Archaeologists began studying the second oldest church in Russia – RIA Novosti

11:50 20.07.2016

(updated: 12:51 20.07.2016 )

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MOSCOW, July 20 – RIA Novosti The expedition of the Institute of Archaeology RAS began to study the church of the Annunciation at the Rurik Gorodishche, the second oldest church, built on the territory of modern Russia after St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod, according to the institute’s press service. .

“The excavations allow to see the end of August, more than half of the church of the Annunciation of the plan, this rare monument to early ancient architecture. The next season is planned to study that part of the temple, which came into the building from the 14th century and can be exposed under the roof “, – says Vladimir Sedov from the Institute of Archaeology Academy of Sciences, head of the excavation

Sedov and his colleagues are now pursuing. excavations on the territory of the so-called Rurik settlement – one of the oldest parts of Novgorod the Great, played the role of the residence of the Novgorod princes, where according to historians of the 19th century once lived Rurik, who was invited to rule Novgorod in 862

in this. . church of the Annunciation of its construction customer was Prince Mstislav the Great, son of Vladimir Monomakh, who ruled Kievan Rus to 1125 by 1132, the last ruler of the unified Old Russian state

This temple lasted two and a half centuries and was demolished and replaced by a stone church in 1343. This second temple, in turn, has been rebuilt several times and suffered during the Great Patriotic war. For a long time he stood in the ruins, which were somewhat preserved and strengthened. Who prepares the restoration of the ruins and their museumification. In connection with this musefication and conducted extensive archaeological excavations, designed for two field seasons.

Archaeologists have discovered part of the stair tower of the temple, the stairs that went up to the playground Choir, excavated three of the four cross-shaped dome pillars that supported the central dome, determined the level of an ancient floor, cleared the southern built wall.

in the course of the works found hundreds of fragments of ancient frescoes, including several pieces with images of parts of the faces of the two sections of the ancient frescoes discovered on the southern wall of the temple. Among the archaeological finds and artefacts and handicrafts, got to the temple area from the underlying strata. Scientists hope that in the near future they will be able to understand how to look one of the oldest Russian churches.