Restoration. Crystal Iconostasis in the City of Dyatkovo, Bryansk Region of the Russian Federation

Did you
know that there is a crystal temple in Russia? The "eighth miracle of the world" is called the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Neopalimaya Kupina" in the city of Dyatkovo, Bryansk region. The entire iconostasis of this church is created from crystal. In 1810, it was built by the owner of the local crystal factory Maltsov.

There was a heavy, elegant work crystal iconostasis, "as if soaring in the air," crystal chandeliers and panikadila, unique candlesticks made of laminated and multicolored glass with a height of human height, until 1929.

The amazing temple was destroyed. Its destruction was authorized in 1929 by the provincial executive committee, it was finally destroyed in 1937. Part of the cast iron slabs and bricks was used for road construction. The property was partially transferred to the registry office and the Club, but some parts of its decoration took refuge in the Dyatkovo Museum. In 1990, the destroyed temple was restored

Only now without a crystal iconostasis. The construction of the crystal iconostasis began in December 1999 and was completed in 2003, on September 17 it was consecrated and named after the icon of the Mother of God of Neopalimai coupin. In this temple, the crystal iconostasis was revived, which is now the only one in the world. The iconostasis was made at the Dyadkovo plant and weighs about 7 tons. Local, glass craftsmen, according to drawings of 200 years ago, re-made the crystal decoration of the temple.

But time does not stand still. There is nothing eternal, The time has come for the restoration of the temple. The floor was leveled, a new floor decorative tile, and was laid. etc. The iconostasis was not bypassed. Crystal was removed, damaged parts were made again, thanks to the preserved shapes.

Replaced the mirror substrate of crystal tiles. They painted some details. It was decided to replace the aluminum oxidized lamellae that held crystal on the wall with painted oak.

I think it is not necessary to describe the instructions for repeating the work done. It is done and no one will repeat it. for the crystal iconostasis is alone in the world and I and my partner restored it.

Мне понадобились: компрессор, пила, ромбовидный круг, рулетка и терпение.

To begin
restoration, you need to produce a trial version to eliminate errors during further work, installation will be on the vertical wall. The substrate for decorative lamellas, and the lamellas themselves, I sawed on this saw. The crystal is molded by hand, the edges have a different thickness, each part is adjusted in place. I collect to eliminate the error in the installation, measured the icon and painted the size on a wooden plate. Well, you are ready to be installed. The representative of the church approved the project. The remaining icons will be decorated on the spot. And will delight the updated iconostasis with its greatness, as in the past.

Around the
icon, wooden guides were fixed into which amber parts were inserted. Then I laid out a mirror bottom and mirror columns. From the stairs finished the top. At the end, the installation of decorative lamellas begins, they hide the fasteners, create an aesthetic appearance and give completeness. Pyramids are highlighted by refracting light. The top ends with domes and crosses.

The remaining icons of the iconostasis also took shape. This did not end the work. Wherever you see glass, all this will be changed, restored. The work is long, difficult but interesting. And it's very nice that I do it with my own hands.