carbon oxide (PbCO3). The copper acetoarsenite (Cu(CH3COO)2.3Cu(AsO2)2) in the emerald green pigment showed partial transformation to arsen-containing mineral phases clinoclase and lindackerite, which fortunately did not affect much the colour appearance. Gypsum and calcium oxalate were found in the majority of the microsamples as decay products. Analysis of the binders by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) implied the use of the Orthodox Church post-Byzantine egg-tempera technique. The registered Ca metal oxalates in accordance with ELISA results suggested binder chemical degradation induced by external factors. Most of the used painting materials are close to the those found in other Eastern Orthodox Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments which indicates that the wall painting decoration of the main church of Rila monastery continues the post-Byzantine traditions. On the other hand, the study showed that the exonarthex wall paintings of the main charge of Rila monastery bear some new features as the religious artists supplemented the colourful scheme by emerald green as a new pigment and replaced smalt by the brighter synthetic ultramarine.

HBIM MODELLING FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL VALORISATION VIA A MAINTENANCE DIGITAL ECO-SYSTEM

Abstract. The present contribution falls within the framework of the actions envisaged by the "SMART Bethlehem – Sustainable Management And Renewal of Technology in the City of Bethlehem" (2022 – ongoing) research project, scientifically coordinated by the University of Pavia and co-founded by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS). Among the main objectives of the cooperation project is the sustainable urban and territorial development of the Bethlehem area by means of multi-scalar activities, mainly focusing on refurbishment and energy optimisation of a few relevant municipality buildings. A test case implementation of the HBIM methodology was then carried out on the Peace Center, an iconic building facing the "Manger Square" in close proximity to the "Nativity Church", aiming to validate the proposed systematisation of a scan-to-BIM approach focused on the development of an optimised data repository for the planned operation and maintenance activities. An ECO-Systemic workflow is presented, organised in five recursive steps. Starting from a SLAM-TLS integrated digital survey (3DS), the federated sub-models that comprise the overall project are geo-referenced (GEO) within a shared coordinate system (FSC) environment, thereby providing the basis for the subsequent architectural modelling of the built asset (ARC) and the associated enhancement of the level of information (LOI).

Structural Assessment and Strengthening of a Historic Masonry Orthodox Church

This study provides insight into the structural assessment, diagnosis, and strengthening of the medieval church of Tazlău Monastery in Piatra Neamț, Romania. The first part of the paper briefly presents the wider context of strengthening and preserving heritage churches and monastic buildings and describes the architectural setting and the structural features of the traditional Romanian Orthodox churches. The second part of the paper is a case study related to the rehabilitation of a medieval heritage church, which is the paramount building of a larger monastic complex. Erected in 1496, the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary closely follows the medieval traditional Orthodox patterns from both architectural and structural points of view. Structural assessment and diagnosis revealed that degradations were induced and developed throughout the life of the structure due to approximately 24 earthquakes (estimated at over 6.0 magnitude) having endangered the structural safety of the building and the mural iconography. After the structural diagnosis, a combined and complex method of strengthening consisting of both grouting and introducing steel rods in vertically drilled galleries along the entire height of the walls was selected. The main advantage of applying this combined strengthening strategy was a remarkable enhancement of the structural seismic performance of the church building.

The Borderlands

The Borderlands

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

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.

Львовские издания кириллической книги XVII века в собрании Новгородского музея-заповедника

