Located in Lake Onega, Kizhi is the most popular island to visit in Russia. Having only 5,5 km in length and max 1,4 km in width, the island annually attracts about 200.000 tourists from all around the world. Most of them come to see the incredible collection of monuments of Russian wooden architecture, both church and domestic.
Kizhi Island history
The archeological record found on the island consists of ceramic and bronze artefacts similar to those found in Veliky Novgorod and assigned to the period ca. 10th century AD. At that time, the Novgorodians had been colonizing Lake Onega, the White Sea coast and other northern territories.
Written sources of the 15th century describe 18 taxation, administrative and religious districts, known as Pogosts, introduced in the Lake Onega region by the Grand Duchy of Moscow following its annexation of the Republic of Novgorod. The 1582/83 Census Book first mentions the Transfiguration and Intercession churches as parish churches of Kizhi Pogost, a relatively big territory comprising 180 villages. A record of 1696 informs that those churches were destroyed by a lightning strike in 1693 or 1694. It was soon when local citizens rebuilt both of them.
In the early 20th century Kizhi district included 47 villages with population of around 2500 people. Fishing, agriculture, peasant crafts and trade were their principal occupations. A folk school was located on the very island of Kizhi and 11 more in the nearby villages; most of the schools were parochial.
The remoteness of the island could be one of the reasons that the Bolsheviks closed Kizhi churches only in 1937, twenty years after taking power. The priest Alexei Petukhov was arrested and executed in the same year.
The area was under Finnish occupation from 1941 to 1944. The local population suffered from military actions and a range of abuses, but no harm was done to Kizhi churches and chapels.
Established in 1966, Kizhi Museum Reserve brought numerous monuments of wooden architecture from all around Zaonezhye region to the island, which helped to preserve them from decay and dilapidation.
In 1994, the first modern time service was hold in the Church of the Intercession.
On 19 August 2021, the newly reopened Transfiguration Church hosted its first official service after 84-year break.
Kizhi Pogost
Today, the term Pogost is used with just one of its former meanings, namely that of “church with a graveyard”. The present Kizhi Pogost consists of the churches of the Transfiguration and the Intercession, a bell tower and a small graveyard, all fenced with a wall of wild stones and wood.
Transfiguration Church
The 22-dome Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior is the key sight of the Pogost. Tree-ring analysis of its timber dates it back to around 1714. Legend has it that a master craftsman by the name of Nestor
with a team of carpenters built it without a single metal nail, and after they finished he threw his axe into the lake as a symbolic gesture of reaching inimitable perfection.
The 37-meter tall structure was made of the highest quality pine logs. Later, it was additionally protected from the elements with planks and iron shingles on the domes. During the works of 1950s, the restorers removed the protection layer and the church retrieved its original appearance. However, by 1980 the condition of the building was so poor that they had to close the church and install a metal inner framework to prevent its collapse.
In summer 2021, the Transfiguration church was reopened after an extensive 40-year long restoration. The consecration took place on 19 August 2021, when the Orthodox Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Savior. The reinstalled 24-meter long iconostasis consists of more than 100 original icons of the 17th-19th centuries. Being a summer church, it has never had any heating; thus to keep the icons safe the museum suspends inside visits for 6-month winter closure.
Intercession Church
Another famous church of the Pogost is the 9-dome, 27 meter tall Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin. According to the research, the church, destroyed in 1693/4, was rebuilt in a simple square cut form a few years later. Significant extension and redesign of 1720 – 1749 gave the church most of its present-day appearance.
A high wooden porch leads into the Seni, kind of a vestibule. The refectory room comes next; initially it also served as a nave with its own iconostasis and a wood stove (one more was added later) for heating the church from October to April. During the 18th century redesign, the present nave with nine domes and the altar were attached. Re-installed during the restoration of 1957/9, the modern day iconostasis has several original icons dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
Further restoration of the Intercession church is planned for the near future.
