Get to know your native land. Ancient churches of Pskov
Several dozen, many of them preserved, restored and operational. Today’s photo walk will be dedicated to this particular feature of Pskov. I’ll prepare a story about the rest of Pskov later, so as not to overload one post a huge amount photographs.
In Pskov there are churches built in the 12th-15th centuries - in many other Russian cities, buildings from this time were destroyed long ago and have not survived to this day. The ancient Pskov churches have their own architectural style: most of them are whitewashed, single-domed, with characteristic attached or free-standing belfries. The density of churches per capita and per unit area in the city center is amazing, sometimes found every 100 meters, if not more often.
For this photo story, I selected 36 photographs of churches that were accidentally encountered during a haphazard walk around the city (in fact, there are many more, but it will take you to get around them all a short time is not possible, even though the historical center of Pskov is quite compact). So, let's go!
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5. On the opposite (western) bank of the Velikaya River, next to the Olginsky Bridge, there is the Church of the Assumption at the Ferry, built in 1444 and rebuilt in 1521. The church is in the typical Pskov-Novgorod style: whitewashed, single-domed, with a characteristic free-standing belfry. The only church in Pskov where a dove sits on the cross.
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7. Chapel Saint Princess Equal to the Apostles Olga of Russia next to the Assumption Paromena Church was erected in 2000. A traditional place for photo sessions of newlyweds. In the background you can see the Trinity Cathedral on the opposite bank of the Velikaya River.
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8. But we are returning to the eastern bank of the Velikaya River, because most of the ancient Pskov churches are located there. 300 meters southeast of the Olginsky Bridge is the Church of Michael and Gabriel the Archangels from Gorodets with a hipped bell tower above the gate. From the church itself, built in 1339, only the dome is visible, and the bell tower with the gate in the foreground was built later - in the 17th century. This church has a special decoration of the drum: while usually these are traditional Pskov modest designs, here the drum is decorated with tiles.
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9. 250 meters east of Krom and the Trinity Cathedral on Leon Pozemsky Street, next to the bridge over the Pskova River, stands the Church of Kozma and Damian from Primostye, built in 1463 on the site of an ancient wooden church. In the 20th century, the church building for a long time was in disrepair and was not used for its intended purpose, but since 2008 the church has become operational again.
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10. 250 meters north of the Kozmodamian Church is the Church of Elijah the Prophet the Wet. It was built much later than most Pskov churches - in 1677, and the bell tower was added in the 19th century, so its architectural style is significantly different from the traditional Pskov style.
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11. 400 meters north-north-west of “Ilya-Mokroy” at the intersection of Leon Pozemsky Street with the sonorous name Nabat stands the Church of the Resurrection of Christ from the Stadishche. This church was first mentioned in chronicles in 1532, but since then it has been rebuilt several times.
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12. Then we walked along Leon Pozemsky Street to the old Pskov city wall. Next to the former gates and ruins of the Varlaam Zahabna Tower (about 200 meters from the previous photo) is the Church of Varlaam Khutynsky on Zvanitsa.
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14. We did not move further from the city center and went back east towards the Pskov River. 200 meters northeast of “Ilya-Mokroy” there is the Church of the Savior Not Made by Hands with Zhabya Lavitsa (“Zhabya Lavitsa” is the name of a small swamp next to which the church was built), first mentioned in 1487, but rebuilt in mid-19th century. The building was in a dilapidated state for a long time, but in the 2000s it was transferred to the Church and is currently being restored.
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15. 300 meters east of the Church of Kozma and Damian from Primostye (and 500 meters from the previous photo) on a hillock next to the picturesque pedestrian bridge over the Pskova River stands the three-domed Church of the Epiphany from Zapskovye, built in 1496.
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17. 500 meters east of the Church of the Epiphany on a beautiful hill on the banks of the Pskov River next to the Gremyachaya Tower is the Church of Kozma and Damian from Gremyachaya Mountain - one of the oldest surviving Pskov churches, built in 1383. Previously, it was part of the Gremyatsky Monastery, which was abolished in the 18th century. The photo was taken from the Finnish Kuopio Park on the opposite bank of the Pskov River. (Yes, by the way, I will need to somehow publish the remaining photographs of Kuopio, which have been lying around for 4.5 years.)
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21. On the same Karl Marx Street, next to the market on the territory of the former bus station, there is the Church of Peter and Paul from Buya (1540). A buoy was a fenced-in place near a church, usually a cemetery.
