St. Andrew’s Church Sculpture

Woodcarving is an integral part of the interior design of St. Andrew’s Church. In this respect a prominent place belongs to the iconostasis: a grandiose screen abounding in gilded ornamental designs consisting of three rows so high that the top of the upper row almost reaches the vault of the cupola. Each row is separated by a cornice. The Holy Gate in the lower part is very richly ornamented – carvings of lush garlands and lacy fretwork cover the entire surface. The whole iconostasis screen is painted a deep crimson. The pulpit, which is reminiscent of a theater box, is adorned with a sculptural group which seems to have been swept up by the wind and caught in a playful dance. The canopy over the altar is supported by columns ornamented with floral spirals. The decorative woodcarvings for St. Andrew’s Church were made in 1752-1753 by Iosif Domash, Andrei Karlovsky, Christopher Oreidach and Johann Zunfer in Petersburg. The highly artistic value of their works speaks of the craftsmen’s great talent. They not only reproduced the conception of the architect but fully revealed their own taste and understanding of artistic form and images.