Panteleimonivska Church is an architectural monument of national significance located at 1 Romenska Street in the historical area of Svyshchi on the southwestern outskirts of Sumy. The church is the compositional center of the former episcopal courtyard and Panteleimon Monastery.
The church was built in 1911 for the residence of the vicar bishop, who was to reside permanently in Sumy. Academician of Architecture Oleksii Shchusev is considered the author of the church project. At the same time, researchers note the participation of Kharkiv diocesan architect Volodymyr Pokrovskyi in creating the monastic ensemble.
Architecture
Panteleimonivska Church is built in the forms of 12th-to-13th-century Pskov-Novgorod architecture. At the same time, its architecture reflects the trend of historicizing Art Nouveau of the early 20th century.
This is a brick church, plastered on the inside, single-domed, four-pillared, of the cross-in-square type. The structure is rectangular in plan, with three semicircular apses.
The western part is complemented by a bell tower attached from the northwestern side and the main entrance premises with stairs to the choir loft.
The exterior decoration features decorative gables, rosettes, niches for paintings, and arcaded friezes on the dome drum and apses. The main entrance portal, framed by a semicircular arch, deserves special attention.
History of the Monastic Complex
Construction of the episcopal courtyard began for the permanent residence of the bishop in Sumy. The main donor for the construction of the church was Sumy merchant and philanthropist Ivan Hryhorovych Kulishov, who helped build the church together with his brothers.
In 1913–1915, the monastic ensemble was formed. Next to the church, a two-story episcopal house was built according to the design of Volodymyr Pokrovskyi, along with a watchman's lodge. The building housed the bishop's chambers and quarters for the monastic brethren.
In 1920, the episcopal courtyard was occupied by a men's monastery. In the early 1930s, it was closed. Services in Panteleimonivska Church continued until 1963, after which the premises were used for economic purposes, specifically as a warehouse for industrial goods.
In 1980, an attempt was made to adapt the building into a planetarium. However, the plan was not realized. In October 1990, the church, the episcopal building, and the watchman's lodge were returned to the religious community. Restoration work was completed in early 1991, and the first service in the restored church took place on January 18.
Panteleimonivska Church has been preserved as the central structure of the historical ensemble on the outskirts of Sumy. Its architecture stands out among urban churches for its unusual appeal to Old Rus architectural traditions for the region.
Nearby
Sumy Regional Local Lore Museum, Spaso-Preobrazhenskyi Cathedral — in the center of Sumy.
