Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye

Kolomenskoye is a former royal estate situated several miles to the south-east of Moscow downtown, on the ancient road leading to the town of Kolomna (hence the name).

The earliest extant structure in town is the exceptional Ascension church (1532), built in white stone to commemorate the long-awaited birth of an heir to the throne, the future Ivan the Terrible. Being the first stone church of tent-like variety, the uncanonical "White Column" (as it is sometimes referred to) marked a stunning rupture with the Byzantine tradition.

The church stands up toward the sky from a low cross-shaped podklet (ground floor), then follows a prolonged chetverik (octagonal body) of the church, and then an octagonal tent, crowned by a tiny dome. The narrow pilasters on the sides of the chetverik, the arrow-shaped window frames, the three tiers of the kokoshniks and the quiet rhythm of stair arcades and open galleries underline the dynamic tendency of this masterpiece of the Russian architecture. The whole vertical composition is believed to have been borrowed from hipped roof-style wooden churches of the Russian North.


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Reviews

Zack culvert (USA):
Architecturally, the Ascension Cathedral is quite different from most other famous ones in Moscow or Novodevichy, this one being pure white sans onion domes.
Although It is in the suburbs, it is easily accessible by metro (17 rubles) like 4 stops from the central ring. But as the structure was under repairs and closed for visit, the trip was at best an afternoon's walk through the park. If really pressed for time in Moscow, outside the Kemlin, I would go to Novodevichy instead.
 
John Joyner (USA):
I visited the Church of the Ascension in the summer of 1995. It was amazing to stand in the shadow of such a beautiful, old building. Not only is the Church itself wonderful to view, but there is a wonderful view of Moscow across the river. I am from the central part of the USA. I count time in Russia as some of the best times of my life.
 
Harold L La Duke (USA):
During a Mission trip, the last few hours of the time in Moscow was spent here. Maintenance was superb and the descriptive signage most helpful. The buildings were closed but walking around the grounds was a special time.

Views over the river were clear and offered a glimpse into potential lifestyle. Watching as a horse mounted patrol passed along the lower path was most colorful and to see the style dress worn by the young people a surprise that should not have been a surprise.

Walking around the Church questioning it's style etched some of the details into memory. Now, reading of the "TENT ROOF" connection help to tie those details together.

Coming from the Pacific Northwest, of particular interest were the 'wooden buildings'. WHAT AN AGE!

ALthough seven years have passed, this remains a vivid experience. Now preparing some notes to go with an edited video of PETERHOF, it is interesting to see the tie-back as the place of PETER THE GREAT's childhood.

THANK YOU. It would be interesting to read some other comments.
 


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