A large–scale project has been launched in Tobolsk to revive one of the oldest churches in the city, the Holy Cross Church. The Committee for the Protection of Cultural Heritage Sites approved the project documentation and issued a work permit.
The first stage will be to save the building from further destruction: specialists will replace the dilapidated rafter system and install a temporary protective roof.
"Today, our main task is to preserve for future generations this unique example of temple architecture, part of the spiritual and historical code of Tobolsk," said Mayor Peter Vagin.
The first wooden church on this site was erected in 1652 and even appeared on the famous pages of the "Drawing Book" of cartographer Semyon Remezov. After a fire at the expense of parishioners in 1754, the construction of a stone building began. Interestingly, the foundation for it was an artificial hill on the banks of the Pokrovka River, which was originally built by merchants Medvedevs for their own house, but then was donated for the construction of a church.
The restoration work became possible thanks to the joint efforts of the city authorities, heritage conservation specialists and the support of the public. Unique archival materials provided by the Tobolsk Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve and the State Archive of the city were used to prepare the project.