Kolozhskaya church in Grodno — future of tradition

The Kalozha orthodox church of Sts. Boris and Gleb is the oldest extant structure in the city of Hrodna. It is a unique temple. It is a one of a kind phenomenon in the history of sacred architecture. The church was built before 1183s by architect Pyotr Milaneh on the high right bank of the river Nieman, opposite the Castle Hill. It was a building of 13,5x21,5 metres, with three semicircular altar apses at the eastern side. The materials used in constructing the church were plinths (3.5-4x16.5x26-28 cm), stone, lime mortar and glaze. The wall thickness was about 1,2 meters. The rows of plinths alternate with thick lime mortar seams with added finely ground brick and coal. In the 16th and 17th centuries the church was restored. In the 1853 it was partially destroyed by a landslide. In the 1889 the southern part of wall and apse collapsed into the Niemen river. In 1910, 1935, 1970 and 1985-1987 conservation works were undertaken. Preserved are the northern wall, a half part of the western wall, two walls of the apses, as well as two western under-cupola pillars. Today, this temple – owing to the great sacrifice and strain of the Orthodox Church – the Kalozha church is an active place of worship. It is being raised up from ruin. This work presents contemporary problems of reconstruction and revitalization of this church.