Bell tower
The present bell tower was built in 1862-1874. Being 30 meter tall, it has a steep inside staircase, which leads to the bell chamber with brass and bronze bells, big and small. The view from the bell tower is amazing and well worth the climbing effort and the admission fee.
Fence
The original fence was lost in centuries and there is a little evidence of its appearance. In the middle of the 20th century, the Pogost was encircled with barbed wire. The present 300-meter long fence appeared in 1959. Made of wild stone and wood, it looks authentic and right in place.
Other monuments
In addition to the Pogost, the island hosts many other historical buildings. Among them are chapels, traditional houses, windmills, granaries, banyas, etc.
Church of Lazarus of Murom
Believed to be one of the oldest wooden churches in Russia, this church officially dates back to the 15th century. Initially located in Murom Monastery at the southern shore of Lake Onega, it was brought to Kizhi Island in 1959.
Kizhi chapels
Five chapels are located on the island.
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Chapel of the Assumption of Virgin Mary. Dated back to the end of the 17th century, this chapel still nestles in its original place in the village of Vassilyevo.
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Chapel of Archangel Mikhail. This 18th century chapel was taken from the village of Lelikozero in 1961. The original iconostasis is preserved, as well as the colorful painted ceiling, known as nebo (heaven). After the tragic loss in the roar of flames of the Assumption church in Kondopoga in 2018, this kind of ceiling is the only one remained in Karelia region. Located very close to the main churches, the Archangel Mikhail chapel is hard to miss. On a good day, your walk will be accompanied by bell ringing from the chapel’s belfry.
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Veronica's Veil Chapel occupies a prominent position on the top of Naryina Hill which is the highest point on the island. Also known as the chapel from Vigovo village it was built in the late 17th or early 18th century. You can find it between Yamka and Vassilyevo villages, around 1.5 km to the north from the main piers.
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Chapel of the Divine Savior. Also known as the chapel from Kavgora village, it dates back to the period between 1750 and 1800. Standing on the very northern tip of Kizhi Isle it is seldom visited.
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Chapel of Peter and Paul. Originating from the village of Berezhnaya, this tiny chapel of the early 17th century now stands in Yamka village in the middle part of the island.
Domestic architecture
Aside from churches and chapels, old wooden households are also located on the Island. These are water- and windmills, granaries, blacksmith’s shops, chimneyless smoke saunas, known as "banya po-chernomy", houses of peasants who once lived in the region.
During the visit of the houses of peasants of Sergeyev, Oshevnev, Elizarov and others, a visitor can learn a lot about the life of residents of Lake Onega Region, their traditions and customs.
Nature
Established in 1989, Kizhi Natural Preserve includes the land area of several islands, including the biggest one - Bolshoy Klimenetskiy, as well as a large portion of the surrounding waters of Lake Onega. The area is rich with birds, such as gulls, loons, curlews, rails, wildfowls and birds of prey. Animal species include elk (Alces alces), white hare (Lepus timidus), common wolf (Canis lupus), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), fox (Vulpes vulpes), common weasel (Mustela erminea), European polecat (Mustela putorius) and red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). Occasionally, brown bears and their traces are seen on Bolshoy Klimenetsky Island. European vipers are common in stony habitats and grasslands - please beware.
The museum has a few nature excursions, including a 2-hour walk from the main boat pier to the Chapel of the Divine Savior on Naryina Hill, a 2-hour “Hunter’s trail” in the northern part of Kizhi Isle and a 45-minute Apothecary garden’s visit.
Having a motorboat, it’s great to take a trip to see natural attractions of Bolshoy Klimenetskiy, Radkolye and Gryz islands.
Museum opening hours
The museum is open daily without breaks and days-off:
- Summer (01.05–31.08) — from 08.00 to 20.00;
- Autumn (01.09–31.10) — from 09.00 to 18.00;
- Winter (01.11–28.02) — from 10.00 to 16.00;
- Spring (01.03–30.04) — from 09.00 to 17.00.
Accommodation
There is a nice guesthouse just over the strait in the village of Ersnevo. It has several twin/triple rooms, all with en-suite WC and shower.
