Sacred Timber: The Tradition of Wooden Churches and Crosses in Medieval Russia
Wood was the lifeblood of medieval Russia, shaping not only homes and tools but also the sacred architecture of the Orthodox faith. From the towering log churches of Novgorod to the carved roadside crosses that marked village life, medieval carpenters transformed timber into sanctuaries of devotion. Using axes, adzes, and precise joinery techniques, they built without nails yet achieved remarkable strength and beauty.