Unique book on church building in Altai region is published

Catalogue on the church building in Altai (mid 17^th century – early 20^th century) edited by the Administration of archival depositories, includes over 80 archive documents on church building in the Altai Region. Among the documents are blessed charters that granted a right to build a church, reports on the course of works and estimates, lists of residents who donated money for construction, public decrees on appointment and election of those responsible for building, and other documents. It was reported in press service of regional administration.

The catalogue of the documents is intended for all those interested in the history of the region and specialists. The head of the administration Viktor Kutischev said these documents are important today. Historians, architects and students turn to plans for churches and use them not only in their research work but also in modern church building.

The most valuable of the published documents are plans of Orthodox churches. Among them is the fragment of the Church of Ss Peter and Paul – the first wooden church at the Barnaul factory. The plan was made in 1751 by draftsman, land-surveyor and cartographer Pimen Startsov. Also published are the plans made by famous Altai architects: Andrei Molcanov, Lavrenty Ivanov, Yakov Polov, Ivan Nosovich.

The period of intensive building of churches in Altai finished in the early 20^th century. The churches were closed after the revolution. Some 346 churches were closed before 1939.

The AMITEL Information Agency