The article examines Lviv Cyrillic books of the 17th century, which are stored in the library of the Novgorod State Museum-Reserve. In total, nine copies of six editions are presented there. They were printed in two printing houses. From the publications of the Lviv Dormition Brotherhood printing house, there are two copies of the Festal Menaions (1638), the Book of Hours (1642), the Octoechos of 1644 and 1686. The printing house of Mikhail Slyozka is represented by two copies of the Act and Epistles (1639) and two copies of the Pentecostarion, (1642). Some of the books come from the collection of the Iversky Monastery. They were brought there by the brethren from the Kuteinsky Epiphany Monastery along with printing equipment by order of Patriarch Nikon. The second part of the books was purchased from collector Denis Perestoronin in 2015. The article shows the history of book printing and studies the notes on the copies. Most of them are donation records. These include the record on the donation of the Festal Menaions (1638) by the Lviv Dormition Brotherhood to the Kuteinsky Monastery; the record from 1655 about the donation of the Octoechos (1644) on behalf of Constantine and his wife Evdokia to the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin for the health and repose of family members; the record from 1668 about the donation of the Pentecostarion (1642) by the brethren of the village of Antonovka to the Church of the Nativity. Ownership records are of great scientific interest. Among them is the record from 1659 about the ownership of the Book of Hours (1642) by the Czech prince Lev Alexandrovich Shlyakhov, a foreigner who came to serve in Russia using fabricated documents and called himself like that. Hewas a servant of the Polish Count Kasper von Denhof. Also of great importance is the record made in 1914 by the hand of the impressionist artist Mikhail Nikolaevich Yakovlev.

On the Issue of Organizing the Second Ossetian Orthodox Parish in Vladikavkaz

In the historiography of Vladikavkaz, there are many works devoted to the Ossetian settlement of the city, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Ossetian church) in Vladikavkaz, but almost no mention is made of the second Ossetian settlement and the construction of a church on its territory. Meanwhile, the history of the Ossetian population of the Vladimir (Novo-Ossetian) settlement is also worthy of attention. The article reveals the reasons for the creation of the second Ossetian Orthodox parish in Vladikavkaz, the issues of building a church in the name of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious. It is noteworthy that not only local Ossetians, but also Russian residents of the settlement actively participated in the organization of the Ossetian parish and the construction of the temple. The construction of the temple was also facilitated by retired and current officers. Assistance was provided by the city authorities and the Vladikavkaz and Mozdok diocese. Funds were allocated for the construction and improvement of the temple from the budget of the Holy Governing Synod. As in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin of the city, only the Ossetian clergy served in the St. George’s Church in Vladikavkaz. At the same time, the temple provided nourishment to the entire Orthodox population of Vladimirskaya Slobidka, regardless of nationality. Despite the short history, the second Ossetian parish of Vladikavkaz played its missionary role in strengthening Orthodoxy among the Ossetian population of the city, in educating local residents. For writing this work, newspaper publications of that time and materials of the Central State Archive of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (TsGA RSO-A) were used.

CONDITION OF PRESERVATION AND METHODS OF MATERIAL EVALUATION OF THE OBJECTS OF ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE IN PRYKAPATTIA

The Ukrainian state is a country with centuries-old history, on her walks of life unique sights of architectural inheritance are kept. Prykarpattya counts 3944 sights of cultural heritage, from what 1443 are the objects of sights of architecture, 90 sights are the objects of national value, other 1353 are local. Two monuments of sacred architecture are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: the Church of the Holy Spirit in 1598 in Rohatyn and the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1808 in the village of Nyzhnii Verbizh, Kolomyia district. The basis of the development of the state is the preservation of cultural heritage, because it is a kind of engine of socio-cultural development of each nation. Preservation can be carried out by protecting, including material elements in modern urban planning, maintaining and monitoring the state of preservation and functioning of the cultural heritage object. The material part of the architectural heritage includes: urban planning systems, buildings and structures, anthropogenic landscapes, monuments of architecture, urban planning, monumental art, archeology, etc. The intangible part of the architectural heritage includes: professional experience, concepts theoretical views and ideas accumulated by the people and fixed in any form. Issues related to the protection and preservation of architectural heritage are regulated by the Convention for the Protection of European Architectural Heritage, which was ratified in 2006. The issue of assessing the architectural heritage is spelled out in the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of Cultural Heritage”, which states that each architectural monument is an object of real estate and is subject to monetary valuation, since it carries property value. The article describes the number of architectural objects that we refer to as cultural monuments of national importance and on the example of several of them described their current state of preservation and architecture, as we see most of the architectural monuments need restoration. In the article, we analysed the methodology for assessing the state of preservation of architectural monuments and methods of monetary valuation of architectural objects and determined that none of them takes into account the historical value of the architectural heritage object, so we proposed to identify and take into account the following main criteria for evaluating an architectural monument: construction period, historical memory of the object, location of the object, tourist potential, socio-cultural object, uniqueness of the object, authenticity of the object. It is necessary to take into account the historical aspect in the methods of assessment, first of all, in order for people to realize the importance of preserving and protecting architectural objects. Keywords: architectural monument, state of preservation of architectural heritage, assessment of architectural heritage objects.

