Kizhi Pogost is a historical site in Kizhi Island, Russia, and it consists of two churches and a bell tower. The two 18th century churches are actually built on the site of the old ones burnt by lightning in the 17th century. It is interesting that these churches were built without any nail, except for the aspen shingles on their roofs and domes. Therefore, both the Church of Transfiguration and the Church of Intercession reflect the traditional carpentry skills of Russians at that time.
The Church of Transfiguration
The Church of Transfiguration is the most remarkable part of Kizhi Pogost with its 22 domes and 37 m height which makes it one of the tallest wooden buildings in Northern Europe. It does not have a heathing system, so it is used only in summer. There is also a legend saying that Master Nestor built this church by only using an axe. As for the interior, there is a wooden iconostasis holding 102 icons dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Church of Intercession
The Church of Intercession is used in the winter. It is a comparatively small structure with its 9 domes and a height of 32 m. Its original iconostasis was lost in the 19th century, and a new one was built in the original style in 1950s.
The Bell Tower in Kizhi Pogost
The 30 m-high bell tower was rebuilt in the 19th century when the old one deteriorated. The tower has a traditional octagon on cube plan, and the tent roof covering the belfry is topped with an onion dome.
