CHURCH-DEFENSIVE COMPLEXES 17th CENTURY IN CHERNIHIV REGION

Abstract

The article considers such a historical and fortification phenomenon as church defense complexes. Their existence dates back to the late MiddleAges and Early Modern Times. This type of fortified structures was spread on the territory of such modern countries as the Republic of Poland, the Czech Republic, the Republic of Belarus, and Romania. Ukraine is no exception. The question of the existence of church defense complexes or defense churches was considered by Ukrainian historiography during the 20th century exclusively on the territory of the Western Ukrainian and part of the Right Bank of Ukraine. However, the question arises whether such complexes existed on the Left Bank of Ukraine including Chernihiv region? The problem with the allocating of this type of fortifications in Chernihiv region is problematic due to the fact that they were wooden. Today there are almost no traces of them left on the earth's surface. These complexes can be studied only by a small number of written sources, as well as archaeological remains. Therefore, by the beginning of the 21st century they did not come in a view of researchers. A brief review of the above issues in this article allowed us to make some conclusions. The article gives an example of 7 complexes that could be classified as defensive. These are primarily churches in such settlements as Stolne, Loknyste, Veresoch, Kladkivka, Pechi, Olenivka and Saltykova Divytsia. In general, these were architectural ensembles consisting of a wooden fence or a stockade, the church sometimes with the bell tower. The bell tower also simultaneously served as an observation and signal point, defensive tower. Such defensive churches were not stationary fortresses. They served as temporary fortifications in case of sudden Tatar attacks. Тhe military and political situation in the Left Bank of Ukraine stabilized at the beginning of the 18th century. Due to that fact church defensive functions gradually disappear with its fortification elements.