Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church

Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church in Tolchkovo in Yaroslavl were created in 1694 – 1695. Just like many other churches of Yaroslavl, St. John the Baptist Church is decorated inside with frescoes covering the surface of the walls and ceilings of a carpet. The frescoes in this church match its architecture, which is one of the best works of Russian art in the late XVII century. Murals inside the main room of the temple were made in 1694 – 1695. Sixteen Yaroslavl masters headed by Dmitry Plekhanov and Fyodor Ignatyev. Aisles and porch were painted a little later – in 1700, apparently by the same craftsmen.

Column in the Church of St. John the Baptist. Yaroslavl. 1911. Photo by Prokudin-Gorsky

Decoration of St. John the Baptist Church in Yaroslavl

Entrance to the Church of John the Baptist from the gallery (porch). Yaroslavl. 1911. Photo by Prokudin-Gorsky

Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church — The fresco on the left wall in the church of John the Baptist. Yaroslavl. 1911

The Parable of the unrepentant harlot. Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church — The Parable of the unrepentant harlot. Fresco on the porch roof of the church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo

The Passion of Christ (the image can be enlarged)

Fresco of St. John the Baptist Church ‘About you rejoice’ has symbolic and liturgical character. In murals of St. John the Baptist Church sent a thank-representational means hymn in honor of Our Lady: “In Thee is happy, delighted, all creation, Archangel Cathedral and the human race, consecrated the church, paradise verbal virgin praise, out of her, God incarnate and baby byst first century sy our God, the firstborn bo Your throne shall do and thy bowels more extensive sodela heaven, rejoice in thee overjoyed every creature, thank you”.
The Passion of Christ (the image can be enlarged)

The prophet Daniel, Ananias, Azarias and Misael, in front of King Nebuchadnezzar

The story of Joseph. Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church — The story of Joseph. A fragment of the porch of the church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo

Tile decoration of the church of St. John the Baptist Church in Yaroslavl

Vision of St. John Climacus. Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church

Execution of wife, not confessed her sin. Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church

Flood. Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church — Flood. A fragment of painting on the porch roof of the church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo. Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church

Sinner. Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church — Sinner. A fragment of painting on the porch roof of the church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo

'Song of Songs'. fresco in St. John the Baptist Church — ‘Song of Songs’. Frescoes of St. John the Baptist Church

Russian banknote. 1000 rubles. Version of 2010 year. Front

St. John the Baptist Church on 1000 rubles banknote, back. 1997

Church of St. John the Baptist in Tolchkovo. Yaroslavl. 1910. Photo by Prokudin-Gorsky

St. John the Baptist Church is considered to be the acme of the Yaroslavl school of architecture. It was built in 1671-1687 on the bank of Kotorosl river in the Tolchkovo sloboda which at that time was the largest and wealthiest part of the town. Its walls and dome drums are covered with richly glazed tiles; the temple’s fifteen onion domes are assembled in three groups. The 7-storey, 45-metre high bell-tower was built later than the church itself in mid-1690s. The entire interior is covered with frescoes depicting Christian saints, St. John the Baptist hagiography and biblical topics. They were painted by Dmitry Plekhanov and Fyodor Ignatyev in 1694-1695