Photo: architectural monuments, temples and places of worship, cathedrals and churches, other places, Church of St. Nicholas the Wet, Yaroslavl

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Churches of St. Nicholas the Wet and the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God

Architectural Monuments • Temples and places of worship • Cathedrals and churches • Other places

The Churches of St. Nicholas the Wet (Church of Nikola Mokryi) and the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which are built less than 20 years apart, form an ensemble, although they differ from each other. The Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is modest and inconspicuous, while the Church of St. Nicholas the Wet, in spite of the desolation, is known for its preserved frescoes. Especially popular is the "forbidden" fresco: St. Christopher, depicted with a dog's head, is a combination inconceivable for an Orthodox church.

The Church of St. Nicholas the Wet was built in 1672 on a squashy ground, on the low bank of the Kotorosl River. It is believed that this is exactly what gave a name to the church. It is a five-domed temple, begirt with one-story galleries on three sides and a tent-shaped bell tower. Since this is an unheated summer church, an inconspicuous one-domed warm Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God was built next to it 14 years later. Porches with octagonal tents, decorated with colored tiles, were added to the facades of both churches in the late 17th century. The painting of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wet contained about 660 topics! Not all of the frescoes have survived to this day, but the most vivid ones can still be seen. In addition to the image of St. Christopher, depicted in an unusual way, noteworthy here is a large-scale picture of the Last Judgment, scenes from the life and miracles of Nicholas the Wonderworker and scenes from the Old Testament. Moreover, the mural with the Last Judgment is not only allowed but also recommended to be touched: the infernal flame depicted on it is very cold at any time of the year.

Churches of St. Nicholas the Wet and the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God

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