Description of the attraction
The Church of Joachim and Anna is located on the old Uspenskaya street, located not far from the fifth fortress wall of the city of Pskov. Even in ancient times, there was a maiden Yakimansky monastery, which has been known since the 14th century. The main temple of the monastery was dedicated to the parents of the Mother of God - Anna and Joachim. At the moment, the church has been placed in the hands of the Teachers' Seminary.
The exact time of the foundation of the church of Joachim and Anna is unknown, but judging by the architectural component, as well as by the unprecedented dilapidation, to which church came to the time of its last restoration, carried out during 1896-1897, it has a fairly significant number of years. Chronicle sources mention the church only once, when in 1544 there was an unexpected fire in it.
The church has three semicircular altar apses, the cornices of which are beautifully decorated with triangles and squares. In the unusually simple, but colorful decor, one can notice one feature that is not reflected in any way on other Pskov churches: the bricks that make up the composition of the picture are slightly chipped towards the outer ends of their ribs, which is why the triangular depressions are connected in the form of a cone in depth, and into the outer side expand. It is this effect that gives extraordinary charm to the overall pattern, which looks so light and airy.
On the south side there is a chapel consecrated in the name of the Holy Prophet Naum, and on the north side there is an extension that does not have an altar part. On the west side there is a vestibule, which is connected to the side parts, namely the northern extension and the southern aisle. The porch has a small porch, which until the last renovation was an absolutely typical Pskov porch, located on low and thick pillars. Today, to no small chagrin, the side porches were laid and turned into walls, which is why the old type of building was completely distorted and lost. A two-span belfry stands on the wall of the vestibule. The church has a stone drum with narrow windows and unusual decorations. On top of it there is a deaf small drum with a head in the form of an onion with a figured cross.
The covering of the vestibule is decorated with a single vault, and the main church has corrugated vaults located below the supporting arches. The supporting pillars, three in number, are made semicircular, and the two pillars on the east side have rounding only on the side of the altar. With the help of a wide span, the narthex and the main church were connected. The span took on its present form in the period 1896-1897, and before that time a rather narrow passage existed in its place. It was at the same time that the earth was stretched by 1 arshin, and the floor was slightly lowered, due to which a rather high salt was formed. In addition, the church windows were significantly enlarged, and before that time they looked just slit-like. On the west side, there are choirs, and in the right side-altar, instead of a vault, an ordinary ceiling is mounted. In the southern part of the chapel, there are two deep niches with strangleholds. The annex on the left side is now a gatehouse.
After the revolution passed, the church of Joachim and Anna was closed. Global restoration work was carried out in the church in 1949, at the same time, a previously located ancient drum was put in place, the head also acquired its original appearance, the side walls of the porch were completely cleaned, the four-slope covering was replaced with the original eight-slope one.
Not so long ago, the temple was renovated, as a result of which the exceptional beauty of the clean whitewashed walls and all structures was revealed in the interior. The only thing that is regrettable is the bright spot of religious modern painting, which contrasts completely tasteless with the majestic antiquity of the walls.
