POLOTSK BERNARDINE MONASTERY: PREMISES SURVEY OF THE CELL BUILDING

Abstract

The article presents the findings of a survey conducted on premises of the cell building of the Polotsk Bernardine Monastery. The premises survey revealed a number of alterations and fillings of the original window and door openings, niches, and vaults, as well as the presence of different layers of paint in the rooms. The preservation of the primary structural elements, including the internal bearing walls and vaults, makes the cell building unique among the Catholic monastic ensembles in Polotsk. The building has architectural and archaeological potential. In conjunction with the ensemble of the Polotsk Jesuit College, it can be considered an encyclopedia of structural solutions employed in monastic construction in Polotsk during the XVIII century.

The results of the cell building survey, when considered alongside the available written and pictorial sources, permit not only the restoration of the original decoration of the building's external facades, but also the interiors of its rooms at various historical periods of the building's existence. The findings of the research should inform the decision-making process regarding the building's new functional purpose and design. Furthermore, they should guide the implementation of building works that not only preserve the monument but also museumise its architectural and interior elements.