Starodúbshchyna. Novozýbkov // SAYA.UZ

Published: 2025-08-24 02:01:35 +07:00

Took place on: 2024-10-10

One of the main region's towns, it kept well heritage of Old Believers (starovery) and distinctive petty-bourgeois architecture

For many Russians, I would characterize Novozýbkov as that one small town to which one would want to arrive as a random turn from a route with expectations of an uncovered treasure.

The house of Pevzner the Trader

I believe that's a church chopped down during Soviet era, but I couldn't find more info about it

The October cinema (still functioning!)

And Novozýbkov can be this one treasure, exceeding any expectations. But the region of Starodúbshchyna is away from any major route to randomly appear in. The only route one can imagine is driving to Belarusian city of Hómyel.

The region itself is distinctive too, as there are strong communities of Old Believers (Starovery) here. In fact, there are two different Churches of Starovery coexisting in the town!

The Transfiguration Cathedral belongs to Russian Old-Orthodox Church

I think it's obvious how different the building is compared to ones of the Russian Orthodox Church

The territory around cathedral is tiny, so no perfect wide angle here

So take lots of them

The cathedral was closed, unfortunately, I would've wanted to rate interior too

And that's the Church of the Nativity and St. Nicholas -- the property of Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church

That's a kind of temple, I imagine, which one man would build all by himself as his magnum opus

The church's territory was closed, unfortunately

Among all the other towns of Starodúbshchyna Novozýbkov is the closest to Hómyel -- a little over an hour by car, with then getting connected by railroad -- although there are only occasional long-distance trains. The ties with Belarus here are stronger, than with the rest of Bryansk Oblast'.