The wooden church in Kolodno village

Village Kolodno (Kolodne in Ukrainian, Kolodnoye alternative) Tyachiv region, was founded in 1447 and is located on the banks of a stream-flow Odarov (near the left bank of Tereblya river) at 306 m above sea level. The fame of the village, of course, is caused by the presence on its territory ...be prepared!... the oldest wooden church in Zakarpattia, which, moreover, is one of the oldest wooden churches in Ukraine. Church of St. Nicholas (Nicholas Church) was built in the 15th century, more precisely in 1470, in the tract of Odarov (Ukrainian: Odariv) and later it was relocated to the present place. According to some historic facts, it performed the function of the church at an Orthodox monastery, situated on its territory for 330 years, and when the Austrian authorities closed the monastery, it was relocated to another spot.

The temple keeps the lines inherent in defensive constructions. The tower is made with gothic style elements. The log construction (two in the church) is made out of oak packs (15th century) of 12-meter length, mounted on a stone foundation, which was constructed without a bonding solution, which is “dry”. The tower was rebuilt in 17-18 centuries: Baroque elements to end it were added.

At the same time a porch with gallery was also attached. Baroque wall paintings, according to the inscriptions, were made by Antoniy Vali (Antoniy Vali in Ukrainian). The painting of the altar dates to the second half of the 17th century. The iconostasis of the mid-17th century was renovated in 1737 by “Ilya, a painter from Khust”. The first modern restoration in the church was held in 1969 and continued in 1970-71.

And now bad news. The church, at the moment of our visit to it some years ago, was in dangerous condition. I have not seen churches in such a desolate within all my years of local history activities. Well, except that in Kolochava another church was brought to a similar state of neglect. For a long time water kept getting in through the roof, flowing along the walls, washing off the paintings, and generating doting.

The church was so ruined, that in the late sixties of the last century the top domes doted through so much that the flat platform was formed, where storks built a nest immediately.

This is how, according to photos from the book by M. Sirohman, the church looked like in the early 90-ies. The top dome was restored 20 years ago, and “shake” (shingles) was “fixed”. Dark spots on it in the middle and on the right are the moss thickets. Another ten years and, by the beginning of a new century, the shingle would be in a terrible condition and would begin to crumble, the bottom cross to fall down, and reports appealing to save the national property would be broadcast in newspapers and on TV.



Recent restoration works have helped a little, especially having improved “visualisation”, but the church, in my opinion, is still in dangerous condition.

And now, few photos made in 2008. This is the church perspective from the main road of the village. The massive trees on the right are the old oaks. Some of them have reached about 600 years.



One of the old oaks close up. Must be about 450 years old.



The old plate-step before a porch is imposed for a decor by sloping river stones (“ryncha” in local dialect).



The old cracked beam under a massive arch entrance. Pay attention to a carving on an aperture contour. It is called “lacing”. “A denticulate ornament” is below it. Doors, by the way, are very old. Light round spots are “the pegs” hammered by restorers, were called “tygly” by architects of the past. Such “pegs” were driven in into junctions of “locks” on the crowns of logs to give the structure more ruggedness. Last restoration works took place in 2007. Money was allocated by … the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. Then the shingle was replaced, windows were barred, “chocks” were filled and the doorway was repaired.

And those metal elements on the doors, very similar to modern “blacksmith element”, actually are very old, simply recently polished. They perform a decorative fixing function.



The church entrance is protected by locks of three epochs: Czechoslovak, Soviet and Chinese …



If you look upwards while standing on a porch it is possible to see how the church tower rolls in oak leaves. Pay attention to the cross…



In this picture both church crosses are close up. There is a crescent on the right cross, but it is hardly visible…



A boulder very similar to an altar stone lies directly at a church wall.



Traces of light restoration works are visible on walls and church corners.



In this photo “a fresh” shingle (restoration of 2007) is visible…



The square window is closed by a grid to prevent birds getting into the premise. The church also has a unique window-clover which, unfortunately, we don’t have a photo of…



And here is the church from another perspective.

23.07.2010. 08:54