The Episcopal Chamber (Chamber of Facets) is a 15th-century monument located in Novgorod Kremlin, Veliky Novgorod, Russia. It is an exceptional example of Gothic architecture in Russia, and included in the UNESCO World heritage list, along with other historic buildings in the city.

History

The Chamber was part of the Episcopal complex founded in 1433 by order of Euthymius II, Archbishop of Novgorod. According to the Second Novgorodian Chronicle, foreign artisans took part in the building process. It is also indicated by the European Gothic wimpergs, fan traceries,

lancet window A lancet window is a tall, narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural element are typical of Gothic church edifices of the earliest period. Lancet wi ...

s and other architectural features typical of the style. The ancient Novgorodian icon, "The Vision of Sexton Tarasius", which contains an image of the Chamber, shows that in the past the building had

stepped gable A stepped gable, crow-stepped gable, or corbie step is a stairstep type of design at the top of the triangular gable-end of a building. The top of the parapet wall projects above the roofline and the top of the brick or stone wall is stacked in a ...

s with lancet niches, which are further Gothic features of the period.Владычный двор Новгородского кремля
/ref> In 1441 the Chamber was decorated with frescoes. The main hall was a meeting place for the Council of Aristocrats, a body in the Novgorod republic. After the

massacre of Novgorod The Massacre of Novgorod was an attack launched by Tsar Ivan IV (The Terrible)'s ''oprichniki'' on the city of Novgorod, Russia in 1570. Although initially an act of vengeance against the perceived treason of the local Orthodox church, the massac ...

in 1473, the Chamber was the place where the charter for joining the Novgorod republic to the

Duchy of Moscow The Grand Duchy of Moscow, Muscovite Russia, Muscovite Rus' or Grand Principality of Moscow (russian: Великое княжество Московское, Velikoye knyazhestvo Moskovskoye; also known in English simply as Muscovy from the Lati ...

was read out publicly and signed by Ivan III of Russia. The Chamber later underwent substantial rebuilding resulting in its current 19th-century exterior. The main facade in particular was changed and the eaves of the building raised. In 1822 the Chamber was turned into the Church in honour of Ivan, a 12th-century saint and Archbishop of Novgorod. In Soviet times the building was transformed into museum for arts and crafts.

Reconstruction

In 2008 the building was reconstructed to return its exterior closer to the original Gothic style. In July 2008 the remains of a building believed to be the house of Novgorod Archbishop Bazil were found near the Chamber.Вести Санкт-Петербург: Подземные залы Грановитой палаты — сенсационное открытие на территории Новгородского Кремля
/ref> In the Chamber's cellar extensive underground vaults were found. A prospective task for the conservationists and historians is to restore the Chamber's historical gallery near the gateway.cache:XWwl2sUIes0J:www.archi.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2375 реставрация владычной палаты — Поиск в Google
/ref>

References

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History

Reconstruction

References

Further reading (Russian)