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22. After a walk along the banks of the Pskova River, we returned to the central district of Pskov and went for a walk along Oktyabrsky Prospekt and Sovetskaya Street (in fact, it was the next day, more cloudy). The Church of St. Nicholas of Usokha (i.e., St. Nicholas, the Wonderworker of Myra) is located near the fork of these streets near October Square. The first version of the church was built in 1371, the current version was built on its site in 1531 and partially rebuilt in the 17th century. 19th centuries. This church went down several meters; when you are inside, it seems more impressive than outside.
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26. The Church of the Assumption from Polonishche was built on the site of the former Assumption Monastery on Georgievskaya Street not far from Sovetskaya. In this part of the walk we were already in a hurry and having walked 400 meters from the previous photo, we probably missed several churches.
Among the attractions of Pskov are its church architecture. The people of Pskov had their own architectural style, so you can find many churches in the city, including very ancient and unique ones.
Like most ancient Russian cities, Pskov has always been pious and prayerful, considering Orthodox faith an integral part of your life. It is not surprising that the city of Pskov has many beautiful churches, many of which are very ancient. We will tell you about some of them.
Church of St. Basil "on the Hill"
This is its real name, it was built in the 14th century on a hill, which was later, after the church, called Vasilievskaya Hill, and only after that the popular name “Vasili Church “On the Hill” appeared.
The first temple was wooden and decorated with paintings, and was located near the no longer existing wall of the Middle City. And in 1375, a stone temple was already built in its place, which was repeatedly remodeled and improved. Closer to the beginning of the 16th century, it was here that the revered miraculous Mother of God of Tikhvin was painted with an akathist in 24 marks - small rectangles on the icon, which depict the life of the Mother of God. Previously, it occupied one of the upper tiers of the iconostasis, but today it is kept in the Pskov Museum-Reserve.
The temple has a difficult fate; they tried to close it more than once. First, a fire in 1562 destroyed part of the city, and the church was saved only by a miracle. And yet, starting from the 16th and 17th centuries, times of decline began for it. And by the 19th century, it had become so dilapidated and ruined that they were going to scrap the church: the northern limit collapsed, and the ancient iconostasis and carved choir were almost completely lost. But again, God's providence saved the temple; it was assigned to the Kryletsky Monastery, and it remained so until 1921, when the church was closed. For many years there was an archive and storage of documents; during the Great Patriotic War, the temple suffered quite a bit. But, as he says folk wisdom, God loves the Trinity, and in 2000, services began to be held in the Church of Vasily “on the Hill” again. The temple was restored and now it delights the eyes of the townspeople with its snow-white silhouette, as if shining from a hill.
Temple of St. Alexander Nevsky
The full name of the temple sounds like the Military Church of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. It was built in 1907-1908 for the 96th Omsk Regiment. The project was standard, developed by F.M. Verzhbitsky especially for the military - in Russia more than 60 similar churches were built throughout the country.
But, despite the standard design, this church is unique for the architectural traditions of Pskov. Rectangular in plan, elongated along the axis - from the dome to the hipped bell tower. This is the so-called pseudo-Russian style, also known as “late eclecticism,” which is also manifested in the exterior decoration: helmet-shaped kokoshniks, shoulder blades, zakomaras at the end of windows and facades. The temple looks exceptionally elegant, the green slopes and gold-blue finials of the dome and bell tower harmoniously combine with the red brick walls, creating a joyful and festive mood.
Like many churches in the country, the Alexander Nevsky Church did not have the easiest life after the 1917 revolution. The temple was closed and there, replacing each other, there were alternately the “Revolutionary Red Army Theater”, then the House of Officers, and, in the end, a utility warehouse. And only in 1990 the temple was returned again Orthodox Church. Moreover, it still fulfills the mission for which it was created - providing support and consolation to the military in “hot spots”. In addition, the temple is engaged in publishing and charitable activities: a collection of poems has been published in honor of the fallen soldiers of the 6th company of the Pskov paratroopers, an electronic catalog of all portraits of the fallen military paratroopers has been created, their names are immortalized on the walls of the temple, and material support is also provided for the soldiers and their families. The activities of the church servants did not go unnoticed, and the church, as well as its archpriest Oleg Teor, were awarded in 2000 with certificates of gratitude from the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation for their participation in the revival of the spiritual and moral foundations of military service to the Fatherland.
