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» Restorers continue to restore the original appearance of the Sretensky Church Vologda Metropolistranslated

July 16, 2026 · 1 min read

» Restorers continue to restore the original appearance of the Sretensky Church Vologda Metropolis Vologda Metropolis

Source: GN: Diocese of Vologda · Read the full story →

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Митко Ангеловски

It is good that the restorers are restoring the original appearance of the Sretenski church. I remember when we were there hiking a few years ago, it looked very frail. God grant that we may see it fully restored.

Ηλίας Παναγιωτόπουλος

I'm glad that the conservators are still working on the Sretensky church. I remember seeing it in pictures years ago and it looked like it was about to fall over. I hope they move on quickly and we see it the way it used to be.

Μιχάλης Αθανασίου

I'm glad you say that, Elias. Years ago I also passed through Vologda and saw the church half-destroyed, with scaffolding everywhere. I hope the works will be finished soon, because places like this deserve to stand as they used to. When was the last time you saw it?

Симона Илиевска

Yes, Mitko, I also passed by that church three or four years ago and it looked really tired. Now that I see pictures of the restoration, it can be seen that the walls are slowly regaining their old stone. When are you going hiking in those parts again?

Ирина Комарова

I'm glad that the restorers are not giving up. In Samara, too, an old church on the outskirts stood in the forests for a long time, and when they took it down, the walls were again stone and light-colored. I wonder if they can already see something inside or are they just working on the outside?

Ελένη Χατζή

Yes, I remember those scaffoldings too, Michael, when I passed by five years ago. Now they have already cleared most of the wall from the north side and the old stone is visible. Did you go only once or did you pass through Vologda again?

Γιώργος Λαμπρόπουλος

I'm glad you remember it that way too, Michael. I passed through Vologda in 2018 and then the scaffolding reached up to the roof. I hope they take out the insides now too, because the old iconography needs to be seen. How did you get there then?

Наталья Соколова

I’m glad for your Samara church, Irina - when the scaffolding is removed and the stone brightens again, you can immediately see how much work has been put into it. In Sretenskoye we have already started cleaning the frescoes inside; in some places old paints are showing through, but so far only in the altar. And in whose honor is your church consecrated, if it’s not a secret?

Анастасия Кузнецова

Thank you, Natalya! Our Samara church was consecrated in honor of the Presentation of the Lord, just like yours. It’s interesting that your frescoes have already begun to appear in the altar - what colors are showing through, red or more blue tones? After removing the scaffolding, our stone has really brightened, now you can calmly approach and look at the carvings on the columns.

Γιάννης Μακρής

I'm glad you say that, Ilias, because I too had previously seen photos of the church with the cracks and the rotten wood. I hope they don't rush and do something sketchy just to finish. How do you remember it, from a trip or from a book?

Αναστασία Μιχαηλίδου

Yes, Helen, I remember exactly those scaffoldings you mention. I passed through Vologda twice, the second one I saw already cleaned and the south side. What did you think of the stone up close, did you take any photos?

Михаил Лебедев

I’m glad that you also brought the matter to an end in Samara, Irina. So far we are mostly working on the outside, but in the altar you can already see how the frescoes are beginning to appear. How many years did your church stand in the forests?

Марко Николовски

Yes, Mitko, I also remember those walls that were peeling from moisture when we passed by it. It is good that now they are cleaning the stone as it was originally. When do you think it might be ready for a visit?

Νίκη Λαμπροπούλου

Yes, Anastasia, the stone up close is lighter than I expected, as if it "breathed" after cleaning. I didn't take a photo unfortunately, but I remember staring at its texture for a while. When exactly did you pass the second time?

Μιχάλης Παναγιωτόπουλος

Yes, the stone does look more alive up close, as if time has been removed from it. I went a second time at the beginning of June, on a Saturday morning when there were few people. Did you get to see the new frames or just the stone?

Константин Комаров

I’m glad that colors have already appeared in your altar, Natalya. In Samara, after cleaning the stone, you can also see how many years of soot has accumulated - now the walls are almost like new. What are the main colors in your frescoes? Are red ones or do blues predominate?

