Vocabulary

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Preserving Traditional Woodworking Techniques: Kizhi Pogost.

The island of Kizhi is on Lake Onaga in northwestern Russia. Russian buildings were traditionally made of wood as Russia has abundant forest land. These churches are regarded as masterpieces of Russian, wooden architecture.

The two churches were built during the 18th century, and the belfry in the middle was built during the 19th century. The bigger church is known as the Church of Transfiguration; it’s also known as the Summer Church.

About 3,000 red, pine logs were used to build the church walls. The church is 37 meters high and has 22 onion-shaped domes that are characteristic of Russian Orthodox churches. These silver-shining domes look as if they were made of metal, but the roof shingles were, in fact, made from poplar wood.

The smaller church is known as the Church of the Intercession, or the Winter Church. It was built smaller in size so that it could be heated up more easily in the harsh winter. Today, the church is used for mass throughout the year.

The large church is undergoing repairs. It was built on top of an old graveyard; the soft ground caused the building to tilt even during construction. During the Soviet era, iron columns were placed inside to support the building. The columns saved the church from collapse, but reconstruction work was really necessary.

The knowledge and woodworking skills of master craftsmen needed to maintain these buildings were lost as time went on; the timber began to rot, and the beams were in danger of collapsing.

Woodworking traditions were once in danger of being lost forever. However, the Russian people are now taking steps to restore these magnificent churches and to preserve their specific tradition for future generations.

Questions

 
Church of Transfiguration. Kizhi Island is located the Arctic Sea. True or false?

Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Are the houses and cathedrals in Kizhi Pogost most made of bricks?

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague. Are the Church of Intercession and the Church of the Transfiguration new or old? When were they built?

St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna. The is medium-sized. Is this right or wrong? Does the cathedral have spires?

Cologne Cathedral. Is the cathedral made of silver metal?

Hagia Sofia Cathedral. Has anything happen after the cathdrals after they were constructed?

Saint John’s Co-Cathedral, Malta. Has the skill and craftsmanship of wooden architecture been continuously preserved?
 
 
 
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. I have visited Kizhi Islands. Yes or no? Have your friends visited Kizhi Island? What impressive buildings and monuments have you visited?

San Marco Basilica. What are some famous or impressive buildings and monuments are there in your town, city, region and country?

Notre Dame Cathedral. Which renowned buildings, structures and monuments would you like to see in person? I would like to visit . . . .

Santa Maria del Fiore. What can you say about Disneyland theme parks, fairytales, folktales, cartoons and fantasy movies?

St Paul’s Cathedral. What might happen in the future?

Mezquita of Cordoba. People should restore and build historical and traditional buildings, instead of mostly new, modern structures. What do you think?