Lukomskyy J. The architectural-planning structure of cross-in-square churches of the 12th - 13th centuries in Ancient Halych

This work analyzes the history and present state of knowledge concerning the cross-in-square churches of the Halych architectural school of the 12th - 13th centuries. These structures have been preserved primarily in the condition of architectural-archaeological monuments. New archaeological excavations have been conducted under the direction of the author on the preserved original foundations and substrata of the Cathedral of the Assumption; the Churches of St. Cyril and St. Panteleimon; and on the previously unknown Church of St. John. These excavations and resulting analyses have provided the opportunity to generate accurate plans of the buildings' foundations; to identify the specific technological characteristics of their construction; to define the stratigraphic relationships within and among these sites and structures; and also to reveal fragments of the architectural detailing of these structures. Comparative analysis of a wide range of typological analogues within the territory of Kyivan Rus'has revealed the fundamental principles of the development of the architectural-planning structure and technological systems of the construction of the foundations of the cross-in-square churches. On the basis of these determinations, a more exact dating and systematization of the studied monuments has been achieved. It is noted that the laying-out of the foundations of the cross-in-square churches of ancient Halych was achieved on the basis of a structural module that was proportional to the size of the building and was directly related to the parameters defined by the construction site. Based on this comparative compositional study of cross-in-square churches and the principles of their construction and architectural form, a series of graphic reconstructions of these ancient Halych monuments is presented.