Description of the attraction
The Pskov-Pechersky Monastery is a rare monument of the 16th century, combining the traditions of defense-fortress and temple architecture. A particularly interesting embodiment of these two traditions in the ensemble of this monastery is the complex that combines the Nikolskaya Church and the Nikolskaya Tower.
The Church of St. Nicholas, built in 1564, is remarkable for its purpose: protecting the inner gates, it is one with the Nikolskaya Tower. Nikolskaya Church and Nikolskaya Tower have the same roof, but they were built at different times. The first temple was built. Streltsy, sent to defend the fortress, knelt in front of the St. Nicholas Church. Weapons intended for the defense of the temple were kept under the stone porch of the church. And inside was an image of Nicholas the Wonderworker, made of wood, full-length, with a miter on his head, in his right hand he had a sword, and in his left he was holding a one-domed church.
The church was built of stone as a gateway. This architectural type is rare for Pskov (in general, the Pskovites preferred to install the church next to the gate). It is believed that the architect Pavel Zabolotsky, who "completed" this temple, is a participant in the construction of the entire fortress. The Pskovites, the Izborians, and the archers from the regiments that passed here worked on the construction of the St. Nicholas Church. They were built from a limestone slab, traditional in these places.
The church was erected "on a mountain", not far from the main gate, which are traditionally called Saints. For a long time, the gate under the Church of St. Nicholas served as the main entrance to the monastery. According to legend, behind these gates, the abbot of the monastery, Cornelius, suffered a painful death from the sword of Ivan the Terrible, who suspected Cornelius of treason. Since then, the stone-paved road that begins behind the Nikolsky Gate has been nicknamed the "Bloody Path".
The Nikolsky temple is pillarless, one-apse, one-domed. The head is covered with white iron. The cross is made of iron, an apple is gilded under the cross. A horseshoe-shaped tower joins the side facade of the temple. The church has a vestibule. A picturesque porch with a staircase leads to the temple. Of considerable interest is the two-span belfry, which was added to the church in 1581.
The apse and drum are marked with traditional Pskov decor. The side façade of the temple, facing the monastery, is split into three parts by shovels. The blades begin above the passage, highlighting the main part located above the basement, and end at the same level, below the roof. A pair of semicircular niches are arranged with the upper part of the wall.
The bell tower has five bells of different sizes; two of which are without any inscription. According to the ancient monastery chronicle, in 1581 they were recaptured by the monastery people from the troops of the Polish king Stephen Batory. Two not very large bells were brought here from the Dmitrievskaya church, which was abolished, and the fifth, middle one, was cast in the monastery in the summer of 1601.
The church has a painted iconostasis, an icon depicting the monastery, executed at the end of the 17th century, a carved icon of Nikola Mozhaisky. Not so long ago, the specialists of the Pskov Museum-Reserve determined the true date of the painting of the iconostasis of the St. Nicholas Church. The iconostasis was painted by three icon painters in the years 1686-1688.
In general, the monument consists of perfectly grouped volumes. The carved form of the porch and the light top of the belfry are opposed to the monolith of the tower.
