Church of Holy Mandylion in Abramtsevo, Church building in Sergiyevo-Posadsky District, Russia.
The Church of Holy Mandylion is a white stone building with carved details, decorated doorways, and ornamental friezes located in the Abramtsevo estate. Its stone portals display carved Christian symbols including donkey heads and rooster figures at the entrances.
Two well-known Russian artists, Viktor Vasnetsov and Vasily Polenov, designed and built this building between 1881 and 1882. A flood in the area forced local people to find their own place for religious services.
The church displays icons painted in a realistic style, marking a shift in how Russian religious art was approached. You can see this artistic change reflected in the paintings throughout the interior.
The church holds regular services on commemorative days and opens to visitors who want to examine the architectural features and religious artworks. Being open during these special occasions makes it possible to experience the space when it serves its original purpose.
The mosaic floor has the construction years 1881 and 1882 carved directly into its surface alongside decorative patterns. This unusual idea of embedding building dates so visibly in the floor sets it apart from other churches of that period.
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