In Pskovskiy rayon, monastic history, medieval church art and local tradition are distinct themes. The Velikaya River flows through the territory of Pskovsky District. Travellers looking to focus on culture can explore monastic traditions, architecture and a local legend as separate subjects.
Monasteries: founding dates and tradition
The St John the Theologian Savva Krypetsky Monastery was founded in the second half of the 15th century in the old Pskov land; 1455 is given as its founding date. It is considered one of the national shrines and is active. Its history combines a specific date with religious significance that extends beyond the date itself.
The Spaso-Eleazarovsky Monastery is dated to 1447. A story about the monk Filofei is associated with this monastery: in one of his cells, he is said to have predicted Moscow’s destiny as the centre of a unified Russian state towards the end of the 15th century. Here, monastic history is joined by a tradition concerning political ideas. The two monasteries thus represent different historical emphases.
Churches and local history
According to legend, Princess Olga was born in Vybuty, a settlement on the Velikaya in Pskovsky District. On the riverbank stands the stone Elias Church, built from stone slabs in the 15th century. A stone chapel was built near the churchyard in 1888. It commemorates the 1,000th anniversary of Saint Princess Olga and the 900th anniversary of the Christianisation of Rus by Prince Vladimir. In Vybuty, a story explicitly handed down as legend sits alongside dated architectural and commemorative landmarks.
The Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Meletovo is an architectural ensemble featuring monumental paintings from the 15th century. It is considered an example of the Pskov School of Architecture at its height. The church is closed for restoration. The differing architectural features are revealing when comparing it with Vybuty: there, the focus is on the stone-slab building on the Velikaya; in Meletovo, it is the ensemble and its monumental paintings.
The Velikaya, the lake and regional architecture
The former Pskovsky District also included part of Lake Peipus-Pskov and the islands named after Zalit and Belov. This designation refers to the former district; the current administrative name is different. The river, lake and islands therefore represent distinct geographical features within the historical territorial designation.
For a broader art-historical perspective, it is worth looking at the wider Pskov Oblast: the churches of the Pskov School of Architecture comprise ten religious monuments in the historic city of Pskov and on the banks of the Velikaya. They represent architectural styles and decorative elements dating from the 12th to the beginning of the 17th century. As an example of the Pskov School of Architecture, Meletovo belongs to this regional context; the ensemble’s local details and paintings also give the building its own character.
Discover more destinations: Piskovichi, Velikoluksky District, Bezhanitsky District, Berdyuzhskiy rayon, Gdovskiy rayon, Kunyinsky District, Pskovsky District, Dedovichsky District.
See the broader travel overview: Pskov Oblast.
