Kizhi Pogost

The oldest fully wooden churches in the world are also architectural wonders. These are "multi-story, multi-cupola, single-block masterpieces." Built 300 years ago on the Russian Kizhi island, they are called the Church of the Transfiguration and the Church of the Intercession. Read about them and see lots more pictures at Kuriositas. Link

(Image credit: Flickr user Jordi Joan Fabrega)

300 years old and still not finished! I hope they're not being paid on completion.

Alternatively, if (as it appears) they're merely doing preventative maintenance, is this like the ship of Theseus (aka Locke's Socks, or George Washington's Axe) in that the church is 300 years old, but the timbers get replaced every century or so?

Steve.

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That thing is way cool. It reminds me of the wooden stave churches in Norway; it seems like the techniques are quite similar. Like this one, from the 12th (!) century : http://www.ne.se/stavkyrka#http://www.ne.se/modals/view_picture.jsp?sectionId=1201253||facebox.

Of course, the cupolas on the Russian orthodox church are kickasss. Although, the Norwegian church does have dragons on it! :D (The viking era – and faith – had just (barely?) ended.)

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