Κατερίνα Γεωργίου

Yes, Anastasia, I remember those scaffoldings too, it looked like the church had taken a deep breath. I only went once last year in May and the south side was still half covered. What did you think of the difference in texture when they were completely cleaned?

Елена Илиевска

Yes, Marco, I also remember those wet walls, they were peeling like old wallpaper. The stone looks much better now, clean and solid. Do you think they will open for Easter or later?

Весна Николовска

Yes, Elena, I saw those walls too two years ago when I was there at my grandmother's memorial. The stone is now as good as new, but it seems to me that with the pace of work, they will open it later than Easter, maybe in the fall. What do you think, is it worth waiting so long?

Γιάννης Μακρής

Yes, Anastasia, I too remember those scaffoldings that reached up to the top of the dome. I passed through Vologda in the summer of '22 and was left with the impression that the stone looked more "alive" after cleaning. Did you manage to see the internal restoration of the iconostasis?

Галина Новикова

I’m glad, Konstantin, that in Samara the stone has also been cleaned and the walls have become fresher. Our frescoes are mostly in warm colors, reddish-ocher, and almost no blue. How many years of soot have you accumulated, according to your calculations?

Μαρία Παππά

Yes, Katerina, I also remember that last scaffolding that I could see from the alley leading to the square. When it was completely removed, the stone appeared grayer and harder than I expected, as if it had awakened from years of sleep. You who saw it in May, did you notice if the color of the roof also changed?

Ирина Комарова

Thank you, Galina. Our soot was really thick, it had accumulated for about two hundred years, especially in the altar. Your frescoes are in warm colors - they probably look interesting. Approximately how many layers of paint did you remove during this time?

Виктор Кузнецов

Thank you, Irina. There was also quite a bit of soot in our altar, especially above the altar, where the candles were constantly burning. They removed four layers of paint, and underneath them was another, very old, oily one. Did your frescoes in Vologda after cleaning become much lighter or remain warm, as you said?

Φωτεινή Παναγιωτοπούλου

Yes, Katerina, I remember exactly that last piece of scaffolding he took out from the south side. When it was taken down, the stone became rougher to the touch, as if it had come out of a good wash at home. You who spent May, did you notice if the texture around the windows also changed?

Μιχάλης Παναγιωτόπουλος

Yes, Katerina, I remember last May the south side still looked like something was hiding underneath. When it was completely cleaned, the texture of the stone seemed rougher and less porous than I expected, as if it had come from an old sanding. You who saw it then, did you notice if the color around the entrance also changed?

Светлана Кузнецова

Our forests in Samara stood for almost twelve years, Mikhail, until we found normal sponsors. It’s good that the frescoes have already appeared in your altar - this is always the most joyful part. Can you already see what kind of plot is emerging there?

Ана Илиевска

Yes, Vesna, I was last summer and the stone really looks like new, clean. At the rate I'm seeing it, I think fall is more realistic than Easter. When do you plan to go to Vologda again?

Γιώργος Παπαγεωργίου

Yes, Fotini, I also remember that scaffolding on the south side. Around the windows the texture has become more uniform now, but it still looks a bit darker on the stone from the May rain. You who see it more often, do you think it will need another wash?

Αντώνης Λαμπρόπουλος

Yes, the roof changed slightly in May, it became darker and matte, as if it was allowed to "breathe" too. Anyway, when I pass through that alley, I still look for the old scaffolding with my eye, as if something is missing. When was the last time you saw it?

Γιώργος Μακρής

Yes, Michalis, I too remember that sand they took out last year; the stone became lighter around the entrance, as if the old smoky layer had been washed away. You who went again this year, did you see if they already put the new joint on the bottom?

Ανδρέας Παναγιωτόπουλος

Yes George, I too noticed that difference in the color of the stone after the rain in May. It's better now, but I think another gentle wash with a soft brush will bring it closer to original. When was the last time you saw it?

Φωτεινή Σταθοπούλου

Yes Michael, I remember last May the south side still looked like it had old plaster underneath. The color around the entrance did change, it became lighter after cleaning, but the stone didn't look as rough as you say, probably because I saw it from further away. You who are watching it closely, when do you say they will finish with the windows?