Church of Alexy, man of God
The Church of Alexy, the man of God, was built in 1688 on the site of the ancient temple of the Alekseevsky convent. Previously, this church was located outside the city, in a field, surrounded by one-story wooden houses Alekseevskaya Sloboda, from this the second, popular name appeared - the Church of Alexy in the Field. The ancient church is mentioned more than once in chronicles describing the time of the siege of Pskov by the troops of the Polish king Stefan Batory in 1581. Fierce fighting took place here then.
During its existence, the church constantly changed its affiliation: in 1712, together with the monastery, it was assigned to the Pechersky Monastery, in 1678 - to the Sergius Church, in 1808 they wanted to demolish it, but in 1818 the temple was assigned to the Old Ascension Monastery, and only in In 1854, the church of Alexy from the Field finally acquired independence.
As often happened after the revolution, the temple was closed and turned into a granary, but during the Great Patriotic War it was reopened and received multiple damages during the war. In 1989, restoration began and since 1994 the temple has again held services and received parishioners under the auspices of the Pskov diocese.
Built of stones and slabs, whitewashed, single-domed, with a chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and a two-tier bell tower. The entrance portal is decorated with a modern fresco by the icon painter Father Andrei. In addition, next to the church there is an ancient cemetery.
Church of the Epiphany from Zapskovye
One of the most beautiful and spectacular churches in Pskov. He has an elegant, seemingly simple silhouette, at the same time architectural composition quite complex and asymmetrical. Once the famous architect Ae Corbusier came to Pskov in order to collaborate with Soviet architects. He studied the architecture of ancient Pskov with interest and admiration, but what struck him most was the Church of the Epiphany from Zapskovia. So much so that the architect himself admitted that it was this temple that inspired him when designing and building a chapel in his hometown Ronchane.
The first mention of the temple dates back to 1397, but the old building burned down in a fire in 1458. Modern temple built on the same site in 1495. It is located on a hill, on the bank of the Broda (previously this river was so shallow that it could be forded). It is curious that earlier on the opposite bank of the river there were two more Epiphany churches, which formed a “holy triangle”, including the place of the traditional baptismal blessing of water.
By the end of the 19th century, the church became somewhat impoverished, although it remained the main parish church Zapskovya. It was closed in 1936 and suffered quite a lot during the Great Patriotic War. The restoration of the Church of the Epiphany began only in the 21st century, and in 2009 it was opened to parishioners.
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Church of Constantine and Helena
The full name of this temple, built in 1681, is the Church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles King Constantine and his mother Helen. According to legend, the modern church was built on the site where the chapel of St. Anastasia used to be. Near the road to the temple you can see the remains of semicircular tiled walls- it is believed that these are the ruins of the old chapel. Legend says that St. Anastasia appeared in a dream to one Sloboda resident and strictly ordered him to keep the remains of his chapel, otherwise the settlement would burn down.
The church was built in a typical 16th century Pskov style architectural style, four-pillar and three-apse. In the 18th-19th centuries, the chapel of St. Basil the Martyr was added to the church on the south side, and in the 19th century a two-tier stone bell tower was built. The church is decorated with blades on a quadrangle, a runner, the drums of the domes are decorated with ceramic kokoshniks covered with green glaze.
It is active, and in addition to the usual temple life, they also heal the demon-possessed and possessed.
Church of St. Michael the Archangel
The full name of the church is . According to the inscription on the slab in the temple, the church was founded in 1339. Previously, in this place there was a Gorodets - a small fortification, hence the addition to the name of the church - “from Gorodets”. The current stone church building was erected in 1439, and in 1649 it was further rebuilt. So, initially there were two thrones, but the left one was abolished due to dilapidation. Now they sell it there wax candles. And in 1990, the Church of the Archangel Michael became the regimental temple of the Yenisei Regiment.
The church is built of slabs, its main nave in plan is correct cross. The facades are decorated with arched divisions, making appearance churches lighter and more elegant. The head of the church used to be covered with glazed tiles, but these have recently been replaced with iron. But on the drum you can still see a double belt of glazed patterned tiles from the late 17th century.
Church of Peter and Paul
(this is the full name of the temple) was built in 1373 on the site of an ancient cemetery - that is, a “buoy”. A legend is associated with this church about how in 1615, during the attack on the city by Swedish troops, during a prayer service a voice was heard from the icon of the Mother of God that promised protection. And indeed, the Pskov troops won. And in the years Northern War Peter I stayed not far from the church. He often went to this temple, read the Apostle and even sang in the choir. And only then he made sure that the church dedicated to him heavenly patrons, acquired a new iconostasis, and the status of a cathedral church was returned to it.