Probable micronutrient deficiency diseases in a rural community. The nonadults of Mary’s Nativity church, 16th century, Trentino Alto-Adige, Italy

We discuss, with a biocultural perspective, the connection between living condition related to the Great Peasants’ Revolt and health status of the nonadult population from the 16th century North-eastern Italy, with a particular focus on those caused by micronutrients C and D. We analysed forty-one skeletons of nonadults in primary deposition with macroscopic examination coupled with a literature review aimed at providing a differential diagnosis. Eleven nonadults present probable cases of rickets, twelve show evidence that seems to be related to scurvy, while ten individuals feature a pattern consistent with a co-occurrence condition. Finally, eight subjects have no pathological changes or evidence, and that may be considered strictly related to C or D deficiency.This study provides a significant example of pathological lesion on nonadults coming from the same area and framed in a limited chronological period. In addition, the sample is distinguished by the number of subjects and the good preservation of their bone tissue. Finally, the work is of primary importance as the Italian panorama lacks exhaustive paleopathological publications.

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago: A Complicated Story of the Search for Lithuanian Identity

Summary The article examines the complicated history of the search for Lithuanian identity in the church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chicago. After leaving their homeland in the aftermath of World War II, the Lithuanian community struggled to maintain its national identity under difficult conditions of emigration. The search for a Lithuanian architectural character became an important part of this political task. Based on a case study, a church near Chicago’s densely populated Marquette Park in Lithuania, the text analyzes the Lithuanian community’s debate about the cultural and political mission of Lithuanian architecture in exile, and the way to express it. Although the concept of the national style had already emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century, post-war technological progress and the unfamiliar context of emigration brings additional questions to the subject. The article argues that historical reminiscences in the church are more an ethical than an aesthetic choice. This approach embodies the specific cultural expectations of the community and is, at least partially, in line with the critique of modernism from regionalist point of view.

Historical-ethnographic elements of the Church “The Nativity of the Mother of God” in Brănești, Orhei District

The Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Brănești, Orhei district, built between 1911–1928, is located not far from the center of the village. There is a cemetery around it, where very old Moldovan families can be found, but also a place where Germans were buried after a bloody battle during the Second World War. The church is built of stone extracted from the limestone mines on the outskirts of the village. It represents a Russian architectural style, combined with traditional Moldovan motifs and ornaments. The axial-longitudinal plan of the church is composed of three parts: the square vestibule (narthex), the central rectangular nave and the faceted altar. A two-tiered belfry rises above the pronaus of the Church, which is the main compositional focus of the ecclesiastical complex. The sides of the belfry are enriched with arched openings, and the crowning part of the belfry is represented by a tetrahedral geometric element with a spacious dome. The laconic, even dry interpretation of the volume of the building is enriched with decorative elements, and attention is paid to the entrance to the Church yard. At the entrance to the Church, a profiled arch and a triangular pediment are carved in stone above the door.

FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE GEORADAR SURVEY ON THE SITE LOCATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN IN THE VILLAGE MALA PETRIKIVKA, DNIPROPETROVSK REGION

Problem statement. Ground-penetrating radar tests as a component of territory geophysical investigations are also used in the historical reconstruction − in our case, on the site of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the village of Mala Petrikyvka (Dnipropetrovsk region). A ground-penetrating radar survey was conducted, preceded by a thorough critical analysis of historical sources. Measurements were done using MALA GPR with operating frequencies of 250 MHz and limited to 800 MHz. The purpose of the article. In order to critically reviewing the historical myth that existed for a long time around this architectural monument of the 18th-19th centuries, it was necessary to uncover underground cavities, as well as to conduct a search for hidden ancient structures both in the areas adjacent to the church building and directly inside the church itself. Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, the features of surface and buried building structures attributed to the dry and moistened loess soils of this territory on GPR profiles were revealed. In areas of moistened loess soil, any objects at working depths at a frequency of 250 MHz were not displayed by the device − due to a high degree of signal attenuation. GPR profiles of this area did not reveal any significant anomalies, which indicate the presence of fairly voluminous linear underground structures, which is confirmed by the survey of the adjacent territory. The conducted investigations can be considered only primary and involve further, more detailed, studies on selected areas, including inside the building itself. Since it was not possible to find information about the previously performed ground-penetrating radar surveys on the territory of the church and the surrounding area, the surveys carried out by PSACEA can be considered the first of their kind. They are especially valuable in view of the fact that a complete restoration of the temple is planned.

Virtual Walk in the Church of Nativity in Arbanasi

The paper presents the special features of the virtual walk developed in Bulgarian - Hungarian co-operation for the famous Bulgarian church named as Church of Nativity in Arbanasi. The virtual walk is created from high-resolution interactive spherical panorama pictures. The virtual walk is integrated with the Bulgarian Iconographical Digital Library, a rich repository of Bulgarian icons.

The Rev. Thomas A. Lynch (1966–2022)

The Rev. Thomas A. Lynch (1966–2022) Michael P. Morris Click for larger view View full resolution The Reverend Thomas A. Lynch, a priest of the Archdiocese of New York and a longtime member of the American Catholic Historical Association, died on April 28, 2022, after a long illness. Father Lynch was 55. Born in the Bronx, New York, Father Lynch earned bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and philosophy from Manhattan College, the Bronx. In 1988, the future-Father Lynch entered Saint Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, Yonkers, New York, earning an M.Div, as well as an MA in theology (Church history). Ordained to the priesthood by the late John Cardinal O’Connor on May 9, 1992, Father Lynch was assigned as parochial vicar to Holy Family Church, the Bronx. The cardinal assigned Father Lynch to graduate studies at the Catholic University of America beginning in the fall of 1994, where he studied under Msgr. Robert F. Trisco and Nelson H. Minnich. Father Lynch focused his studies and research upon Francis Cardinal Spellman (1889–1967), sixth archbishop of New York. In 1998, Cardinal O’Connor appointed Fr. Lynch professor of Church history and later director of pastoral formation at Saint Joseph’s Seminary until 2006. From 2006 to 2007, Father Lynch served as administrator of Nativity Church, New York City. Father Lynch was subsequently assigned as pastor of Our Lady of Angels Parish, the Bronx, Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Scarsdale, New York, [End Page 836] and in 2020, named pastor of Holy Family-St. Gregory the Great Parish, New York City. In July, 2012, the Bishop of Raleigh, the Most Reverend Michael Francis Burbidge, appointed Father Lynch to the Historical Commission of the Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God Father Thomas Frederick Price. Father Price was the first native-born priest ordained for service in North Carolina and later became a co-founder of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (Maryknoll). He died in China in 1919. Father Lynch attended meetings of the commission in Raleigh and at the Maryknoll headquarters in the State of New York and contributed to the work of the commission that was completed when the diocesan phase of the Cause was concluded in March, 2018. All the findings were submitted to the Congregation (now Dicastery) for the Causes of Saints. Father Lynch possessed that unique gift of combining scholarship with pastoral solicitude. Beloved among the priests and people of the Archdiocese of New York and beyond, Father Lynch formed countless future New York priests and guided souls with mercy, quiet kindness, and an intense joy, even in the midst of great suffering. Father Lynch is survived by five brothers. His mother Margaret Lynch died on April 30, 2022—two days after the death of Father Lynch. Father Lynch was buried in the family plot at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, New York. “May you live in peace this day, may your home be with God in Zion, with Mary, the virgin Mother of God,with Joseph, and all the angels and saints.” (Prayer of Commendation, Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum, 1983). [End Page 837] Michael P. Morris Hyde Park, New York Copyright © 2022 The Catholic University of America Press

