Arched gables (zakomara) temple of the ХІІ century. Regional traditions
Authors: Mikheienko K. 
Published: April 2019

Speaking about an originality of the early stages of development of Ancient Rus architecture in comparison with Byzantine architecture, the first thing mentioned is the usage of several domes. However, the decorative arched gables (zakomara), that became attribute of Ancient Rus arched gables temple, yet unknown in Byzantium, are almost not being mentioned. St. Sofia Cathedral in Novgorod represents the initial formation stage of such type of temple (A. Komech). The earliest decorative arched gable (zakomara) found has been preserved in this Novgorod cathedral. The process of formation of the arched gables temple happened in Kyiv in the second half of the ХІ century. St. Michael's Golden-Domed cathedral and Trinity gateway church of the Pechersk monastery in Kyiv are indicative of complete forms of arched gables temple. These two temples were constructed almost at the same time at the beginning of the ХІI century, but they represent the initial stages of different directions of the arched gables temple development. Both temples have one dome. But St. Michael's Cathedral has the form of a parallelepiped, statics of which is emphasized on the meander located at the level chorus (but for the east apses) and also horizontal ranks of windows and niches on all its facades. Trinity church has a vertical volume without any horizontal partitioning. Temples, similar in composition to Dormition cathedral of the Pechersk monastery and St. Michael's Golden-Domed cathedral in Kyiv, were built in Chernihiv at the first quarter of the ХІІ century. Chernihiv temples, unlike Kyiv temples, were built only from brick in the «оpus isodos» building technique, using Romanesque structural components and decorative elements (cross vaults, semi-columns on lesenes, lombard band, perspective portals). In Novgorod after completion of the St. Sophia cathedral the tradition of stone construction was renewed at the beginning of the ХІІ century. The remained Novgorod temples of this period have complete arched gables forms with vertical layout of the volumes and several domes. During the XІІ century, there are two kinds of the Novgorod variant of the zakomara temple in Pskov and Staraya Ladoga. Walls of the Novgorod, Pskov, and Staraya Ladoga temples were built in mixed building technique from brick and stone. In the Vladimiro-Suzdalsky principality from the middle of the XІІ century, the temples presented a connection of several composite variants of the arched gables type and other options of the Romanesque building technique (hewn quadrants of limestone) and the Romanesque decorative elements. The Chernihiv variant of arched gables temple became interregional, but kinds of Novgorod variant and Vladimiro-Suzdal variant were local. Temples, similar to the Chernihiv temples, were built in Kyiv, Kanev, Vladimir-Volynsk, Smolensk, Pereiaslav from the second quarter of the ХІІ century. This variant of arched gables temple prevailed until the end of the XІІ century when it was displaced by a new interregional tower-shaped temple type with the step raised arches. Arched gables temple represented the main way of development of Ancient Rus architecture of the XІІ century, but there were other traditions which are presented by single remained or partially remained monuments.