CONCLUDING PART
@kizhi
2011
Long preliminary period (2003–2009) is already in the past and 1st restoration stage (2010–2012) has already started, and this stage determines the rest of restoration flow. The methodological basis is laid during this stage as well as particular techniques and methods of restoration are fine–tuned, and the organization of the whole process is developed and improved.
That is why two reactive monitoring missions of WHC UNESCO and one mission of the Ministry of Culture of RF were held in 2011. One can say with certainty that all the arguments about supposedly wrong concept of restoration have already exhausted. The best confirmations to this statement are the works on the Church of the Transfiguration that have been performed in line with this concept. The issues of appropriate restoration methods for damaged logs have been also settled through a productive dialogue with experts.
The works that will be out of sight in the future were completed during the reporting period: the underground part of the foundation was reconstructed, the excess ground was removed from the Pogost, and the bottom was leveled in the church basement. These works may seem not so important from somebody’s point of view, still the restored building must be set on a firm foundation.
The log walls and design elements are restored in a specially built restoration complex located 2,9 km to the north of Pogost. All year round carpenters–restorers, engineers and architects are saving every single element of the log building that is almost 300 years old. Thanks to regular financing, the restoration process is well–organized, qualified and responsible contractors are employed, a strong team of restorers and auxiliary services have been formed.
The assistance of the Ministry of Culture of RF, of UNESCO experts, and public approval, all of these are giving hopes for completion of the works in the near future. The basic volume of works on church reassembly is planned to be completed in four years on the condition that restoration is going all year round. After that, the metal frame that has supported the church for 30 years will be removed, and the interior and iconostasis will be restored.
The restoration of other monuments on the Kizhi Pogost is going on but still in a smaller scale for the major efforts are focused on the main masterpiece, the Church of the Transfiguration. The surroundings of the Kizhi Pogost are not ignored as well as the protection of monuments and the development of documents. All of these measures have been carefully considered, they are complex and aimed at preservation of the World Heritage Site named Kizhi Pogost С544, for the future generations.