Implementation of Green Architectural Rules in the Design of The Griya Samadhi Vincentius Hall In Prigen Village, Pasuruan Regency, East Java Province

Griya Samadi Vincent is located in a cool highland, the temperature ranges from 20-24c. A beautiful and quiet area of approximately 6-7 hectares. There is a chapel room and a special indoor room that is usually used for meditation. The entire garden area can be used for outdoor meditation. In addition to the facilities for meditation, there are also several waste processing sites, organic plant nurseries, animal husbandry and the use of biogas as an energy source for the complex. So far, the Griya Samadi Vincentius complex has been managed by the Parish of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is a partner of the contributors. So far, Parish, apart from being the manager of financing and maintenance, has also carried out complex developments in terms of the legality of licensing. Where one aspect of licensing is a Building Permit or IMB, in this case the environmental aspect is an important point in regional planning. Therefore, the contributors and the team will plan the building using the Green Architecture method in accordance with the Indonesian Green Building Council standards, namely: Appropriate Site Development, Indoor Air Health and Comfort, Water Conservation, Material Resources and Cycle and Buiding Environment Management.

THE CASTLE OF CZARTORYSKI PRINCES IN KLEVAN: STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND BUILDINGS

Based on a comprehensive analysis of written, archaeological and architectural sources the article considers the main stages of Klevan castle development, and considers its planning and buildings. According to archeological sources, the site of the settlement of the Kyiv Rus period was used to build the castle. According to the written sources, there were three stages of the erection of the castle. In the first stage (the first quarter of the 16th century), Prince Fedir Mykhailovych Czartoryski began the construction of a castle on the old settlement site, where, perhaps, there had already been a farmstead. In the second stage (the second quarter of the 16th century), due to the conflict with Radziwills, the construction was stopped but the castle functioned and the settlement was developed. In the third stage (the 60s of the 16th century), Prince Ivan Fedorovych Czartoryski completed the construction of the castle. The Klevan castle consisted of two parts — a citadel and the adjacent settlement. The information on the castle planning is contained in the inventories of 1700 and 1709. The earliest description of 1609 describes the defense, housing, religious and economic facilities in the territory of the citadel. It was surrounded by a wall, had two brick towers and a wooden one. Most of the buildings were located on the perimeter of the fortifications; the central part housed the princes’ palace and a church. According to the inventories of 1700 and 1709, the settlement was located to the north and east of the citadel and occupied the territory on the hill where now the Church of the Nativity of Christ is located and, probably, the area occupied by estates on Horodyshche street. The citadel was surrounded by a rampart and oak fence; there was a chapel and a garden around it, outbuildings, the Greek-Catholic Church of the Nativity, and the entrance gate. The analysis of the planning, fortifications and buildings of the Klevan castle allows to conclude that in the last third of the 16th — early 17th century, it was one of the most powerful private castles in Volhynia.

The journal "Native church" (1952-1988) as a source for the study of UAOC in the diaspora (to the 70th anniversary of its foundation)

The journal "Native church" (1952-1988) as a source for the study of UAOC in the diaspora (to the 70th anniversary of its foundation)