The Church of Peter and Paul was built in the classic Pskov style: a single-domed temple, with three apses, decorated with a characteristic Pskov decoration - a runner. The head drum is decorated with a patterned ceramic belt.
Church of St. Nicholas of Usokha
It was first built in 1371, and in 1536 a stone building was erected, as the old one burned down in a fire. The area where the temple is located was previously called “Usukha”, since it was on the edge of a large swamp. Now the swamp is no longer there, but the name remains. The legend about Ivan the Terrible is associated with the Church of St. Nicholas the Great. They say that when he rode past the temple, the ringing of bells scared his horse and the angry king ordered the bell's ears to be cut off. And they say that during the execution of this strange order, blood flowed from the ears of the bell.
The church was built in distinctly Pskov architectural traditions. At the same time, there is also an original detail - a chapel, nicknamed by the locals “the chapel of the unquenchable candle.” This name was given to it because previously a lamp was constantly burning there in front of the icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This is a small building with an elegant tiny dome, the walls are cut through by large arches - together with the architecture of the temple itself, the chapel forms a bizarre ensemble.
On the eastern side of the Assumption Cathedral is the Sretenskaya Church, striking in its beauty. It was built and consecrated in 1870, and the complex it is part of was founded in 1541 by Abbot Cornelius. This temple has three chapters and is built on two floors. The walls and ceiling inside are decorated with sacred images describing biblical events. The outside walls are red, and the windows and corners are decorated with white patterns.
In the Sretenskaya Church there are two miraculous icons: “Recovery of the Lost” and mother of God“Three-handed.” Also interior decoration rich in ancient utensils: forged candlesticks, lamps, decorated with chasing. It has an unusually beautiful iconostasis, decorated with gilded wooden columns and various carved patterns. In 2000, the temple was restored and its unique wall paintings were restored.
On April 1, 2003, the relics of St. Simeon of Pskov-Pechersk were transferred to this temple, which are now available to all believers. To visit this temple, women must take a scarf and wear a long skirt.
Church of the Intercession and Nativity of the Virgin Mary from Prolom
Church of the Intercession and Nativity of the Virgin Mary from Prolom is a small Orthodox church, located in the city of Pskov. It is a cultural and historical monument of federal significance of the 15th-16th centuries. The monastery is located near the Intercession Tower, in the southern part of the Okolny town. Prolom is the place where the fortress wall collapsed during the siege of Pskov by the Polish king Stefan Batory. The temple consists of two pillarless churches, their quadrangles have common wall. The southern church is consecrated in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and the northern one in honor of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. They have one porch and one apse each. Their altars have a slot and a window opening, which are designed for donations.
The Church of the Intercession and Nativity of the Virgin Mary from Prolom was built from local limestone slabs, then plastered and whitewashed. With the porch, its length is 17 meters and its width is 15 m. In 1961-1964, the church was restored, it was carried out according to the design of the great architect V.P. Smirnov. As a result, a two-span belfry and two domes were recreated. Currently, the monastery is active; services and prayers are held here.
The Church of St. Basil the Great on Gorka is one of the most famous monuments architecture of the 15th–16th centuries. The existing temple is the only stone temple of the early 15th century in the city of Pskov.
The first construction of the temple dates back to 1337. It was founded by the merchant Christopher Karel Dol, a German by nationality. Old manuscripts say that Nemchin Dol came to Pskov, where he was baptized under the name of Vasily and built a stone church in the city in the name of Vasily the Great.
During the Great Patriotic War The temple was partially damaged by bombing, after which it was set on fire several times, but the temple survived and currently delights citizens and tourists with its splendor.
The temple is open daily from 8-00 to 19-00. Worship services are held every day. The rector of the church is Archpriest Andrey Bolshanin.
Church of St. Basil the Great on Gorka
The Church of St. Basil the Great on Gorka is considered a famous architectural monument of the 15th - 16th centuries. The temple has three stepped arches and vaults (apses). The drum and apses of the church are completed with ornamental triple friezes, characteristic of many churches in Pskov of that time.
