Pyatnitskaya church in Chernigov: photo and history

How ancient Greeks worshiped the god Mercury, erecting temples in his honor, as the Slavs, honoring their patroness merchants, St. Paraskeva, built in her honor the church, called Friday. Such a name they inherited from small chapels, built once on the boundless Russian roads. The Pyatnitsky church in Chernigov, which will be discussed in this article, is one of them.

Church built in Chernigov

It so happened that the center of social life of any ancient Russian city was its commercial area. It was on it that the most significant events took place, and most importantly, trade was conducted, which was the basis of his well-being, and sometimes the cause of decline. And it is not surprising that it was on shopping areas that temples were built once in the name of the saint, who patronized this important occupation.

That is why in Chernigov, founded as far back as the 9th century, and by the middle of XII received the completed urban outlines, the officials of the townspeople concerned with the construction of the church in honor of the holy servant of God, whose patronage was so necessary for the local merchants. The Pyatnitsky church in Chernigov, whose description has survived to this day, was the fruit of their pious works.

Period of spiritual revival of Ukraine

Pyatnitskaya church in Chernigov was built on a spacious shopping area, even before its appearance was called the Pyatnitsky field. It should immediately be noted that in the life of the city it began to play such a prominent role that it soon became the main shrine of the Chernigov monastery that was formed next to it, burnt in the fire of the fire of 1750. However, documentary information about what form it had in this early period of its existence is practically absent, and its first detailed description refers to the end of the XVII century.

This period in the life of Ukraine was marked by a rapid process of its spiritual and cultural revival, led by a whole galaxy of outstanding religious figures. It was especially evident in Chernigov, due to its geographical position, which was the nearest city to the Moscow state. It was in him that the new architectural trend, known today as the Ukrainian Baroque, was born and developed.

New look of an ancient church

From the documents that have survived to this day, it is known that by the end of the 17th century the Pyatnitskaya Church in Chernigov, which had already been almost five centuries of its history, was very dilapidated, and its overhaul was required. All the trouble, and most importantly, the costs associated with such a difficult business, took on a rich philanthropist, who gained fame for his activities aimed at restoring the monuments of Chernigov's antiquity - the colonel of the General Carriage Department Vasily Stepanovich Dunin-Barkovsky.

At his tutelage, the completely rebuilt Pyatnitskaya Church in Chernigov acquired the appearance of magnificent and pompous buildings executed in the above-mentioned Ukrainian Baroque style. The sophistication of its facade attracted everyone's attention, and already in those years it became one of the brightest sights of the city. However, the work carried out completely deprived of its historical appearance, created once by ancient masters.

Changes made to the architecture of the building

Only nowadays, as a result of scientific research, it became known that originally the Pyatnitsky church in Chernigov (12th century) was a rectangular building, measuring 12.4 x 11.4 m. It was a traditional cross-domed building for that time. To him from the west side were three altar apses - semi-circular extensions, in which altars were placed. Inside the room, four powerful columns held the dome and vaults.

During the works carried out in the XVII century, additional extensions were added to the main volume of the building, the head was added, which changed its overall height. The walls of the church were decorated with magnificent crenellated pediments. The old windows were expanded and added new ones. A number of other changes were introduced as well.

The troubles experienced by the church

In the future, its form has changed many times. Fires, frequent visitors to ancient cities, did not bypass the church erected on the Pyatnitsky field. Every time after the next fiery disaster the building had to be repaired, and it acquired new features.

Thus, until the XX century it came down, repeatedly changing its original appearance. During the Great Patriotic War Pyatnitskaya church was almost completely destroyed. The photo, given in the article, gives an idea of the scale of its destruction.

Restoring the original appearance of the church

In 1943, immediately after the liberation of Chernigov from the Germans, work began on the preservation of church ruins, which helped to avoid their eventual destruction. It was during this period that some of the original architectural features of the building were established.

Thanks to this, in the course of the restoration work, a group of architects headed by Professor P.D. Baranovsky, it was possible to reproduce with great accuracy the construction erected on this place in the pre-Mongol period. Thus, the current Pyatnitsky church in Chernigov, whose photo is presented in the article, is very similar in appearance to the original.

Today is an ancient shrine

In the Soviet years, the museum of the famous "Lay of Igor's Campaign", housed in its former building, built in the 12th century, was housed in the restored from the ruins of the temple. After the collapse of the USSR, the temple was transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, and in our day is in force.

Every year on November 10, according to the new style, the Orthodox celebrate the memory of the Great Martyr Paraskeva. On this day, the Pyatnitsky church in Chernigov, where its miraculous icon is located, is filled with hundreds of worshipers. Located in the center of the present public garden named after Bogdan Khmelnitsky, it is well known to all citizens.

Known primarily for its patronage of the merchant people, St. Paraskeva has for many centuries interceded before the Lord for all people with faith and reverence addressed to her in prayers, regardless of what their requests are.