Description of the attraction
The Epiphany Church was built in 1684-93 at the expense of the Yaroslavl merchant Alexei Zubchaninov. Alexei Zubchaninov traded in leather, and in expensive varieties (yuft), belonged to the top of the city, was buried on the territory of the Spassky Monastery.
The Church of the Epiphany has three thrones. The main throne is dedicated to the feast of the Epiphany. In the southern chapel, which previously served as a warm winter church, the altar was consecrated in honor of the Vologda miracle worker - the Monk Dmitry Prilutsky, and the northern chapel was narrow and cramped and was not intended for ordinary parish services. It is dedicated to the Last Judgment, which is a great rarity for Orthodoxy.
By design, this church is not similar to other Yaroslavl churches, since it has no internal pillars. The first impression of wall paintings is determined by three primary colors: golden ocher, blue-blue and dark cherry. Gold and azure lend solemnity to the interior and, thanks to the sunlight penetrating into the temple through the large windows, the church looks very festive and elegant.
The walls of the temple are divided into eight tiers, the painting in them tells about the life and teachings of Christ. The four lower tiers are dedicated to the history of the earthly life of Christ. In the four upper tiers, the murals are split by windows into many separate compositions. The final scenes of the Last Judgment are located only on the western wall.
The iconostasis of the temple is made in the traditional Russian style. The iconostasis contains six tiers of icons, and it ends with a picturesque Crucifixion with figures of those who are coming. All structural details of the iconostasis are covered with baroque carvings in the form of a large vine.
Once a year, the Epiphany Church becomes the main temple of Yaroslavl, since next to it on the Kotorosl River, a special ice hole is arranged for the consecration of water.
