Kizhi Island

Lore & Background

Settlements and churches on Kizhi were known from at least the 15th century. The population was rural but forced by the government to assist development of ore mining and iron plants, leading to the Kizhi Uprising of 1769–1771. Peasants disobeyed a governor's order to work during harvest season, and up to 40,000 people joined the revolt, which was based at the Kizhi Pogost. The uprising was suppressed by military force in 1771; leaders were exiled to Siberia and others forced into military service.

In the 18th century, two major churches and a bell tower were built on the island, now known as Kizhi Pogost. The first churches on the site were mentioned in 1563 and had pyramidal roofs; they burned in a fire at the end of the 17th century. The Church of the Intercession (1694) was rebuilt into its present 9-dome design by 1764, and the 22-dome Transfiguration Church was constructed in 1714. The bell tower was entirely rebuilt in 1862. The churches were built on stones without deep foundations, using round logs of Scots pine assembled without nails.

From the 1950s, dozens of historical wooden buildings were moved to the island from various parts of Karelia for preservation. The open-air museum started functioning in 1951 and now contains about 87 wooden constructions, including the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus (second half of the 14th century), the oldest remaining wooden church in Russia. The museum holds more than 41,000 exhibits, including icons, domestic artifacts, and photographs.

Reader's Guide

Kizhi Island holds significance as a preserved example of Russian wooden architecture and as a site of historical resistance. The Kizhi Pogost, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990, represents a pinnacle of 18th-century carpentry with its two multi-domed churches and bell tower, built without nails. The island's history also includes the Kizhi Uprising (1769–1771), a large-scale peasant revolt against forced labor for industrial development, which was suppressed by military force. Today, the open-air museum, one of the first in Russia, preserves over 80 historical wooden structures moved from across Karelia, including the 14th-century Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus. The museum conducts scientific studies and educational programs, maintaining the island as a cultural heritage site. The island's name is believed to originate from ancient Veps or Karelian words meaning 'social gathering' or 'island of games.'

Did You Know?

• The name Kizhi is believed to originate from ancient Veps or Karelian words 'kizhat' or 'kizhansuari' meaning 'social gathering' or 'island of games'.
• The Kizhi Uprising (1769–1771) involved up to 40,000 peasants and was sparked by a governor's order to send peasants to work during harvest season.
• The Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus, moved to Kizhi from Murom Monastery, is regarded as the oldest remaining wooden church in Russia (second half of the 14th century).
• The Kizhi churches were built without nails, using interlocking corner joinery such as round notch or dovetail.