Scaffolding has gone up around the oldest stone church in Irkutsk: the walls are being cleaned of old layers of paint and plaster.
In July 2025 scaffolding was put up around the Church of the Saviour Not Made by Hands at 2 Sukhe-Bator Street. The stone church of 1710 is a cultural heritage site of federal significance.
In the first stage the walls are being cleaned of accumulated layers of old paint and coatings; they will then be re-plastered and painted. Later stages, most likely in 2026, were planned to deal with the other façades and the frescoes, including the image of the Saviour on the south side. The city is preparing a lighting project for the church. The work is carried out by a licensed contractor, and the church remains open to visitors during the restoration. All this is part of the preparations for the 300th anniversary of the Irkutsk diocese in 2027.
Source (in Russian): IRK.ru, 11 July 2025.
