Walking through the territory of Uzhgorod Castle, we pay little attention to the ruins of the local church. However, an expedition of historians of Uzhgorod National University has been taking place on here for two years now. The Media Center talked to the head of the Archaeological Museum of Uzhgorod National University, Associate Professor Volodymyr Moyzhes about the latest findings on the territory of the ruins of the St. George Church and their value.
The church on the territory of the castle has been underexplored, and the available data are contradictory. However, there is something that is known for sure.
"It is known that an important event took place in this church on April 24, 1646 – the adoption of the Uzhgorod Union. But it is not clear when exactly the building was erected and how it was built. There is no direct evidence about this church. It operated until the Great Fire of 1728. Then the castle was rebuilt, but the church was not,” – Volodymyr Moyzhes says.
There are many secrets hidden under the church floor that can answer the questions of scholars.
On May 18, the International Museum Day, the Transcarpathian Regional Museum of Local History plans to open an exhibition dedicated to the findings on the territory of the church. For this purpose, the hall on the ground floor has already been renovated, displays and illustrative material have been prepared.
The exhibition will include found artifacts: coins, fragments of utensils, tiles, fragments from the vault and windows of the church, as well as items of clothing, buttons, buckles, precious headdress stripes, brooches made of yellow metal with pearls, weapons that indicate the burial place of wealthy people.
The next expedition is scheduled for the second half of June. They intend to continue researching the area of the central nave, to determine the boundaries of the church. Also to clear the side crypt where the Drugets are most likely buried. However, the plans may be changed quarantine adjustments may be made to the work.
For reference: The castle church is considered to be one of the oldest medieval stone sacred buildings within modern Uzhgorod. However, little is known about it. The first research took place here in 1978 during major restoration works. Then they found the apse – the altar of the church. The research continued intermittently until 1987. After a long break, the exploration of the ruins resumed – in 2018, an expedition of Uzhgorod National University began to work here.
Ksenia Shokina,
photos provided by Volodymyr Moyzhes
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