Today, the Church, especially the Russian Church, commemorates the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in memory of Moscow's deliverance from the Polish invasion in the XVII century by a Russian militia under the protection of the miraculous image. And the temple that I suggest you see in honour of the holiday, the Kazan Cathedral in Irkutsk, symbolises liberation from a far more terrible enemy - the Soviet regime.
Even now, the temple is often referred to simply as a church - after all, like many of Russia's current cathedrals, it was originally a simple parish church, albeit built in the same style and with the same dedication as the city's much larger pre-revolutionary cathedral, which was destroyed by the Bolsheviks.
The Kazan Church, which replaced it and was so well suited to this role, has been transformed in our time to match its cathedral status, and its neo-Byzantine architecture with neo-Russian elements has been unexpectedly and successfully complemented by rich neo-Baroque decorations.
Even now, the temple is often referred to simply as a church - after all, like many of Russia's current cathedrals, it was originally a simple parish church, albeit built in the same style and with the same dedication as the city's much larger pre-revolutionary cathedral, which was destroyed by the Bolsheviks.
The Kazan Church, which replaced it and was so well suited to this role, has been transformed in our time to match its cathedral status, and its neo-Byzantine architecture with neo-Russian elements has been unexpectedly and successfully complemented by rich neo-Baroque decorations.
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One of the most beautiful Art Nouveau monuments in Ryazan - the Lebedev House.
Despite the name, Peter Lebedev was originally a contractor in the construction of the mansion for Alexander Wagner's private medical centre - but after the latter went bankrupt, Peter bought the palace and rented it out for the intended function.
Despite the name, Peter Lebedev was originally a contractor in the construction of the mansion for Alexander Wagner's private medical centre - but after the latter went bankrupt, Peter bought the palace and rented it out for the intended function.
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The arches of the largely closed gallery of the medieval temple in Burnasheti, Georgia, decorated with Ionic capitals - an unexpected and preserved greeting from Byzantium.
Although the Ionic order penetrated quite early into Caucasian architecture, namely Armenian architecture - most likely from Syria - it was initially rather modified and quite quickly underwent even greater changes - and its more or less recognisable usage was so long ago that most of the temples decorated with it, especially Georgian ones - which were never numerous - have managed to turn into ruins.
Although the Ionic order penetrated quite early into Caucasian architecture, namely Armenian architecture - most likely from Syria - it was initially rather modified and quite quickly underwent even greater changes - and its more or less recognisable usage was so long ago that most of the temples decorated with it, especially Georgian ones - which were never numerous - have managed to turn into ruins.
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An old mansion turned museum in Agios Georgios Nileias, Greece.
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An old Saint George church in Kfeir, Lebanon, with an interesting iconostasis, which combines local oriental traditions with neo-Gothic elements to remind of the Crusader legacy in the region.
Surprisingly, the church was recently renovated with the help of... Turkish Cooperation and Coordination agency. And while such efforts are surprising and certainly commendable, it would've been nice to see Turkey restoring many Christian sites in its own borders first.
Surprisingly, the church was recently renovated with the help of... Turkish Cooperation and Coordination agency. And while such efforts are surprising and certainly commendable, it would've been nice to see Turkey restoring many Christian sites in its own borders first.
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Abreha Castle in Mekelle, Ethiopia, now converted into a hotel.
Despite its name and architecture, the building was never a real castle — in fact, it originally served as the mansion of the local governor and was built at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries. Although the idea of styling buildings as castles was not new at the time, even in countries where European architecture only appeared in the XIX century, they were often designed in the Neo-Gothic style.
Here, however, a different approach was taken — despite the fact that the palace's structure is very reminiscent of such estates, it was built with local historical architecture in mind. However, it is difficult to say how exotic it is by our standards, since the most famous castles in Ethiopia were built using Renaissance elements introduced by the Portuguese.
Despite its name and architecture, the building was never a real castle — in fact, it originally served as the mansion of the local governor and was built at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries. Although the idea of styling buildings as castles was not new at the time, even in countries where European architecture only appeared in the XIX century, they were often designed in the Neo-Gothic style.
Here, however, a different approach was taken — despite the fact that the palace's structure is very reminiscent of such estates, it was built with local historical architecture in mind. However, it is difficult to say how exotic it is by our standards, since the most famous castles in Ethiopia were built using Renaissance elements introduced by the Portuguese.
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An old school in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, where Peter II Petrovich Njegos, the great Serbian poet and bishop-ruler of Montenegro, once studied.
Nowadays, the school has been turned into a museum, among other things dedicated to Bishop Peter.
Nowadays, the school has been turned into a museum, among other things dedicated to Bishop Peter.
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