The first wooden temple was built in the 15th century on a hill that rose in front of the Zrachka stream in a swampy area. In 1375, the wall of the Middle City and the Vasilyevskaya Tower opposite the church were built along the bank of the stream; a belfry was built above the tower, where there was an alarm bell, which raised the entire city in case of alarm. The temple was painted in 1377.
The stone temple was erected in 1413 on the site of a wooden old church. At the beginning of the 16th century, the revered icon of the Church of Our Lady of Tikhvin was painted. For all of Pskov and for the temple, with late XVII century, the time of decline begins. In the middle of the 18th century, the church belfry was rebuilt into a bell tower, which has survived to this day.
By the beginning of the 19th century, the church was badly destroyed, the carved choir and the ancient iconostasis were lost. In 2003, the temple held restoration work. The restoration restored the original appearance of the church. The temple will be interesting to visit for all lovers of antiquity.
Sights of Pskov
The blog “Get to know your native land” is a virtual journey for children around the Pskov region and is the embodiment in the Internet space of the main materials of the project of the Centralized Library System of Pskov “Know your native land!”
This project was developed and implemented in the libraries of the Centralized Library System of Pskov in 2012-2013. - Library - Center for Communication and Information, Children's Ecological Library "Rainbow", Library "Rodnik" named after. S.A. Zolottsev and in the innovation and methodological department of the Central City Library.
The main goal of the project is to give a basic idea of the historical past of the Pskov region, its present, about the people (personalities) who glorified the Pskov region, about the richness and originality of the nature of the Pskov region.
The project united library workers, participants educational process and parents.
"Cultivating love for native land, to the native culture, to the native village or city, to the native speech - a task of paramount importance and there is no need to prove it. But how to cultivate this love? It starts small - with love for your family, for your home, for your school. Gradually expanding, this love for one’s native land turns into love for one’s country - its history, its past and present” (D. S. Likhachev).
| Pskov. Phot. Petra Kosykh. |
Project implementation partners:
City schools:
· Average comprehensive school No. 24 named after. L.I. Malyakova (primary school teacher Valentina Ivanovna Grigorieva)
· Secondary school No. 12 named after. Hero of Russia A. Shiryaeva (primary school teacher Tatyana Pavlovna Ovchinnikova)
· Border - customs - legal lyceum (primary school teacher Ivanova Zinaida Mikhailovna)
Pskov Regional Institute for Advanced Training of Education Workers:
Pasman Tatyana Borisovna – methodologist in history, social studies and law POIPKRO
Pskov State University
Bredikhina Valentina Nikolaevna, candidate pedagogical sciences, Associate Professor, Department of Theory and Methods of Humanitarian Education, Pskov State University.
Blog Editor:
Burova N.G. - manager Department of Information and Communication Technologies of the Central City Hospital of Pskov
Currently, despite the fact that the project that originally formed the basis for the creation of this resource has been completed, our local history blog continues to successfully exist and develop. Being at its core an information and educational resource and good help for those who want to get to know Pskov and the amazing Pskov region (especially for children) - be it the opening of a monument in Pskov or on the territory of the Pskov region, impressions from a trip to one of the corners of the Pskov region, the creation of a new local history toy library or photo galleries and, of course, we always inform our readers about the publication of new books about Pskov, designed for young local historians.
Materials from this blog can also be used on school activities, and on library events, or can be read just like that - for self-education!
We are waiting on the pages of our blog for all the guys who are not indifferent to the history of Pskov and the Pskov region, and, in turn, we promise to delight our visitors with new materials. By the way, blog updates can be tracked in the section
Ancient churches of Pskov. April 18th, 2010
Let's continue our study of the ancient Russian city of Pskov. In this essay I will try to describe most of the churches located north of the Kremlin across the Pskovaya River.
Personally, I liked this area of the city the most - it is quieter and more romantic, unlike the center of old Pskov.
In Zapskovye it opens from the Trinity Bridge beautiful view to Krom. 
The first church on the way is the temple of Cosmas and Damian. This Konchan temple was built in 1462-1453. The church was rebuilt several times, being badly damaged by the explosion of gunpowder in 1507, which was stored inside. Subsequently, the Konchan residents decided not to store gunpowder in the Temple of God, and for these needs a special building was built to the right of the church. It's possible that most of The inhabitants of this Pskov region were blacksmiths, because the holy unmercenaries Kozma and Damian patronize this craft. The gates in the church fence are also very old.
