Description of the attraction
Directly near the Izborsk fortress there is a stone temple of the Monks Sergius of Radonezh and Nikandr of the Pskov Wonderworker. An ancient wooden temple once stood on the site of a stone building. The exact time of its construction is unknown. Presumably, this is the 16th century, although no reliable documentary sources mentioning the construction of this temple have survived. However, the fact that this church existed in 1585-1587 is evidenced by scribal and quitrent books and other Pskov documents. From this it follows that the first temple was most likely built before 1585. After the Pskov lands were annexed to Moscow, Moscow saints began to be venerated here. Probably, the temple in honor of the Monks Sergius of Radonezh and Nikandra was erected at the same time. Therefore, the construction of the ancient church most likely dates back to the 16th century, no later than 1585-1587. This first wooden temple burned down in a fire.
The new church was erected in the 18th century already of stone. Documents of that time, indicating the date of the construction of this temple, also do not agree in time. Some mention 1755, others - 1765, others - 1795. This small rectangular stone building has one side-altar, one chapter, a decorative drum, one apse, a gable roof, a refectory, a porch and a belfry. It is a pillarless temple. The chapter has a baroque shape. The construction is very simple, without unnecessary decor. The belfry is a partial decoration of the temple. It has two spans and three pillars and is located above the western façade. Above it is a hipped roof and a head with a cross. Two small bells hanging from a wooden beam are now more of an adornment of the temple than a functional element.
There is a porch with a porch under the belfry. The porch has the shape of an almost regular square. The entrance to the temple is a forged metal door and a porch. The door dates back to the 18th century. Above the porch and porch there are arches, later sewn up with boards. There is a window above the door, it is closed by the roof of the vestibule. In addition to the belfry, the building has another decorative element in the form of a carved wooden pillar, which supports the northern corner of the roof and porch.
The interior is illuminated by several small windows. There is a niche in the western wall. Another niche is located at the site of the altar. There is one slotted window in the niche. There is another window in the center of the apse. The floors inside the temple are made of slabs. The iconostasis of the church is wooden. Belongs to the end of the 18th century. It has remained almost unchanged. It has three tiers.
According to the preserved inscription on the slab, in 1979 a fence and a gate with one arch were added to the temple. The plank elements of the fence were replaced with a cement screed. The gate is located in the center in front of the facade of the temple. Consist of one arch. Above this arch is a trapezoidal niche for the icon. On the inside, the gate is reinforced with a buttress.
Until 1831, the church had its own parish, priest and deacon. Further, this temple was attributed to the Nikolsky Cathedral, so a priest from the cathedral began to serve in it. Around the beginning of the 70s, the temple was closed, and the building was transferred to the museum. Now it is located on the territory of the Izborsk State Natural-Landscape and Historical-Architectural Museum-Reserve.
The architectural image of the temple as a whole echoes the style of other ancient buildings in Pskov. However, in some details one can see the influence of new architectural stylistic trends. There are parts of the structures and some elements of the decoration of the temple, which are made in several styles: provincial baroque and classicism.
