Preobranzhenskaya Church

church, Kizhi Island, Russia

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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The Preobranzhenskaya Church, also known as the Church of the Transfiguration, is a significant wooden church located on Kizhi Island in northwestern Russia. Built in 1714, it stands 121 feet tall and features three tiers and 22 cupolas, drawing comparisons to Moscow's St. Basil's Cathedral. This church is part of an open-air museum that preserves historical wooden structures. Kizhi Island itself has a history dating back to the 14th century, serving as a trade route and a defense post. The island's major industry today is tourism, drawing visitors to its unique architectural and historical sites.1

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Kizhi Island
The Preobranzhenskaya (Transfiguration) Church (1714), 121 feet (37 m) in height, with its three tiers and 22 cupolas, is often compared to St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square. The Preobranzhenskaya houses a collection of iconostases (each a screen or partition with doors and tiers of…
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The Preobranzhenskaya (Transfiguration) Church (1714), 121 feet (37 m) in height, with its three tiers and 22 cupolas, is often compared to St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square. The Preobranzhenskaya houses a collection of iconostases (each a screen or partition with doors and tiers of…
Read More