ARCHITECTURE
wooden architecture — research, maintenance and restoration

Typologically the given structure is among the chapels composed of three cribs set in line, with the space left under the floor. This is a rectangle set in the east-northern direction on a plane view. The western portion of the Archangel Michael Chapel features the annex in which the inner porch is located. The cribs of the oratory, refectory and the inner porch are the same width and set in line. The inner porch and refectory are covered with a gable roof. The two standing axis of the structure are located above the inner porch the octagonal belfry, covered with a tent roof; in the western portion and in the eastern one the oratory is covered with a double gable roof elevating in two tiers, topped with a dome.

The two windows on the southern and northern facades of the chapel are set symmetrically. The western facade of the inner porch features a twin window. The entry is a plank porch supported by the lower logs; it is located at right angle to the main wall and covered with a shed roof. The corners of the cribs are notched at the corners according to the traditional method with the log ends protruding or extending beyond the corners of each wall (a notch joint called in Russian ‘v oblo’), the corners of the octagonal belfry are fixed according to the traditional method with the logs ends not protruding beyond the corners (‘v lapu’). The tent roof of the belfry is supported by the circular section poles. The balustrade of the belfry is composed of horizontal boards. The walls of the octagonal part are gradually widening to the top, the same holds good with each of the tiers of the oratory roof.

The roof on the refectory and inner porch is a nailless construction, unlike the decorative roof of the oratory. The ornamentation of the Archangel Michael Chapel is just as austere as the alike Zaonezhye structures. The only elements of a decorative window trim to see are on the western façade, these are the shutters made of profiled boards with triangular ends. ‘Facial’ boards feature carvings only on the margins, the combination of semi-circles and paired triangular cogs. Circles were fretted on the surface of the board in addition. The joints of ‘facial’ boards are covered with ‘towels’, on which is carved an encircled rhomb and round fretworks. The ‘facial’ boards are made just the same. Decorative roofing features lance-like ends of the boards.

There is a two-tiered iconostasis in the oratory, it includes local and Deisis tiers and, the ‘sky’i. e. an architectural ceiling that holds icon panels with 12 prophets, a circular medallion (a roundel) with Jesus Christ in His Mights in the center. On each of the four corners of the ‘sky’ there is an icon and evangelic creeds. The icons date to the 17–18 th centuries.