Like all Pskov churches, the temple of Kozma and Damian seems low and squat. But if you go inside, you realize that this is a deceptive impression.
While the church has no interior decoration and probably thank God... Its rough walls reminded me of the ancient Christian temples of the Middle East. After the inevitable restoration, it will naturally become “plastic” and faceless.
The man in the photo is some kind of Pskov “enthusiast” and the current caretaker of the temple. I gave him some money for subsequent restoration. And I thought... Eh!
Although maybe I’m wrong, because many of the churches I saw in Novgorod were restored very carefully. True, this happened back in “Soviet times”...
The next temple is the Church of the Resurrection from the Stadium. It was built somewhere in the middle of the 16th century; there used to be convent, abolished in 1764. Now it can be an example of a typical modern restoration - everything is well whitewashed and heated. The temple was closed, I took it off interior spaces through the window. Probably, despite the good repairs carried out, I would still want to pray in the previous temple of Kozma and Damian. That's the kind of pervert I am...
After the Church of the Resurrection, you can explore the outer fortress walls of Pskov. They're not far from here. As you know, it was these walls that took the main blow of enemy troops, and not beautiful walls Pskov Kremlin.. The condition of these walls is appropriate.
Varlaam (corner) tower. 
The tower was badly damaged during the siege of Pskov by the troops of the Swedish king Gustav Adolf in 1615. The church of Barlaamia Khutynsky (1495), located next to the gate, was also severely damaged; it was included in the city’s defense system. The Swedes fired cannons at it for several days, so it arrived in a greatly altered form.
The outer walls of Zapskovye are “somewhat” different from, one might say, the newly rebuilt walls of Krom. In some places they look more like earthen ramparts.
The thickness of the walls is quite decent (in the Obrazsky Zahab area). 
Nearby is the Church of the Image Not Made by Hands, built around the 16th-17th century. Because of the bad weather, it turned out a little darkly romantic for me.
On a high hill stands the large Church of the Epiphany on Brody (1444) 
This is one of the most beautiful churches in the city, supposedly Le Corbusier himself, the great French architect, came to Pskov in 1961 to look at it.…
Probably, in view of all this, she suffered the most from modern restorers. I read that somewhere in the late 90s it was “restored” for some reason by specialists from sunny Tashkent. Below is part of the text from the site www.pskovcity.ru/ts_zap_bogoyavlen.htm
>>Restorers from Tashkent came to Pskov, their Pskov colleagues rated them very highly and immediately awarded the Church of the Epiphany..... The Tashkent people started with that. that the northern aisle was completely destroyed, one side of which required strengthening. They broke everything and that was the end of it......
But apparently some other specialists have had a hand in the temple in recent years...
It should also be noted that it is located next to the church - literally 20 meters away is the entrance to the most expensive 4-star hotel in Pskov, Heliopark. A sort of “toy” Holland in ancient Pskov. And I think the guys simply could not lose face. Moreover, judging by the old photos of the temple, everything was fine with their money and imagination..
Photo from 2005 from the website Sobory.ru sobory.ru/photo/index.html 
Today's view. 
Inside the temple there is a real nightmare - a complete “European-quality renovation”, the floors are “ marble tiles", "Euro sockets" and "Euro heating", if anyone is interested in ancient Russian history, then it is better not to go inside at all.
Hotel Heliopark - Pskov "Holland". 
In the extreme corner of the Pskov fortress wall near the Pskova River there is the Gremyachya Tower, which closes this section of the river. Here, too, there used to be “water gates” with bars, just like near Krom at the confluence of the Pskova and the Velikaya River. True, only one tower has survived, which received its name from the Gremyachnaya Mountain on which it stands. 
The Gremyatsky monastery that previously existed here had the same name. From it only the Church of Cosmas and Damian (1540) and the refectory have survived.
This is probably one of the most picturesque places in Pskov.
The Kozmodemyansk Church, thank God, has not undergone serious restoration and looks very good even with walls painted with teenage graffiti. It seems to grow from the depths of centuries through layers of human stupidity and indifference.
The former refectory of the Gremyatsky Monastery. After its abolition in 1764, it served as both a tannery and a bakery. 
I am a church without crosses, -
I'm flying with my arms outstretched
Along the sleepy shores
Petrified flour.
I am faith without reasons.
I am truly without a beginning:
Do you hear me scream
Soul among the aspens?
I am a bird without skies
I am a stone echo
Half-forgotten places
A sad sign.
